#video-game-industry

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#studio-closures
Inverse
2 weeks ago
Video games

Xbox Paradoxically Shuts Down The Studio Behind Its Best Exclusive in Years

Studio closures are contradicting Xbox's claims of supporting creative visions. [ more ]
VG247
6 days ago
Video games

It's all very sad, isn't it - where does the games industry go from here?

The video game industry is experiencing significant layoffs and closures despite an era of high-quality game releases. [ more ]
morestudio-closures
Kotaku
21 hours ago
Video games

GTA 6 Could Be The First Game To Push Past $70

The video game industry has started charging $70 for big games instead of $60, with potential for further price increases to $80, based on development costs and perceived value. [ more ]
Kotaku
1 week ago
Video games

Nintendo Switch Owners Are More Willing To Buy Indie Games, Says Publisher

Indie games perform better on Nintendo Switch due to playerbase openness to unique concepts. [ more ]
Inverse
1 week ago
Video games

25 Years Ago, Nintendo Set the Bar for Remaking a Classic

Remaster disasters are common due to technical issues, missing features, and visual problems, highlighting the challenges in updating old video games. [ more ]
#game-development
Creative Bloq
2 weeks ago
Graphic design

How to use Blender (and ChatGPT) to level up your video game assets

Iteration is crucial for achieving high-quality results in the video game industry. [ more ]
Toucharcade
1 month ago
Video games

SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring 'The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered', Plus New Releases and Sales

The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered offers minimal changes from the original version, including updated visuals and a new guide feature.
The game includes notable creators like Masashi Hamauzu, Masato Kato, and Tomomi Kobayashi, but did not achieve significant success upon its initial release. [ more ]
GameSpot
2 months ago
Video games

Former PlayStation Boss Responds To Mass Layoffs In Gaming, Says Things Will Be "Fine"

Layden believes the demise of the video game industry is exaggerated, citing historical predictions.
Layoffs in the industry are attributed to a mismatch of talent rather than a sign of industry collapse. [ more ]
www.nytimes.com
2 months ago
Artificial intelligence

Playing Infinite Craft Is Like Peering Into an A.I.'s Brain

Players in Infinite Craft merge text blocks to uncover various results governed by A.I.
A.I. generators in the video game industry are rapidly advancing and causing concerns about artistic roles being replaced. [ more ]
VG247
3 months ago
Video games

"No one bought it"- Immortals of Aveum reportedly had a $125 million budget but failed to recoup costs

Immortals of Aveum had a budget of $125 million.
The game did not perform well and 'no one bought it.' [ more ]
moregame-development
Kotaku
3 weeks ago
Video games

Hey Atlus, Let Us Upgrade To Definitive Editions

Atlus releases "enhanced editions" like Vengeance with new content and quality-of-life updates, but at a full game price without upgrade options. [ more ]
Kotaku
1 month ago
Video games

2024 Is Filled With Video Game Remakes And Remasters

Video game industry is heavily focusing on remakes and remasters due to cost, time, and risk considerations.
2024 is seeing a significant surge in the number of remakes and remasters, with almost 30 titles released or planned for the year. [ more ]
Polygon
1 month ago
Video games

Horror fishing game Dredge being adapted for live-action movie

Indie adventure game Dredge, with Lovecraftian horror and fishing, is being adapted into a live-action movie.
Dredge offers a unique gameplay experience with a mix of dark horror and cozy elements for players to enjoy. [ more ]
VG247
1 month ago
Video games

It might have been a bad console, but I'm still sad the Wii U is dying today

The Wii U's online services are shutting down, marking the end of an era for the console.
The Wii U's demise represents a shift in Nintendo's approach, signaling a move towards a more mainstream video game corporation. [ more ]
Toucharcade
1 month ago
Video games

SwitchArcade Round-Up: 'No Umbrellas Allowed', 'Kudzu', 'PuzzMiX', Plus Today's Other Releases and Sales

New releases include unique and unconventional games like No Umbrellas Allowed and Kitchen Crisis.
Sales feature a smaller selection due to a recent massive sale. [ more ]
Vulture
1 month ago
Video games

The Best Video Games of 2024 (So Far)

2024 continues the trend of intense energy in the video game industry with mixed outcomes for workers.
The video games in 2024 are noted for their transportive potential, providing a sanctuary during difficult times. [ more ]
Kotaku
1 month ago
Video games

A Ubisoft Game Is At The Center Of A Fight To Stop Online Game Shutdowns

Owning media outright is becoming harder in the digital age, especially with online games facing the risk of being taken offline permanently by publishers.
Legislation around consumer rights for online games is inconsistent worldwide, with some companies discontinuing games after acquiring consumer money. [ more ]
www.theguardian.com
1 month ago
Video games

Pushing Buttons: When we don't know the true sales figures for consoles, players lose out

PlayStation 5 could be Sony's most successful console, according to Jim Ryan.
Sony has never officially announced the total sales of PlayStation 2, estimated to be around 160 million units.
The video game industry lacks transparency in reporting actual sales numbers, focusing more on vague metrics like user numbers and revenue. [ more ]
Kotaku
1 month ago
Video games

This Year's Best Video Game April Fools' Jokes

Video game industry celebrates April Fools' Day with jokes and pranks each year.
Some April Fools' Day jokes in the industry are well-received and appreciated by fans and brands. [ more ]
GameSpot
1 month ago
Video games

PO'ed Definitive Edition Is Nightdive Studios' Next Restoration Project

Nightdive Studios is known for remastering classic games like Star Wars: Dark Forces and Quake II.
PO'ed, a 1995 classic game, is getting a Definitive Edition with updated graphics and gameplay features. [ more ]
#layoffs
GameSpot
1 month ago
Video games

Halo And COD Support Dev Lays Off 25 People, Citing "Unprecedented Challenges"

Certain Affinity, a game developer, laid off 25 US-based workers due to industry challenges and funding slowdown.
Affected employees are receiving severance pay, continuing benefits, and portable vested stock awards. [ more ]
WGB
1 month ago
DevOps

Sega has sold Relic Entertainment amidst layoffs

Sega sells Relic Entertainment to Emona Capital LLP
Layoffs impact Sega Europe, Creative Assembly, and Hardlight studios [ more ]
Kotaku
2 months ago
Video games

Geoff Keighley Finally Tweets About Layoffs, And The Timing Is Awfully Convenient

Geoff Keighley belatedly addressed layoffs in the gaming industry after facing backlash for promoting unrelated products.
Keighley, a prominent figure in the gaming world, is criticized for not discussing serious issues while actively promoting events and products. [ more ]
GameSpot
2 months ago
Video games

Another Terrible Week In Video Games, What Is Going On? | Spot On

PlayStation and EA announced significant layoffs affecting hundreds of employees.
Developers like Remedy, Toys for Bob, and Saber Interactive are gaining more control over their destinies and properties. [ more ]
Polygon
2 months ago
Video games

Games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth aren't sustainable, and the Sony layoffs prove it

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth expands the original game into a massive open-world adventure with various minigames.
Sony's PlayStation business plans to lay off 900 employees despite strong sales, impacting successful studios like Naughty Dog and Insomniac Games. [ more ]
GameSpot
2 months ago
Video games

PlayStation Cutting 900 Jobs In Video Game Industry's Latest Round Of Big Cuts

Over 6,000 layoffs in the video game industry in 2024
PlayStation closing London games studio [ more ]
morelayoffs
GameSpot
1 month ago
DevOps

Company Of Heroes Developer Relic Entertainment Is An Independent Studio Again

Relic Entertainment is now an indie studio after parting ways with Sega.
Sega implemented mass layoffs, affecting various studios. [ more ]
#embracer-group
Kotaku
1 month ago
Video games

Embracer Sells Borderlands Maker Gearbox For Less Than Half Of What It Paid

Gearbox Software sold to Take-Two Interactive for $460 million, a significant loss for Embracer Group.
Embracer Group retains certain parts of Gearbox's business and other companies in the deal, aiming for positive cash flow. [ more ]
Kotaku
3 months ago
Video games

New Deus Ex Game Reportedly Canceled By *That* Gaming Company

Embracer Group has cancelled an in-development Deus Ex game that Eidos Montreal was working on, after two years of pre-production.
The cancellation comes after Embracer Group's recent acquisitions and failed $2 billion deal, which resulted in layoffs and studio closures. [ more ]
moreembracer-group
TechRepublic
2 months ago
Privacy technologies

6 Best VPNs for Gaming in 2024

The video game industry revenue surpasses film and music industries combined in 2022.
VPNs play a crucial role in providing security and accessing geo-blocked content for gamers and gaming businesses. [ more ]
GameSpot
2 months ago
Video games

Payday CEO Is Gone After Game's Bad Start And Low Player Numbers

Starbreeze CEO Tobias Sjogren replaced
Focus on own franchises and licensed games [ more ]
Kotaku
2 months ago
Video games

WB Discovery Might Soon Delist Over A Dozen Adult Swim-Published Games

WB Discovery delisting Adult Swim-published games from digital stores within 60 days, impacting game developers.
Adult Swim Games, funded by Cartoon Network's Adult Swim, known for publishing notable titles, now facing uncertain future with potential delisting by WB Discovery. [ more ]
#game-sales
VG247
2 months ago
Video games

Helldivers 2 has done something most other games couldn't, and they'd kill for it

Helldivers 2 sales defied norms by increasing post-launch.
Game popularity led to server capacity woes. [ more ]
GameSpot
2 months ago
Video games

2024's Best-Selling Games In The US So Far

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III was the best-selling game in January 2024.
Palworld, despite not sharing sales information, saw high engagement levels on Steam and Xbox.
Monopoly Go led consumer spending for mobile games in January 2024. [ more ]
moregame-sales
WGB
2 months ago
Video games

Remedy has gained full Control by buying the franchise rights from 505 Games

Remedy Entertainment gains full control of Control from 505 Games for €17 million.
Remedy's CEO highlights the importance of owning IPs for long-term business strategy. [ more ]
#microsoft
www.nytimes.com
2 months ago
Tech industry

Can a Tech Giant Be Woke?

Employees at Raven strike and successfully form a union after layoffs.
Microsoft takes a neutral stance on unionization after acquiring Activision. [ more ]
www.nytimes.com
3 months ago
Tech industry

Microsoft Cuts 1,900 Jobs in Its Video Game Division

Microsoft is cutting 1,900 jobs in its video game division, including at Activision Blizzard.
The job cuts represent a reduction of nearly 9% of Microsoft's video game team. [ more ]
moremicrosoft
WGB
2 months ago
Video games

Warner Bros. says Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League has "fallen short of our expectations"

Suicide Squad video game fell short of Warner Bros.' expectations in terms of sales
The game's poor performance is compared to the success of Hogwarts Legacy and Helldivers 2 [ more ]
Kotaku
2 months ago
Video games

Tales Of Kenzera: Zau Creator On The Pressures Of Black Storytelling

Video game studios made pro-BLM statements in 2020, but the follow-through on promises is unclear.
Abubakar Salim's game Tales of Kenzera: Zau, inspired by Bantu mythology, stood out in the industry. [ more ]
GameSpot
2 months ago
Video games

EA Offering College Athletes $600 To Appear In New Football Game

EA Sports College Football 25 will offer athletes $600 for their NIL, with potential for additional payments for high-profile players.
The game will feature the transfer portal, 134 FBS teams, 12-team playoff, and bowl games; however, it will not include college coaches' likenesses. [ more ]
#voice-actors
euronews
3 months ago
Artificial intelligence

Why some video game actors are letting AI clone their voices

AI voice cloning in video games is a growing trend for character voices.
Video game voice actors have mixed feelings, wanting fair pay and protection against misuse. [ more ]
Inverse
4 months ago
Artificial intelligence

Voice Actors Aren't Happy With SAG-AFTRA's New AI Deal

The role of Artificial Intelligence in making games is a defining issue in the video game industry.
Voice actors are concerned about the impact of AI on their ability to work. [ more ]
morevoice-actors
VG247
3 months ago
Video games

Phil Spencer announces four Xbox games will headed to different consoles

Four Xbox games will be headed to different consoles, but Xbox's exclusive strategy remains unchanged.
Exclusive games will be a smaller part of the industry in the future. [ more ]
GameSpot
3 months ago
Books

Blizzard's 33-Year History Chronicled In Upcoming Book By Jason Schreier

Blizzard Entertainment's history is chronicled in the book 'Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future Of Blizzard Entertainment' by Jason Schreier.
The book features interviews with over 300 current and former Blizzard team members and covers the company's early years, major franchises, and recent acquisitions.
Jason Schreier's previous books, 'Blood, Sweat, and Pixels' and 'Press Reset', have also delved into the video game industry's development stories and labor issues. [ more ]
Kotaku
3 months ago
Video games

2000s Video Game Launch Parties Are A Wild Millennial Time Capsule

The video game industry experienced significant growth during the period between 9/11 and the Obama administration, primarily in the console market.
Launch parties for video games, particularly consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, were star-studded events with celebrities in attendance. [ more ]
The Verge
3 months ago
Black Lives Matter

Halo's Black History Month armor shaders are unintentionally hilarious

Video game companies often make attempts to show inclusivity during Black History Month but often fall short in meaningful representation.
343 Industries' attempt to showcase inclusivity with Black-themed armor shaders in Halo is seen as misguided and exaggerated. [ more ]
VG247
3 months ago
Podcast

Do NOT mention this game on the podcast

Night Trap is considered one of the most important games in the history of the medium despite being widely regarded as one of the worst.
Night Trap caused a moral panic in the US that led to the implementation of age ratings systems for video games. [ more ]
Electronic Frontier Foundation
3 months ago
Privacy professionals

Fragging: The Subscription Model Comes for Gamers

The video game industry is experiencing a shift towards game subscriptions, similar to the changes seen in the film and TV industry.
Some game developers are actively promoting the idea of not owning games as part of their subscription services. [ more ]
VG247
4 months ago
Artificial intelligence

Foamstars devs used AI to create in-game album covers, Square Enix confirms

Square Enix used generative AI image generator Midjourney to create in-game icons for Foamstars.
AI was only used for a very small percentage of the overall content in the game, with the core elements being made by hand. [ more ]
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