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Evening Reading - October 28, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several gaming and tech updates, including release date announcements for Witchbrook and City of None, the Forsaken Update for No Man's Sky, and new Dead by Daylight characters. It also touches on financial results for Microsoft and Google, and the 19th anniversary of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock.
Evening Reading - October 27, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several game-related news items including Pokemon Unite ending service in March 2027, Valorant's latest patch, and a cyberattack on Warhorse Studios. It also notes the announcement of a Nintendo Indie World Showcase, Capcom delisting Street Fighter 5, and Evo Brazil's confirmed dates. Business news includes investments from Nvidia and AMD into Facebook, and Seagate's earnings report.
Paris Games Biz showcased a guarded optimism in the face of turmoil, both locally and in the industry at large | Opinion
Despite civil unrest and industry-wide financial turmoil, the Paris Games Biz event showcased a guarded optimism among French game developers and publishers. Many smaller studios credited government funding initiatives with keeping them afloat, while discussions also touched on the potential of existing IP and the evolving role of marketing. Concerns were raised about the generosity of French government support compared to the UK, and the struggles of larger companies like Ubisoft were acknowledged.
Games Inbox: Is the video games industry dying?
Multiple readers express concern over the current state of the video games industry, citing high development costs, studio closures, and a perceived decline in quality. There is a debate about whether the industry is truly dying, particularly in the West, with some readers finding solace in Nintendo's unique approach and the enduring appeal of physical media.
Prospective Buyers Reportedly Value Xbox As High As $150 Billion
A new report suggests that private equity firms have considered purchasing Microsoft's Xbox division for as much as $150 billion. Despite these considerations, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has previously stated that Xbox is not for sale. The article also touches on Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's comments about Xbox needing to improve its financial performance, which has led to layoffs and studio departures.
The studio behind Life is Strange, Jusant, and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is desperately struggling to stay afloat
Don't Nod, the studio behind Life is Strange and Jusant, is facing severe financial difficulties and has entered "safeguard proceedings" to buy time. Despite critical acclaim for games like Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, sales have fallen "well below expectations," leading to layoffs and the postponement of new projects. CEO Oskar Guilbert cited the challenging financing environment in the videogame industry as a major factor.
Innersloth co-founder warns devs: 'there are some very bad deals out there'
Innersloth co-founder Forest Willard is warning indie developers about predatory publishing deals in the industry. He has reviewed numerous contracts that he describes as 'truly abysmal' and not conducive to developers making money on their games. Willard expressed frustration with the current state of dealmaking, urging caution for developers entering into publishing agreements.
Samson studio shuts down as console success ‘wasn’t enough to get the company across the finish line’
The game development studio Samson has shut down, with its success in console gaming not being enough to sustain the company. The studio launched its action-adventure crimeworld game six months prior to its closure.
"Elon Musk disagrees with me. This means I am onto something": Legendary game artist calls out AI billionaires, Tim Sweeney responds "this is bulls***" with Musk's support
Veteran game artist Kenney Vleugels criticized AI billionaires like Tim Sweeney and Elon Musk for pushing AI in game development, arguing they don't understand the craft. Sweeney defended AI's velocity and potential, while Musk supported Sweeney. The debate highlights creator concerns about AI's ethical implications, environmental costs, and potential to devalue artistic work.
Evening Reading - October 15, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers a variety of gaming news, including the first playable demo for El Paso, Elsewhere 2, the launch trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6, and an announcement for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave Expansion Pass. Arc System Works has established a new Tokyo studio, and Sega has apologized for and delisted Total War: Shogun 2. The Long Dark: Iron Road DLC is set for release, and Activision Quality Assurance workers are voting to authorize a strike. The article also touches on gaming-related topics like Star Wars, reviews for Tales of Eternia Remastered and Tenebris Somnia, and early access for Poly Fighter.
Lawn Mowing Simulator 2 Review | TheXboxHub
Lawn Mowing Simulator 2 moves the series to the US, offering players the chance to mow, strim, and blow leaves across various American-themed gardens. While the core mechanics of mowing and blowing are enjoyable, the strimming is less satisfying, and the game is plagued by numerous bugs and frustrating issues, including a broken collision system and progress-stopping glitches. Despite a promising premise, the game suffers from undergrowth of minor issues that detract from the overall experience.
MMO Business Roundup: Xbox is ‘back to growth,’ Kotick is on the Skydance board, and Aion 2 misses projections
Xbox is reportedly returning to growth, according to Xbox boss Asha Sharma. Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has joined the board of Skydance, the company formed from the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger. NCsoft's earnings forecast was lowered due to Aion 2's performance, while Necesse developer Fair Games was acquired by Fireshine Games. Additionally, Gardens Interactive, a studio founded by former Journey and Sky: Children of the Light developers, secured $35 million in Series B funding.
Evening Reading - September 30, 2026
This Evening Reading roundup covers various gaming news and updates, including reviews for End of Abyss and Valheim, Fallout 76's upcoming updates, and Persona 5 Royal's crossover into Rocket League and Fortnite. It also notes Grasshopper Manufacture's separation from NetEase Games and mentions a humorous tweet about a hypothetical FromSoftware exclusive for the Nintendo Switch 2.
State of Indie 2026 Part 1: Winners and Losers
The indie game landscape has shifted significantly since 2021, with AAA games experiencing a resurgence while many indie publishers have struggled. Genres requiring more skill and manpower, like open-world and Metroidvanias, are seeing higher returns due to less competition, while easier-to-make genres are oversaturated. Co-op games are increasingly popular, particularly among younger audiences, but success remains challenging, with a large percentage of indie games selling fewer than a thousand copies.
GTA veteran's MindsEye studio Build a Rocket Boy has entered administration, following yet more reports of layoffs
Build A Rocket Boy, the studio behind the poorly received game MindsEye, has filed for administration following reports of further layoffs. The company, founded by GTA veteran Leslie Benzies, has struggled since the launch of MindsEye, with CEO Mark Gerhard blaming 'sabotage' for its woes. The studio reported significant operating and net losses.
Evening Reading - September 17, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers a variety of game reviews including Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter. It also highlights the announcement of Grand Theft Auto 6: The Album, Dragon Quest series sales milestones, and the potential shutdown of Hyper Light Drifter's developer. The reading includes various internet curiosities and a brief mention of economic topics.
With GTA 6 about to launch, Take-Two boss unloads on investor criticizing "years of delays, missed expectations, and continued dependence on a small number of major franchises"
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed investor concerns about game delays and franchise dependence during the company's shareholder meeting. While acknowledging Grand Theft Auto 6's delays, Zelnick defended the management team's performance, highlighting the company's revenue growth and the sustained success of Grand Theft Auto 5.
Sony had good reasons to axe Hideo Kojima's Physint claims report
Sony Interactive Entertainment reportedly dropped Hideo Kojima's upcoming game Physint due to missed deadlines, budget concerns, and potential profitability issues, despite it being a spiritual successor to Metal Gear. The project will now be funded by Xbox and is planned for release on both Xbox and PC, marking Kojima's second collaboration with Microsoft after the horror game OD. This decision comes after Death Stranding titles did not meet PlayStation's revenue expectations, and Sony was hesitant to invest in a title where it would not own the intellectual property.
Sony reportedly dropped Hideo Kojima's next game because it kept missing deadlines, was over budget, and would…
Sony has reportedly dropped Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint, due to missed deadlines, budget overruns, and a lack of exclusivity for PlayStation hardware. Xbox has since picked up the project. This decision comes after Kojima's previous games, Death Stranding and its sequel, did not meet PlayStation's revenue expectations.
PlayStation reportedly dumped Hideo Kojima spy action game Physint over exceeded budgets, missed deadlines, and Death Stranding sales
PlayStation reportedly canceled Hideo Kojima's spy action game Physint due to exceeded budgets, missed deadlines, and disappointing sales from Death Stranding. The game has since switched publishers to Xbox, potentially increasing its chances of a PC release. This decision reflects PlayStation's stricter production oversight and concerns over Kojima's games not meeting revenue expectations.
