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"These sports games that were loved and revered... just went away" – How a group of ex-EA devs are launching a new NBA game
Play By Play, a studio founded by former Electronic Arts veterans, has announced its debut title, NBA: The Run, a three-vs-three street basketball game inspired by NBA Street. The game secured an official NBA license and aims to fill a market gap for arcade-style sports titles, differentiating itself from the simulation-focused NBA 2K series. The developers are prioritizing a focused, multiplayer experience without microtransactions at launch, with plans for community-driven evolution rather than annual releases.
Product Placement Can Help Save The AAA Games Business, Former BioWare Dev Says
Former BioWare veteran Mark Darrah suggests that product placement could be a viable solution for the financial sustainability of AAA game development, arguing that an over-reliance on live-service models and microtransactions is limiting. He points to existing examples in games and other media, and questions why it isn't a larger part of the gaming industry's revenue streams. Darrah also expressed concerns about the impact of subscription services like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass on game design.
Rockstar vs. the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain: a timeline of events so far
The Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain (IWGB) accused Rockstar Games of union busting following the dismissal of 31 employees in October 2025, which the company attributed to gross misconduct for distributing confidential information. The dispute escalated with legal claims, protests, and parliamentary attention, with Rockstar maintaining the dismissals were unrelated to union activities. A preliminary employment tribunal hearing in January 2026 rejected the IWGB's request for interim relief, though the full hearing is pending.
Fable reboot delayed until February 2027
Microsoft has delayed the Fable reboot, developed by Playground Games, to February 2027. The company cited a desire to give the game its own dedicated release window, avoiding a crowded period that includes other major Xbox titles and Grand Theft Auto VI. A new look at Fable is expected at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 7.
Rockstar employees form union amid ongoing legal claims
Rockstar employees have formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. The union's formation follows the dismissal of over 30 employees, which the RGWU alleges was an act of union busting, leading to ongoing legal battles and protests.
Grand Theft Auto’s Success is Hard to Meet Even for Former Rockstar Employees, Says Take-Two CEO
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on the increasing difficulty of creating hit games in a mature industry, noting that even former Rockstar Games employees have struggled to replicate Grand Theft Auto's success. He emphasized Take-Two's goal to attract such talent to their own company rather than face them as competitors. Zelnick also discussed Grand Theft Auto 6's development, stating that annual releases are not a priority and that the franchise's success was built over time, not through a fixed release cadence.
There's one game Don't Nod narrative designer Nina Freeman won't ever uninstall from her PC, because it's banned on Steam: 'It's tragic, because everyone should play this game'
Narrative designer Nina Freeman discusses her PC gaming habits, highlighting Devotion as a game she will never uninstall due to its quality and controversial Steam ban. She also shares her most played game, Dota 2, and her appreciation for complex branching narratives in titles like Scarlet Hollow.
Stop Killing Games consumer protection bill passes floor vote in California
The California State Assembly has passed the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921), a bill aimed at protecting consumer rights and ensuring game preservation. The legislation, motivated by incidents like Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, would require publishers to provide offline access or refunds when server-dependent games are discontinued. The bill now moves to the California State Senate, facing opposition from industry groups like Video Games Europe and the ESA who argue it could increase development costs and stifle innovation.
Xbox delays Fable to February 2027 to avoid GTA 6 (and everything else)
Xbox has delayed the release of Fable to February 2027, citing the need to avoid launching alongside major titles like Grand Theft Auto VI. The delay aims to give the role-playing game its own dedicated moment. Fable will be available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC, as well as Game Pass.
Civilization 7 and Borderlands 4 had "missteps," Take-Two boss admits, but publisher 2K is still…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged "missteps" with Civilization 7 and Borderlands 4, despite both titles being profitable. He stated that publisher 2K Games is performing strongly overall, and that challenges with these franchises are being addressed. Zelnick also expressed confidence in Grand Theft Auto 6's future success.
Take-Two CEO says 'former Rockstar employees' have tried to match GTA's success and 'haven't been able to'—and while he doesn't name names, that's gotta sting for a certain someone
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that while AI could theoretically allow smaller teams to create games, it doesn't guarantee success on the scale of Grand Theft Auto. He noted that many, including former Rockstar employees, have tried to replicate Rockstar's hit-making ability without success, emphasizing that creativity, not just technology, is key to continued success.
Evening Interviews
Take-Two Interactive believes that review scores for Grand Theft Auto 6 will be important. The company's stance highlights the significance of critical reception for major game releases.
GTA 6 Boss Says High Review Scores Reflect Rockstar’s “Commitment To Quality”
Strauss Zelnick, CEO of Take-Two Interactive, believes Grand Theft Auto 6 will achieve high review scores, reflecting Rockstar Games' commitment to quality. He acknowledged that while reviews are important, the media landscape has changed significantly since Grand Theft Auto 5's release. Zelnick also indicated that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch at a reasonable price on Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 on November 19.
6 months before the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, Rockstar employees in the UK have formed a union
Rockstar Games employees in the UK have formed the Rockstar Game Workers Union, affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. This development follows alleged firings of employees attempting to unionize in October 2025, which Rockstar denied. The union aims to address issues like pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch, while also seeking justice for the dismissed workers.
The Rockstar Game Workers Union breaks cover
Developers at Rockstar Games have announced the formation of the Rockstar Game Workers Union (RGWU), affiliated with the Independent Workers' Union of Great Britain. This follows accusations of union-busting after the dismissal of over 30 unionizing developers, which Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive deny, citing gross misconduct. The RGWU is preparing legal action and aims to secure pay transparency, flexible working, and an end to crunch.
"I don't know where GTA Online performance goes after the release of GTA 6," Take-Two boss says, but he…
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Grand Theft Auto Online will continue to operate even after the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, though he is unsure of its specific future performance. He believes the existing online mode has a strong community and will continue to be supported by Rockstar Games, potentially existing alongside a new online component tied to Grand Theft Auto 6.
Take-Two CEO seems to take shot at MindsEye studio, says 'the folks at Rockstar seem to be able to make these massive hits' while former Rockstar employees 'haven’t been able to do it'
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on the importance of critical reviews for games like Grand Theft Auto 6, highlighting Rockstar Games' consistent ability to produce hits. He also seemingly contrasted Rockstar's success with that of other studios, including MindsEye and Build A Rocket Boy, which feature former Rockstar employees, suggesting they have not yet replicated that level of success.
GTA 6 finally releasing won't lead to a Rockstar staff exodus, Take-Two boss expects: "We have a lot of work…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that he does not anticipate significant staff turnover at Rockstar Games following the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, citing the company's low attrition rate. He also mentioned that there will be substantial work to do on the game post-launch, indicating continued employment for the development team.
Red Dead Redemption 2 just had its best sales year since launch, but Take-Two CEO doesn't think GTA 6 hype is…
Red Dead Redemption 2 achieved its best sales year since launch, surpassing 85 million copies sold and becoming the third best-selling game of all time. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick attributes this success to the game's dedicated audience and Rockstar Games' brand appeal, rather than hype for Grand Theft Auto 6.
Take-Two Boss Says 'Former Rockstar Employees' Have Tried to Match GTA's Success and Failed — and We All Know Which Game He's Talking About
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick commented on the challenges of creating successful video games, referencing former Rockstar Games employees who attempted to replicate the success of the Grand Theft Auto series without achieving it. He implied that a specific, high-profile game flop was likely made by these individuals.