Publishing
Ongoing coverage on Publishing.
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American publishers are ruining the video games industry - Reader's Feature
A reader expresses concern that American publishers are ruining the video game industry, citing the closure of BioWare and EA's financial practices as evidence. The author contrasts this with the perceived stability of Japanese and European companies, while also noting the potential negative impact of AI on game development and artistry.
"What if Larian had shut down after Divine Divinity?": Star Trek Online exec scorns publishers who close teams like BioWare in favour of "AAA veteran" start-ups and AI "magic beans"
Star Trek Online executive producer Thomas Marrone criticizes the industry practice of shutting down established development teams in favor of new studios led by "AAA veterans" or relying on emerging technologies like AI. He argues this approach is irresponsible and self-sabotaging, highlighting that successful studios like Larian and Blizzard often achieve breakthroughs after multiple titles and years of team collaboration. Marrone suggests that publishers prioritizing short-term financial gains should exit game development entirely.
No publishers wanted Outlast because they'd 'rather invest $50,000 in 10 mobile games' so Red Barrels relied on public investment programs and their own savings instead
Developer Red Barrels faced significant challenges securing publishers for its debut horror title, Outlast, with many preferring to invest in mobile games. The studio, co-founded by Philippe Morin, ultimately relied on public funding from the Canada Media Fund and personal savings to develop and release the game, which went on to sell millions of copies and spawn successful sequels.
"They thought Callisto was a complete failure": Glen Schofield blames publishers Krafton for The Callisto Protocol's crash landing
Glen Schofield, co-creator of The Callisto Protocol, blames publisher Krafton for the game's troubled launch, stating they were forced to ship it on a shortened schedule. Schofield claims Krafton's decisions and the mandate for a cross-platform release contributed to the game's sub-par state and negative reception, though the author notes Schofield does not take personal responsibility.
"I was forced to ship the game" - Glen Schofield blames Krafton management for The Callisto Protocol's problems
Glen Schofield, co-creator of Dead Space, has blamed Krafton's Korean management for the development issues and perceived shortcomings of The Callisto Protocol. Schofield stated he was "forced to ship the game" due to Krafton rescinding promised additional development time during the Covid-19 pandemic, which he felt was a critical error impacting the game's quality and the health of his team at Striking Distance Studios.
Avalanche Studio Group to globally publish, market, and distribute titles from Supermassive Games
Nordisk Games has announced a publishing agreement where its subsidiary Avalanche Studios Group will globally publish, market, and distribute titles from Supermassive Games, starting with Directive 8020. Both studios will maintain creative independence while sharing operational support. This move aims to ensure sustainable long-term success by leveraging Avalanche's publishing strength and Supermassive's storytelling expertise.
Safe In Our World launches Four Billion Players campaign to make mental health support more accessible for gamers
The mental health charity Safe In Our World has launched the 'Four Billion Players' campaign, urging developers, publishers, and platforms to integrate mental health support directly into games. The initiative aims to make resources more accessible to the projected four billion gamers worldwide by 2029, with examples including splash screens, menu links, and in-game events.
Sega won't "entrust the creative aspect of games to AI," but is using tech to "improve efficiency" in other departments
Sega will not entrust the creative aspects of game development to AI, but is using the technology to improve efficiency in other departments like publishing and business idea generation. The company has established a Generative AI Committee and Task Force to develop in-house tools. Separately, the South Australian Film Corporation has doubled its Digital Games Fund to $1 million to support local game development across various stages.
Jobs roundup: October | Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott voted chair of UKIE
Several key appointments have been made across the UK games industry. Harvey Elliott, CEO of Playstack, has been voted chair of UKIE, succeeding Maria Sayans. Murray Pannell joins Steel City Interactive as head of publishing, while Dean Anderson leads MV&P's APAC partnerships. Catherine Bygrave is the new head of commercial at Code Wizards Group, and Michał Platkow-Gilewski has been promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red.
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.
"An Xbox that's only good for launching Steam is like subsidizing Valve's cash register": Ground-zero Xbox veteran says Microsoft needs to pick a lane before Project Helix hits a wall
Former Xbox veteran Jon Kimmich argues that Microsoft must choose between investing in the Xbox platform as a console-centric ecosystem or focusing solely on publishing games across multiple platforms. He criticizes the current 'play anywhere' strategy for diluting the Xbox brand and suggests that the upcoming Project Helix console needs a clear identity beyond simply launching PC games like Steam.
Subscriptions: The Gaming Industry Business Model of the Future
Subscription services like Microsoft's Game Pass have fundamentally changed the gaming industry by shifting the model from ownership to access. This provides players with greater affordability and choice, while also offering developers and publishers new avenues for reaching audiences and extending game lifecycles. However, increasing competition and subscription fatigue may force platforms to innovate further to retain users.
New publisher PUBLSH launches with Disco Elysium-inspired title Pera Coda
A new game publisher, PUBLSH, has launched with the goal of providing publisher-level leadership without excessive control. Co-founded by Ben Granados and Samuel Clarke, PUBLSH's first title is the episodic murder mystery Pera Coda, developed by Turkish studio Elyzio. The company plans to publish four to five games per year with development budgets under $20 million.
Gabe Newell made Steam after going "f*** these publishers" due to the broken relationship with Half-Life publisher Sierra, Counter-Strike co-creator says
According to Counter-Strike co-creator Minh Le, Gabe Newell's decision to create Steam stemmed from a deeply negative experience with Half-Life publisher Sierra. This dissatisfaction with traditional publishers led Valve to develop its own digital distribution platform, revolutionizing PC game sales.
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.
Xbox lay off 268 people as Activision take over Halo and Rare, while Obsidian become part of Bethesda, plus Forza and Fable studios merge
Xbox has announced further layoffs, cutting 268 jobs and restructuring several studios. Activision is taking over the Halo franchise, while Rare and World's Edge are folded under its umbrella. Obsidian Entertainment is now part of Bethesda, and Playground Games and Turn 10 Studios have merged. Ninja Theory is facing potential closure, and the future of Arkane Studios remains uncertain.
Xbox continues 'reset' with Halo Studios layoffs and Undead Labs divestment
Xbox has announced further layoffs, cutting 268 employees from various first-party studios including Halo Studios. This is part of a larger restructuring plan that has already seen divestments of studios like Undead Labs and Compulsion Games, and the proposed closure of Ninja Theory. Xbox is also consolidating internal studios and shifting development responsibilities, with Activision now set to develop the next Halo title.
Continuing Our Reset
Xbox is undergoing a significant restructuring, eliminating 268 roles across its first-party studios and management. The company is also reorganizing its studios, with Activision taking on new responsibilities and developing the next Halo title, while Bethesda will now oversee Obsidian. Several studios are being divested, though plans for Ninja Theory and Arkane are still being determined.
"There is no easy answer anymore, there's no kind of playbook" – Secret Mode is hedging its bets with two very different pillars
Independent UK publisher Secret Mode is experiencing significant growth by focusing on two distinct pillars: 'pure indie' titles and higher-budget games like Star Wars: Galactic Racer. The company, which recently separated from Sumo Digital and Tencent, is also exploring a 'caretaker development' model for existing titles and emphasizes the importance of discoverability in the current market.
Hideo Kojima doesn't know if Physint will be released on PS5, and he hasn't decided if it's going to use Sony's Decima game engine
Hideo Kojima has revealed that the platform release for his upcoming game Physint is undecided, with the decision resting with Xbox, who are now publishing the title after Sony's withdrawal. Kojima is also still experimenting with game engines for Physint, considering Xbox's technological support and the possibility of using Unreal Engine 5, despite previous use of Sony's Decima engine for Death Stranding.
