Licensing
Ongoing coverage on Licensing.
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After Space Marine 2 'literally changed everything', Saber Interactive has been inundated with offers from major licenses: 'We are in a very fortunate position to turn down more than we can accept'
Saber Interactive's Chief Creative Officer Tim Willits stated that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2's success has significantly boosted the studio's reputation and led to numerous offers from major license holders. The company is now in a strong position to selectively choose future projects, aiming to leverage existing fanbases for safer bets like Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival.
Jobs roundup: July 2026 | Robert Henrysson steps down as Supermassive Games CEO
Several key personnel changes have occurred in the gaming industry. Robert Henrysson has stepped down as CEO of Supermassive Games and partner at Nordisk Games. Christopher Serra joins Paramount Games as VP of business development and licensing, while Alexis Bonte departs as CEO of Stillfront. Nicholas Penwarden also leaves Epic Games after 15 years.
Slitherine acquires Warhammer Blood Bowl licence from troubled French publisher Nacon
Slitherine Software has acquired the publishing rights and back catalogue for the Blood Bowl franchise from Nacon, which recently filed for insolvency. The game will continue to be developed by Cyanide Studio under a long-term development deal with Slitherine. This acquisition is part of Slitherine's wider expansion into strategy and tactics games.
ESA VP calls Minecraft Community Servers “illegal,” which is an impressively stupid thing to say in an industry full of impressively stupid things already
An Entertainment Software Association VP called Minecraft community servers "illegal," a statement widely criticized as inaccurate and damaging. While individual servers can violate EULAs, the concept of community servers is officially supported by Mojang and Microsoft. This statement occurred during a California Senate committee hearing opposing the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to ensure players retain access to games after services shut down.
Valve just killed the Steam Machine Companion Cube
Valve has halted production of Dbrand's "Companion Cube" case for the Steam Machine, which was designed to make the console resemble the Weighted Companion Cube from the Portal games. Dbrand was denied a retroactive license by Valve, forcing them to refund thousands of orders and cease development. The company acknowledged fault for proceeding without initial licensing approval.
Company that made a Steam Machine wrap based on Valve intellectual property without asking forced to take it down
Dbrand has been forced to cancel its 'Companion Cube' wrap for the Steam Machine after failing to obtain a license from Valve. The company admitted to building the product without permission and will issue full refunds to pre-order customers. This incident follows a similar controversy in 2021 where Dbrand was compelled to remove custom PlayStation 5 faceplates due to intellectual property concerns with Sony.
Is 2K Developing a FIFA Game? - Latest Report on Partnership Failure
Reports indicate that negotiations between FIFA and 2K for a new football simulation game have failed, with FIFA reportedly walking away to pursue quicker monetization opportunities like the FIFA World Cup – Launch Edition on Netflix. While both parties were advanced in discussions, FIFA ultimately decided against the partnership, possibly to capitalize on World Cup hype. Despite interest from 2K and comments from Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick, no official FIFA title is currently rumored to be in development at 2K.
Tupac Shakur, who has been dead since 1996, will appear in the next Yakuza game
Sega has announced that the likeness of the late rapper Tupac Shakur will appear in the upcoming Yakuza prequel, Stranger Than Heaven, set to release on January 15, 2027. The character, named Amaru, is being developed with permission from and in close collaboration with Tupac's estate, Amaru Entertainment, and RGG Studio, without the use of AI. Rapper Snoop Dogg, who also appears in the game, discussed the creative decision, stating it felt connected to the game's themes.
Sony’s PS5 Follow-Up to Beloved PS2 Game Suddenly Delisted
Fantavision 202X, the PlayStation 5 and PC follow-up to the PlayStation 2 puzzle game Fantavision, has been delisted from digital storefronts. Developer Cosmo Machia cited the end of a licensing agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment as the reason for the removal. Players who already own the game will retain access.
Amazon will publish whatever 007 First Light sequels there may be, as it muscles in on IO Interactive's operation as new owner of James Bond
Amazon has become the new owner of the James Bond license and will publish any future sequels to the game 007 First Light, developed by IO Interactive. Despite the early success and sales of 1.5 million copies in 24 hours, Amazon wants more involvement in future titles, which would theoretically be overseen by MGM and Amazon Game Studios.
College Football 27 may finally be coming to PC for the first time
EA Sports College Football 27 is reportedly coming to PC for the first time this summer, ending a 12-year absence for the series on the platform. While initially released only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, EA Play Pro's PC exclusivity for early access suggests a PC version is imminent. Development for the PC version was delayed due to concerns over licensing agreements with the Collegiate Licensing Company.
One of horror's most iconic characters is finally coming to Dead by Daylight just in time for its tenth anniversary
Jason Voorhees from the Friday the 13th franchise is officially joining the asymmetrical survival horror game Dead by Daylight. This marks the first appearance of the iconic killer in the game, which celebrates its tenth anniversary. The article also touches on the history of Illfonic's Friday the 13th: The Game and its premature shutdown due to licensing issues.
Embracer Group Will “Actively” Explore External Partnerships for Deus Ex, Legacy of Kain, Thief and More
Embracer Group is exploring external partnerships and licensing opportunities for its older intellectual properties, including Deus Ex, Legacy of Kain, and Thief. This move is part of a larger strategy involving the spin-off of its development arm into Fellowship Entertainment. The company aims to leverage these IPs through collaborations with game developers, as well as TV and movie producers.
Is the World Cup Coming to FC 26? - Licensing & Leaks Explained
Despite the split with FIFA, FC 26 is rumored to receive a dedicated summer content update called "The World's Game" to celebrate the upcoming World Cup. This update is expected to include licensed national teams like Brazil, Canada, and Uruguay, with Neymar confirmed to return. While the official FIFA branding will be absent, EA Sports is still planning to incorporate the tournament's spirit into the game.
LEGO 2K Drive Is Being Delisted From Digital Storefronts Next Week
LEGO 2K Drive will be delisted from digital storefronts, including Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Network, and Xbox, on May 19, 2026. Online servers will remain active until May 31, 2027. The reason for the delisting is not officially confirmed, but it is suspected to be due to expiring licenses for in-game content.
Devsisters to Debut Breakout Global IP CookieRun at Licensing Expo with Standalone Booth
Devsisters is debuting its global IP CookieRun at the Licensing Expo in Las Vegas to secure partnerships in lifestyle categories such as toys, fashion, and food. The franchise has surpassed 300 million players and $1 billion in revenue, with the U.S. as its largest market. CookieRun: Kingdom was a trending topic on YouTube in 2025, and the brand is expanding with a trading card game and an upcoming open-world title, CookieRun: NewWorld, for PC and console.
EA SPORTS FC Locks In Major Brazil Deal As Seleção Returns
Electronic Arts has announced a new multi-year partnership with the Brazilian Football Confederation, bringing the national team, Seleção, back into EA SPORTS FC 26 and EA SPORTS FC Mobile. This deal aims to enhance authenticity and deepen the connection with Brazilian football fans through joint marketing and collaborative content creation.
Bunch of PS5, PS4 Games Delisted From PS Store Without Notice
Several PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games, including EA Sports College Football 25 and Cars 3: Driven to Win, have been delisted from the PlayStation Store without prior notice. The reasons for these removals are speculated to be expiring licenses or other platform-specific issues, impacting games from major publishers like Electronic Arts and indie titles alike.
Despite live-action Bond's reported toils, 007: First Light dev says working with Amazon MGM has actually been "surprisingly straightforward"
Rasmus Poulsen, art director at IO Interactive, stated that working with Amazon MGM on the upcoming James Bond game, 007: First Light, has been surprisingly straightforward. Despite reported difficulties with the live-action Bond license, Poulsen highlighted that clear intentions and thorough research made discussions with partners easy. The studio is focused on delivering a fresh take on the character for gamers, with the game set to feature a younger, rookie Bond.
Sony clarifies the controversial new DRM for PlayStation games
Sony Interactive Entertainment has clarified the controversial new Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for PlayStation games. A spokesperson stated that a one-time check is required to confirm the license for games on the PlayStation 5.