Video Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Video Game Industry.
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Lego Marvel games cancelled in favour of Warner Bros. IP says leaker
A leaker claims that all Lego Marvel games have been put on hold indefinitely, with the next Lego game set to feature a major Warner Bros. intellectual property other than Harry Potter. This comes despite the success of Lego Batman: Legacy Of The Dark Knight, and suggests a shift away from licensed Marvel content due to Warner Bros.' ownership of DC Comics.
Abandon single-player, move development to Saudi Arabia, "reduce labour"? Experts on what EA's huge buyout debt could really mean
Electronic Arts has been acquired through a leveraged buyout, co-owned by private equity firms and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, with approximately $20 billion borrowed from Morgan Stanley. This significant debt places pressure on EA to generate substantial interest payments, leading experts to predict major shifts including potential layoffs and a focus on profitable live service games over niche single-player titles. The acquisition's structure and Saudi Arabia's strategic investment goals suggest a potential reorientation of EA's development and business practices.
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's internal playthrough of The Elder Scrolls 6 disrupted by a giant inflatable rat, as Bethesda union protests cuts
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's internal playthrough of The Elder Scrolls 6 was disrupted by a protest organized by the CWA video game union outside Bethesda's offices. The protest, featuring a giant inflatable rat and red flags representing laid-off employees, aimed to highlight the substantial job cuts made by Microsoft. Sharma briefly commented on the game's scale and story on X, while the union vowed to continue fighting against the layoffs.
As Xbox head Asha Sharma reportedly visits Bethesda HQ, workers put up red flags representing laid off staff and a giant inflatable rat outside
Communications Workers of America union members protested outside Bethesda's headquarters with red flags representing laid-off workers and a giant inflatable rat. The protest coincided with a reported visit from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and highlights ongoing concerns about Microsoft's significant layoffs within its gaming divisions, including Bethesda and Activision Blizzard.
3 months after the release of Directive 8020, Supermassive Games is laying off even more people
Supermassive Games is undergoing its third round of layoffs in less than three years, with up to 75 employees being made redundant. The studio cited the need for sustainability, despite being a division of Nordisk Film, which is owned by Egmont Group. This follows the release of their game Directive 8020, which received a mixed reception.
As GTA 6 anticipation builds and the games industry buckles, Take-Two boss says "I don't love winning by…
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick discusses the current state of the video game industry, marked by layoffs, acquisitions, and cancellations, while anticipating the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. Zelnick expresses a preference for growth through innovation rather than attrition and highlights the benefits of being a transparent public company. He also touches on the increasing audience size and monetization potential within the gaming market.
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.
