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Xbox announces what sounds like a generative AI-focused game-making department, Xbox Labs, while avoiding mentioning AI
Xbox has launched Xbox Labs, a new initiative led by CTO Scott Van Vliet, to explore emerging trends in game development, particularly those related to generative AI and code manipulation. CEO Asha Sharma announced the initiative, emphasizing its role in understanding how players and developers interact with new technologies, while notably avoiding direct mention of AI in the announcement.
Rockstar’s Next Game Won’t Take 8 Years, as GTA 6 Tools Allow Team to “Do Things More Quickly”
Rockstar Games technical director Phil Hooker stated that the development tools and team built for Grand Theft Auto 6 will allow for quicker content creation in future projects, potentially reducing the long wait times between major releases. The game is set to launch on November 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, with a PC version reportedly planned for early 2027.
MMO Business Roundup: EU cash shop currency crackdown, Nvidia’s GPU halt, and Steam’s player numbers
This MMO industry roundup covers several key developments: the EU is investigating Activision Blizzard, Mojang, Riot Games, and Ubisoft over cash shop currency practices. Steam has set new player concurrency records, exceeding 43 million users online. Additionally, unconfirmed reports suggest Nvidia is halting production of the RTX 5090 GPU to prioritize AI hardware, potentially increasing prices and making the RTX 5080 the top consumer card.
Hearthstone is full of "tall tales," but that leaves room for limitless narrative possibilities
Hearthstone's narrative approach, characterized by 'tall tales' told in taverns, allows for limitless storytelling possibilities within the Warcraft universe. Executive Producer Nathan Lyons-Smith and Lead Game Designer Brendan Sewell discussed how the upcoming 'Reign of the Black Empire' expansion and the new Journal feature will tie narratives together cohesively, serving both core and new players.
Epic Games to make first big budget AI-only game with new Disney shooter
Epic Games is shifting to an 'AI first' development model, impacting an unannounced Marvel and Star Wars shooter. CEO Tim Sweeney confirmed the pivot aims to accelerate development using AI tools like Anthropic's Claude, with human input primarily for guidance. This move has reportedly caused concern among developers, with some expressing dismay at the prospect of AI generating game assets and code.
Gears of War: E-Day’s Reported Sales Raise Some Serious Questions
Despite critical acclaim and leveraging Unreal Engine 5, Gears of War: E-Day's reported sales figures, particularly on PC and Xbox consoles, have raised concerns about its financial performance. The article suggests that Xbox's strategy, heavily reliant on Game Pass, may be hindering the profitability of its first-party exclusives, potentially impacting studio futures and leading to layoffs.
Weekend Console Download Deals for Oct. 9: PlayStation Player's Choice sale
This weekend's console deals include PlayStation's Player's Choice sale featuring titles like Saros and Marathon, Xbox Game Pass deals with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Nintendo Switch discounts on indie games from the Triple-I Initiative Showcase. PlayStation Plus members can also claim F1 25, Hunt: Showdown 1896, and Earth Defense Force: World Brothers 2 for free.
Gears Of War: E-Day–How’s It Selling? Let’s Unpack Things
Gears of War: E-Day has sold approximately 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox platforms, with a significant portion of players acquiring it through Game Pass. Analysts suggest that while direct sales are soft, the Game Pass model, including premium upgrades, generated substantial revenue, but questions are being raised about Xbox's overall strategy and its ability to drive console sales.
Gears of War: E-Day reportedly courts over 1.7m Xbox Game Pass players and makes over $37m since launch
Gears of War: E-Day has reportedly sold around 230,000 copies across Steam and Xbox consoles/PC, generating over $37 million including Premium Edition upgrades and microtransactions. A significant portion of its player base, over 1.7 million, engaged with the game through Xbox Game Pass, with many opting for the $30 Premium Edition upgrade for early access. The article also touches on player overlap with other titles and discusses the studio's confidence in the game as a foundation for future installments.
The EU Is Coming For Gaming’s Most Manipulative Monetization Tactics
European consumer protection authorities are taking action against 10 video game companies, including Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, for employing "dark patterns" and manipulative monetization tactics. These practices, such as selling in-game currency in fixed bundles that force overspending and obscuring real-world costs, are accused of putting minors and vulnerable individuals at risk of gaming addiction. Some games like Fortnite are beginning to offer exact currency purchases, but many still rely on exploitative bundle deals.
As it lays off developers and closes studios, Xbox gets into the movie business
Xbox has launched a new division called Xbox XP, focusing on film, television, merchandise, partnerships, and live experiences, headed by former Mojang president Kayleen Walters. This move comes as Xbox is undergoing significant layoffs and studio closures, drawing criticism for prioritizing expensive new ventures over game development staff.
"A creative idea can save more money than AI can right now" – Glen Schofield on his retirement, Callisto Protocol's development, and the state of AAA
Veteran developer Glen Schofield discusses his retirement from game development, citing frustrations with AAA development costs and management decisions at Krafton during The Callisto Protocol's creation. He expresses a preference for smaller teams and creative-driven projects, and sees potential in AI as a creative tool rather than just a cost-saving measure.
US Video Game Hardware Sales Just Had Their Worst August In 13 Years
US video game hardware sales experienced their worst August in 13 years, with a 15% year-over-year decline in unit sales. Despite fewer consoles sold, higher prices, including those for mid-generation upgrades like the PlayStation 5 Pro, led to a significant increase in dollar sales for Sony. Market saturation and price increases are cited as key factors for the overall downturn.
Bobby's back
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of Skydance as an independent director, marking his return to the gaming industry after leaving Activision Blizzard following its acquisition by Microsoft. Skydance praised Kotick's leadership in building Activision Blizzard into a successful company, despite his controversial tenure marked by allegations of harassment and discrimination lawsuits.
Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor brings back 'over half' of furloughed staff
Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor has begun rehiring over half of the employees it previously furloughed. CEO Greg Foertsch stated this is an important step forward for the studio and the game's continued support. The article notes that while many employees are returning, a significant number remain furloughed, and discusses the nuances of labor regulations regarding furloughs versus layoffs.
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick named to the board of post-merger Skydance
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has been appointed to the board of directors for the newly formed Skydance company, which resulted from the acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. Skydance's media conglomerate includes a video game division that will merge Paramount Games Studio with WB's internal developers. Despite past controversies surrounding Activision Blizzard, Skydance chairman David Ellison praised Kotick's leadership and ability to build enduring franchises.
Former Halo art director claps back at founding Xbox member for implying 343 Industries had a "laziness"…
Former Halo art director Glenn Israel responded to claims made by founding Xbox member Laura Fryer, who described Halo Studios (formerly 343 Industries) as a "ghost town" during the development of Gears of War 2. Israel refuted Fryer's recollection, stating that while the studio had "systemic issues," it was not "rife with laziness" and that Fryer's timeline and observations were inaccurate.
State Of Decay 3 Was Announced Early To Keep Undead Labs On Microsoft’s Radar
State of Decay 3 developer Undead Labs announced the game early in 2020 to keep the project on Microsoft's radar during an acquisition spree, according to studio boss Philip Holt. The studio has since become independent and employee-owned. Holt explained that the early announcement was a strategic move to prevent the studio from being overlooked amidst Microsoft's acquisitions of companies like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
No, GTA 6 won't be playable on PC via Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Microsoft doesn't have exclusive streaming rights…
Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball clarified that Grand Theft Auto 6 will not be playable on PC via Xbox Cloud Gaming and that Microsoft does not hold exclusive streaming rights. This debunks earlier reports suggesting such an arrangement, which would have limited streaming access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. The game is confirmed for an Xbox release on November 19.
Bobby Kotick joins Skydance board of directors
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of directors for Skydance, a new entity formed from a combination of Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. The article notes Kotick's controversial tenure at Activision Blizzard, citing allegations of workplace misconduct and underperformance of key franchises like Call of Duty.
