Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Game Industry.
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Games Inbox: Is No Man’s Sky worth playing 10 years on?
This article discusses the 10th anniversary of No Man's Sky, praising Hello Games for its redemption and the new Cosmos update. It also touches on speculation about Grand Theft Auto 6's online mode, recommendations for indie games like Big Walk, and theories surrounding Silent Hill 2. Additionally, it includes commentary on industry practices, developer criticism of publishers, and anticipation for upcoming titles like A Plague Tale and The Legend of Zelda.
20% rabatt på ISK-tshirt #5 - den med SULFUR
SULFUR, an indie action game, has received a review highlighting its unique premise of a cheese protagonist. The article also touches upon other game releases and industry topics, including Peak's final update, Serious Sam: Shatterverse, and the implications of not owning digital games.
EA FC 27 isn’t in trouble yet, but the warning signs are everywhere
Despite Electronic Arts's continued sales success with the EA Sports FC franchise, warning signs suggest potential future trouble. A shift in player sentiment, particularly among younger demographics, indicates a growing fatigue with the series's focus on Ultimate Team and microtransactions, potentially impacting long-term engagement and revenue.
Will GTA 6 save the video games industry or destroy it? - Reader’s Feature
A reader speculates on the immense impact Grand Theft Auto 6 will have on the video game industry, considering both its potential to revitalize gaming and the risk of overshadowing all other titles. The article discusses how a highly successful GTA 6 could either elevate the entire industry or lead to a market dominated by a single game, potentially impacting the creation and consumption of other game genres.
Nintendo won't abandon cartridges as Switch physical game sales are almost 40%
Nintendo has confirmed that physical game sales still account for a significant 38.5% of its revenue, despite a 90% increase in digital sales for the first quarter of the 2027 fiscal year. This contrasts sharply with Sony, where 82% of PlayStation 4 and 5 game sales are digital. The company's continued reliance on cartridges suggests it will not abandon physical media soon, especially with the upcoming Switch 2.
Charity bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games nears $200,000 goal to support workers affected by layoffs
A charity bundle hosted by Necrosoft Games on Itch.io, offering 127 titles for $10, is nearing its $200,000 goal to support workers affected by recent layoffs in the US and Canada. The proceeds will go to a hardship fund established by the United Videogame Workers (UVW-CWA) union, which provides financial assistance for work-related or personal expenses, regardless of union membership.
Devolver Digital decides video games and publicly traded companies don't mix, announces plan to go private once…
Devolver Digital, a publisher that went public in November 2021, has announced plans to return to private ownership. The company cited the challenges of meeting public market expectations for predictable growth in the volatile video game industry, stating that being private will allow them to focus on the long-term health of the company.
The video games industry is in the hands of monsters and EA is the latest victim
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $20 billion deal involving debt financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, a move criticized for its potential negative impact on customers and employees. This acquisition highlights a trend of consolidation in the video game industry, driven by short-term profit motives and leading to job losses and a narrowing focus on profitable franchises like EA Sports FC and Madden NFL.
Halo Studios hit by layoffs after release of Halo: Campaign Evolved
Halo Studios has reportedly experienced layoffs shortly after the release of Halo: Campaign Evolved. Developers have shared their departures on social media, citing the challenging current job market in the games industry. This follows a broader wave of job cuts at Microsoft's Xbox division.
Ex-Sumo Group CEO Carl Cavers joins co-dev studio Vertpaint as non-exec director and shareholder
Co-development studio Vertpaint has appointed former Sumo Group CEO Carl Cavers as a non-executive director and shareholder. Cavers cited the talent and passion of the Vertpaint team as key reasons for joining, and believes the studio is well-positioned to adapt to the evolving co-development landscape. He also noted that while the industry faces challenges, he anticipates a return to more buoyant times within the next year.
Games Inbox: Will the Xbox reset work for Microsoft?
Readers express concern over recent price increases for Xbox consoles and PC GPUs, questioning Microsoft's strategy and the future of console gaming. Discussions also touch on Nintendo's Direct presentation approach and the ongoing debate about digital versus physical game sales, with a focus on potential EU intervention regarding Sony's digital store practices.
Phantom Blade Zero and The Blood of Dawnwalker Reportedly Top Steam Wishlists for 2026
Phantom Blade Zero reportedly leads Steam wishlists for games launching in 2026 with 1.62 million, followed by The Blood of Dawnwalker and others. This data, estimated by GameDiscoverCo, indicates significant player interest in upcoming titles, though wishlists do not guarantee sales.
Evening Reading - July 31, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several industry updates, including PlayStation's cautious approach to ending physical disc support, Razer's acquisition of StreamElements, and Unity supplying Netflix Games with a dedicated engine. Nexus Mods updated its guidelines for generative AI tagging, Dragon's Dogma 2 will feature a Hard Mode, and various download deals are available for PlayStation and PC.
Games Inbox: Are user reviews for video games reliable?
Readers discuss the reliability of user reviews for video games, with many expressing skepticism due to fanboyism and review bombing, favoring curated professional reviews or Steam's larger user base. The letters also touch on game release schedules, the evolution of game development timelines, the importance of modern-day storytelling in the Assassin's Creed series, and the business practices of companies like EA.
Capcom (CCOEY) Q1 2027 earnings results reveal 93.3% of its game sales were digital
Capcom's Q1 2027 financial report indicates that digital game sales accounted for 93.3% of its total revenue, a significant increase year-over-year. PC digital sales represented 60.4% of all game sales, with console sales making up 32.9%. This trend highlights a growing player preference for digital purchases over physical media.
Xbox Game Pass failed to hit subscriber targets because most people don't play lots of games, says analyst, and going indie won't save it: "I don't see a solution"
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella suggests that Xbox Game Pass failed to meet subscriber targets primarily because the average consumer does not play many games. He argues that focusing on indie titles would further alienate the mainstream audience and worsen the service's outlook. Piscatella believes that the subscription model itself faces significant challenges in the current market, stating he sees no viable solution for Game Pass's struggles.
Sunday Interviews
Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden expressed a desire to revitalize the "double-A" game development space. He believes this tier of games is crucial for the industry's health and has a plan to bring it back.
Kids don’t like video games and that’s a massive problem - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses concern that children are not developing a healthy relationship with video games, often preferring mobile titles like Roblox and Minecraft over traditional console games. The author argues that parents' lack of engagement and introduction to age-appropriate titles leads children to associate gaming with low-rent, free-to-play experiences, potentially harming the future of the industry. This trend is seen as a contributing factor to publishers' focus on live service games over single-player experiences.
Resident Evil 4 is best-selling modern remake but the top 5 is surprising
Resident Evil 4 is the best-selling modern remake, selling approximately 16.8 million copies. The analysis, based on data from 2020 onwards, reveals a surprising top five including Ark: Survival Ascended and The Last of Us Part I, with Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Silent Hill 2 also performing well. Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto defended the prevalence of remakes, viewing them as a way to introduce older titles to new audiences and pave the way for future developments.
If PlayStation kills physical media, it should "get rid of the hardware" too, says the creator of popular RPG series Disgaea
Sohei Niikawa, the creator of the Disgaea series, expressed strong disapproval of Sony's decision to move away from physical media production. He argued that if Sony is eliminating physical games, they should also consider eliminating hardware, suggesting a television would suffice. Niikawa shared these views during an interview at Anime Expo 2026, where he was promoting his new strategy RPG, Demons' Night Fever, set for release in 2026 on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
