Krafton
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Xbox is Punishing its Studios For Following Previous Orders – Report
A report indicates that Xbox is punishing its studios for following previous directives, leading to significant layoffs and studio closures. This follows major investments like the Activision Blizzard acquisition and the push for Game Pass, with some studios being criticized for prioritizing the subscription service over individual game sales. The situation has created an environment of fear and uncertainty, impacting game development.
Krafton is testing an AI-powered ally for PUBG and making esports deals for PUBG Mobile
Krafton is testing an AI-powered companion character named Ella for PUBG, designed to understand voice commands and assist human players in a new arcade mode. The company is also partnering with G2 to expand the esports scene for PUBG Mobile, focusing on Germany and Western Europe.
Forget NPCs, now we have CPCs — Co-Playable Characters or AI teammates in PUBG courtesy of Nvidia ACE tech, but…
PUBG Battlegrounds is testing an Ally Duo Mode featuring AI teammates powered by Nvidia's ACE technology, allowing players to team up with an AI companion named Ella. While Nvidia promotes this as a revolutionary step in AI game characters, the article expresses skepticism, comparing it to advanced bots and questioning the 'human-like' interaction and potential impact on gameplay performance.
Double Fine, Ninja Theory reportedly among multiple Xbox studios rushing to negotiate an exit as Microsoft plans more…
Microsoft's Xbox division is reportedly planning further studio closures and restructuring, with Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Compulsion Games in negotiations to spin off independently. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and CCO Matt Booty have indicated the current business model is unsustainable, leading to expected layoffs and studio cuts, following the recent closure of Tango Gameworks.
Project ZETA is Krafton’s new multiplayer team-based ‘tactical arena’ where players fight over a prism
Krafton and Nivranana Studio's new multiplayer tactical arena game, Project ZETA, will hold a larger open test on Steam from June 25th to 28th. The game features four teams of three players competing to secure and return a 'prism' objective, with crossplay planned for PC and console release.
Microsoft CEO says Xbox must become 'sustainable' as it reportedly considers major spinoff
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that Xbox must become a 'sustainable' business, implying it has been subsidized rather than profitable. This follows reports that Microsoft is considering spinning out Xbox into a standalone unit, potentially to sell it or find a partner. The company also aims to speed up development for major franchises like Halo and The Elder Scrolls, while addressing challenges like memory chip price increases driven by AI companies.
PUBG extraction shooter, Black Budget, gets a date for its second playtest
PUBG: Black Budget, an extraction FPS developed by Krafton, will hold its second closed alpha playtest from June 26 to June 29 for North America, Europe, and East Asia. Players can request access via Steam, with selected participants able to invite two friends. The game features a story-driven experience on a tropical island with up to 45 players and supernatural elements.
One of Subnautica 2's ousted execs is now working on a sequel to ship-scavenging horror game Duskers
Misfits Attic and co-developer Stray Signal announced Duskers 2.0, a sequel to the ship-scavenging horror game. The new title will feature colony building and a more hopeful narrative, with a Steam early access release planned. Stray Signal is a new studio led by Max McGuire, a former lead on Subnautica 2 who was part of controversial layoffs at Krafton.
Sega stuffed generative AI into Crazy Taxi: World Tour, slamming the brakes on all the excitement after a 3-year wait
Sega has confirmed the use of generative AI in the development of Crazy Taxi: World Tour, a title announced after a three-year wait. This disclosure has generated significant backlash from players, who are increasingly rejecting AI-generated content in games, as seen with Larian Studios' recent change of heart regarding its use in Baldur's Gate 3. The Steam page for Crazy Taxi: World Tour includes an AI Generated Content Disclosure, though Sega states it was used as a support tool for developers.
Subnbautica 2, counting 4M players, teases multiplayer improvements and the next major content release
Krafton's Unknown Worlds has announced that Subnautica 2 has sold four million copies in early access. Future updates will include improvements to the biomod system, wrecks, blight encounters, and voice-over priority. The developers are also working on multiplayer enhancements like emotes and less-laggy proximity voice chat, alongside a major content drop featuring a new zone, creatures, resources, and story.
Unknown Worlds outline a bunch of incoming small Subnautica 2 updates including predator behaviour adjustments and proximity chat
Unknown Worlds has outlined upcoming updates for Subnautica 2, including adjustments to predator behavior, the addition of proximity voice chat, and improvements to the biomods system. The developer also teased the return of the Prawn Suit from the original game in a future region update.
Subnautica 2 studio "hard at work" on new updates as it shares more details on the features its 4 million players can expect next
Developer Unknown Worlds is actively working on updates for Subnautica 2, which has reached 4 million players. Upcoming improvements include enhancements to the Biomod system, wrecks, parasite encounters, and voiceover priorities. New social features like proximity voice chat and character customization are also planned, alongside the first major early access content drop featuring a new region, creatures, resources, and a new chassis. The studio aims to implement these changes without requiring players to restart their existing saves.
PlayerUnknown Productions is laying off staff and halting development on Go Wayback
PlayerUnknown Productions, founded by Brendan Greene, is undergoing a restructuring that involves staff layoffs and halting development on Prologue: Go Wayback. The studio plans to push the game out of early access and make it free-to-play, while investigating refund options for existing purchasers. Krafton, which holds a minority stake in the studio, was previously involved with Greene on PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
Subnautica 2 devs were glad it worked out after all the scary headlines about delays, but they weren't paying much…
Lead designer Anthony Gallegos expressed relief that Subnautica 2 succeeded despite significant development challenges, including delays and a lawsuit involving parent company Krafton. He stated that the development team remained focused on creating the best possible game, driven by their passion for the Subnautica franchise.
Subnautica 2 update makes the survival game a bit less chaotic with creature changes – but no, Unknown Worlds…
Unknown Worlds has released the third update for Subnautica 2, focusing on modifying creature behavior to make encounters fairer and less chaotic. The update also addresses various DLSS issues, improves Frame Generation availability, and fixes other bugs for a smoother player experience.
PUBG MOBILE Teams Up With aespa for Massive K-Pop Themed In-Game Collaboration
PUBG MOBILE has launched a limited-time collaboration with K-pop group aespa, running from June 1st to June 30th. The event introduces exclusive in-game content inspired by the group's futuristic style and music, blending K-pop culture with the battle royale experience.
Subnautica 2 early access review – underwater survival sequel
Subnautica 2 has entered early access, offering a deep-sea survival and exploration experience true to its predecessors. Despite development turmoil involving publisher Krafton and developer Unknown Worlds, the sequel features a playful sense of humor, new mechanics like DNA upgrades, and improved technical performance, especially on Xbox Series X. The game also introduces four-player co-op and an intriguing mystery surrounding a vanished human population.
Betawatch: AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity and Torebia launch into testing
This week's Betawatch roundup highlights the upcoming testing phases for AdventureQuest Worlds Infinity and Torebia, both noted for their genuine genre fandom and plucky effort. Other games entering testing include Star Citizen, which has surpassed one billion dollars in crowdfunding, and various MMORPGs like Pantheon Rise of the Fallen and Subnautica 2.
I absolutely agree with 33% of you when it comes to your choice of freaky Subnautica 2 critters
A PC Gamer writer discusses the results of a poll on favorite creatures in Subnautica 2, agreeing with the majority's choice of the Periscopic Clowncrab. The article also touches on the game's episodic format and the differing opinions of other PC Gamer staff.
Subnautica 2’s Success Will Reportedly Force Krafton to Pay $250 Million Bonus
Krafton is reportedly set to pay Unknown Worlds a $250 million bonus due to the successful Early Access launch of Subnautica 2, fulfilling an agreement from Krafton's 2021 acquisition of the studio. The bonus was part of a performance-based deal that led to legal disputes between the companies over leadership and alleged attempts by Krafton's CEO to avoid payment. The lawsuit has since been settled, and Subnautica 2 is available in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X/S.
