Ubisoft
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Square Enix is the best video game publisher of 2025 according to Metacritic
Metacritic has ranked Square Enix as the best video game publisher of 2025, based on critic scores for its nine released titles. Despite a lineup consisting primarily of ports and remakes, Square Enix achieved the top spot with consistent 'good' reviews across its releases. Other notable publishers on the list include Gamirror Games, Capcom, Microsoft, and Nintendo.
IGN Crimson Desert Review
This review discusses Crimson Desert, with commenters debating whether the game receives a pass from critics compared to EA or Ubisoft due to its originality. Some argue that Pearl Abyss's willingness to innovate with personality in an often unoriginal industry warrants forgiveness for rough edges, while others question the hype surrounding the title.
Metacritic's 2025 Rankings Show A Major Shift In Top Publishers
Metacritic's 2025 publisher rankings reveal significant shifts, with Square Enix topping the list followed by Gamirror Games and Capcom. Nintendo saw a notable rise, while Sony dropped from fourth to 21st place. The rankings are based on critical reviews, excluding sales and user scores, and consider factors like average Metascore and the percentage of good and bad reviews.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Players Have Accumulated Almost 335 Million Hours, Slain 4 Billion+ Enemies
Assassin's Creed Shadows has achieved significant player engagement, with players accumulating nearly 335 million hours and defeating over 4 billion enemies. The game has seen five million players within its first three months, indicating a strong performance for the franchise.
There's a new Payday game coming later this year, and it's VR
Starbreeze Studios has announced Payday: Aces High, a new co-op heist game built specifically for virtual reality, set to launch in Q3 2026 for Meta Quest and SteamVR headsets. Developed by Fast Travel Games, this VR title aims to bring the signature chaos of the Payday franchise to an immersive format, despite ongoing challenges with Payday 3 and recent layoffs at Starbreeze.
Assassin's Creed Shadows players sunk 334 million hours into the endless Ubisoft sandbox, killing 4 billion targets but paying their karma by petting 26 million cats
Ubisoft has released player statistics for Assassin's Creed Shadows one year after its release, revealing that players have collectively spent over 334 million hours in the game. During this time, players have eliminated over 4 billion targets, but also took the time to pet 26 million cats.
"It's all of us against apathy, entropy, and loss of art" - Stop Killing Games has reached the EU Parliament, but what happens now?
The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative has presented its case to the European Parliament, advocating for end-of-life policies for video games to ensure their continued accessibility after server shutdowns. While initially met with a lack of understanding regarding modern gaming, the movement successfully framed the issue as a consumer rights problem, gaining bipartisan support. The initiative aims to preserve games as cultural artifacts, facing challenges in maintaining long-term political engagement against industry interests and the constant emergence of new game closures.
Rumor Mill
Red Storm Entertainment, a studio under Ubisoft, was reportedly working on at least 10 games before undergoing significant layoffs. Separately, MindsEye's co-developer Build a Rocket Boy France has also reportedly been affected by workforce reductions.
Red Storm Entertainment Was Working on 10 Games Before Development Team Was Laid Off – Rumor
Ubisoft's Red Storm Entertainment reportedly had 10 games in development before its development team was laid off, with projects ranging from support for live-service titles like Brawlhalla and Rainbow Six Siege to unannounced concepts. The studio has been refocused to support the Snowdrop Engine and serve as a global IT team following the layoffs, which affected 105 employees.
Nvidia CEO Says He Also “Doesn’t Love AI Slop”, Says DLSS 5 is Different
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang addressed criticism of DLSS 5, stating he also dislikes "AI slop" but insists DLSS 5 is different due to its 3D-guided, geometry-controlled approach. He emphasized that artists retain full control over game visuals, differentiating it from other generative AI technologies and calling it "content-control generative AI" or neural rendering.
Ubisoft ends game development at Red Storm and lays off 105 workers
Ubisoft has laid off 105 employees at its subsidiary Red Storm Entertainment, effectively ending game development at the studio. This move signifies a restructuring within Ubisoft's development teams.
Ubisoft ends game development at Red Storm and lays off 105 workers
Ubisoft has ended game development operations at its Red Storm Entertainment studio, resulting in the layoff of 105 employees. The closure marks a significant shift for the studio, which has been a part of Ubisoft's development network.
Assassin’s Creed Director: Gaming Industry ‘Redoes Too Much Stuff’
An Assassin's Creed director argues that the gaming industry reuses too many assets, which is essential for efficient development. This practice allows developers to focus more on storytelling, characters, and world-building rather than reinventing basic systems. Embracing smart asset reuse is seen as a move towards sustainability and a way for smaller studios to compete creatively.
Capcom says it will use generative AI to speed up production
Capcom plans to actively utilize generative AI to improve game development efficiency and productivity, while assuring that no AI-generated assets will be implemented into game content. The company is currently testing various usage methods across graphics, sound, and programming departments. This follows discussions from last year where a Capcom technical director showcased a system using AI models to generate and evaluate ideas for in-game environments.
Union workers send a message to game industry execs: 'Let go of the power now, or be forced to let go of it later.'
Unionized video game workers attending the GDC Festival of Gaming sent a strong message to industry executives regarding power dynamics and recent mass layoffs. Speakers urged leaders to address worker concerns and consider the human impact of business decisions, warning that resistance to change will ultimately be futile.
Assassin's Creed is "so great" because it's "based on historical knowledge," Shadows art director says: "It's a way to revisit places that no longer exist"
Ubisoft art director Thierry Dansereau highlighted that the Assassin's Creed franchise's strength lies in its basis on historical knowledge, allowing players to revisit lost places and learn about history at their own pace. He believes this educational aspect, exemplified by Discovery Tour modes, makes the series great and offers a unique way to experience human history.
Women and LGBTQ+ Gamers Get the Worst of Online Toxicity. The Data Proves It.
Data indicates that women, LGBTQ+ individuals, Black gamers, and Jewish gamers experience disproportionately high rates of identity-based harassment in online gaming environments. While AI moderation tools are improving, they struggle to address coordinated, multi-platform harassment campaigns, leading to players avoiding games and the industry losing diverse talent. Games like Final Fantasy XIV and Deep Rock Galactic are highlighted for fostering more inclusive communities through design and active community management.
Netflix begins production on Assassin’s Creed Series, set during Emperor Nero’s reign
Netflix has begun production on its live-action Assassin's Creed series in Rome, set in 64 AD during the reign of Emperor Nero. The series stars Toby Wallace and Lola Petticrew, among others, and is an adaptation of Ubisoft's video game franchise. A release date has not yet been announced.
Ex-Blizzard president says gamers need to 'Man up' over AI usage in games after Crimson Desert devs issue…
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra stated that gamers need to 'Man up' regarding the use of AI in video games, following an incident where Crimson Desert developers Pearl Abyss mistakenly used AI-generated art assets. Ybarra believes AI will be ubiquitous in gaming and other industries, questioning the need for developers to apologize for its use. The article also touches on industry trends like Square Enix aiming for AI to handle 70% of QA by 2027 and a survey indicating most developers favor disclosure of AI usage.
Oopsie, Crimson Desert's weird AI paintings weren't supposed to left in for release, Pearl Abyss claim, outlining plans to remove them
Pearl Abyss has apologized for unintentionally including AI-generated art assets in the final release of Crimson Desert, stating they were intended as early-stage mockups. The company plans to replace these assets in future patches and conduct an audit of all in-game assets. This situation mirrors a similar incident involving Ubisoft and their game Anno 117: Pax Romana.
