Game Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Game Publishing.
Latest coverage
Amazon is downscaling cloud video game service Luna
Amazon is significantly scaling back its cloud gaming service Luna, discontinuing individual game purchases and access to third-party stores like EA, GOG, and Ubisoft. Existing direct purchases will cease to function on June 10 without refunds. This strategic shift follows departures from Amazon Game Studios and a broader company focus on core strengths, including a re-launch of Luna and a partnership for the Tomb Raider franchise.
Capcom's Already the Year's Best PS5 Publisher, and It's Only April
Capcom has established itself as the year's top publisher on PlayStation 5, releasing three highly-rated titles by April. Resident Evil Requiem, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, and Pragmata have all received strong reviews, with two of them ranking in the top ten best-rated games of the year so far. The publisher also has anticipated releases like Monster Hunter Wilds and Onimusha: Way of the Sword planned for later in the year.
Microsoft is Having Discussions About Xbox Exclusives, Ecosystem and Publishing – Rumor
Microsoft executives are reportedly engaged in significant discussions regarding the future of Xbox, including its exclusivity strategy, ecosystem approach, and publishing model. These conversations are prompted by concerns over the rising cost of Game Pass and the desire to define Xbox's identity as either an ecosystem-first or publisher-first company. Internal memos suggest a need to re-evaluate Game Pass's value proposition for players and explore more flexible system designs.
Pete Hines admits he retired partly to avoid seeing Bethsoft ‘damaged and broken apart’
Pete Hines, former head of publishing at Bethesda Softworks, revealed in a recent interview that he retired partly due to concerns about the studio being "damaged and broken apart." He felt powerless to protect the company and its people, a stress exacerbated by Starfield's delays. Hines credits Todd Howard for helping him leave the company while retaining his sanity.
"I couldn't protect it" Pete Hines says he left Microsoft-owned Bethesda because he didn't want to watch it be "damaged and broken apart and frankly mistreated, abused"
Pete Hines, former head of publishing at Bethesda, has elaborated on his departure, stating he felt powerless to protect the company from being "damaged and broken apart" by its owners, implied to be Microsoft. He felt his mental health was suffering due to his inability to perform his job effectively and protect the team and the company's efficient operations.
Black Tabby Games slinks into game publishing with 1000xResist creator's next game
Black Tabby Games, known for Slay the Princess and Scarlet Hollow, has launched a new publishing label called Black Tabby Publishing. Its first project is Prove You're Human, developed by Sunset Visitor, the studio behind 1000xResist. Black Tabby Games will fully fund the game and provide publishing support, aiming to help other independent developers navigate the industry.
The devs behind Peak and Content Warning made a publisher to support their games and other indie developers: 'We…
Developer Landfall has launched a new publishing arm called Evil Landfall to support its own games and other indie developers. Initially established three years ago, Evil Landfall will offer project-based investments, money, and advice to indie studios, though it may also publish games in the future. This move follows a trend of successful indie studios creating their own publishing labels to navigate the current market.
Evil Landfall is the latest publishing label from an indie developer
Landfall has launched a new publishing label called Evil Landfall, headed by former head of publishing Kirsten-Lee Naidoo. This new entity will provide funding and publishing services for external indie developers, in addition to Landfall's own titles. Evil Landfall aims to support games with shorter development cycles and a focus on cooperative, physics-based gameplay, drawing inspiration from Landfall's successful titles like Peak and Content Warning.
Playruo raises €2.1 million to become the leading platform for testing and sharing video games via streaming
Playruo, a cloud gaming solution for video game studios and publishers, has secured €2.1 million in funding led by Kameha Ventures and Blast Club. This investment will accelerate the commercialization of its services, which include instant game playtests, QA, press previews, and playable demos accessible via streaming. The company also announced a strategic partnership with PulluP Entertainment to streamline testing phases for titles published by Focus Entertainment and Dotemu.
Sony is aggressively wiping out leech games to keep the PlayStation catalog tidy
Sony has begun aggressively removing low-quality "shovelware" titles from the PlayStation Store, including the entire catalogs of publishers like GoGame Console Publisher, VRCForge Studios, and Welding Byte. This initiative, part of a broader commitment to safer gaming with Xbox and Nintendo, aims to improve the storefront experience, though the problem of low-effort games reappearing under new names persists.
Nexon agrees to publish Overwatch in Korea
Nexon has agreed to publish Overwatch in Korea, taking over from Blizzard Entertainment. The article also discusses Sony's past strategies regarding remasters and remakes, questioning their current business decisions and leadership changes.
HYPER REAL Interview - Creativity, Risk, and Indie Games
Mariko Kushibiki of HYPER REAL discusses the company's mission to publish unique and experimental indie games that defy genre conventions, citing titles like Digital Exorcist and SAEKO: Giantess Dating Sim. She highlights the importance of empowering creators and fostering relationships within the indie development scene. Kushibiki also touches on upcoming releases for 2026, including a new project and the Nintendo Switch port of SAEKO: Giantess Dating Sim.
Lords of the Fallen 2 Release Date May Have Leaked via Developer Listing
A potential release date for Lords of the Fallen 2 on PC may have been revealed through a developer listing, indicating an Epic Games Store exclusivity. The article criticizes this decision, suggesting it will negatively impact sales and the developer's financial success due to the platform's perceived lack of marketing.
Build a Rocket Boy CEO responds to end of publishing agreement with IOI Partners
Build a Rocket Boy CEO Mark Gerhard has addressed the end of the developer's publishing agreement with IOI Partners, stating the company now controls its own destiny as an independent studio. Gerhard also discussed allegations of corporate sabotage surrounding the launch of their game MindsEye, claiming they have evidence being investigated by UK and US authorities. The company also confirmed ongoing layoffs.
A REVOLUTIONARY MODEL IN THE GAMING WORLD, JOYGAME SELECT STEAM PUBLISHING OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED
Joygame and Gaming in Türkiye have launched Joygame Select, a new co-publishing initiative focused on Steam. This model prioritizes developers by giving them the first $50,000 in gross revenue. Backed by Netmarble Korea, Joygame Select offers publishing, marketing, and growth support for independent studios and PC game developers across various global regions.
Unity looking to sell internal publishing label Supersonic
The article discusses the financial motivations behind game companies prioritizing live service games and remakes, despite player complaints. It highlights that these business models often prove more profitable than original IPs or single-player experiences, drawing parallels to the film industry's reliance on sequels and adaptations.
2023 PS5 Adventure Game Delisted From PS Store Without Notice
The narrative adventure game Gylt, originally released for Google Stadia and later on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, has been delisted from the PlayStation Store. Developer Tequila Works shut down over a year ago, and while Gylt remains available on other platforms, its removal from the PS Store may be temporary due to a potential change in ownership.
Unity sees growth in engine revenue, shuts down IronSource ad network in favour of Vector AI user-acquisition platform
Unity is shutting down its IronSource ad network and plans to divest its publishing arm to focus on its AI-powered Vector platform. This strategic shift aims to simplify the business and capitalize on growth in AI-driven user acquisition. The company also reported growth in its engine revenue despite increased competition from Unreal Engine and Godot.
Square Enix bäst på Metacritic under 2025
Square Enix has been named the top game publisher by Metacritic for 2025, marking the first time the company has achieved this ranking. The analysis considers average game scores, the proportion of critically acclaimed titles, and the number of games receiving scores of 90 or higher. Several Swedish publishers, including Thunderful and Raw Fury, also placed in the top 10.
Metacritic's 2026 Game Publisher Rankings
Metacritic has released its 16th annual Game Publisher Rankings, evaluating the best and worst publishers based on their 2025 game releases. The rankings are compiled by Jason Dietz.