Game Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Game Publishing.
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Landfall's Rebecca Lautner announced as speaker at Game Republic New Horizons 2026
Rebecca Lautner, Chief Business Officer at Landfall, has been announced as a speaker for the Game Republic New Horizons 2026 conference. She will participate in a fireside chat discussing Landfall's operations and its new publishing arm, Evil Landfall. Lautner joins keynote speaker Ken Kutaragi, known as the 'Father of the PlayStation'.
Business and Finance
Publishers and investors are increasingly favoring user-generated games over traditional titles. This shift indicates a growing trend in the gaming industry towards supporting games built with player-created content.
Anime Giant Toei Games Enters The Publishing Arena With Three Mysterious Titles
Toei Games, the interactive entertainment division of the renowned Toei Company, has announced its entry into game publishing with three mysterious titles: KILLA, HINO, and DEBUG NEPHEMEE. This move marks a significant expansion for the animation giant, known for properties like Dragon Ball Z and One Piece, into the video game arena. The announcement has generated both excitement and skepticism within the gaming community regarding Toei's approach to game development and publishing.
Zenless Zone Zero is finally coming to Steam, and it could pave the way for more HoYo games
HoYoverse has announced that Zenless Zone Zero will be released on Steam in Q2 2024, expanding its PC availability beyond the Epic Games Store. While the gacha game is now accessible to a wider audience, its other major titles, Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail, remain absent from Valve's platform. This move suggests a potential shift in HoYoverse's PC distribution strategy.
Are Xbox Exclusives Coming Back? Here's What Xbox CEO Asha Sharma Had To Say
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated that decisions regarding exclusive games will be carefully considered, taking a data-driven and strategic approach with long-term implications. While fans are calling for a return to exclusives, Microsoft has recently shifted towards multiplatform releases, with titles like Forza Horizon 5 reportedly earning significant revenue on PlayStation 5. Sharma also indicated potential changes to game windowing and the company's approach to AI.
Exorcist Hotline Leads 7 Announcements from Black Lantern Collective in the Inaugural Second Wind Games Showcase
Black Lantern Collective revealed seven horror game titles during their inaugural Second Wind Games Showcase. The announcements include the reveal of Exorcist Hotline, console releases for Berry Bury Berry, a June 2026 release for Don't Let It Starve, and new platform announcements for Horripilant. Demos are also available for Fright Train, with HR: Human Remains slated for Q3 2026.
Nintendo kept finished games in a "vault" while it waited for a "gap in the calendar" to release them, says former marketing lead
Former Nintendo marketing leads Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang confirmed that the company historically held back finished games to strategically release them later, contributing to the Nintendo Switch's long lifecycle. Yang noted that while she doesn't know current practices, Nintendo's approach may be changing due to development shifts.
Annapurna Interactive Confirms Support For The Switch 2 | Console Creatures
Annapurna Interactive has confirmed its commitment to supporting the Nintendo Switch 2, with several titles slated for release on the platform in 2026 and beyond. Games like Sayonara Wild Hearts and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes are already available, with Stray, to a T, Wanderstop, People of Note, and Mixtape also scheduled. The publisher highlighted features such as 4K visuals and improved frame rates for these upcoming releases.
'A scope document is not your plan:' Laying the groundwork for indie success
Blossom Arcade founder Sophie Smart advises indie developers to distinguish between a scope document and a concrete plan, emphasizing the need for milestones and goals. She recommends the Scrum framework for iterative development and open communication, while cautioning against the rigid Waterfall methodology which can lead to production bottlenecks.
"You need a crystal ball really to predict any of this stuff" - an indie game health check with Hotline Miami and Enter the Gungeon's Devolver Digital
Devolver Digital executives Bridie Roman and Robbie Pattison discuss the unpredictable nature of the indie game market, emphasizing the importance of sticking to a core philosophy rather than chasing trends. They acknowledge the challenges of discoverability and profitability but highlight the enduring appeal of unique, passion-driven projects. The conversation took place at the London Games Festival's New Game Plus event, where various indie developers gathered.
'IP That Will Captivate the World': A New Juggernaut Has Just Entered Japanese Game Publishing
Toei, a major Japanese entertainment company known for anime like Dragon Ball and One Piece, has launched a new video game publishing arm called Toei Games. Initially focusing on PC releases via Steam, the company plans to expand to consoles and aims to create entirely new intellectual properties rather than relying on existing ones. Toei Games will collaborate with both Japanese and global developers to establish itself as a new pillar of the company's entertainment business.
Microsoft cuts Game Pass pricing and removes Call of Duty as day-one launch title in response to "a lot of feedback"
Microsoft is reducing the monthly price of its Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions in response to player feedback about cost. Additionally, new Call of Duty titles will now be added to the service approximately one year after their initial release, rather than on day one. These changes come as Microsoft's content and services revenue has seen a year-on-year decline.
Toei Company Establishes New Gaming Publishing Brand
Toei Company has launched a new gaming publishing brand called Toei Games, marking a new venture into the video game industry. The brand plans to release original titles, starting with PC via Steam, and later expanding to consoles like Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. The first game announcement is scheduled for April 24th and will feature entirely new intellectual property.
Toei Company launches publishing label Toei Games
Japanese entertainment company Toei Company has established Toei Games, an in-house publishing label focused on developing new intellectual property. The label will initially release titles on Steam for PC, with plans to expand to consoles like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox. Toei aims to make its games business a new pillar of growth, leveraging its expertise in video production to deliver unique entertainment experiences globally.
Toei Launches Toei Games Publishing Label Focused on Original IP
Toei Company has launched Toei Games, a new in-house publishing label focused on original intellectual property. The brand aims to establish games as a core business, with initial titles planned for PC via Steam in 2026, followed by expansions to PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Toei President Fumio Yoshimura highlighted the move as part of a strategy to expand global reach through interactive media.
XSOLLA PARTNERS WITH DE LA SALLE-COLLEGE OF SAINT BENILDE TO LAUNCH A GLOBAL PUBLISHING PLATFORM FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FILIPINO GAME DEVELOPERS
Xsolla has partnered with De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde to create a global publishing platform for Filipino game developers. This collaboration will provide students with direct access to Xsolla's publishing infrastructure, including a co-developed game launcher and distribution platform, along with technical training and analytics tools. The initiative aims to accelerate the momentum of the Philippines' growing game development ecosystem and connect student-created games to a worldwide audience.
SayGames Announces First Vietnam Partnership with Doors Studio to Launch “BagMaster Isekai”
Global mobile publisher SayGames and Vietnamese developer Doors Studio have announced a partnership to launch the midcore game BagMaster Isekai. This collaboration marks SayGames' first with a Vietnam-based studio and highlights the growing game development scene in the region. BagMaster Isekai, built around backpack and merge mechanics, is now available globally on iOS and Android.
Design lead on the first Elder Scrolls fondly recalls the days when Bethesda would finish a game, then the team would 'assemble boxes, inserts and use the heat gun' to get it shipped
Vijay Lakshman, lead designer of The Elder Scrolls Arena, fondly recalls the early days of Bethesda's development process, where the team handled all aspects of game creation, including assembling boxes for shipping. Despite initial fears of the company going out of business, the game became a cult hit, paving the way for the franchise's future success.
Northernlion and offbrand games to publish social deduction roguelike Demon Bluff
Offbrand games and streamer Northernlion are partnering to publish the social deduction roguelike Demon Bluff, set for release in 2026. Northernlion will directly fund development, provide feedback, and create marketing content. The game is currently in a Steam playtest and has garnered significant wishlists and player engagement.
Top Hat Studios Spring Showcase 2026 Set for April 21 With New Reveals and Demo Launches
Top Hat Studios announced its "Top Hat Studios Presents: Spring Showcase 2026" digital event for April 21. The presentation will feature new trailers, reveals, demo launches, and release date announcements for its publishing lineup, including unannounced projects and featured games like Motorslice, Well Dweller, and Becrowned.
