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Unity announced preliminary first quarter financial results that exceeded its guidance. The company plans to enhance growth and profitability by exiting its non-strategic advertising business.
Xbox Game Pass Getting Cheaper Tier & Netflix Bundle, Report Says
Microsoft's Xbox is reportedly exploring the introduction of a cheaper Xbox Game Pass subscription tier and a potential bundle deal with Netflix. This move aims to increase accessibility and address subscription fatigue by offering more flexible options for consumers.
"They wouldn't look at any game that was less than £50 million" Why Tencent's all-in strategy didn't suit Bulkhead
Bulkhead, a studio acquired by Tencent via Splash Damage, found the parent company's demand for games with budgets over £50 million unsuited to their development style. Despite initial success with Battalion 1944 and pitching the PC shooter Wardogs, Tencent's scale led to Bulkhead spinning out into a new holding company, Super Media Group, with Team17 and Hiro Capital. The studio is now focused on Wardogs, aiming for a sustainable player base rather than massive AAA success.
How gaming quietly took over everything with the rise of gamification across industries - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
Gamification, the application of game-design elements to non-game contexts, has become a pervasive force across industries like fitness, education, retail, and finance. By leveraging mechanics such as points, rewards, and leaderboards, gamification taps into intrinsic human motivations for progress and recognition, making everyday activities more engaging and driving user behavior.
Sennheiser's owners want to sell its consumer headphone business
Sonova, the owner of Sennheiser's consumer audio division, has announced its intention to sell the business less than five years after its acquisition. The company plans to divest the division to focus on its core Hearing Care operations. Sales for the Sennheiser division have recently declined, and the business was fined for retail pricing practices prior to Sonova's purchase.
Microsoft Gaming’s New CEO Might Revamp Game Pass Subscription Prices – Rumor
A report suggests that Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Microsoft Gaming, plans to make Game Pass more affordable with lower-priced tiers. While Microsoft has not officially commented, the report also mentions potential partnership talks with Netflix for subscription bundles. Former Microsoft Game Studios co-founder Laura Fryer and former FTC commissioner Lina Khan have criticized recent price hikes and business decisions.
Epic Games Lays Off 1,000 Employees as Fortnite Engagement Declines — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Epic Games has laid off over 1,000 employees, primarily from its Fortnite division, due to a significant downturn in player engagement and declining revenue. CEO Tim Sweeney announced the cuts, citing industry-wide challenges and internal issues with consistently delivering fresh Fortnite content. Additionally, several Fortnite game modes, including Rocket Racing, Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage, are being shut down due to low player retention.
OpenAI reportedly plans to double its workforce to 8,000 employees
OpenAI is reportedly planning to nearly double its workforce to 8,000 employees by the end of 2026, a move that contrasts with layoffs at other tech companies. The expansion will focus on product development, engineering, research, and sales, including "technical ambassadorship" roles. This growth aims to increase competition with rivals like Anthropic and secure new partnerships, including a contract with the Department of Defense and potential deals with private equity firms.
Bizarre PlayStation PC Launcher Rumours Rubbished as Reporter Doubles Down on No More PS5 Ports
Rumors about Sony developing its own PC launcher and releasing Marvel's Wolverine day-and-date on PC have been circulating. However, reporter Jason Schreier has indicated that Sony is actually scaling back its PC porting strategy due to poor sales of titles like Ghost of Yotei and Saros.
"We are looking to add companies that bring something new" – Head of Raw Fury and Combined Effect explains his plans
Pim Holfve, now dual CEO of Raw Fury and its parent company Combined Effect, outlines his vision for scaling both entities. He emphasizes fostering creative independence within a collaborative structure, supporting indie developers, and potentially acquiring new companies that complement the group's existing strengths. Raw Fury saw significant success with titles like Blue Prince and Routine in the past year.
Respawn, PlayStation Studios and EA Full Circle among first speakers for Develop:Brighton 2026
Develop:Brighton has announced its first speakers for the 2026 conference, including representatives from Respawn Entertainment, PlayStation Studios, and EA's Full Circle studio. The event, scheduled for July 14-16, will feature talks on game development, marketing, audio design, and business strategy from various industry professionals.
Take-Two boss declines to offer advice to the new Microsoft Gaming chief, says she'll be fine on her own: 'She’s a highly accomplished executive who’s done just great without ever having met me'
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that Microsoft Gaming's new CEO, Asha Sharma, is a highly accomplished executive who will succeed without his advice. Zelnick emphasized that the key to success in the entertainment business is consistently making hit games, a principle he applies at Take-Two.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated
This article examines the complicated legacy of Phil Spencer during his tenure as the head of Xbox. While his leadership brought significant changes and moments of excitement, his overall impact is presented as multifaceted.
The Fastidiously Multiformat Square Enix Skips PS5 with Yet Another Game
Square Enix continues to promote a multiformat business approach, yet has released Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD and Panoramasight: The Mermaid’s Curse as exclusives for Nintendo Switch, PC, and mobile, with the former also launching on Xbox platforms but notably skipping PlayStation 5. This pattern suggests potential deals with Microsoft, as indicated by Play Anywhere support, despite the expectation that PlayStation ports would perform better.
Fastidiously Multiformat Square Enix Skips PS5 with Yet Another Game
Square Enix's recent game releases, such as Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD and Panoramasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, have launched on multiple platforms including PC, Xbox, and Switch, but notably skipped PlayStation 5. This contradicts the company's public statements about a multiformat approach, leading to speculation about potential deals with Microsoft and disappointment among PlayStation fans.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated - IGN
Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft, concluding a 12-year tenure as Head of Xbox. His legacy is viewed as complicated, with shareholders seeing massive stock growth while some hardcore gamers point to increased subscription prices, fewer exclusives, and studio closures. Despite these criticisms, the article argues Spencer was a net positive, crediting him with saving Xbox during the Xbox One era, championing features like backwards compatibility and cross-play, and building a strong portfolio of studios and games.
Google Cloud's vision for AI in the game industry
Google Cloud envisions AI transforming the game industry by reducing friction and creating new opportunities for developers, rather than replacing them. Jack Buser highlighted AI's potential in pre-production, business strategy, and player experience, predicting that AI will fundamentally change game genres within three to five years.
Dynamic Pricing Reported in PlayStation Store
Sony has been conducting A/B price tests in the PlayStation Store since November 2025, affecting over 100 games across more than seventy regions. This dynamic pricing experiment, which includes both discounts and potential price increases, has expanded to the US market and involves first-party titles like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and God of War Ragnarök, as well as games from major publishers. The move has sparked concern among users regarding potential price inflation and unfair practices.
Sega responds to concerns after recording $200 million impairment write-down for Rovio
Sega reported a $200 million impairment write-down for its acquisition of Rovio, citing over-reliance on local management and difficulties implementing Rovio's Beacon technology into its own mobile titles. CEO Haruki Satomi stated that Sega will learn from these challenges and reform its global publishing and marketing strategies to focus on data-driven approaches and IP-based sales.
Sega says yeah you're all real nice about our games—but you sure ain't buying them
Sega Sammy's financial results reveal a disconnect between critical acclaim and actual sales for many of its recent titles, leading to stagnant performance. The company is reviewing its marketing and sales mechanisms, and its acquisition of Rovio has resulted in a significant write-down due to underperformance.
