Tag: Industry - Page 11
News Lance Reddick Remembered in Touching Horizon Forbidden West Tribute
RIP
Developer Guerilla Games has added a touching tribute to the late great Lance Reddick, who sadly passed away earlier this year, in the latest update for Horizon Forbidden West. Reddick portrayed the complicated, morally grey character of Sylens across both Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, and the memorial, as captured by MdeavorVP on...
News No Final Decisions on E3 2024 or Beyond Have Been Made
After LA Tourism Department said it was cancelled
Update: Well, then – a twist! After the Los Angeles Tourism Department listed E3 as cancelled in 2024 and 2025, a representative for the ESA has said that no decision has been made. A representative told Axios’ Stephen Totilo: “ESA is currently in conversation with ESA members and other...
News Indiana Jones Game Deal Amended to Exclude PS5, PS4
Was originally planned for multiple platforms
An Indiana Jones game, previously announced by Bethesda subsidiary MachineGames, was planned for multiple platforms – but the contract with Disney was amended following Microsoft’s buyout of the publisher. Confirmation comes as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s ongoing court c
News "We've Lost the Console Wars," Says Trillion Dollar Underdog Xbox
Incentive to spend $69 billion
One consistent theme throughout the entire sorry Activision Blizzard buyout saga has been how both Sony and Microsoft have utterly dismantled their own businesses in attempt to convince regulators to get their own way. The latest effort comes courtesy of the US Federal Trade Commission’s ongoing court case, where...
News Sony 'Can't Risk' Sharing PS6 Details with a Microsoft-Owned Activision
Conveniently ignores Bungie and San Diego Studio
PlayStation bigwig Jim Ryan has said that Sony would not risk sharing PS6 details with a Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard, as it claims this would hand its direct competitor highly sensitive information. Innovations like the DualSense and hardware specifications are crucially important to new...
News Sonic Central Broadcast to Begin Transmission on 23rd June
A sneak peek at upcoming Sonic projects
Fans itching to get their latest fix of the Blue Blur don't have much longer to wait. A Sonic Central broadcast is being transmitted by SEGA tomorrow, 23rd June, at 8 am PST/ 4 pm BST, where we've been promised a glimpse of some upcoming projects, partnerships, and events still to come in 2023. Sonic Central...
News Starfield, Redfall Exclusivity 'Powerful Evidence' Against Xbox's Activision Buyout, Claims FTC
PlayStation's Jim Ryan to be a witness in case
We’re on the cusp of peak corporate pettiness, so batten down the hatches and brace yourselves, because the Federal Trade Commission’s attempt to temporarily halt Microsoft’s unfathomable $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is about to get underway. A number of high-profile witnesses...
News EA Games to Become EA Entertainment in Major Corporate Reshuffle
Maximum synergy
Electronic Arts is shaking things up, initiating a major corporate reshuffle in an effort to "empower our creative teams" and make "faster and more insightful decisions around development", according to CEO Andrew Wilson. But don't go dumping your dividends just yet; the move won't have much of an impact on the casual enjoyer of EA...
News Sony Replaces PlayStation's Mobile Gaming Division Boss with Meta, Kabam Talent
Platform holder ain't phoning it in
Update: Two is better than one – or so the saying goes. Sony has replaced the leadership at the top of its fledgling mobile gaming division with two co-heads, as spotted by infamous LinkedIn snoop Zuby Tech. Ex-Meta product manager Olivier Courtemanche will be joined by former Kabam bigwig Kris Davis in the...
News GTA Writer and Rockstar Co-Founder Dan Houser Unveils New Company Absurd Ventures
Storytelling. Philanthropy. Ultraviolence
Dan Houser, chief writer for the vast majority of the Grand Theft Auto franchise (not to mention both Red Dead Redemption games), has officially unveiled his new outfit, Absurd Ventures, and with it, Houser intends to create original IP for "all platforms and formats". We got an at-times distressing...
News Mass Effect's Dead Shepard Statue Pulled from Sale, BioWare Admits Communication Error
Shepard's most iconic moment
If you're particularly sensitive to minor spoilers for what is, at this point, a retro game, consider yourself warned. During the prologue of Mass Effect 2 (literally the first ten minutes), a convenient McGuffin is contrived as a way to reset any skills Commander Shepard might have picked up during the original game,...
News Sorry, But Games Are Probably Going to Take Longer Than Ever to Make on PS5
A single project could take up to six years now
If you’ve been wondering what the likes of Naughty Dog and Sucker Punch are up to, then here’s a worrying observation from Microsoft’s Matt Booty: tentpole titles may take four to six years to develop on new-gen consoles, as opposed to the two to three years that was common previously. While the...
News Record-Setting Summer Game Fest Will Return in 2024 with Live Showcase
Here we go again
The curtain hasn’t completely closed on not-E3 2023 yet, but we’ve basically reached the encore and we’re not convinced the crowd is yearning for more. Nevertheless, in an unsurprising twist, organiser Geoff Keighley has confirmed that Summer Game Fest will return in 2024, with a live showcase and more. Obviously, the event...
News Layoffs, Closures, and Cancellations as Embracer Group Undergoes Huge Restructure
Cost cutting
Embracer Group, the enormous holding company notorious for buying up studios and IP, is preparing for a significant restructure. In order to "realize untapped potential in Embracer Group and better optimize the use of our resources", the conglomerate is set to make some sweeping changes which, sadly, include layoffs, studio closures,...
News Microsoft Welcomes FTC's Injunction on Xbox's Activision Blizzard Buyout
Star-spangled lawsuits
Update: So, yes, the FTC has filed an injunction in an attempt to temporarily halt Microsoft's $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard — and the trillion dollar titan has welcomed it. The thinking here, allegedly, is that the Redmond firm is playing 4D chess, and it believes that by taking this to court earlier than...
News Sony's Partnership with Square Enix Has Never Been Stronger, Says Jim Ryan
He values "everything we do together"
PlayStation bigwig Jim Ryan made a surprise appearance during Final Fantasy 16’s pre-launch livestream overnight, where he said that his company’s relationship with publisher Square Enix has “never been stronger”. In the brief speech, he mentioned that Sony’s collaboration with the company “goes back...
Microsoft sometimes embargoes platforms
Today is the day of Microsoft’s annual not-E3 Xbox Showcase, and by all accounts it’s going to be a big one. Of course, in addition to the usual selection of first-party games, you should probably anticipate a handful of third-party inclusions, as is customary for these kind of events. But one thing you...
News Sony Will Not Attend Giant German Convention Gamescom This Year
Of course it won't
In what is now becoming a consistent trend, Sony will not attend Gamescom again this year. News comes via German industry website Gamesmarkt, which reports the Japanese giant has no plans to attend Cologne and exhibit on the show floor. This doesn’t mean it’ll have zero presence, of course: third-parties will likely demo games...
News PS Plus, Game Pass Subscription Growth Has Totally Stalled in USA
Graph has levelled off
At the beginning of the generation, gaming subscriptions were considered by most to be an enormous disruptor to the status quo, however as time progresses it’s becoming more apparent that consumers maybe don’t see the same value in them that enthusiasts do. A lot of the discussion about the benefits of the business model...
News PS Studios, Kojima Productions Announce Hideo Kojima Documentary Film
Connecting worlds
Well, we suppose this was inevitable, wasn’t it? PS Studios and Kojima Productions have announced a documentary film named Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds, which promises to take you “on a journey into the creative mind of the most iconic video game creator in the world”. The film appears to revolve around the establishment...
Random Thought PSVR2 Was Expensive? Apple's Vision Pro Is Here to Hold Your Beer
"The most advanced personal electronics device ever"
If you've been near anything remotely capable of an internet connection today, you've no doubt seen Apple's ludicrous-looking foray into the world of expensive, wearable tech. It's called the Vision Pro, and at least according to Tom's Guide, it's pretty awesome. And incredibly pricey, too,...
News E3 Killed Itself, Says Summer Game Fest's Geoff Keighley
Self-inflicted
Geoff Keighley is perhaps best known as the face of The Game Awards, but he's been hosting the Summer Game Fest showcase for the past few years (in addition to becoming the subject of some of our most transcendent art work). With this year's show only a few days away,
News Microsoft Bigwig Hoping to Voice Frustration to UK Politicians Over $69 Billion Buyout Block
Channel crossing
Having been frustrated in its $69 billion dollar bid to acquire Activision Blizzard in the UK, Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, is scheduled to meet with UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this week to plead the company's case in person. This follows the EU's acquiescence to the deal, a matter to which the UK's regulator, the Competition...
News Sony: Cloud Gaming Is an Amazing Business Model, But There Are Big Challenges
The cloud's the limit
Sony bigwig Kenichiro Yoshida has warned that there are still big challenges to overcome regarding cloud-based gaming, describing the technology as "very tricky". In an interview with the Financial Times (thanks, VGC), Yoshida described some of the hurdles that remain, stating: “I think cloud itself is an amazing business...
News Sonic Creator Yuji Naka Could Face Over Two Years in Prison
On charges of insider trading
Update: A correction on the below story. It's been reported that Yuji Naka has not yet been officially sentenced. His defence has requested that the jail term be suspended and the fine reduced. A final verdict will be reached on 7th July, 2023. Original Story: Yuji Naka, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog and face of...
News Here's Why You Need to Tune in to Ubisoft's E3-Style Livestream
Wait, whats that game?
Ubsoft's annual Forward showcase is approaching, taking place on 12 June at 10 am PT / 6 pm BST, and we got a new sizzle reel promising impending gameplay for games we've had our eyes on for a while now. During the French publisher's time in the spotlight, expect to see live updates on games such as Avatar: Frontiers of...
News Activision Boss Bobby Kotick Blames 'Outside Forces' for Firm's Poor Reputation
Bigwig speaks out as acquisition hangs in the balance
Bobby Kotick, the boss at the embattled video game publisher Activision Blizzard, has told Variety that there has never been a “systemic issue with harassment” at the organisation – despite being targeted by the State of California for its alleged “frat boy” culture. In the aftermath of...
News High Hopes for New Studio Founded by The Witcher, Cyberpunk 2077 Veteran
Rare optimism
A new studio, headed by Mateusz Kanik, has been announced, called Blank. Kanik was the lead game designer on The Witcher 2, game director on Cyberpunk 2077, and like other developers on the team, a CD Projekt Red veteran of many years. You can see concept art for the studio's first project above, which purports to be a...
Around 30 employees affected
Firaxis, the venerable strategy game studio behind legendary franchises like XCOM (the reboots) and Civilization, has been hit with a round of layoffs. As reported by Axios, as many as 30 employees have been let go from the company, which is owned by parent company Take-Two Interactive and published by 2K Games. After a...
News God of War Art Director Joins Netflix for AAA Project
A new IP from the company
Raf Grassetti, the former art director at God of War team Santa Monica Studio, has today announced he's joining Netflix to help create "a new original IP AAA game". Working with the likes of Joseph Staten (Halo), Jerry Edsall (Shadowrun, Gears 5), and Chacko Sonny (former executive producer of
News Sony Under Fire for Allegedly Abusing Its Dominance in the Industry
Allegedly
Sony has become the target of an antitrust probe by the Romanian Competition Council, which has raised concerns that the firm is abusing its dominant position within the console gaming market. How exactly? According to the RCC, it's because Sony sells video games exclusively through the PlayStation Store and for banning competing...
News Sony Expects to Sell Over 108 Million PS5 Consoles This Generation
Celestially significant forecast
Sony CEO Jim Ryan is feeling bullish about PS5 sales now that the COVID-induced supply slump is over, and the plucky little box can actually be found on store shelves. Already the best-selling console for months, the Sony bigwig says he expects the PS5 to breach 108 million units sold over the course of its lifetime...
News Sony 'Not in Talks' with CD Projekt RED About an Acquisition
Weekend rumour squashed
A CD Projekt RED representative has squashed rumours spread over the weekend that the Cyberpunk 2077 developer is on the verge of being picked up by Sony. A Destiny 2 leaker shared claims of an apparent acquisition along with a Days Gone sequel being greenlit, but neither are true. In response to the claims, Ola Sondej of CD...
News Xbox Wouldn't Shoot Itself in the Foot by Yanking Call of Duty Off PS5, Says EU
PS5 outselling Xbox Series X|S dramatically in Europe
A big point of contention over Microsoft’s stumbling $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is whether Call of Duty becoming exclusive would negatively impede PlayStation’s ability to compete in the console space. While regulators have, ultimately, determined cloud streaming is a...
Reaction Sony's PS5, PC Live Service Strategy Won't Work If It's All Samey Shooters
PlayStation did nothing to assuage fans' fears
We’ve been one of the few publications defending Sony’s live service strategy because we don’t think the idea is inherently bad. A lot of fans treat the booming Games as a Service segment as a genre, but it’s important to underline that it’s a business model instead. In fact, there’s...
News No Comment on Troubled PS5 Console Exclusive Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
"My favourite question"
If you can cast your mind back to the last time Sony hosted a livestream – and, trust us, we know that was eons ago – you may recall that it started out with confirmation of a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake, which was slated to launch as a console exclusive for PS5. Since then, the project has been hit by a...
News Ubisoft's Open World PS5 Star Wars May Not Be in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
A New Hope
Ubisoft's rather mysterious upcoming open-world Star Wars game could be closer than first anticipated. Announced at the start of 2021, the title (developed by Ubisoft Massive, of The Division fame) is reportedly staying on target for an early 2024 release date. That's according to Kotaku, which cites two sources familiar with the French...
News God of War's Talented Art Director Is Departing Sony After a Decade
"Sony has played an integral role in shaping my career"
Santa Monica Studio’s influential art director for the past decade, the uber-talented Raf Grasetti, is sealing away his Paintbrushes of Chaos and waving a fond farewell to Sony. The incredibly capable artist, who contributed profoundly to God of War’s revival and its recent sequel Ragnarok,...
News Jim Ryan: Japanese Market Still Very Important to Sony
It's the "birthplace" of PlayStation
PlayStation boss Jim Ryan has reinforced Sony's commitment to the Japanese gaming market in a new interview with Famitsu, where he states it continues to be an important region for the company. Ryan explains (via Google Translate): "The Japanese market has been and will continue to be one of the most important...
News Publisher Take-Two Claims It's 'Not Seeing Pushback' From Players on $70 Price Tag
Can't be looking too hard
Publisher Take-Two claims that it isn't seeing much pushback from players to the $70 price tag many AAA video games are increasingly found wearing at launch. This tells us, at the very least, that they must not be checking the Push Square comments section of related articles! In an earnings call (transcribed by
News Days Gone Dev Can't Wait to Show You Its First PS5 Exclusive
Anticipation levels rising
Bend Studio, the first-party developer behind Days Gone and Syphon Filter (not to mention Bubsy 3D), is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Bend is currently hard at work on its next project (of which relatively little is known) and took to Twitter to tease it. Perhaps we could hear more about it at the
News Take-Two to Ship 16 Games in Coming Fiscal Year, Including 'New IP' from 'Premier Studio'
All of the games
Take-Two appears to have some mighty big ambitions, with 16 games planned for release over the fiscal year to come, including "new IP" from a "premier studio". Tantalising! In a press release, the company revealed its intentions, which include releasing three "immersive core" games. This includes inevitable cash cows NBA 2K24 and...
News Ahead of PS Showcase, An Army of Sony Staffers Visit Death Stranding 2 Dev
What mysteries await?
A veritable armada of Sony staffers has descended upon Kojima Productions, with the surreal studio nestled deep in the historical redlight district of Roppongi in downtown Tokyo. There, members of XDEV, SIE's marketing team, and other various members of Sony's corporate structure got to mug for the camera (with that epic statue...
News SEGA Could Join Sony in Raising Its Game Prices to $70
Gotta go high
Sony caused a stir near the start of this console generation when it announced that (most) of its first-party PS5 titles would be priced at $70 going forward, instead of the $60 tag that's been a staple of the market for so many years. Despite some controversy, the Japanese giant hasn't backed down, and as a result, other publishers...
News UK's Regulator Responds to European Commission's Decision to Pass Xbox's Activision Buyout
"The CMA stands by its decision"
With the European Commission’s decision to pass Microsoft’s unprecedented $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard today, it was inevitable that the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority would be asked to comment. Unsurprisingly, the division – which made the unexpected move to block the acquisition a few...
News Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Deal Approved by the EU Commission
Issues on cloud gaming answered
The European Commission has today confirmed its approved Microsoft's proposed $69 billion purchase of Call of Duty maker Activision. Having addressed concerns in the cloud gaming space, the EU Commission rules Microsoft's 10-year commitments to "represent a significant improvement for cloud gaming as compared to the...
News Square Enix Wants to Release More Higher Quality Games, Starting with Final Fantasy 16
Japanese publisher has big ambitions
Square Enix tends to be unpredictable as a publisher. Take this year alone, for example: it released the highly promoted Forspoken to middling reviews, and then barely lifted a finger to advertise the critically acclaimed Octopath Traveler 2. Meanwhile, last year it dropped a ton of titles on Nintendo Switch,...
News Not Even Sony's Been Able to Avoid the Enormous Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Hype
Have fun up there
There’s no real point beating around the figurative Hyrulian bush we suppose: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the biggest game on the planet, and it’ll probably remain that way until a little superhero sequel called Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 swings by later in the year. Sony, and the rest of the industry knows that,...
News Deviation Games' PS5 Exclusive Project Doesn't Appear to Be Progressing Well
Layoffs hit Sony partner hard
Deviation Games was one of a flurry of new studios Sony signed exclusivity arrangements with earlier in the generation, but while the likes of Haven Studios and Firewalk have since been officially acquired by the Japanese giant,
News Sorry, But the Drama Over Xbox's Activision Buyout Ain't Over Yet
Mentally prepare yourselves for next week
The UK’s unexpected decision to block Microsoft’s bonkers $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard provided us with a temporary reprieve from the corporate skulduggery that’s dominated the industry this past year, but the bees nest will be poked again next week when the European Commission is expected...
