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Epic Games reportedly delays Star Wars and Marvel shooter, as the Fortnite maker embraces "AI-accelerated development"
Epic Games has reportedly delayed an unannounced Star Wars and Marvel crossover shooter, shifting to an "AI-accelerated development" approach that includes "AI first" production pipelines and generated artwork. This comes after significant layoffs and a large investment from Disney. Separately, Hello Games announced that No Man's Sky will launch on iOS on October 28th, with performance improvements partly thanks to their upcoming game, Light No Fire.
Kathleen Kennedy says stepping down as Lucasfilm president was a "bit of a relief" after the "incredible…
Kathleen Kennedy reflected on stepping down as Lucasfilm president after 14 years, stating it brought a sense of relief from the pressure of living up to George Lucas' legacy. She discussed the challenges of balancing beloved existing Star Wars properties with creating new, original content, highlighting the success of the sequel trilogy and series like Andor and The Mandalorian.
X-Men cast confirmed and NFL preseason reactions - Shack Central Ep. 16
Shack Central Episode 16 covers recent pop culture news, including the confirmed cast for Marvel's X-Men and a discussion on the NFL preseason. The hosts also touch upon the acquisition of the Los Angeles Lakers and a new show announcement from DC Studios.
Disney says that Kingdom Hearts is now a 'billion dollar franchise'
The Walt Disney Company has announced that the Kingdom Hearts series is now a 'billion dollar franchise,' according to an investor-focused article. This achievement places it among Disney's top-grossing properties, alongside mobile game Marvel Strike Force. The article also touches on Disney's relationship with Epic Games and the success of Marvel Rivals.
Japanese officials have asked the U.S. Government to stop using Pokemon and Mario in social posts
Japanese officials have formally requested the U.S. Government cease using popular video game intellectual property such as Pokemon, Mario, and Naruto in social media posts without consent. Concerns were raised that such usage could be inappropriate and potentially harm the perception of these franchises. The U.S. Embassy in Japan was contacted regarding posts made by official government accounts, including one that superimposed a campaign slogan over Pokemon art and another that used clips from Wii Sports alongside military footage.
Evening Metaverse
The Walt Disney Company and TikTok have announced a new global content-sharing deal for short-form content. Meanwhile, Reddit has signaled upcoming changes to its old.reddit.com interface.
Silver Lining Interactive launches first title from its development label Silver Bullet
Silver Lining Interactive has launched its first game, Mr Trippy, from its internal IP development label, Silver Bullet. Mr Trippy is described as a darkly comedic management simulator. Silver Bullet, initially an indie incubator, has evolved into a full-fledged IP development label dedicated to creating original and unconventional gaming experiences.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | CodeDev Group appoints Ben Board as CEO of The Performance Guys
This article rounds up recent hires and promotions across the gaming industry. Key appointments include Ben Board as CEO of The Performance Guys, Nate Nanzer as EVP at Paramount Games, and Tracey Thompson returning to Bethesda as VP of communications. Several other companies like Epic Games, Amazon, and Microsoft also saw personnel changes.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Tim Coombs rejoins Amazon as head of brand marketing for Luna
This article rounds up various industry hires and transitions in August 2026. Notable appointments include Tim Coombs rejoining Amazon as head of brand marketing for Luna, Dan Lazarides becoming Chief Marketing Officer at Frontier Developments, and Tracey Thompson returning to Bethesda as VP of Communications. Several other individuals have also moved into new roles across companies like Blizzard Entertainment, Netflix Games, and Riot Games.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Paramount Games appoints Nate Nanzer as EVP, head of commercial & marketing
This article rounds up recent appointments and transitions within the gaming industry. Notable moves include Nate Nanzer joining Paramount Games, Julia Gutnik heading media at Amazon Gaming, and Tracey Thompson returning to Bethesda as VP of communications. Several other companies like Epic Games, Studio MDHR, Games Workshop, and Blizzard Entertainment also saw new hires or promotions.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Frontier Developments appoints Dan Lazarides as CMO
Several key figures have moved into new roles within the gaming industry. Dan Lazarides is the new Chief Marketing Officer at Frontier Developments, while Tracey Thompson returns to Bethesda as VP of Communications. Maddie Richter joins Nintendo of America as Social Media Marketing Manager, and Steffen Holm and Chris Kruger join Roblox to support AI tool development.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Three new hires at Yogscast Games
Yogscast Games has hired Charlotte Willis, Robin Mawhinney, and Charlotte Pang for PR, production, and publishing roles. Meanwhile, Jars AI co-founders Steffen Holm and Chris Kruger have joined Roblox to support its AI tool launch in New Zealand. Sathvik Sudireddy is the new marketing manager for live services at Rockstar Games, and Joe Chard is the lead product manager at Netflix Games.
Disney apparently re-acquires rights to Pokemon franchise for Disney Channel and Disney XD
The Walt Disney Company has re-acquired the rights to broadcast the Pokemon animated series on Disney Channel and Disney XD starting August 6th. The series will also become available on the Disney+ streaming service.
Moving Season 2 Resmi Mulai Produksi
The Korean drama "Moving" has officially begun production for its second season, with Ryu Seung-ryo, Han Hyo-joo, and Zo In-sung returning. The Walt Disney Company confirmed the news, expressing excitement for the sequel. Kim Seong-hun will direct season two, with Kang Full returning as writer and creator of the original webtoon universe.
Paramount Klaim Gabungan dengan HBO Max Tak Sanggup Salip OTT Lain
Paramount Skydance argues that its proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, including HBO Max, would not create a monopoly and would instead introduce new competitive energy into the entertainment ecosystem. Legal counsel Makan Delrahim stated that neither Paramount+ nor HBO Max currently possess the scale to effectively compete with leading streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video. The combined entity aims to merge Paramount+ with HBO Max in March 2026, though HBO would reportedly operate independently.
Conan O'Brien Kembali Jadi Host untuk Piala Oscar 2027
Academy Awards has announced that Conan O'Brien will return as the host for the 99th Academy Awards ceremony in 2027, marking his third consecutive year in the role. Producers Jeff Ross, Mike Sweeney, Raj Kapoor, and Katy Mullan will also return. The announcement was made by Academy CEO Bill Kramer and president Lynette Howell Taylor, who praised O'Brien's previous hosting performances.
Disney CEO On Why Gaming Could Be The Company's Next Big Growth-Driver
The Walt Disney Company sees gaming as a significant future growth area, despite it not yet delivering substantial revenue. CEO Josh D'Amaro highlighted the company's $1.5 billion investment in Epic Games and the success of collaborations like The Simpsons x Fortnite event as key to engaging younger audiences and driving their flywheel strategy. Disney Games executive Sean Shoptaw emphasized the importance of interactive platforms for storytelling and deepening fan engagement.
Epic and Disney launch largest IP toolset to date, allowing devs to create Star Wars games in Fortnite
Epic Games and The Walt Disney Company have launched a comprehensive Star Wars toolset for Fortnite, enabling creators to build their own Star Wars-themed games within the platform. The tools include characters, vehicles, and gameplay features, with new lightsaber and force power customization options available in Unreal Editor for Fortnite. Developers must adhere to brand guidelines and share engagement payouts with Disney to publish their creations.
SEGA Believes Not Catering to ‘Western Tastes’ Helped Sonic Music Go Global
Former Disney executive Kevin Mayer believes The Walt Disney Company's CEO Josh D'Amaro should consider bold steps in the video game industry, potentially including acquiring a company like Epic Games. Mayer suggests this could help Disney increase revenue and stock price, while SEGA notes that its Sonic music has achieved global success by not solely catering to 'Western tastes'.
Ken Kutaragi announced as first keynote speaker at Game Republic New Horizons 2026
Ken Kutaragi has been announced as the first keynote speaker for Game Republic New Horizons 2026. Former Disney executive Kevin Mayer suggested that The Walt Disney Company's CEO, Josh D'Amaro, should consider bold moves in the gaming sector, potentially including acquiring a company like Epic Games, to boost Disney's financial performance.
