John Riccitiello
Reporting and statements that mention John Riccitiello.
Latest coverage
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s PS5 “Physical” Release Will be Region-Locked
Rockstar Games has confirmed that the physical PlayStation 5 release of Grand Theft Auto 6 will be region-locked, preventing codes purchased in one region from being used in another. This restriction does not apply to the Xbox Series X/S version. Despite these controversial decisions, the game has seen record pre-orders and is projected to generate billions in its first week.
28 years later, Final Fantasy 8's wonderfully awkward E3 reveal has hit the internet – please enjoy Square and EA execs desperately trying to stall for Squall for 7 minutes straight
A recently unearthed video from E3 1998 reveals the awkward US debut of Final Fantasy VIII, featuring Square and Electronic Arts executives struggling for seven minutes to get the game's trailer to play. The footage, preserved by the Video Game History Foundation, also highlights the formation of the Square Electronic Arts joint venture intended to boost game releases in North America. The article contrasts the venture's initial promise of job creation with later industry trends of layoffs and studio closures.
Former Rockstar Dev Explains GTA 6’s Console-First Approach
A former Rockstar Games producer explained that the studio's console-first approach to game development, including for Grand Theft Auto 6, is a deliberate business decision to optimize performance and manage resources. This strategy prioritizes console versions before PC ports, aiming for a better final product by working within constraints. Despite the delayed PC release, Grand Theft Auto 6 is projected to achieve significant sales and revenue upon its November 19 launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Unity Q1 revenue rises 17%, posts $347m loss following IronSource closure
Unity reported a 17% year-on-year revenue increase to $508 million for Q1 2026, with Grow Solutions showing a 23% rise. However, the company posted a significant net loss of $347 million, largely due to $279 million in impairment charges from the closure of IronSource and the divestiture of Supersonic. Unity also launched a new suite of AI tools for game development.
USC GAMES ANNOUNCES JOHN RICCITIELLO AND FRANK D. GIBEAU AS 10TH ANNIVERSARY EXPO KEYNOTE PANEL SPEAKERS
USC Games has announced that former Unity Technologies and Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello, and Zynga President Frank D. Gibeau will be keynote speakers at its 10th anniversary USC Games Expo on May 12, 2026. The event will showcase over sixty student-developed games and feature interactive installations, an esports tournament, and previews of titles from a new Games as a Service and Live Operations class.
The list of people hit by recent Epic layoffs has been turned into a dedicated portal for recruiters
Epic Games has launched a dedicated website to help recruiters find employees affected by recent layoffs, which impacted over 1,000 workers. CEO Tim Sweeney addressed a case where a laid-off employee was losing cancer treatment coverage, assuring the family would be supported. Separately, Unity is shutting down its IronSource ad network and plans to divest its publishing arm to simplify operations and focus on its AI platform, Vector.
Unity sees growth in engine revenue, shuts down IronSource ad network in favour of Vector AI user-acquisition platform
Unity is shutting down its IronSource ad network and plans to divest its publishing arm to focus on its AI-powered Vector platform. This strategic shift aims to simplify the business and capitalize on growth in AI-driven user acquisition. The company also reported growth in its engine revenue despite increased competition from Unreal Engine and Godot.