Tag: Business - Page 3
News EA Says It Isn't Ending Physical Sales In Certain Countries, Following "Inaccurate" Reports
"We have not stopped physical distribution of our games"
Earlier this afternoon, a report surfaced online suggesting that EA GmbH was planning to cease physical distribution of its games across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Scandinavia due to the market's increasing shift to digital downloads and the subsequent impact on sales development...
News TMNT: Shredder's Revenge Helped Publisher Dotemu Net A Bodacious $22 Million In Revenue
Totally tubular, dude!
Note. After receiving a statement of correction from Dotemu, we've updated the headline and the article below to clarify that this revenue figure relates to the publisher's global revenue in total, from all its activities, not to the total revenue generated from just this game. For many of us, this summer's gaming was...
News UK Switch Sales Rise In September Thanks To Splatoon 3's Meteoric Opening
More ink-pressive stats
The latest GfK data for September's UK console sales is now in and the figures show that the Nintendo Switch had a healthy boost thanks, in large part, to a little game called Splatoon 3. Now, we're not certain whether you have heard of this one - admittedly, the release was a pretty small affair. Over the course of its...
News Fandom Has Acquired GameSpot, Giant Bomb, GameFAQs, And Metacritic In $55m Deal
Aiming to "super serve entertainment and gaming fans"
The latest big-company-acquires-other-big-company news for once doesn't concern Embracer or Tencent — instead, it's all about Fandom, a for-profit wiki hosting service covering news and information from a huge range of media, in an acquisition that seems to have surprised many. In a post on...
News No Man's Sky Creator Is Happy To Leave Microtransactions Out Of The Game
"what we enjoy is delivering value to players"
We are but a few short days away from No Man's Sky's inaugural flight to Switch on October 7th and we are buckling in to see how this massive game plays on Nintendo's comparatively tiny console. In order to put some of our fears to rest, we recently got the chance to sit down with the game's creator,...
News Splatoon 3 Sales Cause Nintendo's Shares To Surge
Biggest jump since December 2020
After Splatoon 3 inked all over Japanese sales records over the weekend, it's perhaps no surprise that the success of Nintendo's squid-based shooter has caused the company's shares to surge. Bloomberg reports that Nintendo's share jumped 5.5% in Tokyo today, which means this is the
News Square Enix Is Now Part Of A Blockchain
After dipping its toes in NFTs
After months of hints and talking about NFTs, Square Enix has finally become part of a blockchain. Gameindustry.biz reports that the Japanese developer and publisher has partnered with Oasys, which claims to be "an eco-friendly blockchain built for the gaming community, offering the best user experience with fast...
News Tencent Acquires 49.9% "Minority Passive Stake" In Ubisoft Founder's Company
Gets 5% voting rights in Guillemot Bros. Ltd
In the latest round of video game firm acquisition news, Ubisoft has announced that Tencent has acquired "a 49.9% economic stake with 5% voting rights in Guillemot Brothers Limited", Ubisoft's largest shareholder and a company formed by Ubisoft's CEO and founder Yves Guillemot and his family. In a press...
News CNBC Sources State Amazon Is Not Planning To Buy EA
Update: USA Today's FTW responds
Update #2 [Fri 26th Aug, 2022 19:00 BST]: FTW has now updated its original story, stating that "unnamed and unvetted sources" were cited in the reporting on this rumour. Here is the editorial statement in full: "Earlier today, GLHF — a gaming/e-sports outlet and content partner of For The Win — ran a version...
Random Former Nintendo President's Family Office Is Looking To Buy Marine Engineering Firm
Yamauchi family seeks "to tackle profound global challenges"
The Yamauchi No 10 Family Office, a group formed of members of Nintendo's founding family, is looking to buy out marine engineering company Toyo Construction, with the stated aim of helping to make the oceans cleaner, the Financial Times reports (paywall). The Yamauchi family, who owns...
News Nintendo President Says Switch Production Is "Uncertain" Next Year
"We only have a clear production outlook for this year"
In an interview with Nikkei, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa says that, while semiconductor supply issues are looking to improve for the remainder of this fiscal year, next year looks more "uncertain". This follows the publication of Nintendo's financial report for Q1 2022-2023. In last...
News Square Enix Is Potentially Looking To Sell Stakes In Its Studios
After reporting declining financial results
Square Enix has been a mainstay in the industry for years, but it looks like the Japanese publisher and developer is struggling, having reported declining financial results for Q1 2023 (besides the huge success of its MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV). And, following the publication of those results, Eurogamer...
News Nintendo Of Europe Announces New Senior Managing Director
Welcome to Mr Tom Enoki
Nintendo of Europe, based in Germany, has announced changes to its senior management team. On 16th July, Tom Enoki joined the management team as the new Senior Managing Director and Head of Corporate Planning Office. With this brand new appointment, Koji Miyaki — former CEO and Chairman of Nintendo of Europe, has returned...
News Supply Chain Struggles Reported By Switch Manufacturing Partner
Nintendo has declined to comment
Hosiden Corp, an Osaka-based company responsible for assembling Nintendo Switch consoles, has withdrawn its projected sales forecast for the year and is citing difficulties with the procurement of important components as the reason. Bloomberg reported this withdrawal, which could potentially spell future troubles...
Random Elected Official In Japan Is Looking To Legally Preserve Games
And keep them playable for generations to come
A newly elected official in Japan has announced his intention to implement a legal framework to preserve games and keep them in a playable state. As reported by Automaton, Ken Akamatsu recently won a seat on Japan's House of Counsellors and is due to take office on July 26th. In a statement on Twitter...
Random Turns Out Elite Beat Agents Predicted 'Nintendo Pictures' Years Ago
The Agents were right on the money
Having acquired Dynamo Pictures — the production company behind the Pikmin Short Movies — Nintendo recently announced its intention to rebrand, with the studio formally becoming 'Nintendo Pictures Co., Ltd.'. While the name change will be a surprise to many, eagle-eyed fans of Elite Beat Agents may have seen...
News Nintendo To Acquire Dynamo Pictures, Will Rename It 'Nintendo Pictures'
Previously known for its work on the Pikmin Short Movies
Nintendo has entered an agreement to fully acquire the visual production company Dynamo Pictures, Inc., known previously for its work on the Pikmin Short Movies. Completion of the acquisition is expected to close on October 3rd, after which Dynamo Pictures will be known as 'Nintendo Pictures...
News Nintendo Formally Acknowledges Same-Sex Marriage, Despite Japanese Law
Enabling employees to "fully realize their talents"
Update: It has been highlighted that this particular addition to Nintendo's CSR first appeared when it was updated last year, and is therefore not a new addition to the document. We apologise for the error. Bearing in mind we haven't previously reported on it, we've decided to keep the story live...
News Devon Pritchard Becomes Nintendo Of America's Newest Executive
Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communications
Nintendo of America has put out a press release via Business Wire naming Devon Pritchard as the company's Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communications. Devon Pritchard, Executive Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Communications at Nintendo of America Since...
News GameStop Staff Layoffs Are Announced As Chief Financial Officer Leaves
In an aim to reduce costs
Reports have emerged that GameStop is replacing its Chief Financial Officer and will begin laying off "a number" of staff. In a memo acquired by Axios' Stephen Totilo, GameStop CEO Matt Furlong reportedly wrote that the layoffs are to allow the company to strive for "sustained profitability". Mike Recupero, current CFO,...
News Developers Don't Take Kindly To EA's Single-Player Gag On Twitter
Joining in on a meme
The new meme on the block has been making the rounds on Twitter recently, with everyone weighing in and joining in on the tag. Born out of a game on Tiktok, They're a 10 but is meant to be a lighthearted joke where you bring up one flaw about someone who is otherwise perfect. All in good faith of course — no one real! Gaming...
News Here's How Much Nintendo's Directors Made This Year
It's modest, but still a lot
Nintendo's executives are known for taken home fairly modest sums of money in comparison to their western counterparts. We reported last year that the top three directors at Nintendo - Shuntaro Furukawa, Shigeru Miyamoto, and Shinya Takahashi - between $1.75 - 3 million each when converted from yen to dollars. Compared...
Random Nintendo Shareholder Apparently Asked For A New F-Zero At General Meeting
Plus Baten Kaitos and Wario Land
Update [Fri 1st Jul, 2022 09:15]: More details have surfaced about Momiji's request at Nintendo's recent shareholder meeting. It turns out, the shareholder spent over $40,000 to attend the meeting: Further reading - Random: "Die-Hard Nintendo Fan" Reportedly Forked Out Over $40K To Ask For A New F-Zero You can...
News Nintendo Appears To Be Stockpiling Raw Materials, Doubles Its 2019 Spending On Supplies
Making hay, or something else?
In the 2021/22 financial year, Nintendo spent more than double its previous highest Switch-era annual expenditure on raw materials and supplies, according to figures from shareholder disclosure documents. While the company hosted its 82nd AGM of shareholders on 29th June (and will soon publish translated notes on the...
News Nintendo Is Suing The Fashion Retailer That Used To Run Its Russian Store
"World of Nintendo" turned from prime e-store to landing page
Nintendo’s Russian branch has filed a claim to the Moscow Court of Arbitration against KupiVip, a retailer which operated Nintendo’s now-defunct flagship online store in the country. The company submitted claims totalling around 963,500 rubles (approx. $16,800), according to the...
News Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Acquires $1 Billion Stake In Embracer Group
Becomes the second largest owner with 8.1% of the company's shares
Following a series of video game company acquisitions made by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund recently, the state-run wealth fund has now spent $1.05 billion to purchase an 8.1% stake in Embracer Group. That stake will make the PIF's Savvy Gaming Group the second-largest...
Random Wario Is Your Unlikely Safety Advisor In This Nintendo Employee Video
Waaaah stay safe!
We've been thinking about this a lot, but we're not sure there are many Nintendo characters we'd trust our lives, or even basic safety, with. Look at Mario jumping around over huge gaps and wielding fire without protective gear. Luigi isn't much better! Kirby eats everything and we're not sure that's a good idea. And The kind of...
News Junichi Masuda Leaves Game Freak For New Role At The Pokémon Company
"I appreciate your continued support in my new role"
Junichi Masuda, one of the founders of Game Freak, current Managing Director, and long-time composer of the Pokémon series — among many, many other roles at the company — is stepping down from his role for pastures new. Masuda has been with Game Freak since it was formed in 1989, and has...
News Life Is Strange Devs DONTNOD Announce Rebrand, Plus A Peek At Their New Games
We've been saying it wrong this whole time
French video game developer DONTNOD — who you may know from games like Life is Strange, Tell Me Why, and Life is Strange 2 — have officially changed their name as of today, May 31st. Except it's less of a name change, and more of a "you people have been saying it wrong" change. As part of a massive...
News Ex-NoA President Reggie Fils-Aimé Addresses Reports Of Worker Mistreatment At Nintendo
"I do believe it is the role of company leadership to set a culture"
Early in April 2022, reports of poor working conditions at Nintendo of America surfaced, accusing the company and a third-party hiring firm of “concerted activities” and “coercive actions” to prevent unionisation, and the struggles of part-time workers and contractors to...
News Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Acquires 5% Stake In Nintendo
One of the fund's biggest moves to date
It's been a disruptive period in the game industry, with an increasing number of major takeovers and notable investments, ranging from Tencent continuing to expand its reach, Sony in the process of purchasing Bungie and Microsoft in a similar stage of its Activision Blizzard acquisition. In terms of financial...
News EA Reveals It's Working On An Unannounced Remake For 2023
Plus a major IP
Electronic Arts (EA) shared its investor presentation this Tuesday, which is used to tantalise investors and make sure they stay on board for the next financial year. And this year's presentation has a few juicy morsels, one of which reveals that EA is working on a Remake for the end of 2023. We already know EA is publishing the...
News Nintendo Says It Wants To Avoid A Repeat Of Wii U With Switch's Successor
The generational transition must be "as smooth as possible"
Update: Nintendo's official translation of the Q&A has now been released and differs subtly from VGC's earlier translation, specifically with regards to Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa calling the transition 'a major concern'. Here is the official translation, which highlights the...
News The Nintendo Experience In Melbourne, Australia Has Closed For Good
Open for over 13 years
Upstairs in an EB Games store in Melbourne, Victoria, was a cool little experience that Nintendo fans could go and visit. Aptly named the Nintendo Experience, this upstairs section was the place to go for midnight launches, signings, Nintendo merch, and just try the newest Nintendo releases out. Sadly, last weekend, the...
News British Gas Advises Consumers To Turn Off Games Consoles To Save Money
"Vampire devices" strike again
British Gas has ruffled a few feathers today. In a report published by the BBC, the UK's biggest energy company has recommended that households should switch off what the company has dubbed "vampire devices". That's not a switched-on TV showing one of the many Dracula films on repeat, or even your Switch running the...
Rumour Ubisoft Being Eyed Up For A Potential Takeover
Another big company could be acquired
It feels like every single month there's news of a new video game company acquisition. This year alone, we've seen Microsoft absorb Activision Blizzard, Sony buy former-Halo developer Bungie, Take-Two acquire the keys to Farmville developer,
News Epic Games Invests In 'Horizon Chase Turbo' Developer Aquiris
A publishing deal is on the dashboard too
Epic Games has snatched up yet another partnership within the industry. This time, the Fortnite developer has shaken hands with Brazilian developer Aquiris, who created the rather brilliant polygonal racer Horizon Chase Turbo. This is the latest deal that the studio has reached, following on from acquiring...
News Zelda: Breath Of The Wild 2 Delay Sees Nintendo Shares Slump 6%
Hard news to take
Following the announcement that the company is pushing back the launch of the sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 from its previous '2022' release window to 'Spring 2023', Nintendo shares dropped 6% in Tokyo trading yesterday. As reported by Reuters, the slump comes after a 25% year-to-date climb, with Switch
News Reggie Fils-Aimé Criticises GameStop Management's Lack Of "Articulated" Strategy
"To me that was not acceptable"
Reggie Fils-Amie was at SXSW this weekend to talk about the current disruption in the entertainment industry market, and during his talk at the show, he was asked about his thoughts on a number of things, inclusing Facebook's metaverse. Naturally, at that same talk, Nintendo of America's former President was also...
Random Reggie Fils-Aimé Doesn't Think Much Of Facebook's Metaverse
"I don’t think their current definition will be successful”
SXSW kicked off this weekend, and former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé was in attendance at the show to talk to Bloomberg's Emily Chang about disruption in the entertainment and leisure markets. During the interview, Reggie — now non-executive director for Spin...
News Pokémon GO And Pikmin Bloom Downloads Suspended In Russia And Belarus
With gameplay to follow
Niantic has announced that its games will not be downloadable in Russia and Belarus for the foreseeable future. Niantic is the latest video game company to take a stand and pledge its support to Ukraine after Russia's invasion. Niantic, known for creating Pokémon GO and Pikmin Bloom, has also stated that they will be...
News Nintendo Halts Exports To Russia
Suspending all shipments for "foreseeable future"
Nintendo has announced that it is suspending all exports to Russia for the foreseeable future, joining several major video game companies in exiting the country following Moscow's invasion of neighbour Ukraine. As reported by Aljazeera, Nintendo has stated that its decision is down to the...
News Atari Acquires Video Game Database MobyGames For $1.5 Million
Hmm, what's the angle here, then?
In the latest of a long line of corporate takeovers, this one is admittedly much smaller in scope, but significant nonetheless: Atari has acquired MobyGames for $1.5 million. MobyGames is a highly regarded and renowned video game database that stores information on the medium spanning back to the 1950s. It's a time...
News Bandai Namco Gives Its Japanese Staff A Nice Pay Rise
Move comes as part of wider 'Connect with Fans' Initiative
We've all heard plenty of stories about poor working conditions for those in the video game industry - perhaps most recently with Team17 - so it's lovely to see companies taking positive actions to improve the lives of the people who create the games we love. Bandai Namco has moved to...
News EA's CEO Seems Pretty Chill About Losing The FIFA Licence
"What we get from FIFA... is the four letters on the front of the box"
Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson has reportedly told staff that he feels the publisher might actually be better off losing the FIFA licence. EA and FIFA have been partners for 30 years, but that relationship is in jeopardy as the pair cannot seem to agree on renewing the...
News Team17 CEO Says "Action Will Be Taken" Following Negative Report
"I'm committed to taking action, I won't brush over anything"
Last week, Eurogamer reported on issues at the heart of veteran British games publisher Team17, which has recently been attempting to handle the fall out from its cancelled NFT project. The report, which includes interviews with many Team17 staffers, exposed poor pay and accusations of...
News Nintendo Heirs Buy Majority Stake in U.S. 'Activist Fund'
"We’re very focused on ensuring that the spark of creativity never dies in Japan"
It has been revealed that the investment firm that manages the wealth of Nintendo’s founders has purchased a majority stake in the North America-based Taiyo Pacific Partners. The Kirkland, Washington 'activist fund' is "dedicated to friendly shareholder activism"...
News GTA Publisher Take-Two Thinks NFTs Are A Good "Fit" But Wants To "Stay Away From Speculation"
"We believe in rare goods, we believe in collectibles"
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is the latest big-wig in the games industry to lend support to the notion of NFTs within games – but he admits that the company is concerned with the rampant "speculation" that currently surrounds them. Speaking to investors, Zelnick said: We believe in rare...
News Nintendo Has Interest In The Metaverse But Ponders What "Fun" It Can Provide
Update: More accurate translation now available
Update #2: Nintendo has now released the official translation of the Q&A portion of its financial results briefing, and we can now see Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa's comments in full: The metaverse has captured the attention of many companies around the world, and it has great potential...
News Nintendo Says It Won't Compete With Microsoft And Sony In An Acquisitions Arms Race
"Our brand was built upon products crafted with dedication by our employees"
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa has stated that the company won't be looking to buy up external publishers and studios in the same way that Microsoft and Sony have. Microsoft caused shockwaves in the industry earlier this year by acquiring the publisher Activision for...