Business Strategy
Ongoing coverage on Business Strategy.
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Valve’s New Hardware Finance Job Hints at Steam Deck Empire Expansion
Valve has posted a job opening for a Hardware Finance & Accounting Professional, suggesting a significant expansion of its hardware ambitions beyond the successful Steam Deck. This move indicates a long-term strategy for scaling hardware production, potentially leading to new product lines like a successor to the Steam Deck or other devices. The hire signals Valve's intent to solidify its position as a major hardware player in the evolving gaming market.
Xbox Game Pass Could Lose Other Day-One New Releases Beyond Call Of Duty, Expert Says
Microsoft has announced changes to Xbox Game Pass, including a price reduction and the removal of new Call of Duty titles from day-one releases. Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls suggests that other first-party games might also be "windowed" from day-one launches to generate more revenue. Future plans for Game Pass aim for increased flexibility, potentially including customizable subscription tiers.
Imagine that, players who went to the Epic Game Store just for free games didn’t stick around
Former Epic Games employees revealed that while free game promotions on the Epic Games Store attracted new users, these players did not remain active on the platform long-term. This strategy has not helped Epic Games compete with Steam, which continues to see record user numbers and profitability.
Shoe company pivots to AI compute in sign of a totally normal and healthy economy
The shoe company Allbirds is undergoing a significant business pivot, aiming to transition into an AI compute infrastructure provider and GPU-as-a-Service company under the proposed new name NewBird AI. This strategic shift, pending shareholder approval, involves raising $50 million for acquiring graphics processing units and related high-performance computing assets. The announcement has led to a substantial increase in the company's stock value, despite a lack of prior experience in the AI sector.
Xbox Is Reportedly Having "Very Big Discussions" About Exclusivity
Microsoft is reportedly engaged in significant internal discussions regarding the exclusivity of its Xbox titles. While the company has recently expanded its reach by bringing games like Forza Horizon to PlayStation, there is ongoing debate about whether to prioritize being an ecosystem or a publishing company. This could potentially lead to certain single-player games being locked to the Xbox platform in the future, though major franchises like Call of Duty are unlikely to become exclusive.
How China came to dominate mobile games – and how Western companies can compete | Opinion
Chinese companies have achieved global dominance in mobile games through strategic advantages like early adoption of free-to-play models, intense domestic market competition, and sophisticated live-ops. Western companies struggle to compete due to differences in organizational scale, talent acquisition, and cultural integration. The article suggests Western firms must focus on talent density and unique creative vision rather than scale to succeed.
Bloober CEO says relying on one title creates 'too much risk' in today's market
Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno emphasizes the importance of operating with at least two concurrent major projects to mitigate risk in the current market. The studio is focusing on sustainable development, talent retention, and a balanced approach to production, currently working on original IPs, franchise expansions, and co-development titles.
Rumour: Xbox Debating Whether to Make Its Games Exclusive Again
Microsoft is reportedly debating whether to revert to making its games exclusive to Xbox consoles and PC. This internal discussion comes as the company evaluates its brand strategy and the potential launch of 'Project Helix'. While releasing games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch has increased revenue, executives are considering the impact of exclusivity on their own platform's appeal.
New Xbox CEO reportedly admits Game Pass "has become too expensive for players" in leaked memo
New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has reportedly acknowledged in a leaked memo that the Game Pass subscription service has become too expensive for players. Sharma indicated that Microsoft needs to develop a better value proposition and that the service will evolve into a more flexible system over time. The memo also suggested that the inclusion of Call of Duty titles was a factor in recent price increases.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Rated MA 15+ in Australia
Microsoft is bringing the Halo franchise to PlayStation consoles, including the PlayStation 5, as part of a new business strategy. This move aims to leverage the large PlayStation install base due to declining Xbox console sales. The decision was announced by the Halo Studios Community Director and confirmed on the PlayStation Blog.
Line-up announced for GAConf Europe 2026 accessibility conference
The line-up for the GAConf Europe 2026 accessibility conference has been announced, featuring talks and panels on various aspects of game accessibility. The free online event, taking place April 27th-28th, will cover topics such as control complexity, VR accessibility, and AI tools for blind players, with speakers from major companies like PlayStation, Xbox, and Ubisoft, alongside indie developers and accessibility advocates.
Sony Drops Truth Bomb: Gaming Drives Their Entire Entertainment Empire
Sony's executive Hiroki Totoki revealed that gaming constitutes the largest portion of the company's entertainment revenue, driving its overall business strategy. This focus positions PlayStation as a key platform for both players and publishers, aiming for dominance in the entertainment sector. The company's investment in PlayStation is expected to increase significantly due to gaming's critical role in its financial success.
Is Fortnite’s Popularity Declining? (2026)
Fortnite is experiencing a decline in player engagement and hype since 2025, leading to significant layoffs at Epic Games. Despite still having over a million daily players, the company is cutting costs due to spending more than it earns. Epic plans to focus on building new Fortnite experiences and advancing its Unreal Engine technology.
Gaming Now Drives 60% of Sony’s Revenue as PlayStation Dominates Entertainment
Sony's entertainment business now accounts for over 60% of its total revenue, a significant increase from 30% in 2014, with gaming being the primary driver. The company aims for PlayStation to be the premier platform for both players and third-party developers. This strategic shift emphasizes software sales and services, leading to expanded investments in first-party studios, PC gaming, and media adaptations of game properties.
Nexon agrees to publish Overwatch in Korea
Nexon has agreed to publish Overwatch in Korea, taking over from Blizzard Entertainment. The article also discusses Sony's past strategies regarding remasters and remakes, questioning their current business decisions and leadership changes.
PlayStation Studios Made $300 Million Over 3 Years From PC Releases – Rumor
A former PlayStation Studios employee's LinkedIn profile suggests the PC port division generated $300 million in net revenue over three years. Despite this success, Sony is reportedly reconsidering its strategy of bringing single-player titles to PC, though multiplayer games will continue to launch on both PC and PlayStation 5.
The Division 3 Losing Top Boss Is No Big Deal, Ubisoft Says; Confirms Division 2 Won't Go Free
Ubisoft assures players that The Division 3 will proceed as planned despite the departure of executive producer Julian Gerighty, with senior producer Fredrik Brönjemark stating the roadmap is secure. The company also confirmed that The Division 2 will not transition to a free-to-play model, as it would require design changes Ubisoft is unwilling to make. Additionally, Ubisoft discussed the ongoing growth of The Division franchise, including the recent launch of The Division Resurgence and the cancellation of The Division Heartland.
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.
Disney Should Buy Fortnite And Epic Games, Former Exec Says
A former Disney executive suggests that CEO Josh D'Amaro should consider acquiring a gaming company like Epic Games to drive growth. While Disney has invested in Epic's Fortnite project, a full buyout is seen as a potential bold step. Executives reportedly are interested in acquiring Epic, though founder Tim Sweeney retains control, and past acquisition talks with Electronic Arts did not materialize.
