Video Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Video Game Industry.
Latest coverage
KRAFTON UNVEILS ITS GAMESCOM 2026 BOOTH EXPERIENCES
KRAFTON has revealed its plans for gamescom 2026, featuring five upcoming titles with playable demos, themed missions, and exclusive merchandise. The booth will showcase an unannounced title from PUBG STUDIOS, NO LAW, Project ZETA, Age Twisters, and TARAE: The Unbound, offering interactive experiences beyond traditional game demos. The event will take place at Koelnmesse from August 26-30.
Comings and Goings
The video game industry in Quebec is facing uncertainty as multiple studios are implementing cutbacks. This situation has put the future of many development teams in the region in limbo.
Sunday Interviews
Developers at Digital Extremes, the studio behind Warframe, are taking a cautious approach following recent industry layoffs. The team is focused on ensuring the continued success and stability of the game and its community.
Can a top-down, focused software strategy save Xbox? | Opinion
Xbox has undergone significant layoffs and studio closures, impacting 20% of its workforce and five internal studios, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine. This strategic shift, led by Asha Sharma, aims to address financial issues and improve first-party development, though the article questions the effectiveness of these measures and criticizes the company's past spending and treatment of developers.
Ubisoft Barcelona Faces Layoffs After Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced Launch
Ubisoft Barcelona is experiencing layoffs despite the successful launch of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. Several employees, including QA lead Isabel Codina García, have been affected by these redundancies. The studio proposed new Assassin's Creed projects, but Vantage Studios indicated no further mandates for the Barcelona location, leading to significant workforce reduction and employee protests.
MMO Business Roundup: Marathon’s lawsuit, the Sony petition, TGS 2026, and Minecraft’s fate
This MMO business roundup covers several key events, including the settlement of a lawsuit filed by former Marathon game director Christopher Barrett against Sony and Bungie. It also highlights an online petition by PNP Games urging Sony to continue supporting physical media, which has garnered a significant number of signatures. Additionally, Nexon announced its presence at Tokyo Game Show, and an article from Gamespot questions Microsoft's strategy for Minecraft's future, suggesting a focus on competing with Roblox could be detrimental.
Dragon Age is "unlikely" to continue at EA, says former lead David Gaider, but if you gave him the keys to the RPG he'd take it somewhere "dark" and "do things that will make people upset"
Former Dragon Age lead writer David Gaider believes the series is unlikely to continue under Electronic Arts due to the company's historical dissatisfaction with its sales performance, despite generally positive reviews for recent titles like The Veilguard. Gaider expressed that if given the opportunity, he would steer the franchise in a darker, more provocative direction, focusing on the core appeal that resonated with fans.
What will another Obsidian Fallout game even look like all these years on? Here's my attempt to read the radioactive tea leaves
Following reports of Obsidian Entertainment being redirected to work on a new Fallout game, this article speculates on what such a title might look like. It considers how the studio could innovate within the series, potentially by exploring new settings and gameplay mechanics, while acknowledging the influence of the recent Fallout TV show and other modern RPGs.
"New Zealand's success is being built by ambitious studios of all sizes" – Combined revenue of studios supported by rebate grows 17% to $829m
New Zealand's game development sector experienced a 17% revenue increase to $829 million in 2025/26, largely driven by studios benefiting from the Game Development Sector Rebate. Despite a slight decrease in overall funding and full-time employment, the number of games in development rose, and medium-sized studios saw significant revenue growth. The sector's export revenue constitutes 98% of its total income, contributing to the nation surpassing $1 billion in revenue ahead of schedule.
Obsidian Has Cancelled Multiple Projects To Make New Fallout, Per Report
According to a report, Microsoft has canceled multiple projects at Obsidian Entertainment to have the studio develop a new Fallout game, with Josh Sawyer leading the design. This decision comes amidst significant layoffs at Microsoft and Obsidian, and the cancellation of a planned sequel to Avowed. The new Fallout title will be the first mainline entry in the series since Fallout 4 in 2015.
10 Upcoming Games With The Highest Stakes
This article discusses ten upcoming video games with high expectations, including Grand Theft Auto 6, Marvel's Wolverine, and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It highlights the potential challenges and anticipated successes for each title, considering factors like franchise legacy, developer ambition, and innovative gameplay mechanics. The games are set to release between late 2026 and early 2027 on platforms like PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
MMO Business Roundup: Microsoft is why we can’t have nice things
Microsoft's recent wave of layoffs has significantly impacted its gaming divisions, including studios like Id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, and ZeniMax Online Studios, leading to concerns about the quality and release schedules of major franchises like The Elder Scrolls Online. The article highlights the negative consequences of these business decisions on employees, game development, and player experience, drawing criticism from industry figures and politicians alike.
"Workers deserve protection, not to be treated like disposable line items" – Hundreds of union members affected by Xbox layoffs
Hundreds of union members from the Communication Workers of America were impacted by recent layoffs at Xbox, which saw 3,200 positions eliminated and five studios divested. The CWA is pursuing legal and contractual actions to protect affected workers, including bargaining for severance and recall rights. Union leaders criticized Microsoft's treatment of employees and expressed disappointment with slow progress on contract negotiations, while Xbox leadership cited strategic overextension as a reason for the cuts.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced "is on track to be a much-needed hit for Ubisoft," says analyst, selling 5 times the Steam copies Assassin's Creed Shadows did pre-release
Analyst Rhys Elliott suggests that the upcoming remake, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, is poised to be a significant success for Ubisoft, potentially revitalizing the company. Pre-release sales on Steam for Resynced have already surpassed those of Assassin's Creed Shadows and even the lifetime sales of Skull and Bones, indicating strong anticipation driven by nostalgia and the game's PC presence.
Evening Reading - July 7, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers various gaming news, including IO Interactive regaining ownership of Project Fantasy and announcing layoffs, PlayStation facing complaints about its disc controversy, and updates on Marvel Rivals and Guilty Gear Strive. The article also highlights indie game Cosmodrill and discusses the broader gaming industry landscape.
Blizzard devs in the dark for now as president of the World of Warcraft and Diablo studio says they "can expect to hear more" soon about Microsoft's plan for the studio as Xbox faces 3,200 job cuts
Amid significant layoffs impacting approximately 3,200 positions at Xbox, Blizzard Entertainment president Johanna Faries has communicated to staff that more details regarding the studio's future under Microsoft will be shared soon. While Blizzard's major franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo appear largely untouched for now, the company is bracing for potential restructuring and changes in the coming months.
Sony leadership says AI tools are "an important foundational technology supporting our strategy"
Sony Interactive Entertainment leadership has declared artificial intelligence a crucial foundational technology for their strategy, emphasizing its role in enhancing game development quality and speed rather than solely for cost efficiency. AI tools are being integrated to streamline repetitive tasks, enable faster iteration, and create richer in-game experiences and content. While acknowledging near-term efficiency gains, Sony is also exploring fundamental AI-first initiatives to maintain a leading position as the technology evolves.
Evening Reading - July 6, 2026
The video game industry is facing significant challenges, with Microsoft confirming mass layoffs that will lead to Double Fine Productions and Compulsion Games becoming independent. Xbox has appointed Helen Chiang, head of Mojang Studios, as its first Chief Operating Officer. Additionally, Nintendo plans to discontinue original Switch consoles in Europe in 2027, while Microsoft is being sued in Wisconsin over data center practices.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Hans Capon actor says the RPG's success hasn't led to more work, even though "Warhorse have been absolute gems"
Luke Dale, the actor who portrays Hans Capon in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, stated that the game's success has not translated into more acting work for him. He expressed gratitude towards developer Warhorse Studios but criticized the broader industry for not being supportive, especially in the current climate of AI adoption and layoffs.
Why do Xbox and PlayStation hate video games and their customers? - Reader’s Feature
A reader expresses concern over the current state of the video games industry, citing recent negative news from Sony and anticipated issues from Microsoft. The author criticizes both companies for perceived anti-consumer practices, such as going all-digital and shutting down older online stores, while questioning the passion of executives compared to Nintendo. The piece laments the shift from competition to a perceived lack of incentive to please fans, suggesting games have become solely a means to extract money.
