Tag: Business - Page 5
News Andrew House Stresses the Importance of United Sony
Sticking together
Sony is not in a good position. While core elements of its business – including the PlayStation division – are ticking over nicely, the company as a whole is bleeding money. The worry for Sony is that it’s been struggling for a while. But while the company's situation is becoming all too familiar from the outside, key...
News Kaz Hirai Drops Sony Computer Entertainment Chairman Role
Bigger fish to fry
New Sony president Kaz Hirai is a busy man. The former Sony Computer Entertainment gaffer has been handed the daunting task of turning the troubled Japanese manufacturer’s fortunes around. As such, the likable executive has decided to step away from his role as chairman on the SCE board. He will still serve in a part time...
News EA Admits That Its Syndicate Reboot "Didn't Pay Off"
Performance review
If the real world of business was as ruthless as the fictional one in Syndicate, then EA’s Frank Gibeau wouldn’t have time to lament the poor performance of Starbreeze’s series reboot. Thankfully, it’s not, and the executive can openly acknowledge the fact that the first-person shooter didn’t quite live up to...
News thatgamecompany Raises $5.5 Million, Goes Fully Independent
Travelling alone
Journey developer thatgamecompany has announced that it has raised $5.5 million in funding – allowing it to cut its ties with Sony, and go fully independent for the first time since its formation. Earlier in the year, we revealed that the creative studio was looking to move beyond PlayStation. Speaking specifically about the...
News Ubisoft Bullish About PlayStation Vita's Prospects
True believer
Ubisoft was one of the few third-party publishers to deliver the goods for Vita at this year’s E3. The company announced a full-blown spin-off in Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation – a title that’s been getting a lot of buzz in the aftermath of the show. That support shows serious belief in the platform’s future prospects,...
News Sony Executives Take Pay Cuts, Return Bonuses
Trying times
While the PlayStation business is doing reasonably well for Sony, the Japanese giant is not in great shape overall. New CEO Kaz Hirai has promised to return the company to profitability over the next 12 months, but on the back of four straight losses, the executive has been forced to take a pay cut. The cut will affect the...
News Slant Six Slashes Workforce By 25%
Rotten news
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City developer Slant Six has been forced to cull its workforce by about 25%. However, the studio hopes to rehire those affected employees in the coming months. Speaking with GameInformer magazine, a company spokesperson said: Regretfully, we can confirm that there have been some temporary layoffs at...
News Don't Worry, Sony Is Going to GamesCom After All
Snap decisions
Seems like Sony’s comments yesterday managed to panic GamesCom's management team into giving the platform holder better terms. The organiser hurriedly announced this morning that PlayStation will have a presence at the show. Yesterday, a German spokesperson for SCE said the company was still undecided about whether it would attend...
News Sony Might Not Be Going to GamesCom This Year
Missing out
Sony loves GamesCom. At least, that’s what we thought. In previous years the platform holder has had a big presence at the European show, announcing titles such as inFamous: Festival of Blood and even revealing the PS3 Slim to the world. But the Japanese company is unsure whether it’s going to show up at the German event this year...
News Sony Reiterates Vita's 10 Million Sales Target
Shooting for the stars
Sony expects to sell 10 million PlayStation Vitas by March 2013, president Andrew House has revealed. Chatting with Reuters Japan, the executive explained that the firm anticipates the majority of handhelds to be sold during the holiday season, once more content has been released. He said: The end-of-year holiday season is...
Rumour Sony Close to Acquiring Cloud Gaming Firm
Megaton
Sony is not simply looking to partner with a major cloud gaming firm – it is poised to buy one. That’s according to a report on MCV, which claims the move could “rock the next generation of console gaming”. We reported earlier this week that Sony was set to announce a deal with a major c
News Danny Bilson Departs THQ, Rubin Steps In
All change
THQ has confirmed that Danny Bilson, the vice president of core games, has departed the troubled publisher. He will be replaced by Naughty Dog co-founder Jason Rubin in a slightly different role, which will see him oversee development, marketing and publishing. Bilson will be joined by senior vice president of core games Dave Davis out...
News Kaz Hirai Reveals "One Sony" Rescue Strategy
Promises change
As promised, former PlayStation president and new Sony CEO Kaz Hirai has revealed his rescue strategy designed to resurrect the ailing Japanese giant. The likable executive’s speech hinged on the idea of change and unification – something Sony has been striving towards with little success for years. In his presentation, Hirai...
News Sony Preparing for Biggest Annual Loss in a Decade
The numbers aren't red enough
We find it hard to believe there’s been a smile on new Sony CEO Kaz Hirai’s face since he started his new high-power role just over a week ago. One look at the company’s balance sheet would be enough to plant a permanent frown on even the most jubilant of personalities. Indeed, Sony has warned investors today...
Rumour Sony to Cut 10,000 Jobs Before Year's End
Hirai making his mark
Sony’s financial troubles are well documented. If you’re not up to speed, then know this: the company is expected to report a whopping £2.1billion loss in its latest financial report. That’s not particularly healthy. Of course, that’s also the reason that former SCE president – and lifetime Ridge Racer fanboy – Kaz...
News Take-Two: "THQ Won't Be Around in Six Months"
Laying it bare
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick doesn’t foresee much longevity for troubled publisher THQ – the gaffer told an audience at the MIT Business in Gaming Conference that he believes the firm will be fully shuttered in six months time. Zelnick expanded that he believes the publisher’s biggest mistake was working with licensed...
News Kaz Hirai to Reveal Sony Rescue Strategy This Month
No time for jokes
Expect to see the hairs on newly appointed Sony CEO Kaz Hirai’s head gently transition to a subtle shade of silver over the coming months. The fresh faced executive has announced a conference for 12th April where he’s expected to reveal his strategy to turn the troubled Japanese manufacturer around. With Sony predicted to lose...
News Idol Minds Feels the Pain of Sony's Shutdowns
Slippery slope
Idol Minds, the developer behind PSN’s well-supported arcade ache ‘em up Pain, has had a whopping four titles cancelled by long-term partner Sony over the past couple of years. While the studio is currently working on the Ratchet & Clank HD Collection, cyber snoop Superannuation reports that the developer has had multiple...
News Sony Stumps Up £1.5 Million for Easter Vita Push
Sadly not hiring the Easter bunny, though
With the PlayStation Vita now firmly established on retail store shelves, Sony is turning its attention to ensuring there is long-term enthusiasm in the platform. In the UK it intends to achieve that by pumping a whopping £1.5 million into a fresh Easter promotional push. The new campaign will see the PS...
News Sony Confirms Zipper Interactive Has Closed
Zipped up
SOCOM developer Zipper Interactive has closed, Sony has confirmed. Speculation about the studio’s imminent demise began last weekend, but the firm remained tight-lipped for the majority of the week. However, Sony confirmed the sad news in a statement to Game Informer over night: Sony Computer Entertainment can confirm the closure of...
News Robin Hunicke Latest to Leave thatgamecompany
Fond farewell
Journey developer thatgamecompany is a small studio, so it’s surprising when key members of the team announce their departure for pastures new. Yesterday co-founder Kellee Santiago revealed her intention to move on, and since producer Robin Hunicke has also shut the door behind her. Hunicke – who joined thatgamecompany at the...
Rumour Sony to Close Zipper Interactive
So gone
It sounds as though the lights could be dimming on SOCOM developer Zipper Interactive. Kotaku reports that Sony is currently in the process of laying off staff at the American studio, where project cancellations have put its future in doubt. Zipper Interactive recently released the decent Unit 13 on PlayStation Vita and SOCOM 4 on PS3 last...
News Hydrophobia Prophecy Developer Enters Administration
Drowning in debt
Hydrophobia Prophecy developer Dark Energy Digital has been shut down, according to a report on GamesIndustry.biz. The site reports that the company’s assets have been passed onto the recently founded Dark Energy Publishing, a new upstart created in January by Dark Energy Digital owners Pete and Deborah Jones. GamesIndustry.biz...
News Sony Makes Massive $2 Billion Net Loss For Q3 FY2011
We can feel the hairs on new Sony CEO Kaz Hirai's head turning grey already
No sooner than the party for Hirai's promotion has ended has Sony posted a whopping $2 billion net loss for the quarter ending December 31st, 2011. The company brought in $23.37 billion in revenue, a 17.4 percent decrease year over year. Sony laid the blame on "the impact...
News THQ Cuts 240 Jobs, Slashes Salaries
The bad news doesn't stop for troubled publisher THQ
Following a slew of rumours yesterday, and warnings that the company might be delisted from the NASDAQ stock exchange, the company has announced that it has cut a whopping 240 jobs. According to a regulatory filing, the redundancies will go into effect before September, with the vast majority to...
News Kaz Hirai Takes The Big Job At Sony, Officially This Time
Long-time Ridge Racer fan, Kaz Hirai, has been promoted to president and CEO of Sony Corp, the company announced this morning
He'll take over from Sir Howard Stringer — who will stay on as executive chairman until June — when the new roles come into effect on April 1st. Hirai's a long-time Sony employee, having cut his teeth in the...
News US PlayStation Network Executive Leaves Sony
Susan Panico, the former US gaffer of the PlayStation Network, has exited Sony according to reports on Venture Beat
Communications director, Patrick Seybold, has since confirmed the news, wishing his former colleague all the best. No reason was given for the departure. It's unknown who will take over Panico's role. Whoever it is will need a strong...
News THQ To Focus On Core Game Franchises, Saints Row: The Third Ships 3.8 Million Copies
Presumably in response to ongoing rumours about its fate, THQ has released a statement reiterating its decision to exit the "kids' licensed game market" and focus on its upcoming throng of core game franchises
THQ will be a more streamlined organization focused only on our strongest franchises [in the future], said THQ's head gaffer, Brian...
News THQ Denies Cancellation Rumours, Looking To The Future
Yesterday, a slew of Tweets by IGDA Mobile SIG chair Kevin Dent alleged that THQ was in grave financial trouble, and that it was cancelling the entirety of its 2014 game line-up while holding out hope for a potential buyer
The rumours were not true. VG247 reached out to THQ's Australian branch — presumably the only one awake at the time — who...
News Sony Encouraged By Nintendo 3DS' Resurgence
While obviously fierce competitors, Nintendo and Sony are also in the same boat
Both are the target of the mainstream media, who seem keen to push an agenda against the dedicated portable gaming platform. As such, it's unsurprising to hear SCEE executive, Jim Ryan, comment on the Nintendo 3DS' sales resurgence in a positive manner. One of the...
News Sony Denies Kaz Hirai Promotion Reports, Says 'Nothing Has Been Determined'
Sony's affable executive, Kaz Hirai, might be around for a few more rounds of Ridge Racer just yet
Following reports that the cheery gaffer had been promoted to presidential status, the Japanese company has released a statement refuting the claims — stating that "nothing has been determined at this time". Given the comment's wording —...
News Andrew House Reflects On PlayStation's Tough 2011
Andrew House, Sony Computer Entertainment's new gaffer, has admitted that 2011 was a rough year for the electronics manufacturer
In an interview with The Guardian, House admitted that the hacking incident and Japanese earthquake took its toll on the company — but also resulted in a strong sense of unity between employees. "Yes, it has been a...
News Media Molecule Splashes Out On 'New, Risky Innovations'
Media Molecule spent the best part of last year ploughing cash into new, innovative products, a report has revealed
In an annual director's report, uncovered by Develop, the company indicated that its main business risks came "largely as a result of the company's heavy reliance on the one LittleBigPlanet brand name". As such, the company...
News Hideo Kojima Unsure If Japan Can Compete In Current Gaming Market
One of the saddest thing to emerge this generation has been the decline in diversity
With development budgets spiralling, pushed publishers are stuck to working with what they know in order to avoid facing commercial disaster. That's meant that outside of the emerging download platforms, there's been very little experimentation in the retail space...
News Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before: Mainstream Media Says PlayStation Vita Is In Trouble
Anyone else got a sense of deja-vu? Those of you that follow the wider video games media in detail will recall hearing the death knells for Nintendo's 3DS earlier in the year
The agenda-pushing mainstream media informed us that dedicated handheld games devices are in decline, and that the market Nintendo once dominated was lost. Of course, no amount...
News November NPD: Call Of Duty & Skyrim Top The Software Charts
It was a monster month for software releases in November
Unsurprisingly, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim came out on top. But despite the high profile roster of software releases — and growth in unit sales across the board — NPD analyst Anita Frazier warned that "a decline in average retail price in all...
News Sony Experimenting With Unannounced 'Freemium' Concepts Internally
With social networks and smartphones being a big talking point in the industry at the moment, "freemium" is a term that's starting to emerge more and more frequently
The coining pertains to the idea of "free" and "premium" gameplay models — where players can enjoy a base experience at no cost, but can choose to enhance their...
News Sony: PlayStation 3 To Skew Towards 'Younger Demographic', Core Gamers Won't Be Neglected
The PlayStation 3 still hasn't reached a mass market price-point, but it's getting there
And with the hardcore gaming crowd already well serviced, SCEE boss Jim Ryan believes that the console's next challenge is to appeal to a younger demographic. I think youll see us taking the console more towards a slightly younger demographic. More family...
Rumour Digital PlayStation Vita Releases To Be Discounted By Up To 40% In North America
Take this one with a huge pinch of salt, because we can already sense the inevitable backlash
According to a report on Thrifty Nerd, a Sony representative at a recent PS Vita hands-on event has confirmed that digital releases for the upcoming handheld are set to get a hefty discount. The website claims that retail releases will be capped at $40,...
News Ubisoft: Digital Releases Mitigate The Risk Associated With New IP
Ubisoft believes that it is best to release new ideas through digital outlets, in order to mitigate the risk associated with launching new products at retail
Chatting with MCV, digital publishing manager Thomas Paincon indicated that retail products are more likely to fail if they're not built upon popular franchises. There is less risk releasing...
Report Scott Steinberg And Rob Dyer Leave Sony
Seems like there's some major reshuffling going on at SCEA at the moment
With Peter Dille's office barely cold after his departure earlier in the year, Sony's lost another two executives according a report published by Industry Gamers. The site claims that VP of marketing, Scott Steinberg, and senior VP of public relations, Rob Dyer, are both no...
News Japanese Sales Charts: PlayStation Platforms Continue Chugging Along
Despite a smattering of new software releases, it was pretty uneventful seven days for PlayStation in Japan this week
Hardware sales were down after the enthusiasm of new colours last week, with the PlayStation 3 shifting 34k units and the PSP just behind with 33k units. After its tremendous debut last week, Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 dropped to...
News Sony To Take 'More Tailored Approach' To PlayStation Vita Software Pricing
With the smartphone gaming sector still a hot point of discussion, Sony has said that it intends to offer multiple price-points for PlayStation Vita software in order to counter the burgeoning threat of mobile phones
While the company's still keeping those pricing details close to its chest, SCEE executive Jim Ryan told GamesIndustry.biz: "I...
News Japanese Poll: PlayStation Vita Is The Most Wanted Hardware This Holiday
According to Japanese magazine Famitsu, the PlayStation Vita is the most-wanted gaming hardware in Japan this holiday
The publication asked readers to select their most desired hardware and software, and published the results online. The PlayStation Vita topped the hardware poll with 374 votes, nearly a hundred more than the 3DS in second-place...
News Square Enix To Open New Studio In Montreal
Square Enix has announced plans to open a new studio in Montreal
According to reports, the univentively titled Square Enix Montreal will develop a new Hitman title as its first project. The game will supposedly target next generation platforms. The studio is set to open next year and will be headed up by Square Enix London's Lee Singleton, creating...
News Gareth Edmondson Leaves Ubisoft Reflections
Gareth Edmondson, studio manager at Ubisoft Reflections, has left the company after ten years
A report on Develop claims Edmondson will continue to work "in the industry in an undisclosed capacity". In the five years since Reflections has become a part of the Ubisoft team of studios, we have had the pleasure of working and creating...
Ubisoft's announced that sales for its excellent arcade racer, Driver: San Francisco, were higher than expected
The publisher also praised the performance of its Eric Chahi developed god game, From Dust, during its Q2 sales report. Total sales came in at 249 million, down just 4.6% from 261 million the previous year. "First-half sales have...
News PlayStation 3 The Top Selling System In Australia
On the back of solid growth worldwide, Sony Australia has revealed that PlayStation 3 has beaten out its rivals to become the best selling system in the region for 2011 so far
Sony boasted that it has not only outsold its competitors, but it is also offering the highest value share to retailers according to NPD Australia data.
News Sony Q2 Financials: PlayStation 3 Business Continues Growth
Sony's released its financial information for the second quarter of 2011
And while declining television sales and the strong Yen gave the company a bit of a battering (incurring losses of about $346 million), the PlayStation 3 business continued its growth. It seems like so long ago since the bleak days of PS3, when Sony's system was getting...
News Sony's John Koller Dismisses Issues With PlayStation Vita's Non-Christmas Launch
Sony was originally coveting a pre-Christmas worldwide launch for the PlayStation Vita, SCEA's director of hardware marketing John Koller has revealed in an interview with AllThingsDigital
But the company decided that it would be best to delay the launch until next year in order to ensure that there was enough hardware available at launch. Weve...
