Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Publishing.
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Amazon will cease publishing Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty, sending them back to Smilegate and NCsoft
Amazon Game Studios will cease publishing the MMORPGs Lost Ark and Throne & Liberty in the West. Operations for Lost Ark will transition back to Smilegate in early 2027, while Throne & Liberty will move to FirstSpark Games / NCsoft in Q4 2026. This change follows Amazon's earlier layoffs and scaling back of its community teams.
Max Payne 1 and 2 remake is still happening, but publisher Rockstar won't let Remedy say any more
Remedy Entertainment confirmed that the remake of Max Payne 1 and 2 is still in full production, but Rockstar Games, as the publisher, is controlling all communication regarding the project. Remedy's CEO stated they cannot comment on the remake until Rockstar does, despite multiple investor questions. The developer has released other titles like Alan Wake 2 and Control since the Max Payne remake was initially announced.
Saber Interactive’s New Taxi Game Is Beefing With Randy Pitchford
Saber Interactive's upcoming taxi simulation game, Ride Stimulator, features subtle digs at Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford, referencing his past controversies like the USB drive incident and his interest in magic. Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch confirmed these jabs are a response to perceived criticisms from Gearbox towards their former owner, Embracer Group, in Borderlands 4.
HandyGames rebrands as THQ Nordic Mobile
HandyGames has rebranded as THQ Nordic Mobile, shifting its focus to bringing premium PC and console titles to mobile platforms, while its development studio continues as HandyGames. Separately, leaked emails reveal Blizzard Entertainment was Xbox's top-performing studio for FY26, driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch, marking its third highest fiscal year for revenue.
Indie game publisher Devolver Digital wants to go private
Indie game publisher Devolver Digital is seeking to return to private ownership, citing that its current share price does not reflect its true market value. The company plans to hold a shareholder vote on September 8th, with a potential delisting on September 16th. Devolver Digital believes becoming a private company will allow for a singular focus on long-term health rather than public market requirements.
Indie publisher Devolver Digital plans to go private
Indie publisher Devolver Digital has announced plans to return to being a privately operated company by delisting from the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. This move comes after a significant drop in share price since going public in November 2021. The company cites industry volatility and the challenges of meeting market expectations as reasons for the decision, aiming to save costs and reinvest in future growth.
EA taken private by Saudi Arabia, GTA marketing jumps the shark, and Devolver's huge mistake - Patch Notes #64
Electronic Arts has been taken private by an investor consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for $55 billion. Devolver Digital is seeking to delist from the London Stock Exchange due to the incompatibility of short-term investor demands with the volatile video game industry. Additionally, the next trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI will premiere exclusively on Netflix before a wider release.
Unity sells Supersonic publishing business to Tripledot for $40M
Tripledot Studios has acquired Unity's Supersonic publishing business for $40 million in cash. This acquisition aims to expand Tripledot's reach in hybrid-casual gaming, integrate experienced teams and technology, and strengthen its position in the AI-driven gaming landscape. The deal also provides Tripledot with a presence in Israel's mobile games industry.
Publisher Secret Mode opens development studio to support internal projects
Publisher Secret Mode has opened a new development studio in Sheffield to support its existing game portfolio with updates and DLC, manage platform ports, and assist external developers. The studio will be led by VP of technology and operations Dan Secker and technical development director Jacob Habgood. This move aims to keep Secret Mode's games thriving and players engaged post-launch.
Silver Lining Interactive launches first title from its development label Silver Bullet
Silver Lining Interactive has launched its first game, Mr Trippy, from its internal IP development label, Silver Bullet. Mr Trippy is described as a darkly comedic management simulator. Silver Bullet, initially an indie incubator, has evolved into a full-fledged IP development label dedicated to creating original and unconventional gaming experiences.
Jobs roundup: August 2026 | Three new hires at Yogscast Games
Yogscast Games has hired Charlotte Willis, Robin Mawhinney, and Charlotte Pang for PR, production, and publishing roles. Meanwhile, Jars AI co-founders Steffen Holm and Chris Kruger have joined Roblox to support its AI tool launch in New Zealand. Sathvik Sudireddy is the new marketing manager for live services at Rockstar Games, and Joe Chard is the lead product manager at Netflix Games.
Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin has updated his blog for the first time in almost 6 months, but there's still no Winds of Winter news
George R.R. Martin, author of the Game of Thrones series, has updated his blog for the first time in nearly six months. However, the update provided no new information regarding the highly anticipated release of his novel, The Winds of Winter.
Rokky teams up with Revolution Software to bring Broken Sword franchise to China
Game distributor Rokky has partnered with Revolution Software to co-publish the Broken Sword franchise in China, including remastered versions of Shadow of the Templars and The Smoking Mirror. Rokky will handle marketing, translation, and localization for the Chinese market, marking their first venture into game publishing after years of distribution. Both companies expressed excitement about bringing the beloved series to a new audience.
Pathfinder and Warhammer 40K RPG developer Owlcat Games on "speedrunning" its first 10 years and what comes next: "We won't be quitting the CRPG genre"
Owlcat Games, known for its Pathfinder and Warhammer 40K CRPGs, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Head of publishing Andrey Tsvetkov reflects on the studio's rapid growth, its commitment to the CRPG genre, and future projects including a third-person RPG and potential new IPs. The studio emphasizes its close relationship with fans and passion for its chosen universes as key to its success and rapid development cycle.
Perfect Ten: MMORPGs whose fans I feel sorry for
This opinion piece discusses ten MMORPGs whose fans are felt to be underserved or unfairly treated due to various issues like poor publishing deals, legal troubles, corporate decisions, or a perceived lack of developer care. Games like Fractured Online, Ashes of Creation, The Elder Scrolls Online, and New World are highlighted for their fanbases facing significant challenges.
Kinetic Games first ever publishing showcase announced for August 12th
Kinetic Games, the developer behind Phasmophobia, has announced its new publishing label, Kinetic Publishing, will host its debut showcase on August 12th, 2026. The event will reveal the first wave of indie games the label will publish in 2027 and 2028. The showcase will stream live on Twitch and aims to provide better support to unique and creative indie teams.
Cyan releases teaser for the first new Myst game in 20 years, then breaks the news that it's not actually being…
Cyan Worlds has released a teaser for a potential new Myst game, codenamed Project Anglerfish, developed as a prototype in 2025. Despite positive reception to the teaser, Cyan stated the game is not in active development due to a lack of publisher interest. The studio, which previously struggled and laid off staff, has a history of successful crowdfunding campaigns for its Myst-like titles.
Capcom wants to release a Resident Evil every year and sees remakes as the way to make it happen
Capcom producer Masachika Kawata stated the company aims to release a Resident Evil title annually, utilizing remakes to fund new projects and maintain a consistent release schedule. While a full annual release of new mainline entries is challenging, remakes are considered as important as new titles and help provide financial resources for both the Resident Evil series and new intellectual properties like Pragmata.
How Jackbox Games navigated the post-pandemic sales slump
Jackbox Games CEO Mike Bilder discusses how the company navigated the post-pandemic sales slump by moderating headcount and sticking to its strengths, unlike other companies that experienced mass layoffs. Despite a decline in sales following a 2020 boom, Jackbox Games has maintained a solid position and is launching a new publishing division.
Ex-PlayStation Boss Calls For A Return To The Good Old Days Of AA Gaming
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes the current game development model is unsustainable due to ballooning budgets and a lack of diverse titles. He advocates for a return to the 'AA' gaming era of the PlayStation 1 and 2, aiming to create a publishing concern that supports smaller studios and offers more varied experiences for players.