1 Up Ventures
1 Up Ventures business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
The Big Picture: What you need to know about the ongoing games industry reset
Amir Satvat, formerly of Tencent and now with 1Up Ventures, delivered a keynote at Gamescom Dev outlining a significant reset in the games industry. He highlighted a projected 14,666 layoffs in 2026, a geographic shift of jobs away from North America, and revenue concentration among top titles, while noting the overall industry employment remains relatively stable. Satvat also discussed challenges like discoverability, AI uncertainty, a decline in entry-level roles, and the increasing importance of networking and community engagement.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Amir Satvat joins 1Up Ventures as a general partner
This article rounds up recent personnel changes in the games industry, including Amir Satvat joining 1Up Ventures, Ilari Kuittinen stepping down from Housemarque, and Tamara Feiman appointed CEO of Lion Studios. It also notes new roles at Sega of America and Activision Blizzard for Call of Duty.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Asmodee appoints Brian Trunk as senior vice president, Route to Market for the Americas
This article rounds up recent appointments and transitions within the games industry. Notable moves include Brian Trunk joining Asmodee as senior vice president, David Scarborough becoming senior manager of EMEA communications at Blizzard Entertainment, and Ilari Kuittinen stepping down as managing director of Housemarque after 31 years. Several other individuals have taken on new roles at companies like CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, and Activision Blizzard.
"We've seen how close you can get": How studio closures pushed Suzerain's maker to create two new DLCs and a turn-based strategy spinoff
Torpor Games, the studio behind the political strategy game Suzerain, has announced three new projects: two DLCs and a turn-based strategy spinoff, all set to release before their next flagship title, The Conformist. These expansions, including 'Suzerain Stories: The Neutral Lens,' 'Wars of Suzerain,' and 'Socialist Republic of Galmland,' aim to deepen the existing world and engage players with new perspectives and mechanics. The studio also secured investment from Sisu Game Ventures, 1Up Ventures, and Krafton to support these new ventures and ensure the continued development of Suzerain.
Former Firaxis Games creative director announces closure of Midsummer Studios
Midsummer Studios, co-founded by former XCOM designer Jake Solomon, is closing its doors. Solomon announced the closure and shared pre-alpha footage of the studio's unreleased game, Burbank. He also clarified that while AI was used for character performances, all art was created by human artists.
