Video Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Video Game Industry.
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Grand Theft Auto 5 averages more copies sold per year than most megahits manage in their entire lifetime, with a total…
Grand Theft Auto 5 has surpassed 230 million copies sold worldwide, according to Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick. The game continues to sell an average of 17.7 million copies per year, significantly outperforming most other major titles. This success sets high expectations for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, which has seen strong pre-order numbers following its recent reveal.
Fire Emblem Pure Nintendo Podcast E174
The Pure Nintendo Podcast episode E174 discusses the latest Nintendo Direct focused on Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, highlighting favorite characters and classes. The hosts also touch on casting news for The Legend of Zelda movie, preview a Fire Emblem-like game, revisit Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and discuss Devil May Cry 5 on the Nintendo Switch 2.
Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and Overwatch's resurgence reportedly drove Blizzard to its "first back-to-back years…
Blizzard Entertainment is reportedly Xbox's top-performing studio, experiencing its first back-to-back years of growth in nearly a decade, largely driven by Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred and a resurgence in Overwatch. Blizzard President Johanna Faries indicated that the company achieved its third-highest revenue in history, with Overwatch having its strongest quarter since 2022.
Blizzard is now reportedly Microsoft's top studio, according to leaked email
A leaked email reveals that Blizzard Entertainment was Microsoft's top-performing studio within the Xbox division for fiscal year 2026, driven by strong revenue from Diablo 4 and Overwatch. Despite industry-wide layoffs and ongoing protests, Blizzard achieved significant growth, with Overwatch experiencing its best quarter since 2022. The company is reportedly preparing for Blizzcon 2026 with potential new game announcements.
The Sunday Papers
This article discusses various gaming-related topics, including a new Fire Emblem character, the success of Baldur's Gate 3 modding, and the rising cost of chocolate bars like Freddos in relation to graphics card prices. It also touches on baseball history and a streaker incident.
Business and Finance
Rockstar Games and Netflix have partnered for the reveal of Grand Theft Auto 6, a move that signals Hollywood's increasing integration with the gaming industry. Take-Two Interactive's CEO expressed no concern regarding past negative press surrounding Rockstar's development practices.
Even with an $80 price tag, 'Grand Theft Auto 6 will be an incredible bargain,' Take-Two boss says
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick defended the $80 price tag for Grand Theft Auto 6, stating that the real cost of AAA games has decreased over time and that the title will offer exceptional value. He indicated that while not all Take-Two games will adopt this higher price point, Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to be an "incredible bargain" due to Rockstar Games' track record of overdelivering.
GTA V surpasses 230 million sales months before GTA VI touches down
Grand Theft Auto V has surpassed 230 million units sold, making it the best-selling title of the past decade. Publisher Take-Two Interactive anticipates Grand Theft Auto VI's upcoming release on November 19, 2026, will be a transformative event, projecting $8 billion to $8.2 billion in net bookings for fiscal year 2027. The company also highlighted strong performance from NBA 2K26 and the Grand Theft Auto franchise overall.
Games Inbox: What will be in the GTA 6 extended look on Netflix?
Readers discuss expectations for the Grand Theft Auto 6 extended look on Netflix, speculating about gameplay footage and potential online components. The discussion also touches on Sony's all-digital PlayStation 5 strategy, Capcom's reboot choices like Onimusha and Dino Crisis, and the overall health and direction of the video game industry, drawing parallels to past industry crashes.
Grand Theft Auto 5 Crosses 230 Million Sales, Red Dead Redemption 2 Over 87 Million
Grand Theft Auto 5 has surpassed 230 million units sold, while Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 87 million units. Rockstar Games will release an extended trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 on August 27th, with the game scheduled to launch on November 19th for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.
Saudi Arabia’s $55 Billion EA Takeover Casts a Shadow Over Mass Effect 5
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has acquired a controlling stake in Electronic Arts for $55 billion, taking the publisher private. This acquisition raises concerns among fans and developers about potential censorship and changes to inclusive content in franchises like Mass Effect and The Sims, particularly given the country's laws regarding homosexuality. The future of Mass Effect 5, currently in early development at BioWare, is now uncertain under new ownership.
Devolver Digital wants to get off the stock market, because 'the ongoing challenge of delivering growth in line with market expectations' just isn't worth the headaches
Indie publisher Devolver Digital intends to delist from the London Stock Exchange and return to private ownership. The company cites the challenges of meeting market expectations in the volatile video game industry and believes it is undervalued. Devolver Digital also expects to save approximately $1.6 million annually by going private.
Halo Co-Creator Calls Out Remake For Pandering To “New Era Of Players With 0% Attention Span”
Marcus Lehto, co-creator of Halo, has expressed mixed feelings about the new remake, Halo: Campaign Evolved. While praising upgrades to movement, cinematics, and lighting, he criticized the game's heavy-handed hint system as pandering to players with short attention spans. Lehto also commented on the game's release on PlayStation and the online negativity surrounding it.
Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch million sellers August 2026 – Mario Kart World at over 15 million, Tomodachi Life at nearly 8 million, more
Nintendo's August 2026 financial results reveal updated sales figures for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Mario Kart World has surpassed 15 million units sold, while Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is nearing eight million. The report also provides sales numbers for several other titles on both platforms.
What happens after GTA 6?
The article argues that the era of the Western blockbuster game, heavily reliant on pushing graphical fidelity and realism, is ending, with Grand Theft Auto 6 potentially being the last of its kind. It suggests that while GTA 6 will be a massive success, its focus on hyper-realism may not resonate as strongly with players as it once did, especially as hardware costs rise and other games find success through unique art styles and gameplay innovation. The author posits that future game development may shift towards more diverse and complex experiences rather than an endless pursuit of graphical realism.
12 years after being delisted, Wolfenstein 2009 could be getting a surprise remaster at QuakeCon 2026, fans speculate…
Fans are speculating that the 2009 Wolfenstein game could receive a remaster, with recent changes to its Steam page, including the removal of its release date and the addition of Steam Deck compatibility, fueling these theories. The game was delisted in 2014 due to licensing issues and has not been available digitally since, making a remaster a potential surprise reveal at QuakeCon. This speculation comes amidst reports of layoffs impacting id Software following Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax Media.
More EA layoffs expected as Saudi Arabia buyout is completed
Electronic Arts has completed its $55 billion acquisition by an investor consortium, including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, making it a private company. The deal, financed partly by a $20 billion loan, raises concerns about potential mass layoffs and increased microtransactions to offset the debt. The PIF now holds a majority stake, leading to discussions about potential censorship of inclusive titles like The Sims due to Saudi Arabia's human rights record.
EA have gone private, as Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner's investment groups complete their $55 billion acquisition
Electronic Arts (EA), publisher of franchises like EA Sports FC, Battlefield, The Sims, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, has been acquired by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, equity firm Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners for $55 billion, making it a private company. The deal has raised concerns among unionized workers regarding potential layoffs and among LGBTQIA+ players about the future of diversity in EA's games, though some developers have expressed commitment to maintaining inclusivity.
There's no single-player video games in the top 20 most played PS5 games in July
Live service and sports games continue to dominate the most played lists on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with single-player titles absent from the top 20 in July. Fortnite remains the most popular game, with titles like Roblox, Minecraft, and annual sports sequels filling out the charts. Data from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella indicates a strong preference for ongoing multiplayer experiences over traditional offline games.
PlayStation and Xbox's most played games are, once again, exactly what you expect them to be
Analyst Mat Piscatella revealed that the most played games on PlayStation and Xbox remain dominated by long-running live service titles and annual sports games, with minimal changes year-over-year. Fortnite leads both platforms, followed by a familiar lineup including Roblox, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto 5, with minor variations between the console ecosystems.
