Tag: Industry - Page 2
News Microsoft Allegedly Told Employees 'Every Screen Is an Xbox' Ahead of PS5 Port Speculation
All will be revealed imminently
More information on Microsoft’s previously reported employee town hall has emerged on Inverse, where it’s claimed by staff that leadership declared “every screen is an Xbox”. There’s been rampant speculation recently that the Redmond firm will bring formerly exclusive titles, like Hi-Fi Rush and
News Embracer Layoffs Total Nearly 1,400 So Far, 29 Unannounced Games Cancelled
Downsizing will continue
Embracer Group, the holdings company that spent years scooping up as many gaming properties and development teams as possible, has had to reduce its unsustainable size, cutting jobs, closing studios, and shelving projects. Last summer, the company announced its restructuring plan, and has now confirmed the figures pertaining...
News Sony Plans to Improve Profit Margins with 'Aggressive' PC Release Strategy
Way of the future
Sony president and PlayStation chairman Hiroki Totoki was asked in a Q&A session following Sony's latest financial results briefing why the game division is seeing an increase in gross income but not profits and what the company could do to improve its bottom line. Totoki said that there are two key areas he wants to focus on...
News PlayStation Chairman: There's Room for Improvement When It Comes to Business
Praises "highly motivated" studios
Hiroki Totoki has a lot of titles at Sony; in addition to being president, COO, and CFO of the corporation, he's more recently stepped into the role of PlayStation chairman as Jim Ryan winds down his time at the company. He's among the company's top dogs, then — but what does he make of Sony Interactive...
News Sony Predicts Slide in PS5 Sales with No Major Existing IPs Planned Before March 2025
"Focused on producing high-quality works"
Sony will not release any sequels or updates to “major existing franchise titles” before March 2025. The wording is exceptionally important here: this does not eliminate the likelihood of PS5 exclusives entirely, it just means you’re unlikely to see a new Ghost of Tsushima or The Last of Us in the next...
News Sony Slashes PS5 Forecast to 21 Million for Fiscal Year
A decrease of four million units
As reported earlier today, Sony shipped 8.2 million PS5 consoles during the three-month period ending 31st December, 2023 – a very good number which contributed to record-breaking revenue, but not enough to help it reach its forecast of 25 million units for the current financial year. Thus far, it?
News PS5 Sales Touch 55 Million As Sony Breaks Revenue Records
But fiscal year target is off
You may not be fully satisfied with how PlayStation is running its business right now, but Sony’s bringing home the big bucks all the same. The firm’s gaming division is printing cash, as it shipped a sturdy 8.2 million PS5 units throughout the three-month period ending 31st December, 2023. That’s an increase of...
News Xbox's Multiplatform Plans to Be Revealed on Thursday
Feeling green
Microsoft has confirmed that it will "share updates on the Xbox business" this Thursday, the 15th February, at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM GMT / 9PM CET. In other words, this is when the beans will finally be spilled on Xbox's all-but-official multiplatform plans. The news will be delivered through the Official Xbox Podcast — which...
News SEGA Issues Financial Warning After 'Sluggish' Sales Over Holiday Period
But we wanted to go fast
SEGA has issued a financial warning after what it described as "sluggish" and "weak" sales over the crucial holiday 2023 period, traditionally when sales peak. The venerable publisher and developer has revised its sales and profit forecast appropriately downward to compensate. Games released by the company during Q3 include...
News PS5 Outsold Xbox Series X|S Nearly Two to One, According to Take-Two Sales Data
The hits keep on coming
According to recently revealed sales data from publisher Take-Two, it looks like Sony's PS5 has outsold Microsoft's Xbox Series X|S by a factor of roughly 2:1. Microsoft stopped trumpeting console sales a while back, so getting to a concrete number requires taking a slightly circuitous route. As reported by GameSpot,...
News Xbox Has Allegedly Insisted It Won't Stop Making Consoles, As PS5 Port Rumours Mount
Will apparently support "multiple kinds of devices"
No one really expects Microsoft to suddenly step out of the hardware race, but it’s been a hellish week for the Redmond firm, where rumours have swirled with reckless abandon. All the way back on Monday – which feels like an eternity ago now – boss Phil Spencer announced it’d share news...
News Microsoft's Recent Layoffs Contradict Activision Blizzard Buyout Pledges, Says FTC
When can we stop writing about this
In case you missed it, Microsoft made an industry-shaking acquisition at the tail end of last year, buying up Activision Blizzard King for an eye-watering $69 billion. It took a long time to close, though, because of intense scrutiny from a handful of different sources — one of those being the USA's Federal...
News Microsoft Employee Inadvertently Adds More Fuel to the Xbox Multiplatform Fire
Oopsie daisy
The Internet is extremely unforgiving. Whatever you put on it will be preserved in some fashion, for better or worse, and it's a lesson still being learned in the year 2024. Case in point: the LinkedIn page of a Microsoft employee, who may have added yet more evidence to the heavily rumoured move from Xbox to publish its games on other...
News NBA 2K, LEGO 2K Drive Studio Visual Concepts Austin Suffers Job Cuts
Number affected undisclosed
The unrelenting tidal wave of layoffs across the industry claims another victim. It's come to light that Visual Concepts Austin, a division of Take-Two's studio responsible for the NBA 2K series as well as LEGO 2K Drive, has had some staff let go. The news comes via Game Developer, which spotted a Linked
News PS5, PS4 First-Party Devs Won't Get Complacent Even if Competition Degrades
"We're driven by an internal desire to create the best work possible"
One of the big talking points emerging as part of Microsoft’s rumoured switch in strategy is that a reduction in competition could result in complacency from PlayStation and its army of first-party developers. The issue, according to some, is that if Xbox were to abandon its own...
News Square Enix President Orders Development Review to Improve Quality of Future Games
A job for the Investigation Sector of the General Affairs Department
Square Enix has ordered a complete review of its developmental pipeline to increase the quality of future games and streamline, optimise, and synergise its way into increased profit margins. That's under the direction of Square Enix Holdings president Takashi Kiryu, responsible for...
News Microsoft Has Apparently Been Stocking Up on PS5 Devkits as Xbox Pivots
Further fuel to the fire
While an enormous amount of attention has been placed on the games Microsoft is potentially bringing to PlayStation, reports also suggest the tech titan has been quietly stocking up on PS5 devkits to support its plans. Speculation comes courtesy of fan site Xbox Era, which broke the news Starfield may be coming to Sony’s...
News Xbox Set to Announce Multi-Platform Plans Next Week
A "vision for the future of Xbox" is coming
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has announced Microsoft plans to share its "vision for the future of Xbox" in a business update event next week. While neither confirming nor denying rampant reports that multiple Xbox exclusives shall be ported to PS5 and PS4, you'd assume the speculation would be denied if it...
News Square Enix to Absorb Subsidiary Tokyo RPG Factory and All Its Assets
Closing the production line
Tokyo RPG Factory was established by Square Enix approximately a decade ago in order to recapture the magic of the “golden age” of role-playing releases. However, following the launch of three titles – I Am Setsuna, Lost Sphear, and Oninaki – the subsidiary has been absorbed into its parent company, and will...
News Call of Duty Boss Takes the Top Job at Blizzard
Former NFL exec is in
Blizzard, now a Microsoft subsidiary of course, has gone through something of a shake up in the last couple of weeks. And now the company has confirmed ex-Call of Duty boss Johanna Faries as its next head honcho, following the unexpected departure of Mike Ybarra last week. Faries, who previously spent 12 years working for the...
News Acclaimed Platformer Celeste Celebrates Sixth Anniversary with Free 3D Spin-Off
Celeste 64 the players
If you loved acclaimed side-scrolling indie Celeste, then you may be eager to celebrate its sixth anniversary with this free 3D spin-off. Inspired by the Nintendo 64 and PS1 collectathon platformers of old, Celeste 64: Fragments of the Mountain is a free, 30-minute romp you can download from itch.io right now. The team says...
News Following Embracer Shutdown, Volition Veterans Form New Outfit Shapeshifter Games
Every cloud has a silver lining
Volition Games, best known for its (now defunct) Saint's Row series, was shuttered by publisher Embracer Group following the release of a reboot of the franchise in 2022. Embracer's slow-motion implosion is something we've been chronicling for what feels like an age (in reality, it's been six months), so it's nice to...
News Deus Ex Game Reportedly Cancelled, Almost 100 Devs Laid Off
Another project cut by the Embracer Group
A new report from Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier suggests an unannounced Deus Ex game at Eidos Montreal has now been cancelled by the Embracer Group. The RP
News PlayStation Pours Investment into Africa as It Looks to Grow Globally
Around the world in 80 investments
PlayStation is already investing in countries like China, South Korea, and India, as it looks to expand its market globally – and now it appears to be turning its attention to the entire continent of Africa. An exclusive article on CNBC reveals that the Japanese giant has invested in Cape Town-based mobile...
Soapbox This Is Why Physical Games Are Still Important to Me
Material guy
I’ve got a confession to make: most of my PS5 and PS4 library is digital these days. I understand why the industry is increasingly transitioning away from physical media, and I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t address that right from the off. However, I still purchase plenty of cartridges and discs, and I believe boxed games still...
News Microsoft, Activision Cut 1,900 Jobs in More Video Game Layoffs
Bethesda employees also affected
Microsoft will be laying off 1,900 workers across its gaming divisions, an IGN report reveals. Divisions affected include internal teams at Microsoft, Bethesda, and the recently acquired Activision Blizzard. In a message sent to staff, Xbox head Phil Spencer said those affected will receive "severance benefits...
News TMNT: The Last Ronin Dev Reportedly Cut in Half After Layoffs
May have lost 55 workers
Black Forest Games, the developer behind the recent Destroy All Humans! remakes and the upcoming TMNT: The Last Ronin, has reportedly lost half its employees following a round of layoffs. A headcount in 2023 suggested the team had 110 staff members, meaning it could be down to roughly 55 workers after the cuts. Speaking with...
News Outriders Dev People Can Fly Reportedly Hit by Layoffs
Industries' bleak toll rises
People Can Fly, the Polish developer behind games like Outriders and Bulletstorm, is reportedly the latest to be hit by layoffs. Over 30 people have been impacted, all working on an as-yet-unannounced game codenamed Project Gemini, which was to be published by Square Enix. That's according to a report from Kotaku, who...
News Baldur's Gate 3 Secures Game of the Year from New York Video Game Critics Circle
Neil Druckmann recieves Andrew Yoon Legend Award
Despite it almost being February, RPG-to-beat Baldur's Gate 3 has secured another prestigious Game of the Year win, this time from the New York Video Game Critics Circle. As previously announced, there, at the New York Game Awards, Naughty Dog's Neil Druckmann received the Andrew Yoon Legend Award for...
News Focus Entertainment Inexplicably Rebranding to PulluP Entertainment in April 2024
It's a palindrome!
The French publisher, soon to be formerly known as Focus Entertainment, has announced it will be rebranding in April 2024, changing its name to PulluP Entertainment. Using an annoying combination of capital letters, PulluP is a palindrome and can thus be spelt both forwards and backwards, if needed. We think the news is some...
News CD Projekt Red Dabbling in AI, Considering Multiplayer for Cyberpunk 2
It's thematically appopriate
Having closed the book on Cyberpunk 2077 with the release of the Phantom Liberty expansion, Warsaw-based developer CD Projekt Red is looking towards the future. In addition to the next Witcher game, a Cyberpunk sequel (which we hope is called 2078) is officially underway, and, appropriately, the company has established a...
News RPG Dev Piranha Bytes Struggling to Find a Publisher for Next Game
"We are in a difficult situation"
Elex, Gothic, and Risen team Piranha Bytes has taken to Twitter to share the news it's currently trying to find a publisher for its next game as it works through a "difficult situation". The statement comes after speculation the developer had been shut down following further cuts at the Embracer Group. This doesn't...
News GDC Report Finds One-Third of Developers Hit by Layoffs in Past Year
And other portents of a grim future
Some 35% of game development studios have been affected by layoffs in the past year, and more than half are concerned about future cuts at their place of employment. That's according to the annual report commissioned by the Game Developers Conference (GDC), organisers of the world's largest industry professional...
News Remedy Has Clarified Logo Issue, Recently Resolved Amicably with Take-Two
Nothing to see here
In case you needed a hand, Remedy's logo is on the left and Rockstar's is on the right. Update (18/1/24): Remedy has reached out to Game File reporter Stephen Totilo with a statement about the logo dispute between it and Rockstar. In a nutshell, it's nothing to worry about: A representative of the studio said: "...this was a...
News Rocksteady Co-Founders Form New Studio Called Hundred Star Games
Should have gone with "Bebop"
Rocksteady co-founders Sefton Hill and Jamie Walker have announced the formation of a new development studio called Hundred Star Games, based in London. They've apparently amassed a staff of some 25 developers and aim to expand to a sustainable 100 "industry veterans and emerging talents", presumably putting them to...
News You Should Get 'Comfortable' with Not Owning Your Games, Suggests Ubisoft Exec
Just like CD and DVD collections
Ubisoft's director of subscriptions Philippe Tremblay has suggested gamers will soon need to feel "comfortable" about not owning the games they play as more come bundled within a subscription service. Speaking in a new interview with GamesIndustry.biz about a new tier for Ubisoft+, Tremblay likens the process to your...
News GTA 5 Michael Voice Actor Calls Out 'Garbage' AI Chatbot Using His Voice
"This is f**king bullsh*t"
Ned Luke, the actor who portrays Michael in GTA 5 (one of three playable protagonists), has called out an AI company called WAME for advertising a chatbot that claims to let users have "a realistic voice conversation with Michael De Santa". As reported by PCGamesN, Luke minced no words, responding to a WAME post on...
News UK's GAME Stores to Stop Accepting Trade-Ins from Next Month
Will sell pre-owned stock until it runs out
Staff at UK video game retailer GAME have told Eurogamer the outlet won't be accepting physical game trade-ins from next month. Starting 16th February 2024, GAME will refuse trade-ins of boxed games but will continue to sell pre-owned titles until stock runs out. The move makes it more difficult for...
News Here's Why Sony Is Making Big Moves in the Mobile Games Sector
Many games making $1 billion each year
New data revealing the highest-grossing mobile games of 2023 has made it plain to see why Sony is taking strides into the sector in search of its own piece of the pie. Companies like Tencent are making just shy of $5 billion per year from their mobile games alone, with Honor of Kings and PUBG Mobile both making...
News Publishing Exec Claims 'There Are Too Many Games'
Nacon on the pressures of the market and more
We’ve probably all felt the pinch at some point: there are, quite simply, too many games. It’s not even a case of quality anymore: we all probably find ourselves in a situation where there’s more software available than we have time to try. And it’s something publishers are increasingly finding...
News PS1 Veteran Shuji Utsumi Appointed SEGA's New Western Boss
No pressure
PlayStation veteran Shuji Utsumi has been appointed President/COO and CEO of SEGA America and Europe, top billing in Western markets. The reshuffling was announced by SEGA Sammy, the parent company of both the SEGA and Sammy corporations (which manufacture pachinko machines). Utsumi has an impressive list of credits to his name. Of...
News Anger as SAG-AFTRA Strikes Deal for AI Voice Acting in Video Games
Audible gasps
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, is an American labour union that represents some 160,000 media professionals. The organisation recently fought for the rights of Hollywood actors in their battle against AI and signalled it would do the same for performers in the video game...
News Twitch Reportedly Cutting 500 Jobs in Latest Round of Layoffs
This year shaping up to be like the last
Video game streaming giant Twitch is cutting 500 jobs, reducing its workforce by around 35%. That's according to a new report from Bloomberg, and along with the 1800 layoffs already planned over at Unity Software, it marks a grim start to 2024 in the games space. In 2023, the Amazon-owned video platform...
News Gran Turismo Dev to Collaborate with Sony Honda on Real-Life Car
Test drive AFEELA in Gran Turismo 7 for free
Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital, already at the heart of so many different projects, will collaborate with Sony Honda Mobility on its real-life electric vehicle, AFEELA. The partnership was announced during the Japanese giant’s CES 2024 press conference overnight, although exactly what the...
News Unity Software to Cut 1,800 Jobs in Wake of Runtime Fee Fiasco
A quarter of all employees
The price of Unity Software's surreal own goal last year was being felt after the next stage in its "company reset" mandate was revealed. The company said (in regulatory filing and internal company memo on Monday) it would target laying off approximately 25% of its workforce, some 1,800 jobs, across all business areas...
News PlayStation's Head of Third Party Deals and Acquisitions Gives Insight into How It All Works
The best place to play
Over the last few years especially, PlayStation as a company has been difficult to read. Sony's video game arm has adopted a secretive strategy ever since it launched the PS5, and so any degree of insight that we get into PlayStation's inner workings is always interesting. And this is where Shawne Benson enters the equation...
News Sony's Third-Party Chief Explains How PlayStation Makes PS5 the Best Place to Play
"They're the experts at making a great game"
Vanishingly few games on PS5 are actually exclusive, but Sony has done an outstanding job since the start of the generation of setting its system apart. A lot of this has revolved around the unique features of the DualSense controller, and PlayStation’s Global Head of Third-Party Portfolio Shawne Benson...
News Analysts Anticipate a Tougher Year for Live Service As Sony Aims to Infiltrate Sector
Oversaturation is becoming an issue
Sony may have placed its bets on live service too late – at least, that’s what one analyst appears to be alluding to. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz as part of a 2024 predictions post, analyst Tom Wijman from firm Newzoo has hinted he expects a downturn in live service game development as the market reaches...
News Despite Circling Wolves, CD Projekt Red Not Interested in Being Acquired
Aard luck
CD Projekt Red has seemingly weathered a storm of its creation, the chaotic launch of Cyberpunk 2077, which was ultimately redeemed through years of additional work culminating with the release of Phantom Liberty. With another Witcher game in development and a trio of other projects in the offing, it's an exciting time for the Polish...
News The Sinking City Dev Frogwares Emerges Victorious Following Lengthy Legal Battle
Sinking no longer
Ukrainian developer Frogwares has emerged victorious following a lengthy legal battle with then-publisher Nacon over the Lovecraftian detective game The Sinking City. Frogwares is now the sole publisher of the IP across all platforms, and this development hopefully signals the end of the tumultuous tale. Longtime readers and...