Game Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Game Publishing.
Latest coverage
1312 Interactive raises $1m in seed funding round
1312 Interactive, India's first dedicated PC and console game publishing house, has secured $1 million in seed funding led by T-Accelerate Capital and ChimeraVC. The investment will bolster its publishing infrastructure, expand into emerging markets, and support developers. The company also launched 1312 Playground for community feedback and has several games scheduled for release.
Valve finally backs down after age-restricting a Steam vampire RPG without any sex or nudity for having too much sex and…
Valve has removed the 'adults only' age restriction from the upcoming Steam RPG Nighthawks after the developer Wadjet Eye Games protested the classification. The game, which features mild adult situations and non-explicit nudity, was mistakenly flagged by Valve, severely impacting its visibility. While the situation caused significant stress for the developers, it ultimately led to increased awareness of the game.
Sony has topped a generational run of self-owns: abandoning Hideo Kojima's next Metal Gear right as Marvel's…
Sony Interactive Entertainment is facing criticism for its strategic decisions during the PlayStation 5 generation, including abandoning Hideo Kojima's new game 'Physint' to be published by Xbox and the middling reception of Insomniac Games' 'Marvel's Wolverine'. The article argues that Sony's focus on live service games has depleted its first-party development resources and led to a lack of system-selling titles, resulting in a negative overall business strategy.
Xbox replaces Sony as Physint publisher, boosting chances of PC release
Hideo Kojima's upcoming game, Physint, has switched publishers from Sony Interactive Entertainment to Xbox. This move, announced by Kojima Productions, significantly increases the likelihood of a PC release for the title, which is still estimated to be five to six years away from launch.
Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid Spiritual Successor Physint Will Now Be Published by Xbox Instead of Sony
Hideo Kojima's upcoming game Physint, considered a spiritual successor to Metal Gear Solid, will now be published by Xbox instead of Sony. This partnership also includes the horror game OD and expands to film and television projects.
Escape from Tarkov's Battlestate Games is now a publisher, and it wants games that others deem "too risky"
Battlestate Games, the developer behind Escape from Tarkov, has launched a new publishing division called Battlestate Games Publishing. The new arm aims to support ambitious, niche, and risky game projects across all genres and platforms, allowing developers to retain full IP ownership.
Peak studio Aggro Crab establishes publishing label for "intense, stylised games with an attitude"
Developer Aggro Crab, known for Peak and Another Crab's Treasure, has launched a new publishing label to support intense, stylized indie games. The label will offer up to $500,000 per project for games that can be completed within two years, providing marketing support and flexible agreements. They have already signed two titles: Rebounder and Subway Midnight.
Aggro Crab launches publishing label to splash that Peak cash
Aggro Crab, the developer behind Peak and Another Crab's Treasure, has launched a new publishing label called Aggro Crab Presents. The initiative will support indie games requiring $500,000 or less to launch within two years, with a focus on "intense, stylized games with an attitude" and a strict rejection of "generative AI slop." The success of their game Peak has enabled this expansion, allowing Aggro Crab to leverage its experience and community to help other developers.
Developers And Publishers Are “Largely Very Upset” Over Sony Killing PlayStation Discs
Sony's decision to cease production of physical PlayStation game discs by 2028 has reportedly caused significant frustration among game developers and publishers. This move signals a major shift away from physical media in the gaming industry.
Game Developer Association of India picks 15 studios for first Supernova cohort
The Game Developer Association of India has selected 15 studios for its Supernova incubation program, which offers mentorship and industry connections. Separately, Focus Entertainment has partnered with Maverick Games to publish the upcoming open-world racing title Clutch, set for a Spring 2027 release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Journey maker thatgamecompany announces thatgamepublisher
thatgamecompany, known for games like Sky: Children of the Light and Journey, has announced the launch of its new publishing division, thatgamepublisher. The new arm will invest profits from Sky: Children of the Light into publishing "emotionally ambitious games" and is open to teams of any size and projects at any stage. This move follows a trend of successful indie developers launching their own funding initiatives to support other studios.
Journey studio Thatgamecompany launches Thatgamepublisher to champion games that "move people through play"
Thatgamecompany, known for games like Journey and Sky: Children of the Light, has launched a new publishing arm called Thatgamepublisher. This initiative aims to champion "emotionally ambitious games" and support creators exploring new emotional frontiers in the medium. Led by Jenova Chen and SJ Xue, the publisher will offer full-service support, including funding, marketing, and community management, with a focus on games that can create meaningful emotional connections with players.
Commodore is getting back to game publishing by reviving one of "Amiga’s most beloved franchises"
Commodore is re-entering game publishing by reviving the Amiga shooter franchise Alien Breed with the "Alien Breed 35th Anniversary Collection." This collection will bundle six original titles and is scheduled for release on September 24 for PlayStation 5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. The revival is a collaboration with gaming preservationists Antstream, aiming to make classic titles accessible to a new generation.
Indie dev says Sony suddenly ended their publishing deal without "any reason," delisting their games and cancelling PS5 port of Steam game with 97% 'overwhelmingly positive' reviews, won't explain or respond "in any way"
Sony has reportedly terminated its publishing agreement with indie developer Ternox Games without providing a reason, leading to the delisting of their games from the PlayStation Store and the cancellation of a PlayStation 5 port for their highly-rated Steam game, Stonks-9800. Ternox Games announced the unilateral termination on August 17, stating that existing titles will be removed from the store after August 23, and they are exploring physical releases for PC and Nintendo Switch.
Ron Gilbert talks the untraditional way he got Thimbleweed Park 2 funded, and his frustrations with modern publishing deals
Creator Ron Gilbert discussed the untraditional private funding for Thimbleweed Park 2, opting out of traditional publishers due to unfavorable terms. He explained that a wealthy individual, a fan of the series, provided the necessary funds, leading to a more equitable deal for the developer.
Throne & Liberty delays the Colossus Vegamor update into September ahead of the transition back to NCsoft
Throne & Liberty's Colossus Vegamor update, originally planned for August, has been delayed to September to ensure a smooth transition of publishing duties from Amazon back to NCsoft. This delay aims to allow both teams to focus on the service transition while also delivering a more polished experience for the world boss update.
Compulsion Games becomes publisher of South of Midnight on Steam, suggesting departure from Xbox amid major restructuring is now complete
Compulsion Games is now listed as the publisher of South of Midnight on Steam, indicating its complete separation from Xbox following recent restructuring. The studio, which also regained rights to its previous titles Contrast and We Happy Few, is now operating as an independent entity. South of Midnight, released in spring 2025, received praise for its visuals and music integration but was criticized for shallow gameplay.
Xsolla rolls out publishing tools to keep players 'engaged' after the first purchase
Commerce company Xsolla has launched new tools for its publishing suite designed to help PC game studios enhance player engagement after initial purchases. These tools include a community hub for direct player interaction, a no-code template for live ops events, dedicated merchandising experiences, and a centralized notification system within the Xsolla Launcher. Xsolla president Chris Hewish stated the goal is to give studios their own channel to maintain player relationships and control their monetization schedules.
Vague Patch Notes: How Amazon blew up money unnecessarily and left online games unceremoniously
This analysis critiques Amazon's approach to online game publishing, citing the premature cancellation of Crucible and the relinquishing of publishing rights for Blue Protocol and Throne and Liberty back to developers Bandai Namco and NCsoft, respectively. The author argues that Amazon's strategy involved excessive spending and a focus on potential hits rather than fostering the development of its games, contrasting it with the successful turnaround of Final Fantasy XIV.
The Phasmophobia Team Has Five Very Different New Games On The Way
Kinetic Publishing, the publishing arm of the Phasmophobia team, has announced five new indie games set for release between 2027 and 2028. The diverse lineup includes Contact Protocol, Crescent County, Shellbound, Aether Wizard Life, and PRECOGNITION, all slated for release on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, with specific release windows varying by title.
