Tag: Industry
News Take-Two Reportedly Shutting Down OlliOlli And Kerbal Space Program 2 Devs
Subsidiaries of Private Division
There's already been a record amount of job losses within the games industry this year and it seems this trend is unfortunately set to continue with Bloomberg reporting the closure of another two studios. According to "documentation reviewed by Bloomberg", Take-Two Interactive Software has announced it will be...
Feature "It's Fun, So It's Okay!" - Celebrating Takashi Tezuka's Astonishing 40-Year Nintendo Career
A look back at a glittering catalogue
Takashi Tezuka seems like a good laugh, the kind of chap who knows how to have fun. Despite all the Master-Sword-waving and PR-related hijinx from fellow Nintendo luminary Shigeru Miyamoto over the years, you still get the impression he's merciless in the workplace — an exacting, intimidating,...
News Atari Is Reviving The 'Infogrames' Publishing Label
The armadillo returns
Atari has announced that it is reviving the dormant publishing label Infogrames, once famous for publishing games such as Hogs of War, Heart of Darkness, Alone in the Dark, and many more. Though once one of the most recognisable publishers in Europe, the Infogrames name was ditched in favour of the Atari brand in 2009...
News Embracer Group To Split Into Three Separate Companies
Sullied name
Embracer Group has announced its intention to split the company into three separate entities going forward in what seems to be a drastic attempt to streamline its operations and rebuild its reputation after months of downsizing and layoffs. Announced via the official website (thanks, VGC), the company confirmed that each entity will be
News WayForward Director Says Nintendo Changed The Way He Looks At Making Video Games
"It's like seeing a color that doesn't exist"
Yesterday, during the latest Indie World presentation, WayForward revealed Yars Rising - a new Metroidvania based on the classic Atari franchise. Veteran game designer James Montagna is directing this new project and apparently has a new outlook on game design after teaming up with Nintendo for last...
News Ex-PlayStation Dev Gio Corsi Joins Nintendo of America
"Here we go!"
Gio Corsi, who is perhaps best known in the industry for his six-year tenure at PlayStation, has announced that he has joined Nintendo of America's 'AAA Third-Party Portfolio Management' team. Announced via a post on X, Corsi said "This week I began my new gig filled with fun & adventure", while his profile has now been updated...
News Saber Interactive CEO Doesn't Think $70 Video Games Are Sustainable
"I think the market is going to shift"
This generation has seen the arrival of $70 USD triple-A titles and even Nintendo has upped its prices with Link's latest outing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While it seems like this new price point is here to stay, Saber Interactive's CEO Matthew Karch doesn't think it's a sustainable model and...
News Staff At UK Retailer GAME Reportedly Facing Redundancies
Most employees now under zero hour contracts
Staff at UK retailer GAME are reportedly facing redundancies as the firm moves most of its workforce under zero hour contracts. As reported by Eurogamer, it's not currently known how many employees will be laid off, but it's understood that all non-managerial staff will now be on zero hour contracts...
News Dragon Quest 12 Reportedly Suffers Delay, Producer "Steps Down" Following Reshuffle
Square Enix has supposedly found a candidate to replace him
Square Enix is currently undergoing a large-scale organisational "overhaul" and it seems Dragon Quest has been impacted. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Dragon Quest's "top producer" Yu Miyake, who is now 56 years of age (and has contributed to "numerous" Dragon Quest titles over...
Rumour New Prince Of Persia Game Reportedly Arriving "Later This Year"
"Developed by Dead Cells developer Evil Empire"
Ubisoft's Prince of Persia series enjoyed a successful return earlier this year thanks to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and it seems more adventures could be on the way. According to a new "exclusive" from Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, Ubisoft is aiming to release a "roguelite" game "later this...
News Thunderful Sells Publisher Headup For €500k After Acquiring The Studio For 11 Million
Something's not adding up here
Thunderful Group is once again back in the news today as it has been reported that the studio is selling Pumpkin Jack publisher Headup at a fraction of what it was bought for back in 2021. Word of this sale comes to us from Gamesindustry.biz which reports that Thunderful has sold the publisher for €500,000 — quite...
News Sega Sells Relic Entertainment And Announces Layoffs Across Multiple Teams
240 jobs will be cut
Sega has announced that it has sold Relic Entertainment to an unspecified investor and will cut a total of 240 jobs across multiple teams in Europe. As reported by IGN, the job losses will be split across Sega Europe, Creative Assembly, and Sega Hardlight. It's reported that the latter will be the least affected, with the...
"Some" contractors will be cut, others will become full-time employees
It's been a difficult start for the video game industry this year and now according to Kotaku senior reporter Ethan Gach, Nintendo of America has massively downsized its "small army of contractors" responsible for testing games and hardware. In an official statement, a Nintendo...
News GameStop Hit By Layoffs As Analyst Predicts 'Unsustainable' Sales Decline
Share price also takes a tumble
GameStop has announced that it has made an unspecified number of job cuts as it grapples with a sharp decline in revenue. As reported by Reuters (thanks, IGN), the firm saw $1.794 billion in sales for its fourth-quarter of the fiscal year; a fairly drastic drop from the $2.226 billion earned over the same period the...
News Free Radical Co-Founder Is Probably Done With TimeSplitters For Good
"It was a big letdown."
To the disappointment of many, including us, it was confirmed earlier this year that Free Radical Design, the developer behind the highly anticipated revival of TimeSplitters, would be closed down by Embracer Group and the game ultimately cancelled. It was a dire end to what many had hoped would be a grand return to the...
News Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami Gets Back To Work With A New Company
What could it be..?
Shinji Mikami, best known for creating the Resident Evil franchise and for his work on titles such as P.N.03 and The Evil Within, has seemingly established a brand new company after leaving Tango Gameworks in 2023. As spotted by VGC, the information can be found via a short biographic description on the new Sha
News Mario Kart Live Developer Warns Of Layoffs After "Major Project" Axed
46 of 121 staff members might be impacted
The Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit developer Velan Studios has announced it's going through a bit of a rough patch. Following a whole host of game companies making some serious job cuts over the past few months, the US-based studio behind not only this Mario Kart game but also Hot Wheels: Rift Rally and the...
News Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Just Won Two More Awards
At the 2024 Game Developers Choice Awards
Nintendo's award-winning Switch exclusive The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has just won two more awards - this time at the 2024 "Game Developers Choice Awards". Link's latest outing has been recognised for having the "best technology" and "best innovation" of any game over the past year. Here are...
News Super Mario Bros. Wonder Devs Show Off "Unused Wonder Effects" At GDC 2024
Including a giant block Mario!
Nintendo left a lot of ideas on the cutting room floor during the development of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and now at this year's Game Developers Conference, the game's director Shiro Mouri and producer Takashi Tezuka have shared some insight. In a series of slides (
News Thunderful Extends Its Distribution Agreement With Nintendo
"We’re exceedingly proud of this long-lasting partnership"
Publisher Thunderful has announced that it has extended its distribution agreement with Nintendo to publish the firm's products in the Nordics and the Baltics between Bergsala AB and Nintendo of Europe AG. Confirmed via an official statement (thanks, Go Nintendo), Thunderful states that...
News 'Tales' Series Artist & Character Designer Mutsumi Inomata Has Passed Away
Known for her work on Tales of Destiny, Graces, and more
Manga, anime, and video game artist Mutsumi Inomata — best known for her work on multiple games in the Tales series — has passed away at age 63 (via VGC). The announcement of her passing was shared on her official Twitter earlier today, written by Inomata's younger sister. Tributes have...
Guide Summer Game Fest Conference Schedule 2024: Dates, How To Watch, Everything You Need To Know
Another round
It really feels like Summer Game Fest 2023 has only just ended, yet here we are gearing up for another look at what Geoff Keighley has up his sleeves for Summer Game Fest 2024. The opening showcase for the upcoming event has just been confirmed, so that means it's time for us to start compiling a handy guide for you fine readers so...
News Embracer Group Sells Saber Interactive For A Cool $247 Million
Group discontinues all operations in Russia
Embracer Group has announced to investors that it has sold Saber Interactive for a total of $247 million to a company called Beacon Interactive, which is under the control of Saber's co-founder Matthew Karch. As part of the sale, Saber will retain the following studios: Nimble Giant, DIGIC, Fractured...
"Tackle life with as much energy as Goku! I'll try to do the same!"
It's impossible to overstate the impact of Akira Toriyama, the legendary manga artist and character designer who has been working in the manga industry since 1978. His death at 68 years old has thousands around the world mourning his loss. Toriyama was, to me, comfort on sick days...
News Industry Tributes Pour In As Fans Mourn Manga Legend Akira Toriyama
"I can't believe he is gone...."
The passing of Dragon Ball creator and manga/anime legend Akira Toriyama at the age of 68 has come as a shock to fans the world over. From colleagues and collaborators to the millions of people who have enjoyed his work, his death has led to an outpouring of tributes online. Below we'll be collecting together...
News Dragon Ball Creator Akira Toriyama Has Passed Away
He also worked on games like Dragon Quest
There's some incredibly sad news coming out of Japan today, with the official Dragon Ball social media account revealing the legendary manga creator and character artist Akira Toriyama has passed away at the age of 68. He died on 1st March 2024 from acute subdural hematoma. Toriyama was an icon of the manga...
News Warner Bros. Doubles Down On Its Commitment To Live Service Games
It wants to move away from "one-and-done console game"
After revealing in November last year how it wanted to focus on transforming its biggest franchises into live services, Warner Bros. has now reiterated this at the Morgan Stanley conference earlier this week. According to WB Discovery gaming boss J.B. Perrette, it's no longer about launching "a...
News Capcom Announces New Digital Showcase Featuring Monster Hunter Stories And More
'Capcom Highlights' is a new two day event
Capcom has hosted all sorts of showcase over the past few years and to kick off 2024 it's announced 'Capcom Highlights' - a new digital event covering all of the latest Capcom titles. The difference with this event is it's being divided into two days. Day 1 will take place on 7th March 2024 and the second...
News Several WayForward Prototypes Appear Online Following Data Leak
Upcoming Shantae game will reportedly remain untouched
WayForward, the developer behind the likes of the Shantae series and last year's Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, has apparently suffered a data leak which has seen developmental prototypes and game backups posted online. As noted on Twitter by Lance McDonald, the leaked information is said to...
News 505 Games Shuts Multiple Offices As Remedy Acquires Rights To Control IP
Total control
505 Games, an Italian video game publisher responsible for multiple releases on the Switch including Ghostrunner and a cloud version of Control, has announced it will be shutting down offices located in Germany, Spain, and France. This information comes from Gamereactor via Eurogamer, and it's reportedly part of the previously...
News Crash Bandicoot Dev Toys For Bob Splits From Activision & Xbox, Goes Independent
"We're thrilled"
It's been another wild week for the video game industry and it seems we're not done just yet. After mass layoffs at companies like PlayStation and Electronic Arts, we've now got developers splitting from their owner groups. Adding to this is the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro developer Toys for Bob, which has now announced it's leaving...
News Saber Interactive Is Reportedly Splitting From Embracer Group
In a deal worth $500 million
Embracer Group is continuing to cull its catalogue of developers, but this time it sounds like it might be good news, as Saber Interactive will reportedly be splitting from Embracer in a deal worth $500 million. As reported by Bloomberg (thanks, Gematsu), the deal will result in Saber Interactive becoming a privately...
News Electronic Arts Cuts 5% Of Workforce, Closes Studio And Cancels Games
About 670 employees are believed to be impacted
The game industry layoffs continue with third-party publisher and developer Electronic Arts today revealing it's laying off 5% of its staff, which reportedly equates to about 670 employees. In a message to the team, Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson cited this as a response to the "accelerating...
Talking Point What Would Make You Happy To Give Up Physical Games And Go 100% Digital?
Concessions stand
While the demise of physical media has seemed like an inevitability for many years now, boutique publishers are helping to keep a passionate base of physical-only fans with a stocked game library. The scenario right now isn't ideal, with eShop releases often only getting a physical version months later (once a publisher has gauged...
News Sony Lays Off 900 PlayStation Employees, Closes London Studio & Cancels Projects
Life is Strange dev 'Deck Nine' also axes 20% of staff
The video game industry layoffs continue with Sony's gaming division PlayStation this week announcing it would be axing "about 8% or about 900 people" across its workforce as part of an organisational restructure. This impacts employees "across all SIE regions" and several PlayStation studios...
News Publisher Midnight Works Allegedly Targeting YouTuber For Calling Out Its "Scam" Switch Games
"This is stooping to new lows"
YouTuber Luke Wild of channel SwitchStars — which focuses primarily on highlighting low-effort, low-quality games to avoid on Switch eShop — has published a video detailing what he believes to be an attack on his channel orchestrated by the publisher Midnight Works. The Moldovan company is responsible for much of...
News New SteamWorld Game Sales Fell "Slightly Short" Of Thunderful's Expectations
It's also putting one SteamWorld project "on hold"
The December release SteamWorld Build has not met Thunderful's sales expectations according to its latest fiscal report. Thunderful CEO Martin Walfisz explained how despite "new momentum" the game had fallen "slightly short" of expectations. He further noted how the genre didn't really appeal to...
News Nintendo Shares Drop Following Latest Reports Of Switch 2 'Delay'
After seeing a record high last month
Nintendo's shares in Japan have dropped after last week's report that the Switch successor will now not be launching until Q1 2025 (thanks, VGC). The company posted a record high for shares last month, as 'Switch 2 fever' seemed to be sweeping the globe. However, following the claim by Brazilian journalist
News Sega's Upcoming Crazy Taxi Revival Will Apparently Be A "Triple-A" Game
Multiple legacy franchises are making a return
At The Game Awards last year, Sega revealed it would be reviving a handful of classic franchises for modern platforms. If you are wondering just how impressive these titles might be, it seems the third-party publisher and developer could be going all out. During a chat with The Japan Times, the team at...
Rumour Switch Successor Might Not Be Launching Until 2025
Here we go again...
The next Nintendo console — the Switch 2, Super Switch, whatever you want to call it — may not be releasing until 2025, new rumours are suggesting. Brazilian journalist Pedro Henrique Lutti Lippe (via VGC) made this claim in the O X do Controle podcast after consulting five different sources, who have all reportedly state
News Disco Elysium Dev ZA/UM Reportedly Cancels Project And Is Planning Layoffs
"The fish starts rotting from the head"
ZA/UM, the developer behind the sublime CRPG Disco Elysium: The Final Cut, is reportingly planning to lay off 24 workers after cancelling its next major project, codenamed 'X7'. This comes via Sports Illustrated's GLHF, which reports that the 24 workers currently at risk make up roughly a quarter of the...
News Microsoft To Bring Four Xbox Exclusives To Other Consoles, But Won't Name Them
Platforms also haven't been confirmed
After weeks of rumours, Xbox has finally confirmed that it will be bringing more Xbox exclusives to other consoles. What consoles, and what games, is anyone's guess. During today's Official Xbox Podcast, the Head of Xbox and CEO of Microsoft Gaming Phil Spencer confirmed that four titles that are currently...
News Yoshitaka Murayama, Creator Of The Suikoden Franchise, Has Passed Away
Also served as director on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
We have just learned that Yoshitaka Murayama, creator of the Suikoden franchise and director/scenario writer on Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, has sadly passed away due to complications with an ongoing illness. The news comes via Rabbit & Bear Studios, the development team...
News Xbox Exclusives Hi-Fi RUSH & Pentiment Reportedly Coming To "Rival Consoles"
"With other first-party titles also under consideration"
Rumours have been circulating recently about Microsoft potentially bringing select games to competitor platforms and Xbox has now confirmed its business update will take place this Thursday. Along with this, a new report from Th
News Mojo Nixon, Musician And 1993 Mario Movie Actor, Has Passed Away
The musician, actor and DJ was 66 years old
We have just learnt of the sad news that Mojo Nixon, the musician, actor and radio DJ, has passed away at the age of 66. Nintendo fans may recognise Nixon as the live-action face of Toad in 1993's Super Mario Bros. movie. This portrayal was more of an all-singing, government-defying, human-looking take on...
News Octopath Traveler Studio 'Acquire Corp.' Bought By FromSoftware Owner
For an undisclosed sum
Kadokawa, the owner of companies including FromSoftware and Spike Chunsoft, has today announced that it has bought the studio behind Octopath Traveler, Acquire Corp. (thanks, VGC). The company confirmed that it had made Aquire into "a wholly owned subsidiary" in its recent quarterly financials briefing, where it explained its...
News Nintendo Will Offer "Unique Proposals" To Overcome Challenges Of Platform Transitions
Approaching business with "a great sense of urgency"
In a Q&A session following Nintendo's quarterly financial report earlier this week, company president Shuntaro Furukawa addressed the challenges of transitioning between generational platforms, stating that Nintendo will continue to offer "unique proposals" to stand out from the crowd (thanks,...
News Microsoft's Xbox Layoffs Hit Crash Bandicoot And Spyro Developer 'Toys For Bob'
It reportedly includes an office closure
Just weeks ago, Xbox's owner Microsoft announced mass layoffs, and now in an update, it seems the Crash Bandicoot, Spyro and Skylanders developer Toys for Bob has been hit. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, 86 workers will be affected at the developer's office in Novato, Cali
News Disney Invests $1.5bn In Epic To Create New Universe Connected With Fortnite
It's Disney's "biggest entry ever" in games
Disney has announced it's teaming up with developer and publisher Epic to create a "games and entertainment universe" connected to the popular free-to-play title Fortnite. As part of this Disney is also investing $1.5 billion to acquire an equity stake in Epic Games. This new game universe and "multiyear...
News LEGO 2K Drive & NBA 2K Dev Visual Concepts Austin Hit By Layoffs
2K & Take-Two make cuts
The video game industry continues to suffer from layoffs, with Visual Concepts Austin becoming the latest studio hit with cuts, Game Developer reports (via Eurogamer). The 2K Games and Take-Two division based in Austin, Texas already reportedly