Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Game Industry.
Latest coverage
Bebolicious vinner PaperKlays-speedrun
Bebolicious has won the PaperKlay speedrun, completing the game's first world in 6 minutes and 11 seconds. The article also touches on other gaming news including a potential Witcher game, updates for Assassin's Creed Shadows, and rumors about Ninja Theory's future.
HR veteran Liz Prince awarded MBE for services to the games industry and diversity
Liz Prince, a veteran business manager at gaming recruitment specialist Amiqus, has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list for her services to the games industry and diversity. Prince has been a long-time advocate for equality and inclusivity, launching initiatives like G Into Gaming and co-founding Empower Up to promote better workplaces.
Games Inbox: Are the original Halo games still worth playing?
Readers discuss the enduring appeal of older Halo titles, with one praising Halo 3's timeless design and soundtrack. Another reader reflects on the evolution of gaming technology and online infrastructure since the original Xbox era. Concerns are also raised about the current state of game pricing and the potential impact of consumer reluctance to buy games at full price.
Star Fox Hands-On, Pragmata, and the 100-Yen Democracy
This article provides a preview of upcoming games Star Fox and Pragmata, alongside a discussion on the concept of '100-Yen Democracy' within the gaming industry. It touches upon the potential impact of these titles and broader industry trends.
Weekend Discussion - June 13, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. 2 hacks, a critique of a sports apparel company, and a "Pitch Meeting" segment on a Star Wars property. The article also features a musical recommendation from The Linda Lindas and mentions Shacknews' policy against using generative AI in its content. Staff writer Ozzie Mejia shares his background in gaming and his preferred genres.
Japanese gamers reveal their favourite games and the answers might surprise you
A survey by Japanese magazine Famitsu revealed that RPGs dominate the preferences of Japanese gamers, with series like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy being highly influential and desired. Nintendo was named the nation's favorite developer, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was a top pick for recommendations and replaying. The survey highlights a significant difference in gaming tastes compared to Western markets, with a strong emphasis on adventure and anime-style games in Japan.
Japanese gamers vote on most influential game and series, favorite character, favorite developer, more
Famitsu magazine's 40th-anniversary survey of over 5,000 Japanese gamers revealed Nintendo as the favorite developer and Mario as the favorite character. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild was highly recommended, while Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series dominated influence and sequel requests. Masahiro Sakurai was named favorite creator.
2026’s autumn release schedules are pure insanity but it’s not GTA 6’s fault
The upcoming autumn release schedules for 2026 are exceptionally crowded, largely due to the November 19 release of Grand Theft Auto 6. This has created an "exclusion zone" around the highly anticipated title, forcing many other major game releases to compete for attention in a condensed period. This intense competition, coupled with the high cost of game development, poses a significant risk to publishers and could lead to underperformance for many titles.
Games Inbox: What will be in the Nintendo Direct today?
Readers speculate on the contents of an upcoming Nintendo Direct, with predictions ranging from a The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake to new Switch 2 titles. Discussions also touch upon Xbox's exclusivity policies, the perceived lack of innovation in modern game design, and the aging gamer demographic.
Nordic Game attendance rises by 6% in 2026
Nordic Game 2026 saw a 6% increase in attendance, with over 1,100 companies from 59 countries participating. The event highlighted the strength of independent developers and featured discussions on the art of games. Separately, a report commissioned by King revealed that European mobile games generated €7.53 billion globally in 2025 and contributed significantly to the European economy.
Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka is "the most miserable person I have ever worked with," says former Sega VP
Former Sega vice president Mike Fischer described Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka as "the most miserable person" he has ever worked with, citing instances of Naka's volatile reactions to game naming and marketing decisions. Fischer also contrasted Naka's difficult personality with the kindness of Sonic's other co-creator, Naoto Ōshima, and mentioned Naka's past insider trading conviction.
Games Inbox: Will Modern Warfare 4 save Call Of Duty?
Readers discuss the upcoming Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, with concerns that Activision is not taking enough time to address player dissatisfaction. Other topics include the potential for Persona 6 leaks to be AI-generated, the quality of movie-licensed games, and the rising cost of next-generation consoles.
Games Inbox: Could 2026 be the best year for video games ever?
Readers discuss the potential for 2026 to be a landmark year for video games, citing high review scores for titles like 007 First Light and Forza Horizon 6. Concerns are raised about the lack of couch co-op in modern games and the sustainability of large development studios with infrequent releases. The article also touches on the perceived staleness of the Forza Horizon series and the delayed review copies for 007 First Light.
How Brazil's government boosts the local game industry
Brazil's government is actively supporting its burgeoning game industry through an infrastructural approach that goes beyond traditional tax credits. Initiatives like the Brazil Games export program, managed by Abragames and funded by Apex Brazil, aim to boost the country's game development sector by framing it as a key export economy. This strategy, combined with existing tax incentives and lobbying for public fund mechanisms, aims to provide financial stability for both indie developers and external development studios, leveraging the favorable exchange rate to attract international investment.
Forza Horizon 6 gives a glimpse at what Xbox should’ve been - Reader's Feature
A reader's feature discusses how Forza Horizon 6, despite its critical and commercial success, highlights Xbox's struggles in the console market. The author argues that while the game is excellent, its multi-platform availability prevents it from being the system seller Xbox desperately needs, contrasting it with past console-defining exclusives.
Evening Postmortems/Retrospectives
Fallout lead Tim Cain believes the current games industry crisis has not reached the severity of the 1983 crash. He suggests that while challenging, the industry has faced worse periods historically.
EU politician says killing games is bad, but 'wokeness' and the Black samurai Yasuke are the real problem
During a European Parliament debate on 'Stop Killing Games,' Slovak MEP Milan Uhrik argued that 'wokeness' and aggressive monetization are destroying video games. He specifically criticized the inclusion of Black or female protagonists, citing Assassin's Creed Shadows as an example, and also touched upon issues like microtransactions and server shutdowns.
Op Ed
The author argues that certain aspects of Roblox require legislative intervention due to concerns over its long-term impact. Having played games for 40 years and written about them for 20, the author believes specific elements of the platform should be regulated.
2005 is back baby as a car racing game becomes this year’s most acclaimed title
Forza Horizon 6 has emerged as a contender for the most acclaimed game of the year, achieving a Metacritic average of 92, surpassing other notable titles like Resident Evil Requiem and Pokémon Pokopia. This success marks a resurgence for the racing game genre, which has not seen such critical acclaim in recent years. The article highlights the evolution of the Forza franchise and the importance of narrative in making racing games memorable.
What Do You Want from a May 2026 State of Play Showcase?
This article discusses player expectations for an upcoming May 2026 PlayStation State of Play showcase, considering potential first-party titles like Marvel's Wolverine and rumored God of War entries, alongside third-party releases aiming to avoid Grand Theft Auto 6's November launch. It also touches on the possibility of early PlayStation 6 mentions, though deems it unlikely for this particular event.
