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PHYSINT – So… What Exactly Is Going On?
PlayStation has canceled its partnership with Hideo Kojima's Kojima Productions for the upcoming game Physint, citing a difficult decision after three decades of collaboration. Kojima Productions has since partnered with Xbox for the project, which is described as an 'action espionage game' and also working on the horror title OD. The article speculates on the reasons for PlayStation's decision, including high budgets and a potential shift towards live-service games, while highlighting Xbox's eagerness to support Kojima's ambitious vision.
More than 40% of people cancelling Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions blame rising costs
New data from Circana indicates that over 40% of US consumers cancelling Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and Nintendo Switch Online subscriptions cite rising costs as the primary reason. While the overall number of cancellations may not be increasing, the perceived value for money is declining for many users, leading them to discontinue their subscriptions.
The internet's new obsession: Gabe Newell explaining why Valve defied big tech by staying a private company and…
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell's past comments on why the company remains privately held have resurfaced, resonating with a modern audience disillusioned by tech layoffs and 'enshittification.' Newell argued that private ownership allows Valve to prioritize employees and create value by hiring expensive talent, contrasting with the cost-cutting measures often seen at public companies like Microsoft and Meta.
Sega and Netflix partner for a "cute yet cool" Sonic TV Show, a Crazy Taxi film, and a "badass action" Stranger Than Heaven adaptation
Netflix and Sega have partnered to create multiple adaptations, including a new animated Sonic the Hedgehog TV show, a film based on Crazy Taxi, and a movie adaptation of the upcoming game Stranger Than Heaven. The deal aims to leverage popular Sega franchises for streaming content.
Blizzard isn't "trying to do the Steam or Epic Games Store thing" by putting Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 Remastered on Battle.net, says exec
Blizzard Entertainment executive Andrew Guerrero stated that the company is not aiming to replicate Steam or the Epic Games Store with its Battle.net platform. While Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 Remastered are being added, the focus remains on curated, high-quality experiences that align with their core player base's interests.
Redfall co-director Harvey Smith thinks Arkane 'never should have been working on a games-as-a-service game'
Former Arkane Austin creative director Harvey Smith believes the studio should never have worked on Redfall, a games-as-a-service title. He reflects on the game's failure, the closure of Arkane Austin, and the team's efforts to salvage the game. Smith and other former Arkane developers are now focusing on creating immersive sims with their new company, Black Pony.
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen refused to work for Xbox because it would be like 'walking past some stakes with human skulls on them' and pretending 'it's probably fine in this direction'
Thief designer Randy Smith Evergreen explains his decision to refuse an opportunity to work for an Xbox-funded studio due to Microsoft's history of studio closures, likening it to ignoring obvious danger. He discusses the challenges of AAA development for immersive sims and his preference for smaller, more focused indie projects.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Changes Are an Unintentional Own Goal in Console Wars
Microsoft has announced new monthly hour limits for Xbox Cloud Gaming, which will arbitrarily restrict play time for subscribers. This move is seen as an "own goal" that alienates consumers, especially when compared to Sony's controversial decision to discontinue disc-based gaming. The new limits range from 5 hours for Game Pass Essential to 15 hours for Game Pass Ultimate, with the cost of additional hours unconfirmed but expected to be a significant drawback for players of long, open-world games.
Resident Evil Movie Director Comments On Physical Media Debate
Resident Evil movie director Zach Cregger shared his views on the debate surrounding physical media, stating he is no longer a proponent due to losing or damaging discs and space constraints. While acknowledging the convenience of digital downloads, he expressed concern over companies' ability to delete purchased digital games.
The GeForce RTX 5090 isn't a "gaming GPU" if AI companies are buying them by the pallet
The author argues that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is no longer a gaming GPU due to AI companies purchasing them in large quantities for data centers, driving up prices beyond what most gamers can afford. This trend, exacerbated by the lack of AI-specific deterrents like those seen with crypto mining, suggests Nvidia's focus has shifted from gaming to AI and high-performance computing.
"What's the harm in asking?" – Dlala Studios on taking a big swing to get comedy legend Bob Mortimer for the upcoming game Murals
Dlala Studios discusses the surprising process of securing British comedy legend Bob Mortimer for their upcoming game, Murals. The studio founder shares how they took a chance by asking Mortimer's representatives, leading to him voicing the character 'Magic Dave'. The interview also touches on Dlala's journey from work-for-hire on titles like Battletoads and Disney Illusion Island to self-publishing their own original IP, Murals, highlighting the risks and rewards of independent development.
We tested the simple Windows 11 account bypass and it works. Just no-one tell Microsoft
A new method has been discovered to bypass the mandatory Microsoft account requirement during the setup of Windows 11 Home Edition. By clicking a specific 'learn more' link, users can proceed to create a local account instead of signing in with a Microsoft account. This bypass has been confirmed on non-Insider builds, despite Microsoft's efforts to make local account creation more difficult.
A StarCraft open-world shooter that's "Deadwood in space", Diablo 5, and a new classic-ish World of Warcraft branch out this year make up Blizzard of reveals
Blizzard Entertainment revealed several upcoming titles at BlizzCon, including a StarCraft open-world shooter set for 2030, Diablo 5 in 2029, and World of Warcraft: Forever, a new branch of the MMO launching November 4th. The StarCraft game, led by former Far Cry producer Dan Hay, is described as "Deadwood in space," while Diablo 5's announcement aims to gather early fan feedback. Support for Diablo 4 will continue, but no further expansions are planned.
Blizzard explains why it's revealing StarCraft and Diablo 5 release dates so far away: "We want to convey confidence in some of our biggest bets"
Blizzard Entertainment has announced release dates for Diablo 5 (spring 2029) and a new StarCraft open-world shooter (2030), a departure from their usual 'done when it's done' approach. President Johanna Faries stated this is to "convey confidence in some of our biggest bets." The company also revealed World of Warcraft: Forever, a Diablo Netflix series, and other updates, amidst ongoing Microsoft layoffs.
Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to Battle.net for some reason, and Geralt will be in Diablo 4
Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion will be released on Blizzard's Battle.net digital storefront later this year, joining other non-Blizzard titles. Additionally, Geralt from The Witcher series will appear as a barbarian skin in Diablo 4 for players who pre-purchase The Witcher 3's Songs of the Past DLC on Battle.net. The collaboration also includes Edgerunners-themed cosmetics for Overwatch next year.
MMO Week in Review: Foreverrrrr
BlizzCon 2026 saw major announcements including a new open-world StarCraft shooter, Diablo V for 2029, and World of Warcraft Forever launching soon. The event also revealed World of Warcraft's next retail expansion, The Last Titan, and sparked controversy over World of Warcraft Forever's monetization. Other news included the sunsetting of Ship of Heroes, layoffs at Pantheon Rise of the Fallen, and business dealings involving ArcheAge.
StarCraft, Diablo 5 and WoW Forever Define BlizzCon 2026
Blizzard Entertainment unveiled a significant lineup of new games and updates at BlizzCon 2026, including a new StarCraft open-world shooter targeting 2030 and Diablo 5 for 2029. World of Warcraft Forever, a remastered version of the original game, will launch November 4. The event also featured new content for Diablo 4, Overwatch, Warcraft 3, Hearthstone, and Heroes of the Storm, alongside a Diablo animated series.
After announcing StarCraft and Diablo 5 years in advance, Blizzard president promises "to ship, and ship big, and…
Blizzard Entertainment president Johanna Faries expressed confidence in the long-term development of StarCraft and Diablo 5, despite their distant release windows of 2030 and 2029 respectively. Faries stated the company's commitment to shipping games on time and emphasized preserving Blizzard's unique culture amidst Microsoft's ownership and recent layoffs.
Xbox Regional Pricing Explained: Why Game Prices Differ Between Countries
This article explains why Xbox game prices and Game Pass subscriptions vary significantly between countries. Microsoft sets base prices, which are then adjusted for local currency, taxes, competition, and player purchasing power. While regional pricing can offer savings, attempting to exploit it through region-hopping carries risks like account restrictions and revoked codes.
Why is Blizzard still announcing games years ahead of release? 'We want to convey confidence in some of our biggest…
Blizzard Entertainment's strategy of announcing games years before their release, exemplified by StarCraft and Diablo 5, is questioned as a potentially outdated marketing approach. President Johanna Faries stated the company wants to convey confidence in its major projects and ensure they ship on time, aiming to create a healthy Blizzard culture amidst potential future layoffs.
