42 results found
Dan Ayoub, former Senior VP of D&D and an ex-Halo studio head, is the new President of Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro Digital Games. His appointment signals a strong push into digital and video games for the company, creators of Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. Upcoming titles include the sci-fi RPG Exodus and the D&D action-adventure Warlock.
Warhorse Studios, known for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, has been hit by a cyberattack, resulting in unauthorized access to their company systems and data. CEO Martin Frývaldský called it a "serious incident," and the studio is working with cybersecurity experts to investigate. This incident follows similar breaches at Capcom and Rockstar, highlighting a growing industry concern.
Gaming icon Hideo Kojima has praised the divisive 2026 film *Digger*, drawing intriguing parallels to his own prophetic game, *Metal Gear Solid 2*. Both works, he explains, uniquely explore the dangers of misinformation and a fragmented digital reality, anxieties he shares with *Digger*'s director, Alejandro González Iñárritu.
Ubisoft is planning a voluntary departure program for about 100 employees across its Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Mainz studios in Germany. This move is part of a larger, ongoing cost-reduction and restructuring effort by the publisher, aiming to better position its studios for future projects.
Nicolas Cage publicly declared he won't work with Amazon due to their AI-friendly policies, refusing AI use for his *Spider-Noir* role. His principled stand, revealed at New York Comic Con, highlights Hollywood's AI debate and garnered widespread praise. Adding to his legend, it also surfaced that Cage is a huge fan of N64's *Bomberman Hero*.
A Newzoo report challenges the 'F2P is dying' narrative, showing absolute playtime is flat despite a share dip. Gacha RPGs are driving massive growth on PC, adding billions of hours. Yet, engagement isn't proportionally boosting revenue, signaling a crucial industry challenge.
For the first time since 1967, Sony is skipping CES 2027, shifting its focus from a general tech show to dedicated entertainment platforms like games, anime, and film. This means no direct PlayStation news from Sony at the upcoming event, marking the end of a long-standing tradition.
Xbox's ongoing "reset" brings another wave of devastating layoffs and major studio reshuffles, including Halo moving to Activision Blizzard and other beloved teams merging or facing closure. The gaming community reacts with frustration and disbelief, questioning Xbox's strategy amidst high-profile project announcements.
Activision reports that cheating in games is an $8.5 billion industry, encompassing cheat sales, account services, and spoofing. A survey reveals that 69% of online multiplayer studios consider cheating a "significant problem," impacting player retention and revenue. Developers are increasingly investing in sophisticated anti-cheat measures, forming dedicated teams, and adopting multi-layered security approaches to combat this evolving threat.
Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs is actively working to boost the state's $2 billion tabletop gaming industry through international trade missions. At PAX West, he combined this with vital voter outreach, engaging young gamers with custom dice and civic messages. This unique initiative helps local indie developers find global publishers while promoting democratic participation.
GDC Festival of Gaming has appointed four new industry leaders to its advisory board: Amir Satvat, Alexa Ray Corriea, Lucien Parsons, and Perrin Kaplan. These diverse additions aim to enrich GDC's program, reflecting a commitment to evolve the event based on critical industry feedback and recent structural changes for the 2027 conference.
Rockstar Games and the IWGB union have presented their opening arguments in an employment tribunal concerning the dismissal of 34 staff members. Rockstar cites gross misconduct and confidential information leaks, while the union alleges the firings were due to union activities, including claims of an internal mole. This high-stakes legal battle highlights significant issues for worker rights and studio practices in the gaming industry.
The gaming industry is seeing a massive shift as unionization rises globally, securing vital worker protections, better pay, and AI safeguards. This collective movement is empowering developers and fundamentally changing workplace dynamics. It's a win for workers, and ultimately, for the games we play.
Sony's traditional silent approach to PR is facing a strong challenge from an increasingly vocal fanbase, frustrated by the shift to digital-only games and perceived mishandling of live-service titles. While the recent State of Play delivered some good content, it couldn't drown out protests, prompting questions about the long-term viability of Sony's "impassive mask" strategy. Even *GTA 6* might not be enough to quell the widespread discontent.
The Fall 2026 video game release slate is incredibly stacked with highly anticipated titles, from Switch 2 exclusives to a new Wolverine game and the monumental Grand Theft Auto 6. However, this glut of releases, coupled with a challenging economic climate and fierce competition, poses a significant threat to many developers, potentially leading to a 'bloodbath' for smaller studios and a more fractured industry.
Sony and Microsoft are fighting consumer lawsuits seeking refunds for 2025 console price hikes tied to now-illegal US tariffs. Both argue they're not legally obligated, citing various market factors, contrasting with Playdate's proactive refunds.
Brian Ward, CEO of Saudi Arabia's $38 billion Savvy Games Group, is stepping down, with PIF Governor Turqi Alnowaiser taking over. Savvy owns major mobile companies like Niantic (*Pokémon Go*) and Scopely, and is acquiring Moonton Games. This shift highlights Saudi Arabia's deep dive into gaming, including the separate $55 billion EA acquisition, raising questions about strategy and the industry's future.
Despite an incredibly tumultuous year for Xbox—marked by leadership changes, massive layoffs, studio sales, and strategic pivots—the company successfully delivered on its promise of over 75 day-one Game Pass Ultimate releases. Subscribers consistently received new titles, showcasing a rare point of stability amidst widespread corporate upheaval and re-evaluation of the service's growth.
Former Xbox CPO Marc Whitten has been named CEO of Dolby Laboratories, a significant move for immersive entertainment and gaming. This comes amidst high-profile exits from Microsoft's AI division, with CMO Andréa Mallard and veteran researcher Ece Kamar departing. Other notable tech shifts include leadership changes at NationSwell and hires at Seattle startup Tin Can, emphasizing a dynamic tech landscape.
This summer, the usual quiet period in gaming transformed into a 'Summer of Hate,' fueled by events like the GTA 6 leaks and early backlash against Marvel's Wolverine previews. A lack of new releases exacerbated negativity, with the community feeding on controversy. Relief is in sight, however, as Gamescom and a flood of Q4 titles are set to bring back the fun.
Meet 4Divinity, a publisher you've probably never heard of, making an unprecedented multi-million dollar splash at Gamescom. They're betting big on new, mid-tier single-player games from Chinese developers to fill a perceived void in the Western market.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes cloud streaming could soon make expensive gaming consoles less relevant, potentially within three years. He sees the rising cost of hardware as a negative trend but anticipates it won't hinder big titles like GTA 6. Zelnick forecasts streaming could massively increase the player base, leveraging the ongoing shift towards open gaming systems.
August 2026 brought significant talent shifts and industry changes, highlighted by three new hires at Yogscast Games and AI innovators joining Roblox. Major companies like Rockstar and Netflix also bolstered their teams, while Electronic Arts underwent a colossal $55 billion acquisition, marking a new chapter.
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Esports consultancy The Story Mob has rebranded to a "strategic player culture advisory," expanding its focus to the entire games industry. With new services like Play Makers, they aim to help brands authentically engage with gaming communities beyond traditional marketing. This shift acknowledges gaming's role in identity, community, and belonging.
Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball clarifies the company's evolving exclusive strategy, emphasizing a "reliable pipeline of exclusive games" for platform growth, citing *Gears of War: E-Day* and *Clockwork Revolution* as examples. However, he notes that large live-service and some single-player titles like *Halo: Campaign Evolved* and *Fable* will go multiplatform. Xbox acknowledges player confusion about its "framework" for these decisions, promising more clarity.
