Business Models
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Why two games media veterans think a "classic old-school style multi-format video games website" will flourish in 2026
Two veterans of the games media industry, Tom Orry and Alex Donaldson, have launched Respec, a new website aiming to revive the 'classic old-school style multi-format video games website' model. They believe a lean operation with a clear voice and reader support can succeed in 2026, contrasting with the current landscape dominated by larger outlets and influencers. Respec will focus on text-based coverage, supported by a podcast and YouTube channel, with a distinctively British tone and a business model combining advertising with reader revenue via Patreon.
The 100-Yen Democracy: What Mario Gave Us
This article reflects on the legacy of Super Mario and Nintendo's philosophy, emphasizing the importance of sincerity towards players over mere efficiency. It argues that Nintendo's focus on mature technology and accessible design, championed by figures like Gunpei Yokoi and Hiroshi Yamauchi, fosters a unique form of democracy in gaming. The piece highlights how Shigeru Miyamoto's humanization of Mario encourages players to find courage within themselves, contrasting this with modern business models that risk diluting the value of entertainment.
Paralives’ Success Shows Being Generous To Players Isn’t Unreasonable
Paralives' success in early access highlights the appeal of its commitment to free post-launch DLC and updates, contrasting with industry trends focused on maximizing player spending. The small, independent team, funded by Patreons and without investors, can afford to prioritize player generosity. This approach is compared to No Man's Sky, which also found success through consistent free content updates.
Xbox CEO amidst layoffs: 'I think our core has to be healthy'
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma addressed significant layoffs and a major restructure within the company, stating the core business needs to be healthy. She highlighted the need for new business models, including exploring hardware options like 'buy now, pay later' and expanding availability on mobile and PC. Sharma also noted that Xbox's operating margins are considerably lower than comparable businesses, attributing challenges to surging component costs and overextending studio systems.
Xbox Announces Biggest Restructure in Company History as Thousands of Jobs Are Cut | Invision Game Community
Xbox is undergoing its largest restructuring, involving approximately 3,200 job cuts and changes to its studio structure. Xbox President Asha Sharma stated the current business model is unsustainable due to increasing costs and slower-than-expected growth. Several studios like Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions will become independent, while others like Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are expected to transition to new ownership.
Xbox confirms mass layoffs, Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games to go independent
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant changes, including layoffs affecting 3,200 employees and four studios becoming independent or sold. Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions are now independent, retaining their IP rights, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs have been sold to new owners. Sharma cited an unhealthy business model with low profit margins as the reason for these drastic measures.
Industry veteran Robert Bowling launches new developer //18.bravo
Industry veteran Robert Bowling, formerly of Infinity Ward, has launched a new Los Angeles-based studio called //18.bravo. The studio aims for a radically different approach to game development, focusing on employee success through royalty plans and profit sharing, and plans to release its assets as open source if the company closes. Bowling criticized the current industry for being over-commercialized and detrimental to both players and staff.
'Something has gone completely wrong': Palantir CEO rants on live television about his problems with the AI business model: 'Why are they charging for tokens if it's so valuable?'
Palantir CEO Alex Karp expressed strong criticism of the current AI business model, particularly the practice of charging for tokens, during a CNBC interview. He argued that this model fails to provide value to enterprises and raises concerns about intellectual property and data security. Karp believes AI should be implemented in closed environments and that trust needs to be rebuilt through transparency regarding data ownership, caching, and prompt security.
PlayStation’s Plan to Kill Physical Games is as Confusing as It Is Insulting
Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to phase out physical game discs for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, exclusively offering digital versions. This decision, citing consumer trends and digital sales dominance, has sparked significant backlash due to concerns over digital ownership, game preservation, and potential monopolization of the market by the PlayStation Store. The move also follows the controversial shutdown of the PlayStation 3 and Vita storefronts, raising further questions about the future of accessing purchased digital content and the potential implications for future consoles like the PlayStation 6.
The Daily Grind: Should MMOs make all but the most recent expansion free?
This article discusses the business models of Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Games (MMORPGs), specifically questioning whether all but the most recent expansion should be made free. The author argues that this approach would incentivize new players by reducing the initial cost and complexity of accessing full game content.
Steam Machine is $1,049 because it "doesn't align with our beliefs" to subsidize the cost
Valve has priced the Steam Machine at $1,049, stating that subsidizing hardware costs goes against their belief in open ecosystems. The company attributes the high price to manufacturing costs, component prices, and tariffs, rather than a desire for profit. This pricing strategy is contrasted with industry trends of potential $1,000 console prices and mass layoffs within the games industry.
Sponsored Post: New ‘Silberheim Evolving Card Game’ – Extended Beta Available to Test for Free
Beyond Worlds GmbH is offering an extended free beta for their upcoming collectible card game, Silberheim Evolving Card Game, which was recently featured at Summer Game Fest 2026. The game introduces an 'Evolving Card Game' concept where player actions influence card and lore evolution, aiming for a Steam release later this year with a 'Play-to-Win' model.
Sponsored Post: New ‘Silberheim Evolving Card Game’ – Extended Beta Available to Test for Free
Beyond Worlds GmbH is offering an extended free beta for their upcoming collectible card game, Silberheim Evolving Card Game, which was recently featured at Summer Game Fest 2026. The game introduces an 'Evolving Card Game' concept where player actions influence card and lore evolution, aiming for a Steam release later this year with a 'Play-to-Win' model.
The 100-Yen Democracy: The Hero with a Thousand Faces
This article analyzes how Nintendo's philosophy, exemplified by Mario and the "It's You" concept, democratized the Hero's Journey, making mythic experiences accessible to all. It contrasts this with modern business models like subscriptions and free-to-play, arguing they dilute game quality and introduce real-world inequality. The piece advocates for mature technology and a return to the creator-player dialogue championed by figures like Hiroshi Yamauchi to preserve gaming as a cultural cornerstone.
GTA 6 Could Charge More Than $70, But Charging Less Would Be Much Funnier
This opinion piece speculates on the potential pricing of Grand Theft Auto 6, suggesting Rockstar Games could charge over $70. It humorously proposes that a lower price point for such a highly anticipated game would be a more entertaining business decision.
'It feels to many like a tidal wave is sweeping over the AAA game business,' says Epic CEO Tim Sweeney in his…
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney described the current AAA game business as facing a "tidal wave" due to escalating development costs and a high failure rate for major releases. He contrasted this with the success of platforms like Roblox and proposed Epic's vision of a connected metaverse ecosystem built on Unreal Engine as a more developer-friendly alternative.
ArenaNet reiterates Guild Wars 3’s B2P no-sub model and place in ‘the middle of the MMO spectrum’
ArenaNet has reiterated that Guild Wars 3 will be a buy-to-play title with no subscription fees or battle pass subscriptions, emphasizing a fair monetization model. The studio aims for Guild Wars 3 to occupy a middle ground in the MMORPG spectrum, coexisting with Guild Wars and Guild Wars 2 by offering a distinct experience.
Guild Wars 3 Won’t Have “Hidden” Subscriptions Like Battle Passes
ArenaNet studio head Colin Johanson confirmed that Guild Wars 3 will not feature a subscription fee, battle passes, or pay-to-win mechanics, aiming for accessibility and long-term value. The upcoming MMORPG will be smaller in scale than Guild Wars 2 but larger than the original Guild Wars, and is slated for PC and PlayStation 5 with a beta in Fall 2027.
Fishing Frenzy Game Ends as Uncharted Shuts Down
Uncharted is shutting down its operations, including its game Fishing Frenzy, due to an unsustainable business model and failure to achieve product-market fit. Servers will shut down on June 25, 2026, with remaining assets to be redistributed based on Karma scores, and the Karma dataset made open-source. Co-founder Derek Lau expressed regret over the venture's challenges.
Over 20,000 fans are asking Microsoft to drop Xbox’s online paywall
Over 20,000 users on Microsoft's Xbox Player Voice platform are requesting the removal of the online multiplayer paywall. Players argue that paying for consoles and games should be sufficient, especially as online multiplayer is generally free on PC and many free-to-play titles on Xbox no longer require subscriptions. Despite the significant user support, the article notes that Microsoft is unlikely to abandon a long-standing revenue stream without a clear financial benefit.
