Tag: Industry
News This RAM Crisis Is Looking Like a Nightmare for the PS6
RAMpage
It’s not been an easy generation for console manufacturers like PlayStation. Sony has had to contend with the coronavirus pandemic and the impact that subsequently had on supply chains. Then it’s had to deal with rising component costs and US tariffs. And now it’s navigating a RAM crisis. While word is the platform holder has...
News Here Are All the Winners from This Year's PlayStation Partner Awards in Japan
Top picks
Earlier today, Sony held its annual PlayStation Partner Awards ceremony in Japan. The event is designed to recognise the output of third-parties and indies, with the platform holder handing out awards to recognise the titles which have contributed to the PS5’s success over the past year. This has actually been an annual tradition ever...
News Sounds Like Saudi Arabia Will Own Almost All of EA After Buyout
And the publisher will be saddled with debt
EA will be acquired by a consortium including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, alongside US-based investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. This much we already know. However, an exclusive report from the
News Splinter Cell Remake Gets Its Original Game Director Back
David Grivel rejoins after three years away
There's newfound hope the Splinter Cell Remake will one day release, as the project's first game director has rejoined development on the title three years after his departure. David Grivel posted to his LinkedIn profile one week ago that he was "very happy to announce that I'm rejoining Ubisoft Toronto...
Success wasn't sexy
One of the biggest stories of the PS4 is how Mark Cerny designed a developer-first console which returned Sony to its position as market leader. While the PS3 eventually sold well, it endured a particularly tough time, owing to its complicated architecture which made making games for it a challenge. First-party developers like...
News Sony Accused of Using Generative AI Art for PlayStation Advent Calendar Promo
Here we go again
Sony is the latest organisation to be taken to task for appearing to make use of AI generated artwork. Fortunately, this doesn’t relate to a game, and is instead part of an advent calendar promotion which appears to be targeting Canadian, German, French, and Dutch gamers primarily. As of yet, we’ve not seen any reference of it...
News Nintendo Buys Singapore Studio Behind Papercraft PS5 Console Exclusive Hirogami
Will be renamed Nintendo Studios Singapore
Nintendo will buy Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, the dev behind this year’s papercraft PS5 console exclusive Hirogami. The team – which was founded 12 years ago, in 2013 – has worked as a support studio on a variety of different projects, including Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown and SoulCalibur 6. But...
News Bloodlines 2 Publisher Accepts the Blame Over $37 Million Failure
"Responsibility lies fully with us as the publisher"
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 publisher Paradox Interactive has announced it is writing down $37 million in development costs after sales of the vampire title failed to meet expectations. It's also taking ownership over the overall release's failure, including the lukewarm critical...
News Suddenly the PS5 Pro Doesn't Look That Expensive Anymore
DRAM currently costs more than an entire console
Ever since the pandemic in 2020, it feels like we’ve been bouncing from one global crisis to another. In the tech sphere specifically, we’ve seen semi-conductor shortages and tariffs impact products like gaming consoles. Now, the AI boom is having a profound effect on the price of DRAM, with...
News Xbox Devs 'Thrilled' to Be Bringing Their Games to PS5
Happy days
Many of Xbox’s first-party studios are allegedly “thrilled” to be able to bring their games to the PS5, according to Bloomberg’s highly reliable Jason Schreier. Last year, Microsoft announced plans to bring “four” exclusive titles to Sony’s console. This eventually snowballed to the point where practically every tentpole...
News Valve Won't Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5
"It's more in line with current PC market"
We don’t know the price of Valve’s new Steam Machine and that means it’s difficult to determine just how competitive it’ll be against the PS5. But a report that’s doing the rounds via Linus Tech Tips suggests the new console-like hardware won’t necessarily be going head-to-head with Sony’s...
News Ubisoft Is All In on Generative AI, Says It's as Big a Leap in Tech as the 'Shift to 3D'
Generative game
Publisher Ubisoft is making no secret of its plans to utilise generative AI tech — at least, it certainly sounds that way in new comments from CEO Yves Guillemot. The controversial technology has been a hot topic of discussion in the industry for a while now, and as it begins to feed into the games we're playing, it's rubbing some...
News New Report Finds Almost Half of US Kids Are After In-Game Currency for Christmas
Good luck wrapping that
In a sign of the times that makes us feel old, a new report has found that nearly half of the USA's children are planning to ask for in-game currencies this Christmas. A survey conducted by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) asked over 700 kids about video game gifts, with nearly three out of five respondents...
News Tomb Raider Dev Loses Another 30 Staff in New Round of Layoffs
Crystal Dynamics shrinks again
Crystal Dynamics, the development studio currently working on a new Tomb Raider game, has announced a round of layoffs hitting the company. The news comes via a post on the company's LinkedIn page, where it states just under 30 job cuts "across various departments and projects" in a bid to "restructure the company and...
News Stellar Blade Success Helps Korean Games Thrive, Ex PlayStation Boss Believes
Shu Yoshida praises Shift Up title
The success of PS5, PC action title Stellar Blade is the sort of catalyst that could propel the Korean games industry into the mainstream, former PlayStation president Shuhei Yoshida believes. In an interview with Minimap at the G-Star games exhibition in Busan, Korea, the former PlayStation lead discussed the...
News Sony Speaks on Bungie Acquisition Disaster, Takes an 'Impairment Loss'
Sales, user engagement fallen short of expectations
Sony's $3.6 billion purchase of Destiny 2 developer Bungie has, for all intents and purposes, been an utter disaster, and the PS5, PS4 hardware maker all but knows it at this point. Having bought the studio to assist its push into the live-service space, Sony has cancelled multiple multiplayer...
News The UK Government Shoots Down 'Stop Killing Games' Campaign in Official Debate
At least the words "Crash Bandicoot" were spoken in parliament
Last week, the UK's governing body held an official debate about the Stop Killing Games campaign, and it seems nothing will change — for now, at the very least. Stop Killing Games is a consumer rights campaign that, broadly, asks for alternative ways to play online games once they...
News Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail Dev Turns to Unreal Engine 5 Realism for Next Project
Mentioned on recruitment website
Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail maker HoYoverse is on top of the world right now, and it’s releasing new games at a steady pace. Long-time fans will note two new titles were revealed recently: the Animal Crossing-inspired Petit Planet (which is curr
News Don't Expect Any PS5 Exclusives from Square Enix in the Future
That era is over
We know Square Enix is deeply invested in its new multiformat strategy, but new documentation from the publisher reveals just how much its banking on the initiative. In a presentation part of its latest financial results, it dedicated a slide to “strengthening consumer contact points”, which in essence shows a list of PS5...
"Rockstar can't get away with this"
Rockstar management was underfire last week after sacking approximately 30-40 employees across its UK and Canadian offices. Labour leaders alleged that the firings were related to the staffers’ attempt to unionise, but the GTA giant has hit back at the claims. In a statement to Bloomberg, the firm said it took...
News Square Enix Wants 70% of Its QA and Debugging Work Done by Gen AI
Hopes to reach the figure by the end of 2027
Square Enix, unfortunately, looks to be another video games firm embracing generative AI, as it posts plans to have 70% of its development QA and debugging handled by the controversial method by the end of 2027. As part of a progress report in its medium-term business plan, the publisher confirmed it's...
News Study Claims Physical PS5 Games Are 100 Times Worse for the Planet Than Digital Downloads
Fresh perspective
Those of you who prefer to purchase physical games may have another factor to consider moving forward: their impact on the planet. A fascinating report by French carbon accounting firm Greenly, as published by GamesIndustry.biz, delves into the environmental cost of buying Blu-rays as opposed to digital downloads. The study...
News Remakes Eclipse Remasters for PS5 Gamers, Generate Double the Money
New research report reveals
Remakes of older video games generate double the money than remasters, research conducted over the past two years has revealed. Ampere Analysis examined 15 remakes and 27 remasters between January 2024 and September 2025, and discovered that spending worldwide is, on average, 2.2x higher on remakes compared to remasters...
News EA Believes AI Will Empower Its Employees to Put 'Creativity First'
A "thoughtful, steady" approach
If you’re already tired of reading about the impact of AI on both the games industry and the world at large, strap yourself in for more of the same. We’re on the precipice right now. EA is one company already all-in on the technology, with Business Insider recently reporting on how management from the Californian...
Public voting now open
Public voting for the Golden Joystick Awards 2025's most talked-about prize is now open. The annual awards show takes place later this month, on the 20th November, and features public voting across a wide range of categories. But as alluded, 'Ultimate Game of the Year' is the big one. 12 titles have been nominated, and...
News Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Horii Becomes First Game Dev to Receive Japanese Government Award
Quest complete
Living Dragon Quest legend Yuji Horii just made history in his native Japan. The 71 year old has received the 'Order of the Rising Sun' — a government-issued honour that recognises outstanding service within a particular field. Horii's the first game developer to ever claim the award; in the past, it's been presented to prominent...
News Sony Stands with Japan's Creators in AI Copyright Crackdown
Anime giants unite against Sora 2
Sony’s anime subsidiary Aniplex is one of several major Content Overseas Distribution Association (CODA) members who’s requested the organisation write to OpenAI about the unauthorised training of its content by video generator Sora 2. Sora 2 allows users to write prompts in order to create short videos and...
News Generative AI Won't Be Creating the Next GTA, Says Take-Two Boss
"You end up with something pretty derivative"
Most video game publishers seem to agree — to varying levels — that generative AI will have its uses in development. However, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick seems particularly sceptical about what it can achieve. Speaking at a technology summit recently, Zelnick shared his views on large language...
News Sony Bend's PS5 Game Cancellation Could Be Seen Coming, Says Ex Dev
Didn't make "enough substantial progress" in three years
A former employee of Days Gone developer Bend Studio has commented that the cancellation of the team's live service game could be seen coming prior to it being made official. According to Robert Morrison, who spent almost three years at the developer (from July 2022 to June 2025) as a senior...
"In all these 26 years, no one ever told me"
An excellent article from our friends at Time Extension revealed recently how close Hideo Kojima potentially came to creating a game based on seminal action movie The Matrix. According to Christopher Bergstresser, a former vice president of licensing at Konami Digital Entertainment, the Wachowskis were...
News 'Significant' Layoffs Are Set to Hit Amazon Game Studios
Company will downsize development efforts
Amazon Game Studios is set to feel the effects of a company-wide round of layoffs. As reported by Bloomberg, the number of people affected was not disclosed, only that the job cuts in the company's video game division will be "significant". Overall, the layoffs across the whole company will amount to an...
News EA's Game Development Is Very Quickly Becoming an AI-Driven Hellscape, Report Claims
From bad to worse
It feels like we're hurtling towards a future where big publishers value AI over actual employees, and so this new report on EA's current trajectory makes for some particularly dire reading. The colossal company, which, let's not forget, has agreed to be bought out by a Saudi-led investment consortium, is apparently forcing AI...
News PUBG and Hi-Fi Rush Owner Krafton Is Spending $70 Million to Become an 'AI-First Company'
"A complete reorganization of the company's operational development system"
South Korean gaming giant Krafton has announced that it is investing almost $70 million to become an "AI-first company". As reported by PC Gamer, the firm – which owns PUGB Studios and Tango Gameworks, creators of Hi-Fi Rush –
News Former Battlefield Boss Says Video Games 'Can't Be Built By An Al'
"I hope they never can. The human aspect is still essential"
Patrick Söderlund has certainly been around the block a few times. The former CEO of Battlefield studio DICE can also list the title of Executive Vice President of Worldwide Studios at Electronic Arts on his CV, so it's fair to say that he knows a little bit about interactive...
News Sony Rules Out Acquiring Batman, Mortal Kombat Maker Warner Bros
Doesn't want a "big Hollywood M&A deal" right now
Sony has ruled itself out as one of the companies interested in acquiring Warner Bros after it essentially put itself up for sale. Last week, Warner Bros revealed it has "initiated a review of strategic alternatives to maximise shareholder value". The quote came after rumours of bids for the firm...
"We're competing more and more against TikTok"
By bringing its signature release Halo: Campaign Evolved to the PS5, Xbox has underlined once and for all that its business is going in a different direction. This was already evident from the success of ports like Gears of War Reloaded and Forza Horizon 5, but Master Chief is so symbolic of...
News New EA Partnership Will 'Reimagine How Games Are Made' with AI
"Would you like me to add some lens flare to that?"
The AI boom has arrived, and it’s infiltrating the video game industry at large. Stability AI, a “leading independent and multi-modal generative AI company”, has announced a strategic partnership with EA to “co-develop transformative generative AI models, tools, and workflows that empower...
News This Is Why Xbox Is Bringing All of Its Games to PS5 Now
Insight into what's been going on at Redmond
Xbox has undoubtedly become one of the biggest publishers on PlayStation – but it may not be entirely through choice. A new article from Bloomberg (paywalled) delves into the business decisions behind Microsoft’s sudden multiformat move, and while little of it will surprise, it does add clarity to...
News Xbox Boss Believes Sony's Strategy of Console Exclusives Is 'Antiquated'
"The biggest games in the world are available everywhere"
Xbox fans against the organisation’s multiformat strategy may want to close their eyes now, as boss Sarah Bond is signalling her company has no plans to explore exclusivity again. In an interview with Mashable, she pointed out that all of the biggest games in the world are available...
News Remedy CEO Out in Aftermath of FBC: Firebreak Disaster
Live (out of) service
Remedy CEO Tero Virtala has stepped down with immediate effect, as the Finnish studio deals with the fallout of its live service disaster. Last week the company revealed that it was effectively writing off the entire development budget of FBC: Firebreak, after the first-person shooter failed to find a foothold in the crowded...
News Former God of War Dev Says Major Studios Should Make Smaller Games to Complement the Big Ones
"Double-A and single-A, and then perhaps indie as well right?"
It's no secret that triple-A game development is becoming unsustainably expensive, so to support major titles, big studios should look to diversify the scale of their productions. That's according to Meghan Morgan Juinio, a producer who worked at Santa Monica Studio for 10 years on the...
News Sony's Increasing Power Over Anime Is Starting to Raise Some Eyebrows
Part of the club
There’s an interesting story about anime on Automaton, and how Sony’s increasing death grip on the medium could be potentially causing issues. The story revolves around Ichiro Yamaguchi, the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band Sakanaction. He noted earlier in the year that he’d like to produce the soundtracks for more...
News Sony's MLB The Show Finally Seems Set to Throw Down on PC
San Diego Studio staffing up
Sony’s San Diego Studio, the makers of the MLB The Show franchise, finally seem set to bring the series to PC. Many of you will know MLB forced PlayStation to launch the franchise on more platforms, which has resulted in recent entries being available on Xbox and Switch. But considering the platform holder launches...
News Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive Legend Tomonobu Itagaki Has Passed Away
"I kept winning"
Legendary Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive director, the eternally sunglassed Tomonobu Itagaki, has passed away. He was aged just 58. A post on Facebook first broke the news, but it has since been corroborated by James Mielke on Bluesky. The original social media post reads, as translated by Google: “Last Words The light of my...
Stockman syndrome
What does the future of Saints Row actually look like? Well, let's be honest, there probably isn't one at this point — not after the 2022 reboot bombed — but at least the series' original design director is up for giving it another chance. In an especially large interview with Esports Insider, Chris Stockman — who again,...
News Summer Game Fest Will Reveal 'What's Next for Video Games' on 5th June, 2026
Save the date
The hype cycle is underway for next year’s Summer Game Fest, which will stream live from 5th June, 2026. The event will be hosted from a new location this time: the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Previous broadcasts have been presented from the YouTube Theatre, which has double the audience capacity. While it’s far too early to...
News Assassin's Creed Boss Leaves Ubisoft Just Weeks After Tencent's Development Reshuffle
Everything is permitted
The franchise lead for Assassin's Creed has reportedly stepped away from Ubisoft, just two weeks after the company's new Tencent-led reshuffle came into effect. In case you haven't heard, Assassin's Creed as a whole — along with Far Cry and Rainbow Six — is now being spearheaded by the newly formed Vantage Studios, which...
News As Fans Demand inFAMOUS Remasters, Sucker Punch Says It Can Only Work on One Game at a Time
On the Sly
Ghost of Yotei dev doesn’t anticipate a future where it’s juggling multiple projects at once. The Seattle-based studio has been a PlayStation powerhouse for multiple generations now, but with production lifecycles getting longer, some fans had been hoping the team may be able to take on more than one project at a time. Specifically,...
News Sony's Bluepoint Studio Recruiting for Third-Person Melee Action Game
Back on its feet
It sounds like Sony first-party Bluepoint is staffing up again following the cancellation of its live service God of War game last year. The remaster specialists – who haven’t released a new project since Demon’s Souls, but did help Santa Monica Studio on God of War Ragnarok – are looking for a
News The MindsEye Situation Only Gets Uglier as Devs Accuse Management of Mistreatment
MindsEye of the storm
MindsEye has been an unmitigated disaster for developer Build A Rocket Boy, and somehow, the whole situation just got even worse. Following on from a wave of layoffs and reports that roughly 300 employees' jobs were at risk, the project's management — specifically ex-GTA producer Leslie Benzies and co-CEO Mark Gerhard — is...
