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Tim Schafer says Double Fine's unique games can be commercial hits if they can find their audience
Tim Schafer, head of Double Fine Productions, believes the studio's unique games have mass market appeal and can be commercial hits if they find the right audience. Despite recent titles like Keeper and Kiln not being profitable, Schafer argues against the 'arthouse' label and emphasizes the importance of creative freedom for the team's survival and motivation.
Forza Horizon 6 Will Be Delayed On PS5 Until 2027, Despite What Xbox Is Saying, Says New Report
A new report suggests Forza Horizon 6 will be delayed on PlayStation 5 until 2027, contradicting Playground Games' confirmation of a release this year. The report, from Tom Warren, implies Xbox may be using marketing tactics to obscure the delay.
Square Enix, Ubisoft Have Opted Out of Xbox’s Disc-to-Digital Program – Report
Ubisoft and Square Enix have reportedly opted out of Microsoft's Xbox disc-to-digital program, preventing users from converting physical game discs into digital licenses. While neither company has commented, it's possible they may join the service upon its full public release. The program allows users to obtain digital entitlements for physical Xbox One and Xbox Series X games, with Microsoft emphasizing player choice in media formats.
Tim Schafer: "No one puts Double Fine out of business except me"
Tim Schafer, head of Double Fine Productions, discussed the studio's efforts to regain independence from Microsoft following significant layoffs. He stated that the studio's mission changed after new leadership took over at Xbox, leading to the decision to part ways. Schafer emphasized the importance of creative problem-solving and keeping the team alive amidst industry challenges.
"We believe in the power of connection": Donald Trump Tetris parody game rouses the mildly worded wrath of the Tetris Company
The Tetris Company has expressed its displeasure with a parody game called "Build the Wall," which uses Tetris mechanics to promote Donald Trump's border rhetoric. The company stated it takes copyright infringement seriously and was not involved in the game's creation, hinting at potential legal action. The game, alongside other Trump-themed propaganda games, uses familiar mechanics to push political messages.
Game Pass, Cloud Gaming and Cross-Platform Play: The New Rules of Xbox
Xbox is evolving beyond the traditional console experience, with cloud gaming, Xbox Play Anywhere, and cross-play becoming central to its strategy. Games like Halo: Campaign Evolved and Gears of War: Reloaded now launch across multiple platforms including PlayStation 5 and Steam, allowing players to seamlessly continue their progress across devices. This shift emphasizes account-led continuity and broad accessibility over hardware exclusivity.
Double Fine's first game since leaving Xbox is a comedy bus-driving sim called Thank You Bus Driver
Double Fine has announced its first game since becoming independent from Xbox: Thank You Bus Driver, a comedy simulation game where players act as a reckless bus driver. The game is available for pre-order on Steam and GOG. This announcement follows Xbox's restructuring, which saw Double Fine and Compulsion Games regain independence, though Double Fine also underwent layoffs.
The Blood of Dawnwalker has sold 1 million copies in just 3 days
The Blood of Dawnwalker has achieved over one million sales worldwide within its first three days of release, developer Rebel Wolves announced. The studio, formed by former Witcher developers, also confirmed a performance mode for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S will be available on day one after fan feedback. Separately, a report indicates Microsoft has capped Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming at 15 hours per month for Ultimate subscribers, reportedly at its break-even point, potentially due to AI workload prioritization on Azure servers.
Double Fine's first game post-Xbox split is a goofy bus driving sim all about slapping passengers who don't follow the rules and doing a good job
Double Fine Productions, now independent after splitting from Xbox, has announced its first post-Xbox game, Thank You Bus Driver. This silly job simulator tasks players with driving passengers while enforcing rules, including slapping rule-breakers, all within a time limit. The studio also announced a game jam Kickstarter with Brutal Legend 2 as a high-tier stretch goal.
Fable devs originally had a tool to randomize the RPG's 1,000 NPCs that "would have saved us so much…
Playground Games originally considered a tool to randomize the 1,000 NPCs in the upcoming Fable reboot, which game director Ralph Fulton admits would have saved significant development time. However, the studio found that a handmade approach to each NPC's personality and needs resulted in a more coherent and believable world, despite the increased labor.
'No One Puts Double Fine Out of Business Except for Me' — Tim Schafer Explains How He Kept Double Fine Afloat After Leaving Xbox
Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine, discussed how he managed to keep the studio afloat after Xbox divested it during a recent restructuring. Schafer expressed a strong sentiment about his efforts to prevent the studio's closure.
Xbox announces new Cloud Gaming limits
Xbox has announced new monthly time limits for its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, with subscribers facing caps based on their Game Pass tier. Additional hours can be purchased, and pricing details will be revealed in November. The company also plans to allow direct purchase of cloud gaming hours and enable playing purchased Xbox Series X/S games on Xbox One via the cloud.
The White House launches online 'arcade' with its own takes on Tetris and other popular games, and it's…
The White House has launched an online arcade featuring games like 'Flappy Bill' and 'Build the Wall: Zombie Border Siege,' which are heavily criticized for their racist and xenophobic themes. The article details each game's gameplay and controversial messaging, noting that The Tetris Company has distanced itself from the 'Build the Wall' game due to copyright concerns.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is "not going to shoot my dog," says now-independent Double Fine boss Tim Schafer, who initially opposed Microsoft ownership because "you guys love closing studios"
Double Fine has regained its independence from Microsoft, with founder Tim Schafer expressing relief that new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is not planning to close studios. Schafer initially opposed the acquisition due to Microsoft's history of studio closures, but found the experience under Phil Spencer and Matt Booty to be largely positive until recent leadership changes. The studio announced its new game, Thank You Bus Driver, shortly after regaining independence, though it also had to lay off 23 employees.
Hideki Kamiya Tells Xbox CEO He's Ready to Make Scalebound When She Is
Bayonetta creator Hideki Kamiya has expressed his readiness to develop Scalebound should Xbox CEO Asha Sharma decide to move forward with the project. Kamiya indicated he is waiting for Sharma's signal to resume work on the game.
Gears of War: E-Day Campaign – Brotherhood and Hope in a Hopeless World | Official XBOX Podcast
The Official Xbox Podcast features an in-depth discussion with The Coalition's Matt Searcy and Raul Figueroa about Gears of War: E-Day. They delve into the campaign's themes of brotherhood and hope amidst the brutal Locust invasion, highlighting new enemy designs like Vraahk and enhanced enemy AI. The conversation also touches on the game's setting in Kalona, the introduction of weapon modding, and the impressive audio design, alongside the reveal of custom Xbox controllers.
Xbox’s New TCL Partnership Couldn’t Come At A Worse Time
Xbox has announced a new partnership with TCL that will integrate the Xbox app into select TCL TV models, allowing users to play games via cloud streaming with an Xbox Game Pass subscription. This move aims to reach consumers who may not own dedicated consoles, though cloud streaming hours are limited per subscription tier. The announcement comes at a challenging time for Xbox, amidst other major releases and business developments.
1 vs. 100 Live Was the Kind of Incredible Creative Risk I'd Like to See Xbox Get Back To
The author fondly recalls playing the Xbox trivia game 1 vs. 100, highlighting its unique format and the thrill of potentially winning prizes like Microsoft Points. They express a desire to see Xbox take similar creative risks with its game offerings again.
Xbox charges more for game streaming and adds limits - admits it's not popular
Microsoft is introducing limits and additional charges for its Xbox Cloud Gaming service starting in November, admitting that the service is not widely used by Game Pass subscribers. The changes will restrict free play time to 5-15 hours per month depending on the Game Pass tier, with extra playtime requiring further payment. This move is seen as a blow to cloud gaming's mainstream adoption and a potential indicator of Xbox's current unpopularity.
Xbox Cloud Gaming börjar begränsa hur mycket man får streama
Xbox Cloud Gaming will implement monthly streaming limits starting in November, varying by subscription tier: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium, and 5 for Essential. Additional hours can be purchased, and these limits will affect an estimated 4% of Game Pass subscribers. The company cites increasing service costs as the reason for the change.
