Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Game Industry.
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Gang of Dragon Developer Nagoshi Studio is “Gone” – Rumor
According to a rumor from VGC's Andy Robinson, Toshihiro Nagoshi's studio, Nagoshi Studio, is reportedly "gone" and has ceased operations. Evidence includes the removal of its YouTube channel and website. The studio, which was developing Gang of Dragon for NetEase Games, faced funding issues earlier this year.
This Week in Switch 2 - Zelda hype, Fortnitemares, Minecraft Live news, and the Xbox Reset continues
This episode of This Week in Switch 2 discusses the ongoing restructuring of Xbox game studios, with concerns raised about the future of Xbox fans. The hosts also touch upon news related to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Fortnite, Minecraft Live, and mention reviews for Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave and other games.
Games Inbox: What Amiga games deserve a remake?
Readers discuss which classic Amiga games deserve modern remakes, with titles like Starglider 2, Midwinter, and Cybercon 3 being popular choices. The discussion also touches on the viability of remaking older titles, the current state of the Xbox console, and potential reimagining of Resident Evil games.
Games Inbox: Will Naughty Dog make a new Uncharted game?
Readers discuss Naughty Dog's potential future projects, including a new Uncharted game or The Last of Us Part III, alongside speculation about upcoming console generations. Other topics include criticisms of Football Manager's engine change, Grand Theft Auto VI's lack of theme park parody, and the state of the video game industry.
Zynga reportedly almost acquired Supercell for $400m in 2012, but deal fell through following failure of OMGPop
Zynga's founder Mark Pincus revealed that the company nearly acquired Supercell for $400 million in 2012, but the deal fell through due to Zynga's board concerns following the failure of its OMGPop acquisition. Pincus expressed regret over not pushing harder for the Supercell deal, which he believes would have been highly profitable.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 581: George McFly is your Destiny 2
The Massively OP Podcast episode 581 covers Destiny 2's resurgence, the early access launch of Monsters & Memories, and impressions of Aion 2. The hosts also discuss Dune Awakening's console release, the future of Elder Scrolls Online following layoffs, and highlight Wizard101.
Games Inbox: Is the next Super Mario game open world?
Readers discuss the potential for the next 3D Super Mario game to be open world, drawing parallels to Zelda and Bowser's Fury. Other topics include the 30th anniversary of Super Mario 64, the gameplay of Marvel's Wolverine, criticism of Xbox executives, the viability of a Ganondorf game, Sony's potential U-turn on game discs, the decline of Rare, the unchanging nature of EA Sports FC, and performance issues in Star Wars Zero Company.
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.
"I assume someone is being greedy somewhere" - Tim Schafer discusses current game industry woes following Double Fine's split with Xbox
Tim Schafer, founder of Double Fine Productions, discussed the studio's recent split with Xbox and his views on the current state of the game industry. He expressed support for Game Pass but questioned the economics leading to widespread layoffs, suggesting greed is a factor. Schafer praised Xbox's past support for Double Fine but noted their differing strategies.
Does Microsoft really want to save Xbox or have they already given up?
Microsoft's recent wave of job cuts within Xbox, affecting hundreds of developers, raises serious questions about the company's commitment to its gaming division. The article suggests these layoffs, coupled with studio restructuring and a lack of clear hardware strategy, indicate a potential winding down of Xbox's ambitions, possibly leading to its eventual sale as a third-party publisher.
What the hell are you guys doing?
The author expresses strong criticism towards Microsoft's decision to place Obsidian Entertainment under Bethesda Softworks, questioning the logic and potential negative impact on both studios' legacies and developers. The move is seen as a baffling addition of bureaucracy and a sign of executive incompetence, especially following other industry layoffs and the closure of Tango Gameworks.
Video Games Are Having an Absolutely Insane Run Right Now
The video game industry is experiencing an exceptionally strong period with a high volume of diverse and high-quality releases. Despite initial concerns about release date congestion, the past several weeks have showcased a remarkable variety of games across genres, from major AAA titles to innovative indie experiences. This trend suggests that the industry can support a large number of releases, offering players an abundance of choices and reinforcing the idea that there can indeed be too much of a good thing.
Dags att sätta betyg på tids-äventyret Justin Wack!
Justin Wack and the Big Time Hack is a charming point-and-click adventure that offers a delightful time-traveling experience. The game is praised for its engaging narrative and well-crafted puzzles, making it a standout title.
"Publishers are afraid of certain parts of the world": Saber Interactive's message to North American studios is to get their head out of their own geography
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits advises North American studios to diversify their business models beyond large, expensive AAA projects. He suggests embracing work-for-hire, smaller-scale games, and international co-development to ensure financial stability amidst industry layoffs and rising costs. Willits criticizes the traditional approach of maintaining large teams before a vertical slice, advocating for smaller, agile teams and exploring diverse markets.
GDC Festival of Gaming appoints four members to advisory board
The GDC Festival of Gaming has appointed four new members to its advisory board: Amir Satvat, Alexa Ray Corriea, Lucien Parsons, and Perrin Kaplan. These industry professionals will join over 50 existing members to help shape the GDC program, with recent changes to the 2027 conference focusing on increased flexibility and accessibility based on industry feedback.
MMO Week in Review: Foreverrrrr
BlizzCon 2026 saw major announcements including a new open-world StarCraft shooter, Diablo V for 2029, and World of Warcraft Forever launching soon. The event also revealed World of Warcraft's next retail expansion, The Last Titan, and sparked controversy over World of Warcraft Forever's monetization. Other news included the sunsetting of Ship of Heroes, layoffs at Pantheon Rise of the Fallen, and business dealings involving ArcheAge.
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 earned 35% of its $1.2 billion on disc, analyst says, but PlayStation is more interested in…
An analysis by Rhys Elliot of Alinea Analytics suggests that Sony's decision to move away from physical PlayStation releases is driven by profit margins and market control, rather than a decline in physical sales for prestige single-player games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2. While Marvel's Spider-Man 2 generated $1.2 billion, 35% of that revenue came from physical disc sales, indicating a significant market still exists.
GNOG and Goodbye Volcano High dev KO_OP share that they are laying off staff in the only, remotely good statement I've seen in a while
Independent studio KO_OP, known for games like GNOG and Goodbye Volcano High, has announced layoffs affecting 13 staff members shortly after the release of their latest game, Young Suns. The studio cited a radical change in the games funding landscape and an inability to secure new project funding as the primary reasons. KO_OP emphasized a transparent, democratically decided process focused on studio survival rather than profit maximization, and expressed intent to rehire affected developers if future funding is secured.
The Rare SNES game that became Banjo-Kazooie has been preserved thanks to a leaker who wants you to "delete…
A leaker has released the ROM files for Project Dream, a canceled Super Nintendo pirate RPG prototype that served as the basis for Rare's Banjo-Kazooie. The leaker cited concerns about the current state of the game industry, including layoffs, anti-preservation tactics, and Microsoft's management of Rare, as reasons for the release. The leaker also expressed strong negative sentiments towards Microsoft and Sony, urging boycotts.
Snabbkollen: Köper du nya Ocarina of Time?
Nintendo has announced a remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, set to release on November 7th for the Nintendo Switch. The article also features reviews for "The Blood of Dawnwalker," "Star Wars Zero Company," and "Mortal Shell 2," alongside news about "Valheim," "Orbitals," and "Justin Wack and the Big Time Hack."
