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Paramount has officially formed Paramount Games Studio, consolidating the operations of Skydance Interactive and Skydance New Media. This move signals a significant expansion of Paramount's presence in the video game industry.
Comings and Goings
This article rounds up notable employment changes in the gaming industry for June 2026. It specifically highlights leadership shifts at the gaming service provider Side.
'There is no world where it makes sense,' Warframe creative director says of Destiny 2's demise:…
Warframe creative director Rebb Ford stated that the discontinuation of Destiny 2 development is an unthinkable business decision. He emphasized that the business side of gaming should not overshadow creative vision, drawing parallels to Warframe's own history and its relationship with Bungie's legacy. Ford also touched upon past acquisition talks involving Sony and Leyou, Warframe's parent company.
Jobs roundup: June 2026 | Bernard Kim joins Appcharge advisory board
Several key appointments and elections have occurred in the games industry. Bernard Kim has joined Appcharge's advisory board, Romain Dijoux is the new studio head at Netflix's Night School Studio, and the German Games Industry Association has elected a new executive board. Other notable moves include Sam Hilary at Team17, Charlotte Spurgeon and Celeste Valentine at Imprint Studios, and leadership changes at Side.
MMO Business Roundup: Gamers sue Microsoft, Skull and Bones on Steam Deck, and NetEase’s Q1
This MMO business roundup covers several industry updates, including Skull and Bones achieving Steam Deck verification. NetEase reported a strong first quarter for 2026 with a 6.9% rise in games revenue. Additionally, a lawsuit has been filed against Microsoft, accusing the company of colluding with Valve to maintain higher prices on the Steam store.
8 years after Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick went shirtless with his 8% body fat physique, he's now a playable…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has been added as a playable character in WWE 2K24 via a free update. The article notes this comes as Zelnick anticipates the major launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. The piece also references Zelnick's past public display of his fitness physique.
Business and Finance
The New Zealand games sector has surpassed $1 billion in revenue two years ahead of schedule. Separately, the European mobile games sector is projected to generate €7.53 billion globally in 2025.
Morning Interviews
Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors expressed hope that trust in the company is improving, acknowledging that trust must be earned. The interview touches upon the company's business strategies and efforts to rebuild confidence.
AI Yi-Yi!
Anthropic is reportedly filing for an IPO ahead of OpenAI, signaling a race to go public in the artificial intelligence sector. Meanwhile, OpenAI is facing a lawsuit from Florida's Attorney General, who describes the company as a menace. GameStop is also mentioned as another company planning an IPO.
etc.
Gabe Newell has reportedly purchased a 531-foot deep-sea research vessel for $815 million. This acquisition marks a significant personal investment outside of his usual ventures in the video game industry.
Business and Finance
Playstack, the owner of Balatro, has been sold to the parent company of Fandom and GameSpot. Separately, NetEase reported a 6.9% increase in games revenue for Q1, reaching $3.7 billion.
Med Modern Warfare 4 släcks Warzone på PS4 och Xbox One
Activision is ending support for Call of Duty: Warzone on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One starting June 4th, with the in-game store closing on June 25th and the game ceasing to function entirely with the release of Modern Warfare 4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is set to launch on October 23rd for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch 2, featuring a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes.
Business and Finance
Elaine Green has been appointed as the new Chair of TIGA. Analysts are observing unusual market behavior from Valve regarding Steam Deck price increases, prompting discussions about the potential cost implications for upcoming hardware.
Civilization 7 and Borderlands 4 had "missteps," Take-Two boss admits, but publisher 2K is still…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick acknowledged "missteps" with Civilization 7 and Borderlands 4, despite both titles being profitable. He stated that publisher 2K Games is performing strongly overall, and that challenges with these franchises are being addressed. Zelnick also expressed confidence in Grand Theft Auto 6's future success.
Evening Interviews
Take-Two Interactive believes that review scores for Grand Theft Auto 6 will be important. The company's stance highlights the significance of critical reception for major game releases.
Subnautica 2's botched bonus deal is about to wipe out more than one-third of Krafton's $736 million annual…
Krafton is facing a significant bonus payout to Unknown Worlds principals Ted Gill, Max McGuire, and Charlie Cleveland due to the unexpectedly strong launch of Subnautica 2. The game's rapid sales have triggered a lucrative revenue-sharing deal that could cost Krafton over a third of its annual profits. This situation is linked to Krafton's previous attempts to terminate the principals, which were deemed legally questionable.
Subnautica 2’s roaring success ensures that Krafton will deffo pay Unknown Worlds that $250M
Subnautica 2 has achieved significant success, selling over 2 million copies in its first 24 hours, which confirms publisher Krafton will pay Unknown Worlds' former shareholders up to $250 million. This resolves a legal dispute where Krafton had delayed the game and fired Unknown Worlds' leadership, allegedly to avoid the payout. Krafton's controversial business practices, including a DMCA claim against media outlets, are also highlighted.
Subnautica 2 publisher Krafton now forced to pay $250m earnout to Unknown Worlds developers after more than 4m units sold
Krafton is required to pay Unknown Worlds $250 million in an earnout bonus for Subnautica 2, after the game sold over 4 million copies by May 20th, generating more than $100 million in revenue. This payment follows a legal ruling that reinstated Unknown Worlds CEO Ted Gill and honored the promised bonus tied to revenue targets.
Krafton have reportedly agreed to pay Subnautica 2's devs that $250 million bonus, following strong early sales
Krafton has reportedly agreed to pay Unknown Worlds developers up to a $250 million bonus following strong early sales of Subnautica 2. This resolves a significant dispute that led to legal action and the ousting of several Unknown Worlds executives. The bonus payout is tied to the game's performance since its early access launch.
Subnautica 2 Has Sold So Well That Krafton Has to Pay That $250 Million Earnout to the Devs
Krafton is reportedly set to pay a $250 million earnout to the developers of Subnautica 2 due to its strong sales performance. This payment was a central point in a legal dispute involving the former leadership of Unknown Worlds.