Tag: Industry - Page 11
News Marvel Not Planning MCU-Esque Connected Universe for Games
"Everyone has the freedom to tell their story"
Marvel, fresh from dominating theatres, is expanding its output of video games – led, of course, by Sony’s own Spider-Man and Wolverine adaptations. With a new Iron Man announced earlier this week, as well other in-development projects like Amy Hennig’s Captain America and Black Panth
News Ubisoft Issues Strong Response to Embargo Breaking YouTuber
Did it all for the clout
Update: Ubisoft has issued a statement aimed at the YouTuber who broke embargoes on an alter-ego’s Twitter account before being caught. Dan Allen Gaming masqueraded as the TheRealInsider on social media, leaking sensitive information he’d been privy to as part of his YouTube channel. A lot of this information was...
News Overwatch 2 Lead Hero Designer Geoff Goodman Departs Blizzard
Goodman left the company earlier this year
Geoff Goodman, the lead hero designer for the massive and iconic cast of characters in Overwatch and the upcoming Overwatch 2, has left Blizzard. The company confirmed the departure in a statement to PC Gamer. The specifics remain unclear, but a Blizzard spokesperson said that Goodman "made the decision to...
News Publisher 2K the Latest Victim of the Great Hackening
Hack the planet
It looks like 2K is the latest company to fall prey to digital bad actors, with an unauthorised third party gaining access to the publisher's customer support and help desk platforms. The company swiftly put out a statement, which you can read in full below. 2K has warned users against opening emails or clicking on links sent from...
News Ex-PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Lands New Job at Tencent
Joins as a strategic advisor
PlayStation has had its fair share of corporate shake-ups in the last few years, with a few executives climbing the ladder, switching focus, or jumping ship. Shawn Layden left the company in 2019, much to the dismay of industry enthusiasts. What he's been up to in the meantime has been less in the public domain, but a...
News Gigantic GTA 6 Leak Confirmed Real as Devs Show Support for Rockstar
"Everyone loses"
Update: Rockstar itself has now also commented on the leak. Read more through the link. Original Story: In case you somehow missed it, GTA 6 was unceremoniously leaked to the public with about 90 video clips of early, mid-development footage. There was some question as to whether this was the real deal or an extremely elaborate...
News Sony Won't Let Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Acquisition Go, Stresses It's Bad for Gaming
Deal to be further investigated
Update: Microsoft has responded to Sony's comments about the acquisition with yet another statement to GamesIndustry. A spokesperson said: "It makes zero business sense for Microsoft to remove Call of Duty from PlayStation given its market leading console position." This doesn't necessarily mean Microsoft would keep...
News Ubisoft Joins $70 Game Train, Skull and Bones the First
But not all games will be that high a price
Ubisoft has announced it's joining the likes of Sony and 2K in increasing the prices of its games to $70 on PS5. This will begin with November release Skull and Bones and applies to the publisher's "big AAA games". The French company has demonstrated it'll show some restraint, however, as Assassin's Creed...
Reaction Publishers Are Getting Worse at Nintendo Direct-Style Livestreams
Tune out
Publishers need to better understand their audiences before hosting insipid livestreams. While we’re hesitant to criticise companies too hard – after all, we’re not owed semi-regular broadcasts from the likes of Ubisoft, EA, et al – the reality is that these Nintendo Direct-inspired marketing drops are getting worse. It would appear...
News Deviation Games Co-Founder Jason Blundell Departs Studio
Dave Anthony will continue to lead as CEO
Deviation Games is a studio founded by ex-Treyarch developers Jason Blundell and Dave Anthony, who worked on various Call of Duty projects prior. The studio announced Blundell's departure on Twitter, and details as to the reason why are scant at the time of writing. Anthony will continue to lead the...
News Crystal Dynamics Now Owns Tomb Raider, Legacy of Kain Franchises
Bought off Square Enix
New Embracer Group developer Crystal Dynamics has today revealed it's taken control of the Tomb Raider and Legacy of Kain IPs along with "several game franchises". It sees ownership transfer from Square Enix over to the California-based team following its acquisition by the Embracer Group. This news was an inevitability...
News PlayStation Bites Back At 'Inadequate' Call of Duty Offer from Microsoft
Jim Ryan says Xbox only offered three years
Wow! This is really freakin’ spicy, to say the least! Earlier this week, Microsoft bigwig Phil Spencer publicly revealed that his company had provided a “signed agreement” to Sony that would guarantee Call of Duty remains on PlayStation consoles for “several more years” beyond the Japanese...
News Key PS5, PS4 Boss Masayasu Ito Set to Retire After 36 Years at Sony
Lin Tao now SIE vice president
Sony has confirmed that Masayasu Ito will retire from the company on the 1st October. You may have seen Ito's name mentioned in various corporate-focused articles over the years, and that's because he's the vice president of Sony Interactive Entertainment — a key figure in the overall business of PlayStation. Ito's...
News Supermassive Games' Next Title in Development, Could Stray from Teen Horror Genre
Adult horror? Horror for kids?
The next game from Until Dawn and The Quarry developer Supermassive is currently in development, has a tentative release window of 2025 or 2026, and will be equivalent in size to previous games. Intriguingly, it may also depart from the well-worn realm of teen horror. In an interview with VGC, studio director Will...
Made back in January
A new statement shared with The Verge has revealed that Microsoft and Sony signed an agreement back in January to keep the Call of Duty series on PlayStation hardware for "several more years" after any current contracts expire. The news follows a statement from the UK government that
News UK Government Investigating Xbox's Activision Buyout Further
Microsoft issues response
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has today revealed its investigation into Microsoft's proposed purchase of Call of Duty maker Activision requires more time in a "phase two" study. The initial findings have raised concerns about how "Microsoft could use its control over popular games like Call of Duty and World of...
News NetEase to Fully Acquire Detroit: Become Human Studio Quantic Dream
Dreaming big
Chinese company NetEase has announced it will acquire Quantic Dream, the developer behind the likes of Heavy Rain and Detroit: Become Human. Already holding a minority stake, NetEase will fully own the studio once the deal closes. Quantic Dream will retain its creative independence, and will be the company's first European studio as it...
News Sony to Acquire Minority Stake in Elden Ring Dev FromSoftware
Tencent, too
FromSoftware, the studio behind hit RPGs like Elden Ring and Dark Souls, has today announced it will be selling new shares to both Sony and Tencent. Kadokawa Corporation, the current owner of FromSoft, will retain the majority of shares, owning 69.66 per cent of the studio. Sony will purchase a 14.09 per cent stake, and Tencent...
News Help Make PS5's Next Big Online Multiplayer Game with London Studio's Paid Internship
Player One Programme announced
Getting into creative industries can be incredibly tough, and with gaming still somewhat secretive about how the sausage is made, it can feel impossible at times if you're looking to break in. Fortunately, opportunities do present themselves from time to time, and today, PlayStation's London Studio has announced a very...
News System Shock Sequels are a Matter for Tencent to Decide, Says IP Owner
One step at a time
Nightdive Studios, the developer of the upcoming System Shock remake and owner of the original IP, says that the future of the franchise is now in the hands of publisher Tencent. Speaking to VGC at Gamescom, Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick explained that the rights to the third game, which has been in development under studio...
News PlayStation Acquires Savage Game Studios, Focusing on Mobile Games
PlayStation Studios grows once again
PlayStation has today announced its plan to acquire Savage Game Studios to bolster its mobile games development. Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation Studios, made the announcement over on the PS Blog. If you don't know the team, it's a company comprising two European studios that make mobile games. Among its staff...
News Amazon Not Acquiring EA After All, Rumour Debunked
They won't
Update 2: USA Today's original report has been updated. The publication now says GLHF, a Swedish games media company, cited "unnamed and unvetted sources", and the initial claim that Amazon would announce its purchase of EA has been removed completely. Effectively, the rumour has been reduced to nothing. Given this update and CNBC's...
News Embracer Completes Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal Acquisition
Another win for consolidation
While it looks like Amazon will not be buying EA after all, Embracer Group has completed its acquisition of Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and various other assets. According to a
News PS5 Is the Only Console Getting Price Rise, Microsoft and Nintendo Have 'No Plans'
Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch price increases denied
Microsoft and Nintendo have both stated they won't be increasing the price of their respective consoles in the wake of Sony's decision to raise the cost of a PS5 in many major territories. It means Sony is the only platformer holder deciding to do so — the price increases were effective...
News Why the PS5's Price Hasn't Changed in USA
Two cents
Sony is being absolutely slaughtered on social media for increasing the price of the PS5 outside of the United States. Many are understandably frustrated that the firm appears to be gouging consumers across Europe, Australia, and its native Japan. While that criticism is founded, it’s also important to look at the facts. The US dollar...
News Huge! Hideo Kojima Plots New Spotify Podcast
Brain Structure debuts next month
Host Geoff Keighley and ex-Konami developer Hideo Kojima’s bromance is renowned for bearing plump video game fruits – but the auteur is not yet ready to unveil his latest projects, which will presumably include Death Stranding 2. Keighley had two-hours (!!!) of airtime to fill during Gamescom Opening Night Live
News PS5's Star Wars KOTOR Remake Handed to a Different Studio
Embracer Group uses the force
The troubled PS5 remake of Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic has been handed to a different developer, according to reliable Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier. The project – which had been in production at Aspyr Media – will now be led by one of Saber Interactive’s Eastern European teams. Maybe they should...
Like sheep to slaughter
God, how do these rumours gain traction? It would appear that people are incapable of using their brains. Following on from Microsoft’s insinuation that Sony is paying to keep games off Xbox Game Pass – a notion that’s already misleading, as the Redmond firm is really referring to bog-standard marketing deals – a...
News This Is Every Game Dev the Embracer Group Owns
Extend, embrace, extinguish
Swedish juggernaut corp Embracer Group woke up feeling dangerous – and purchased another enormous chunk of the video game industry as a result. The holding company now has approximately 120 game developers under its umbrella, spread across a vast array of divisions and subsidiaries all over the globe. We thought, given...
News Embracer Group Buys The Lord of the Rings IP, Maneater Dev, Limited Run, and More
Plus another mystery developer
The ever-growing Embracer Group has announced another wave of acquisitions that sees it take ownership of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit IPs via Middle-earth Enterprises. It has also bought Maneater studio Tripwire Interactive, Teardown team Tuxedo Labs, the physical game publisher Limited Run Games, and the...
News This Unity Tech Demo Running on PS5 Is Super Impressive, and We Ain't Lion
Roarsome
Engine tech demos give us a glimpse at what's to come in the world of video game visuals. We've already seen several examples, with Unreal Engine 5 being a prime example with its amazing ancient city and that playable Matrix demo. However, Unity has been in on the action too; in March it released its
News Microsoft Accuses Sony of Paying to Block Games from Xbox Game Pass
Sony pays "block fees" to publishers
Microsoft has claimed Sony pays publishers and developers "block fees" to stop them from putting their titles on Xbox Game Pass. In response to Sony's assertions that the Call of Duty franchise influences "users' console choice" and lacks a proper rival, the Xbox Series X|S maker has said Sony is stalling the...
News Tencent Poised to Take Major Stake in French Publisher Ubisoft
Chinese titan en route to seal deal
Tencent looks poised to become the largest shareholder in Ubisoft, as it flies to France to secure a deal with the Guillemot family, who founded the firm and currently control 15 per cent of its shares. According to a report by Reuters, the Chinese juggernaut is aiming to become the largest single shareholder of...
News EA Insists Single Player Is Important, and May Have More Marvel on the Way
Stark contrast
Remember when EA tried to poke fun at single player games and the Internet kicked its ass? Well, the publisher has changed its tune. Speaking during a quarterly financial call, the company said that solo adventures are a “really, really important part” of its product mix – and, to be fair, that is reflected in its current...
News EA Squashes Rumours of Acquisition, Will Remain Independent
"I don't think we could be in a stronger position"
Electronic Arts is one of the largest video game publishers there is, but as evidenced by Microsoft's enormous takeover of Activision Blizzard, that doesn't necessarily mean it'll remain independent. Earlier this year, we heard reports that the Californian company had been in talks with major...
News Sony Sounds Shook by Xbox's Activision Buyout, Says Call of Duty Has No Rival
Reckons series "influences users' console choice"
Sony sounds terrified of Xbox’s unprecedented Activision Blizzard buyout – and it’s easy to understand why. While the Japanese giant has historically had its own way in the console business, it now finds itself up against a competitor with unrestricted access to its parent company’s trillion...
News Sony Coy on Potential PS5 Price Increase
"There is nothing specific to share"
Sony has failed to rule out a potential PS5 price increase, as it said there is “nothing specific to share” on the subject. Speaking to investors in an earnings call earlier in the week, the company was asked about a hypothetical hike after it bumped the MSRP of a number of its home electronics, including...
News Sony to Take Action as PS5, PS4 Owners Play Less Than Anticipated
Firm forecasted much better engagement
One of the key details from Sony’s quarterly financial report today – which also confirmed that the PS5 has shipped 21.7 million consoles – is that PS5 and PS4 owners are playing less than they were a year ago. The manufacturer noted that total gameplay time is down a sizeable 15 per cent year-over-year...
News 21.7 Million PS5 Consoles Shipped by End of June 2022
Projected profit lowered by $0.4 billion
Sony has shipped 21.7 million PS5 systems to retailers as of 31st June 2022, the firm confirmed in its financial results for Q1 of fiscal year 2022. 2.4 million consoles were shipped during that three-month period, which represents a slight increase of 100,000 across the same period for the previous fiscal...
Random Sony Bend's Bespoke Office Arcade Cabinet Has Us Green with Envy
Gabe over
The cool thing about working at a video game studio is – well, it’s a video game studio. That means the company is able to surround all the boring stuff – y’know, computers and kitchen appliances – with ridiculous, morale improving paraphernalia. Case in point: Sony Bend’s new bespoke arcade cabinet is a real treat. The case...
News Ex-CDPR Devs Form Dark Passenger, Multiplayer Ninja Title in Development for PS5
The hunt is underway
Dark Passenger is a brand new studio formed by former CD Projekt Red developers who worked on cinematics for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Cyberpunk 2077. They are hiring for their first project, an online multiplayer game set in feudal Japan that will feature co-op, PVE and PVP. The studio was founded by Jakub Ben, Magdalena...
News Capcom's Winning Streak Continues as It Expects Tenth Consecutive Year of Income Growth
Capgod
At this point we all know that Capcom is doing especially well for itself — and has been for years. The Japanese publisher has enjoyed hit after hit in recent times, washing away the difficulties that the company faced during the PS3 generation. Games like Monster Hunter World propelled Capcom to record profits, and it's been riding that...
News Ex-Square Enix Dev Heard Rumours of Sony Buyout
Here we are again
So, you know all those rumours from a while back about Sony snatching up Square Enix? Well, a new interview with Games Industry has added some fuel to the fire all these months later. Ex-Eidos Montreal developer Stephane D'Astous says that he had heard "rumours" of the aforementioned acquisition. According to D'Astous, Square...
News Our Survey Says! Sorry, Gaming Isn't Good for You After All
Feelin' GreyStation
Sorry folks, but there’s “little to no evidence” that gaming is good for you after all. A new study – which contradicts a similar report in 2020 – claims that the average player would need to play for at least 10 hours more per day to notice any difference to their well-being. This – according to the report which...
News Ubisoft Bins Four Games, Including Free-to-Play Ghost Recon Frontline
Splinter Cell VR also on the chopping block
What is going on at Ubisoft right now? We’re getting bad vibes from the publisher at the minute, so we hope all is okay on the inside. Following on from Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora’s delay, the French publisher has confirmed that it’s cancelled four games – including the free-to-play Ghost Recon...
News Uncharted, The Last of Us' Bruce Straley Making Game Unlike Any Before
Founds new studio Wildflower Interactive
Naughty Dog veteran Bruce Straley departed the company almost five years ago, having burned out on AAA development following the release of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. The co-director is perhaps best known for his collaboration with Neil Druckmann on The Last of Us, which went on to become one of Sony’s...
News Sony Set to Buy Esports Tournament Tracking Platform Repeat.gg
GGs
Sony, or more specifically PlayStation, is set to acquire Repeat.gg — a platform that hosts and tracks esports tournaments. The purchase falls in line with Sony's continued interest in all things esports, what with its acquisition of Evo — the world's largest fighting game event — last year. Repeat.gg is designed to be as accessible as...
News Naughty Dog Writer, Animator Josh Scherr Departs After 21 Years
Worked on Jak & Daxter, Uncharted, and The Last of Us
Josh Scherr, a bit of a Naughty Dog legend, has left the developer after a 21 year run which saw him ship games like Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and The Last of Us 2. In total, the veteran contributed to a total of ten games, including Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy and Uncharted 3:...
News Sony Officially Acquires Bungie, Accelerates Vision to Create Generation-Spanning Entertainment
Welcome to the family
The ink has dried and the deal has closed: Sony officially owns legendary developer Bungie. The acquisition – worth a reported $3.6 billion – will see the Halo creator retain its independence, and “accelerate its vision to create generation-spanning entertainment”. A statement said: “Today, Bungie begins our jour
News Genshin Impact, Elden Ring Among Twitter's Most Talked About PS5, PS4 Games
Hashtag heroes
Ah, Twitter – the social media platform for hot gaming takes rather than sweaty gym pics. (Do you even lift if you don’t film it for the ‘Gram?) We’ve been spending less and less time on social media of late – it’s not quite the engaging novelty it once was, is it? – but plenty of gamers are still taking to sites like...