Video Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Video Game Industry.
Latest coverage
Saudi Arabia now owns just over 10% of Capcom, national investment company scoops up more shares
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has increased its stake in Capcom, now owning just over 10% of the Japanese game developer. This move signifies significant foreign investment in the video game industry.
Hasbro CEO thinks the video game industry needs to "think about things differently"
Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks believes the video game industry needs to adopt new strategies due to rising development costs and slower market growth. He suggests exploring global talent pools, leveraging AI to enhance games, and rethinking business models beyond traditional AAA releases. Cocks also hinted at upcoming high-quality video game releases from Hasbro.
Saudi Arabia now owns just over 10% of Capcom, as another national investment company scoops up more shares in the Resident Evil and Street Fighter publisher
An investment fund connected to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, the Electronic Gaming Development Company, has acquired approximately 5.03% of Capcom's shares. This brings Saudi Arabia's total ownership in the Resident Evil publisher to just over 10%, with the fund also holding full ownership of SNK. The EGDC stated the purchase is purely for investment purposes, aiming to profit from stock valuation increases.
Another Saudi Firm Has Acquired Stake in Capcom
Saudi investment firm EGDC has acquired a 5.03% stake in Capcom, marking the second Saudi entity to invest in the company. Capcom also announced plans to reveal more games before the end of fiscal year 2027, focusing on both new and established series.
Nintendo Wii Turns 20: The Console That Proved Hardcore Gamers Wrong
The Nintendo Wii, celebrating its 20th anniversary, is recognized for its revolutionary approach to gaming with motion controls, which proved highly accessible and broadened the market. Despite graphical limitations compared to its contemporaries, the Wii's innovative design and focus on intuitive gameplay, exemplified by titles like Wii Sports, significantly impacted the industry, influencing subsequent consoles like the Nintendo Switch and even VR technology.
Nintendo Switch Part Deux – The TouchArcade Show #611 – TouchArcade
Nintendo has officially unveiled the hardware for its successor to the Nintendo Switch, tentatively referred to as the Switch 2. The announcement was made via a new video, and while many details remain unknown, the article speculates on what players can expect when it launches this year.
Mailbox: Senran Kagura Mysteries, First-Party Indies, Miyamoto Tragedies - Nintendo Life Letters
This Nintendo Life Mailbox feature discusses Shigeru Miyamoto's shift towards non-gaming projects like movies and theme parks, with one reader lamenting it as a potential tragedy for interactive masterpieces. The article also touches on the perceived decline in first-party published indie titles on the Nintendo Switch and the surprising popularity of Senran Kagura Burst on the site.
Tetsuya Nomura keeps being requested to “design a character like Sephiroth”
Tetsuya Nomura revealed in a recent interview that he is still frequently asked by developers to design characters similar to Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, a character he created approximately 30 years ago. Nomura expressed his appreciation for Sephiroth's enduring popularity and approachability for both long-time and new fans, attributing this to the ongoing Final Fantasy VII Remake project and the character's iconic status.
Persona Meets Mario: What Today's Gaming Mashups Teach ... | TAG
Developers of Donkey Kong Bananza admit the game's 'Elephant Bananza' transformation feature may have gone too far, while Nintendo clarifies the elephant mechanics in Super Mario Bros. Wonder were coincidental. Separately, X-Men '97 season 2 hints at its release date through a new comic series, and Ghost of Yotei's free online mode 'Legends' is praised for its quality. The article also touches on Starfield's composer, Pokémon TCG's new set, and rising V-Bucks prices.
Direct-join union UVW-CWA now has 550 members
The United Videogame Workers-CWA, a direct-join union for video game workers in the US and Canada, has reached approximately 550 members. Established in March of last year, the union aims to build worker power across the industry and is currently developing a 'Videogame Worker Bill of Rights'.
WWE 2K26 Review – Gamerhub UK
This review criticizes WWE 2K26 for its "offscription" model, where yearly releases are seen as recompiled versions of old code with minimal updates. The author suggests that 2K should focus on creating a single product per console generation rather than charging annually.
Palworld publishing lead is "more determined than ever" to make things "a little less sh*t" for cool devs struggling to find funding: "The West continues to stumble"
John Buckley, publishing lead for Palworld developer Pocketpair, expressed a strong commitment to supporting indie developers struggling to secure funding. He highlighted the challenges faced by smaller studios in the Western market, noting that many promising games may never be released due to a lack of financial backing.
AI Yi-Yi!
Artificial intelligence is significantly impacting Saudi Arabia's burgeoning video games industry. The integration of AI technologies is poised to drive innovation and growth within the sector.
"This is personal for me" - creators of game about suing murderous billionaires cancel Microsoft deal and join No Games For Genocide boycott
Game developers Speculative Agency, creators of the anti-capitalist deckbuilder All Will Rise, have joined the No Games For Genocide boycott against Microsoft's business ties with the Israeli military. They are returning Microsoft funding and will not release their game on Microsoft platforms. Narrative director Meghna Jayanth cited personal reasons and the broader complicity of the games industry in military and imperial actions.
Mass Effect Actor Questions Whether "Culture" And "Ethos" That Made Original Games Is Still There
Jennifer Hale, the voice of Commander Shepard in the Mass Effect franchise, expressed both excitement and concern for the future of the series. She questions whether the original creative culture and ethos that defined the early games remain intact at BioWare, especially given recent company changes. Hale hopes for the return of Commander Shepard and believes the Mass Effect universe has significant untapped potential for new stories.
Video game PEGI age-ratings are changing in Europe and it's probably not good news for EA Sports FC
PEGI, the Pan-European Game Information body responsible for age-ratings across Europe (excluding Germany), is implementing its most significant update to its rating system. This change is expected to have a notable impact on games, including EA Sports FC.
PC games revenue will outgrow consoles by 2028, analyst predicts
Market research firm Newzoo predicts that PC games revenue will surpass console software sales by 2028. The firm forecasts a 6.6% annual growth rate for PC revenue from 2025 to 2028, compared to 4.4% for consoles, driven partly by a growing player base in China. This trend is expected to reshape the gaming industry landscape.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated - IGN
Phil Spencer is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft, concluding a 12-year tenure as Head of Xbox. His legacy is viewed as complicated, with shareholders seeing massive stock growth while some hardcore gamers point to increased subscription prices, fewer exclusives, and studio closures. Despite these criticisms, the article argues Spencer was a net positive, crediting him with saving Xbox during the Xbox One era, championing features like backwards compatibility and cross-play, and building a strong portfolio of studios and games.
Video Games With Loot Boxes Will Now Have a 16 Age Rating Across Europe as Part of Huge PEGI Shakeup - IGN
The Pan-European Game Information (PEGI) age-rating body is introducing new categories starting July 2026 to classify games with in-app purchases, paid random items (loot boxes), and other interactive features. Games containing paid random items will default to a PEGI 16 rating, impacting titles like EA's FC series. These changes aim to provide clearer warnings to parents about potential risks within games.
Morning Gatherings and Events
Newsweek reports on concerns about the sustainability of the US video game industry, particularly in the context of the Game Developers Conference. The article suggests that current industry practices may be unsustainable in the long term.