Tag: Industry - Page 4
Soapbox Nintendo, "THE Prime Asset" In Xbox's Content Quest? It's Only Natural
But it ain't happening
The FTC case examining Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, depending on your perspective, is either the gift that keeps on giving or an eye-scrapingly dull, never-ending saga. Still, you can't deny that it's turned up some tasty behind-the-scenes morsels to chew on, giving gamers a fascinating glimpse of the...
News Internal Xbox Email Details Desire To Acquire Nintendo
“THE prime asset for us in Gaming”
An internal email from Xbox's Phil Spencer in 2020 has revealed that the company was (and potentially still is) considering Nintendo as a potential acquisition. Revealed as part of a deluge of leaked, unredacted documents from the FTC Vs. Microsoft case in the United States (the original of which appears to...
News Unity Apologies For Its 'Runtime Fee' Policy, Promises To Make 'Changes'
"We have heard you"
Well, that didn't take long. It seems the highly vocal reaction from game developers and the community at large has forced Unity's hand after the company announced plans for its new 'runtime fee' policy. The policy, which would effectively charge developers every time a game utilising the Unity engine is installed (after...
Round Up Developers React To Unity's New 'Runtime Fee' Policy
They ain't pleased
Unity recently announced plans to charge developers a fee each time a game utilising the Unity engine is installed via its new 'runtime fee' policy. While there are caveats to the policy in terms of its structure (there are minimum revenue and total install numbers to consider, for example), there's no doubt that this will...
News Unity To Charge Developers A Fee Each Time A Game Is Installed Next Year
Game developers are not happy with the news
Unity has announced plans to charge developers a fee each time a video game using the Unity engine is installed. Unity Plus is also being retired for new subscribers, starting today. In a blog post released today (spotted via Game Developer), Unity revealed the 'Unity Runtime Fee'. This new model be...
News Embracer Group Reportedly Looking To Sell Borderlands Dev Gearbox Entertainment
Update: More reports surface
Update: Bloomberg has corroborated Reuters' report from earlier today. Reporter Jason Schreier shared that Bloomberg has seen an email written by Gearbox's Chief Communications Officer, which notes that there are "many options under consideration". The letter reportedly says "The base case is that Gearbox remains a...
Poll Hasn't Nintendo Always Been An 'Entertainment' Company?
Let Mii entertain you
The times are a-changin' for Nintendo, it seems. Nobody would doubt that the company has been video game-focused for the past few decades, but with theme parks, movies, and mobile apps popping up all over the place, it seems that the Big-N is moving in a slightly different direction. This was echoed by Nintendo of America...
News ReedPop Will No Longer Organise E3 As ESA Looks To Reinvent Future Shows
The parting was a "mutual decision"
PAX organiser ReedPop is parting ways with the Entertainment Software Association and will no longer be the production company behind future E3 events (thanks, gamesindustry.biz). While plans for E3 2024 have not been cancelled for the time being, the ESA has informed the Los Angeles Convention Centre — the...
News Sega & Atlus Airing Special Broadcast At The Tokyo Game Show This Month
Update: Here's the games lineup for TGS 2023
Update [Tue 5th Sep, 2023 05:05 BST]: Sega and Atlus have now shared a lineup of the games they'll be showing at TGS 2023. Here's the full rundown (via Gematsu) which will feature playable demos, trailers, live stream spotlights and more. As a reminder, the special broadcast stream will take place later...
News Nintendo's New Employee Retention Rate Is 98.8% In Japan
That's well above the average of other companies
Being able to work with some of the biggest IPs in the world like Mario and Zelda is probably a dream for many aspiring game developers, but how many people actually stick with a career at the video game giant Nintendo? According to new data from Biz Journal (via a translation by Tokyo Game Life),...
News Saints Row & Red Faction Developer Volition Shuts Down After 30 Years
Embracer Group had to make a "difficult decision"
Update: Following on its LinkedIn note yesterday, Volition has now shared an additional message on Twitter. The heartfelt message acknowledges the studio's remarkable time in the industry, and thanks the fans for always being there — even when they haven't loved what the company has worked on...
News GameDriver Is Now An "Official Nintendo Middleware Tools Provider"
Enhancing game development on Switch
California software developer GameDriver has announced it's now an official Nintendo middleware tools provider. Developers working on Switch games will now be able to utilise GameDriver's automated testing solutions to optimise game development and the quality assurance process. This also gives Switch developers...
News EA Dev BioWare "Eliminating" Approximately 50 Jobs In Shift Towards More Agile & Focused Studio
"An extremely difficult day for everyone at BioWare"
The Electronic Arts developer BioWare - known for famous RPG series such as Baldur's Gate, STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect - has announced it is "eliminating approximately 50 roles" at the studio. In order to match the changing needs, it will shift towards a "more agile and...
Guide Gamescom 2023 Opening Night Live: Everything You Need To Know - Date, Time, Where To Stream
Deep breath, Geoff
We're approaching the end of August and, just like clockwork, Geoff Keighley is gearing up to serve us another steaming bowl of gaming news directly from the not-E3 of Europe, Gamescom 2023. As ever, the event this year will be held in Cologne, Germany, getting off to the races with a meaty Opening Night Live showcase to close...
Random Xbox Legend Major Nelson Visits Nintendo
Fans are already speculating...
Last month, Xbox's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb announced he would be departing Microsoft and team Xbox after 20 years at the company. In his parting message on social media to more than one million followers, the senior director of corporate communications mentioned how he needed to "take a step back and work on the...
News Bandai Namco Has Multiple "Major Titles" Planned For The Remainder Of 2023
Baten Kaitos and more are on the way
Bandai Namco has shown strong support for the Switch and multiple other platforms this generation, and it's set to continue this in the second half of 2023. In its latest financial report, it's mentioned how it plans to release a number of "major titles" in this half of the year. One game, in particular,...
News Geoff Keighley: This Year's Gamescom ONL Is "Less About Announcing Brand New Projects"
Temper your expectations
Gamescom 'Opening Night Live' is taking place next week on 22nd August, and ahead of the event, the show's host Geoff Keighley shared some insight. Speaking to our friends at VGC, Geoff mentioned how this year's show would be "less about announcing brand new projects" and more focused on updates for previously announced...
News Metroid Dread Developer Has "Two Large Undisclosed Titles" In The Works
What could they be for?
Developer MercurySteam - best known on the Switch for the release of the highly rated platformer Metroid Dread - reportedly has two "unannounced" projects in development. This information comes from Nordisk Games, which owns a "minority stake" in the Spanish-based developer. It's mentioned in the company's latest financial...
News Baldur's Gate 3 Surpasses Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom As 2023's Highest-Rated Game "So Far"
Critics are raving about Larian Studios' new RPG
It appears The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom finally has some serious competition that could potentially take the 'Game of the Year' crown. As highlighted by VGC, Larian Studios' latest PC release Baldur's Gate 3
News Nintendo's New Development Building Reportedly Delayed Due To "Expansion Plan"
"Expected to be completed in 2028 or later"
Last April, Nintendo announced it had acquired new land next to its Kyoto, Japan headquarters for a new development building. In an update from Nikkei, it seems the building will no longer hit its completion goal date of 2027, with the building now expected to be finished by "2028 or later". The delay is...
News Take-Two CEO On Backward Compatibility: "Give Consumers What They Want"
Will Nintendo be on board for Switch 2?
In a recent discussion with GamesIndustry.biz, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick voiced his opinions on whether a feature like backward compatibility has the potential to harm software sales on future systems, stating that if the feature is possible, then it should be implemented. This follows a recent report from...
News It's "More Difficult Than Ever" To Collaborate With Nintendo, Claims Picross Developer Jupiter
"It’s been really hard to get them to say yes"
Nintendo has a great track record with its development partners, but not everyone has necessarily found it to be an easy process. Jupiter Corporation - the Japanese developer behind the Picross series on the Switch - recently revealed the difficulties of working with the video game giant. Speaking to...
News Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption Logo Update Reignites Remaster Rumours
Update: It's official
Update [Mon 7th Aug, 2023 15:30 BST]: And it's official: <related ids="153666"> Original Story: After the troubled release of the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy on multiple platforms including the Nintendo Switch, it looks like Rockstar Games could potentially be remastering another one of its older titles. It seems the...
News Handheld Consoles Will Need Easily-Switchable Batteries By 2027, Says New EU Regulation
Future Switches will likely have to follow suit
It looks like we are about to see a shift in the design of future handheld gaming consoles. A newly-passed European Union regulation has stated that an appliance's portable battery will need to be "readily removable and replaceable by the end-user" by 2027, something that is not currently offered by...
News Microsoft Given All-Clear In The US To Acquire Activision Blizzard
Call of Duty is back on the menu
Update #3 [Sun 16th Jul, 2023 16:30 BST]: Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer today confirmed a binding agreement with Sony has been made to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This is a 10-year deal, as confirmed by Stephen Totilo of Axios. "We are pleased to announce...
News Former PixelJunk Scrappers, Cursed To Golf Devs Open New Indie Studio In Kyoto, Japan
Denkiworks is already working on its first project
Former developers from Q-Games and Chuhai Labs have teamed up to open a brand new indie game studio in Kyoto, Japan. Denkiworks was founded by Liam Edwards, Jan de Graaf, and Taku Arioka. All three devs met while working on the mobile version of PixelJunk Scrappers at Q-Games in 2018. Edwards then...
News Percentage Of Female Managers At Nintendo Hasn't Improved, Despite Pledges
Annual report also reveals gender pay gap at NCL
According to Nintendo's annual report published earlier this week, only 4.2% of company managers in Japan are women. This is a number that has remained unchanged since 2021, when the company formed its 'Nintendo Women and Allies' initiative, pledging to "promote women’s careers" (thanks, Axios). On...
News Japan's Switch Sales In June Were Reportedly A Record High For The Console
Golden oldie
According to a recent Nikkei report, last month's Switch sales in Japan were the highest June figures that the console has ever received. The article cites Famitsu, stating that the Nintendo Switch sold 380,000 units in Japan during the month, which is said to be a 68% rise from the same time last year. When you consider the fact that...
News Ubisoft Game Designer And Creative Director Emile Morel Has Passed Away
His previous work included Rayman Legends
There's some incredibly sad news coming out of Ubisoft Montpellier today. Beyond Good and Evil 2 game designer and creative director Emile Morel has passed away at the age of 40. IGN originally spotted tributes on LinkedIn. Morel previously worked on games like Rayman Legends as a senior game designer and...
News Nintendo 2023 Annual Report Reveals Director Salaries Are Still Modest For The Industry
How much do the directors earn?
Nintendo has just published its annual report for the FY ended 31st March 2023, and it shows just how much money some of the company's biggest names take home each year. The listing accounts for five of Nintendo's top earners, with president Shuntaro Furukawa at the top (as you might expect) followed by Shigeru...
News Gollum Publisher Daedalic Entertainment Shuts Down Internal Development
Will focus exclusively on the publishing side of the business
Although The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is still meant to be coming to the Nintendo Switch at some point later this year, Daedalic Entertainment has now announced it will be shutting down its internal development teams to focus on publishing. Unfortunately, as part of this company...
News Pokémon GO Developer Niantic Axes Two AR Games And Lays Off 230 Employees
Pokémon GO is still the "top priority"
Niantic hit the big time with Pokémon GO and rapidly expanded into multiple other augmented reality-driven mobile experiences. Unfortunately, post-pandemic it's now experiencing a rough patch - with an update on the company website and email to employees revealing Niantic is axing two games and letting go of...
News Minecraft's Switch Version Earns More Revenue Than Xbox And PlayStation
Apparently it's "four times as big as" Xbox's earnings
Minecraft is still insanely popular and has been a huge form of revenue for Microsoft since its acquisition of Mojang. While PC and mobile is still seemingly the most popular way to play the game, during the final part of the 'Microsoft v FTC' hearing today, it's been revealed Nintendo's...
News Microsoft CEO Says He Would "Love To Get Rid Of" Exclusives On Consoles
While blaming Sony for shaping the market
Even from a Nintendo perspective, there are all sorts of juicy insights, quotes and documents coming out of the Microsoft v FTC hearing. The latest day in the ongoing courtroom battle has briefly focused on exclusivity. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadalla admitted in his own testimony he would "love" if Xbox could...
News Activision CEO Made 'A Bad Judgement' In Not Supporting The Nintendo Switch More
Console has sold more than 125 million units
During day four of what is already proving to be a surprisingly gripping trial relating to Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick took to the stand and stated his deep regret in not supporting the Nintendo Switch more over the course of its lifespan so far. As...
News PlayStation Boss Doesn't Think Call Of Duty Appeals To Nintendo's Core Audience
You know, the fans who enjoy "Mario and Zelda"
As part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft's aim is to bring Call of Duty to as many platforms as possible. This includes Nintendo's devices, with a 10-year legal agreement already penned. The only thing Xbox has got to overcome first is the FTC and Sony's attempts to block the deal. The...
News The FTC Doesn't Seem To Think Switch Is A Serious PlayStation & Xbox Competitor
Microsoft's Phil Spencer says it's "incorrect"
Microsoft is currently locked in a courtroom battle with the Federal Trade Commission over its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and although the focus is mostly on Xbox, on day two of the proceedings, the Nintendo Switch has already been dragged into the fight. According to The...
News E3 2024 And 2025 Have Supposedly Been Cancelled
The ESA claims "no final decisions" have been made
E3 2023 was cancelled earlier this year in March, and now in an update, it seems the events for 2024 and 2025 have also been axed. This information was featured in a slide during a Los Angeles City Tourism Board meeting. The Entertainment Software Association has come out with a statement,...
News EA Splits "EA Entertainment" And "EA Sports" In Massive Company Restructure
"This evolution of our company continues"
Industry juggernaut Electronic Arts has today announced a huge restructuring that splits its studios into two major organisations - EA Entertainment and EA Sports. As explained by CEO Andrew Wilson, this "evolution" allows the company to give studio leaders more power, including "creative ownership and...
News Skyrim Has Now Sold More Than 60 Million Copies, According To Bethesda
Making it the "seventh best-selling game" ever
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been ported and re-released on just about every platform under the sun at this point, and it appears to have paid off for Bethesda. Speaking to IGN this week, the game's director Todd Howard revealed how the legendary action RPG has now sold over 60 million copies...
News Metroid Prime 4 Developer Retro Studios Is Hiring New Talent
It's now been six years since the project was announced
Metroid Prime Remastered launched on the Switch earlier this year, and Metroid Fusion followed with a release on the Switch Online GBA service. Obviously, there's still more to come for Metroid fans, and today actually marks six years since Nintendo originally announced Metroid Prime 4 was in...
News Summer Game Fest Will Return In 2024 After 'Record-Setting' Year
More Nicolas Cage, please
Following what's been described as a "record-setting 2023", Geoff Keighley and Summer Game Fest have announced that the event will return in 2024. Was there ever any doubt? Much like this year, a live showcase will kick off the summer celebrations once again followed by the media/creator-focused 'Play Days' from iam8bit...
News Embracer Group To Make Severe Cutbacks After Absurd Spending Spree
Jobs, studios, and games all on the line
Embracer Group has announced that it is entering a 'restructuring program' with a view to becoming a "leaner, stronger and a more focused, self-sufficient company". In other words, it's about to undertake some pretty substantial cost-cutting measures after spending the last six years or so focusing on...
News Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture Teases 25th Anniversary Announcement
Update: "Grasshopper Direct" & remaster announced
Update [Fri 9th Jun, 2023 04:30 BST]: In a video update, Grasshopper Manufacture has announced it will be hosting a special anniversary "Direct" program next week on 14th June. In addition to this, it's also revealed a Shadows of the Damned Remaster is "currently in development" and is "coming...
Really Keighley
It only feels like yesterday that we were getting geared up in preparation for last year's Summer Game Fest, yet here we are with Summer Game Fest 2023 - crazy, right? Let's not dwell on the rapid passing of time, lest we fall into a deep well of existential crisis. Summer Game Fest 2023 is now the only overarching celebration of...
News Apple Acquires AR Headset Startup Responsible For Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
The special ride only at Super Nintendo World
Tech giant Apple yesterday announced its new headset the "Vision Pro", and now in somewhat related news, it's reportedly acquired the AR startup company, Mira. This is the Los Angeles-based team behind the headset technology featured in the Super Nintendo World experience, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge...
News Dillon's Rolling Western & Kirby Developer Vanpool Shuts Down
"We have decided to disband"
In some surprising news, it's been discovered Vanpool, the independent Tokyo-based development team behind the Dillon's Rolling Western series, has shut down. As of 31st May 2023, the studio is no longer in operation. It shared an official statement on its website confirming this. Here's part of a translation:...
News Embracer Group Shares Plunge After $2 Billion Deal Falls Through "Late Last Night"
The stock market reacts
Embracer Group — the owners of huge IPs including The Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider, and Borderlands — has seen its shares drop by a whopping 39.28% in the past day after it announced the surprise "negative outcome" of a potential $2 billion contracted development deal. The drop occurred this morning following the...
News Zelda: Cadence Of Hyrule Dev 'Brace Yourself Games' Confirms Layoffs
Up to half of its workforce may be gone
Canadian indie developer Brace Yourself Games (known for the Switch exclusive Cadence of Hyrule) has cut "a portion" of its workforce. Brace Yourself Games shared the following statement with PC Gamer, confirming the "incredibly difficult decision" to lay off employees. In a
News Sega Looks Set To Raise Its Game Prices Up To $70
"We would like to review the prices of titles"
Sega Sammy has suggested that it may join other major publishers in raising some of its game prices up to $70. In a recent Q&A session (thanks, VGC) with President / Group CEO Haruki Satomi and Senior Vice President / Group CFO Koichi Fukazawa, it's been confirmed that the company will be reviewing...