Investment
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Nvidia and AMD invest billions into Meta as companies egg each other on to bet even more on AI
Nvidia and AMD are investing billions into Meta, with Nvidia committing $3 billion and AMD $1 billion, to bolster Meta's AI infrastructure. These partnerships involve collaborations on AI models, hardware deployment, and networking solutions. The article also touches on the broader economic impact of AI investment, including potential negative effects on gamers due to increased demand for hardware like memory.
UKIE calls on government to modernise Video Games Expenditure Credit ahead of Autumn Budget
UKIE is urging the UK government to modernize the Video Games Expenditure Credit (VGEC) and establish a new fund to address the growth capital gap for domestic studios. The trade body argues that these reforms are crucial for the UK to remain competitive in attracting investment and talent against countries with more favorable tax incentives.
Games industry investors are "sitting on the sidelines waiting for obvious slam dunks", says Undead Labs boss, with labour costs a key worry
Undead Labs studio boss Philip Holt believes investors are hesitant to fund game development projects unless they are 'obvious slam dunks,' citing high labor costs, particularly in expensive regions like Seattle, as a major concern. He also discussed the studio's successful management buyout from Microsoft and its implications for the future of State of Decay 3.
Housemarque and Bithell Games join Game Republic New Horizons speaker lineup, Nintendo to host open session for developers and publishers
Game Republic New Horizons has announced additional speakers for its upcoming event, including Housemarque VFX lead Robbert Groenendijk and Bithell Games director Mike Bithell. Nintendo will also host an open session for developers and publishers to discuss working with the company. The event will feature keynotes and panels on various aspects of game development, investment, and industry trends.
Stellar Blade devs only had enough money to survive "for about 3 months" at one point, CEO says several major publishers rejected them before Sony
Shift Up, the developer of Stellar Blade, faced significant financial difficulties during development, with CEO Hyung-Tae Kim stating they only had enough funds to survive for about three months at one point. Several major publishers rejected the project, deeming it too risky, before Sony Interactive Entertainment eventually offered a publishing deal after seeing a playable build. The success of their other game, Goddess of Victory: Nikke, also provided crucial financial support.
Bohemia Interactive takes minority stake in Everwind developer Enjoy Studio
Bohemia Interactive has acquired an undisclosed minority stake in Enjoy Studio, the developer behind the co-op FPS survival RPG Everwind. This marks Bohemia Interactive's first investment in a Polish developer, with Enjoy Studio maintaining its creative independence. The partnership aims to foster a closer, long-term collaboration between the two studios.
Investor Accidentally Pitches Kickass Pokemon Apocalypse Movie
Peter Levin, co-founder of Griffin Gaming Partners, humorously suggested that Pokemon cards could become the global currency in a post-apocalyptic world, citing their significant investment returns. While acknowledging the entertainment value of such a concept, the article notes that the cards' value is dependent on a network of buyers.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak to discuss development of 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak will discuss the development of the James Bond title 007 First Light at Game Republic New Horizons 2026. The game has been IO Interactive's fastest-selling release, with over four million copies sold. Abrak expressed excitement about sharing insights into the creation of the game, which is slated for a late 2026 launch on Nintendo Switch 2.
GTA 6 will have a halo effect for the entire industry | Opinion
The upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to have a significant positive 'halo effect' on the entire video game industry, potentially driving new investment and reaffirming games' cultural parity with other media. The game's massive hype, exemplified by its premiere on Netflix, suggests it will be a major cultural event. While its success could overshadow other releases, its overall impact is anticipated to boost the broader market and development funding.
Makers Fund expands game industry footprint through $250 million investment round
Venture capital firm Makers Fund has successfully closed its fourth investment round, raising $250 million to bring its total assets under management to $1.5 billion. The fund, which focuses on interactive entertainment businesses, plans to use this capital to further expand its investments in the video game and broader interactive entertainment industry, backing companies navigating new user behaviors and distribution models.
Human: Fall Flat veterans launch new UK studio Pretty Cool Games with funding from Arknights developer Hypergraph
Human: Fall Flat veterans Sitara Shefta and Will Dudley have launched a new UK-based studio, Pretty Cool Games, with undisclosed funding from Arknights developer Hypergryph. The studio aims to build a sustainable and fair environment for employees, drawing inspiration from Nintendo, Hazelight, Disney theme parks, and The Pink Panther for its debut title. Pretty Cool Games is currently a team of four and plans to expand, with a focus on rewarding employees through share schemes.
Nvidia reckons new $500 billion investment should allay fears AI companies are just funded by the same pot of cash moving around in one big circle. Reassured yet?
Nvidia announced a significant influx of over $500 billion in third-party capital for AI infrastructure, aiming to counter concerns about circular financing within the industry. The company asserts that this initiative will establish an open capital market for AI, with independent investors underwriting projects. However, the article questions the true independence of these investments, given the interconnectedness of major players like BlackRock and Microsoft in the AI market, and suggests this could be a temporary measure before a potential market correction.
Business and Finance
An analyst suggests that mergers and acquisitions focused on artificial intelligence are negatively impacting investment opportunities within the games industry. This trend is reportedly weakening the overall investment landscape for game companies.
Analyst: AI-focused M&A deals are "weakening" the games investment landscape
An S&P Global Market Intelligence report indicates a weakening investment landscape for the games industry, with capital increasingly directed towards AI-focused deals. Analysts note that investors recognize low revenue growth and compressed margins in gaming, leading them to keep funds on the sidelines. This shift, coupled with a focus on live services and play-to-earn models, could make it difficult for traditional PC and console development teams to secure financing.
EA has officially been sold to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund
Electronic Arts (EA) has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) in a leveraged buyout valued at approximately $55 billion. The deal, which also includes investment firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, marks EA's return to private ownership after 36 years. CEO Andrew Wilson addressed staff, emphasizing continued innovation and the importance of interactive entertainment, while concerns remain about potential layoffs and the use of AI.
EA is now owned by Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump's son-in-law
Electronic Arts (EA) has been taken private in a $55 billion transaction led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Other investors include Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, founded by Jared Kushner. The deal, which faced some scrutiny over geopolitical and employment concerns, was finalized on August 4, 2026, with EA asserting it will retain creative control and avoid immediate layoffs.
SpaceX (SPCX) & Anthropic investments added $98 billion to Google (GOOGL) Q2 2026 income
Google reported a significant increase in its Q2 2026 income, with "other income" reflecting a net gain of $98 billion. This substantial figure is primarily attributed to unrealized gains from major investments in SpaceX and Anthropic, the creator of the AI model Claude. This marks a dramatic increase from the previous year's "other investments" figure.
AMD pours up to $5B into Anthropic — but the payoff waits until 2027
AMD is investing up to $5 billion in AI company Anthropic, with a significant portion of this funding being used by Anthropic to purchase AMD's Instinct MI450 GPUs and Helios rack-scale systems. This strategic partnership also includes a multi-year engineering collaboration where AMD will utilize Anthropic's Claude AI model. The initial deployment of hardware is expected in the first half of 2027.
AI Yi-Yi!
AMD will supply Anthropic with 2 gigawatts of Instinct MI450 GPUs and invest up to $5 billion in the AI developer. The article also notes that AI tech companies have accumulated significant 'hidden debt'.
Report suggests the US gov may have 'urged' Apple into Intel chipmaking deal to avoid tariffs, at almost the same time it took a $9 billion stake in blue team stock
A report suggests the US government, under Donald Trump, urged Apple to use Intel's manufacturing plants for its chips to avoid tariffs. This occurred around the same time the government took a significant stake in Intel. Apple reportedly committed to investing $100 billion in US manufacturing and secured an exemption from semiconductor tariffs.
