Game Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Game Publishing.
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Amazon’s MMO run will be coming to end sooner than thought
Amazon Game Studios is ending its Western publishing operations for the MMOs Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty. Smilegate will take over Lost Ark in early 2027, while FirstSpark Games/NCSoft will manage Throne and Liberty starting in Q4 2026. This marks a significant shift for Amazon's ambitions in the MMO publishing market, following the shutdown of New World and the cancellation of other projects.
Phasmophobia Studio Launches A Publishing Label With These Five Exciting Games
Phasmophobia developer Kinetic Games has launched a new publishing label, Kinetic Publishing, and announced its initial lineup of five games. The diverse slate includes the FMV thriller Precognition, the cozy mage life-sim Aether Wizard Life, the unique metroidvania Shellbound, the tense space simulator Contact Protocol, and the witchy racing game Crescent County. These titles are slated for release between 2027 and 2028 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Amazon are getting out of the MMO game, handing control of Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to developers, but it won't all be smooth for players
Amazon Game Studios is exiting the global publishing of MMOs, handing over control of Lost Ark to Smilegate and Throne and Liberty to FireSpark Games. While Amazon will cease live service operations for Lost Ark in early 2027, some player data like chat history and friend memos will be lost. This transition aims to align global updates with Korean releases for Lost Ark and is expected to be less disruptive for Throne and Liberty. The move comes as Amazon shifts its focus away from external publishing and internal MMO development.
Phasmophobia developer's indie label Kinetic Publishing to reveal debut slate at showcase later this month
Kinetic Publishing, the indie label founded by Phasmophobia developer Kinetic Games, will reveal its debut slate of games at a showcase on August 12. The event will feature narration by Ben Starr and will confirm release windows and platform details for titles planned for 2027 and 2028. Founded by Daniel Knight, the label aims to support two to three indie projects annually with funding ranging from hundreds of thousands to £1 million.
Secret Mode opens new Sheffield studio to support internal titles, starting with Escape the Backrooms and Chained Together
Indie publisher Secret Mode has established a new internal development studio in Sheffield, initially comprising three people and aiming to expand to 20 within a year. This new division will focus on supporting the publisher's existing titles, starting with Escape the Backrooms and Chained Together, by developing new content and porting games to additional platforms like Xbox and PlayStation 5. The move aims to reduce reliance on external development and foster a culture of rapid content creation.
New Fallout game reportedly led by Josh Sawyer would be "good" for both Obsidian and Bethesda "in many ways," says former New Vegas creative lead
Former Fallout: New Vegas designer Chris Avellone expressed excitement over reports that Josh Sawyer is directing a new Fallout game at Obsidian Entertainment. Avellone believes this project would benefit both Obsidian and publisher Bethesda by potentially increasing the release cadence of major titles, given Bethesda's historically long development times. While John Gonzalez, a key writer for New Vegas, has returned to Obsidian, his specific role on the new Fallout project remains unclear due to recent Xbox restructuring.
Uppgift: Microsoft vill släppa Xbox 360-spel på pc och Project Helix
Microsoft is reportedly offering rights holders the opportunity to release their Xbox 360 games on PC, potentially through a program called Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC. These titles would also be compatible with future hardware like the next-generation Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, and handheld devices such as the Xbox Ally X. The rollout is expected between 2027 and 2028, with publishers deciding on pricing and Game Pass inclusion.
YGG’s LOL Land shuts its doors as the guild dismantles its publishing business
Yield Guild Games (YGG) has shut down its blockchain game LOL Land and is dismantling its publishing business, YGG Play, citing market conditions and a brutal video game publishing environment. The company is also eliminating 35 jobs and redirecting staff and capital towards selling anonymized gaming datasets to AI labs. LOL Land generated $8.59 million in lifetime revenue before closing on July 31.
YGG Play’s Shutdown Clock Runs Out — Waifu Sweeper Is Now Offline
YGG Play has officially shut down its publishing arm, with the game Waifu Sweeper going offline on July 31, six months after its public launch. This closure is part of Yield Guild Games' strategic shift to focus on selling gaming datasets for AI training, leading to 35 job cuts. While Waifu Sweeper and LOL Land will not be transferred, other titles like GIGACHADBAT and Ragnarok Breaker will continue under new studios.
There's a timeline where Dark Souls was a PlayStation exclusive, but Sony lost out on the chance because it wouldn't publish Demon's Souls in North America
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment executive Shuhei Yoshida revealed that Sony declined to publish Demon's Souls in North America, leading FromSoftware to partner with Bandai Namco for Dark Souls. This decision meant Sony missed out on publishing the Souls series, though they later secured Bloodborne. The article analyzes the impact of this publishing decision on the game industry and PlayStation's relationship with FromSoftware.
YGG Play winds down: Waifu Sweeper players urged to cash out points for $YGG before July 31
YGG Play, the publishing arm of Yield Guild Games, is shutting down on July 6, resulting in 35 job cuts and the closure of its first-party games, including Waifu Sweeper. Players are urged to convert in-game points to $YGG tokens before July 31. Yield Guild Games plans to pivot its treasury towards selling gaming datasets to AI labs.
YGG’s LOL Land shuts down July 31 — 48 hours left to cash out points and unstake $LOL
LOL Land will permanently shut down on July 31, with players urged to cash out in-game points for $YGG and unstake $LOL before the deadline. This closure is part of Yield Guild Games' decision to sunset its YGG Play publishing arm, reallocating resources towards AI training data. While LOL Land and Waifu Sweeper are closing, GIGACHADBAT and Ragnarok Breaker will remain operational.
Games Inbox: Are people still excited for Tomb Raider games?
Readers discuss the declining popularity of the Tomb Raider series, questioning if remakes can revive its former glory. Other topics include the potential of ad-based game streaming, the perceived lack of excitement for the Switch 2's second year lineup, and the business decisions behind game pricing and remakes.
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden wants to save games by bringing back double-A - and he has a plan
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes the escalating costs of blockbuster game development are unsustainable and advocates for the return of the double-A market. He plans to establish a publishing concern focused on funding and supporting these mid-tier games, arguing they can attract new players and offer more creative freedom than current triple-A trends.
Amazon Luna cloud gaming platform now added to Prime Video in the US and UK
Amazon has integrated its cloud gaming service, Amazon Luna, into Prime Video for subscribers in the US and UK. This integration allows Prime members to access a library of over 100 games, including titles like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Hogwarts Legacy, directly through the Prime Video app on Fire TV devices. Amazon aims to make game discovery more natural and accessible for its Prime subscriber base.
Xbox says its return to console exclusives is permanent
Xbox leadership, including Matt Booty and Matthew Ball, has stated that the company's return to console exclusives is permanent. While games like Gears of War: E-Day and Clockwork Revolution will be permanent exclusives to Xbox and PC, the definition of exclusivity is being clarified, especially concerning day-one PC releases. This strategy aims to provide a compelling reason for consumers to purchase Xbox hardware.
Every Game Just $1: New Steam Publisher ‘OFFMOON’ Reveals Its First Lineup
Superfast has launched OFFMOON, a new Steam-focused indie game publisher aiming to make games more accessible with a $1 price point for all titles. The initial lineup includes four games across various genres, with plans to release up to 50 titles by the end of the year. OFFMOON's strategy focuses on discovery and value, leveraging Superfast's experience from its mobile subsidiary, 111 Percent.
Former Epic Games VP Steve Allison appointed chief business officer at Saber Interactive
Former Epic Games vice president Steve Allison has been appointed chief business officer at Saber Interactive, where he will oversee publishing, marketing, and revenue opportunities. Allison brings over thirty years of industry experience, including his work on the Epic Games Store. Saber Interactive was previously owned by Embracer before being sold to Beacon Interactive, a company founded by Saber's CEO Matthew Karch.
Saber Interactive Changes the Game by Adding Steve Allison as Chief Business Officer
Saber Interactive has appointed Steve Allison as its new Chief Business Officer, bringing over 30 years of industry experience from companies like Epic Games and Telltale Games. Allison will lead business development and strategy for Saber's upcoming titles, including Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 3, Jurassic Park: Survival, and a John Wick game.
NEOWIZ Appoints Chris Chung as Head of Global Business Group
NEOWIZ has appointed industry veteran Chris Chung as the Head of its Global Business Group to bolster its international publishing efforts. Chung brings extensive experience from companies like Wargaming and NCSOFT, where he managed global franchises and operations. This appointment is part of a larger company reorganization aimed at strengthening NEOWIZ's competitiveness and partnerships with developers worldwide.
