Tag: Industry - Page 4
News PlayStation Boss Doesn't Think Call Of Duty Appeals To Nintendo's Core Audience
You know, the fans who enjoy "Mario and Zelda"
As part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft's aim is to bring Call of Duty to as many platforms as possible. This includes Nintendo's devices, with a 10-year legal agreement already penned. The only thing Xbox has got to overcome first is the FTC and Sony's attempts to block the deal. The...
News The FTC Doesn't Seem To Think Switch Is A Serious PlayStation & Xbox Competitor
Microsoft's Phil Spencer says it's "incorrect"
Microsoft is currently locked in a courtroom battle with the Federal Trade Commission over its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and although the focus is mostly on Xbox, on day two of the proceedings, the Nintendo Switch has already been dragged into the fight. According to The...
News E3 2024 And 2025 Have Supposedly Been Cancelled
The ESA claims "no final decisions" have been made
E3 2023 was cancelled earlier this year in March, and now in an update, it seems the events for 2024 and 2025 have also been axed. This information was featured in a slide during a Los Angeles City Tourism Board meeting. The Entertainment Software Association has come out with a statement,...
News EA Splits "EA Entertainment" And "EA Sports" In Massive Company Restructure
"This evolution of our company continues"
Industry juggernaut Electronic Arts has today announced a huge restructuring that splits its studios into two major organisations - EA Entertainment and EA Sports. As explained by CEO Andrew Wilson, this "evolution" allows the company to give studio leaders more power, including "creative ownership and...
News Skyrim Has Now Sold More Than 60 Million Copies, According To Bethesda
Making it the "seventh best-selling game" ever
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been ported and re-released on just about every platform under the sun at this point, and it appears to have paid off for Bethesda. Speaking to IGN this week, the game's director Todd Howard revealed how the legendary action RPG has now sold over 60 million copies...
News Metroid Prime 4 Developer Retro Studios Is Hiring New Talent
It's now been six years since the project was announced
Metroid Prime Remastered launched on the Switch earlier this year, and Metroid Fusion followed with a release on the Switch Online GBA service. Obviously, there's still more to come for Metroid fans, and today actually marks six years since Nintendo originally announced Metroid Prime 4 was in...
News Summer Game Fest Will Return In 2024 After 'Record-Setting' Year
More Nicolas Cage, please
Following what's been described as a "record-setting 2023", Geoff Keighley and Summer Game Fest have announced that the event will return in 2024. Was there ever any doubt? Much like this year, a live showcase will kick off the summer celebrations once again followed by the media/creator-focused 'Play Days' from iam8bit...
News Embracer Group To Make Severe Cutbacks After Absurd Spending Spree
Jobs, studios, and games all on the line
Embracer Group has announced that it is entering a 'restructuring program' with a view to becoming a "leaner, stronger and a more focused, self-sufficient company". In other words, it's about to undertake some pretty substantial cost-cutting measures after spending the last six years or so focusing on...
News Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture Teases 25th Anniversary Announcement
Update: "Grasshopper Direct" & remaster announced
Update [Fri 9th Jun, 2023 04:30 BST]: In a video update, Grasshopper Manufacture has announced it will be hosting a special anniversary "Direct" program next week on 14th June. In addition to this, it's also revealed a Shadows of the Damned Remaster is "currently in development" and is "coming...
Really Keighley
It only feels like yesterday that we were getting geared up in preparation for last year's Summer Game Fest, yet here we are with Summer Game Fest 2023 - crazy, right? Let's not dwell on the rapid passing of time, lest we fall into a deep well of existential crisis. Summer Game Fest 2023 is now the only overarching celebration of...
News Apple Acquires AR Headset Startup Responsible For Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge
The special ride only at Super Nintendo World
Tech giant Apple yesterday announced its new headset the "Vision Pro", and now in somewhat related news, it's reportedly acquired the AR startup company, Mira. This is the Los Angeles-based team behind the headset technology featured in the Super Nintendo World experience, Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge...
News Dillon's Rolling Western & Kirby Developer Vanpool Shuts Down
"We have decided to disband"
In some surprising news, it's been discovered Vanpool, the independent Tokyo-based development team behind the Dillon's Rolling Western series, has shut down. As of 31st May 2023, the studio is no longer in operation. It shared an official statement on its website confirming this. Here's part of a translation:...
News Embracer Group Shares Plunge After $2 Billion Deal Falls Through "Late Last Night"
The stock market reacts
Embracer Group — the owners of huge IPs including The Lord of the Rings, Tomb Raider, and Borderlands — has seen its shares drop by a whopping 39.28% in the past day after it announced the surprise "negative outcome" of a potential $2 billion contracted development deal. The drop occurred this morning following the...
News Zelda: Cadence Of Hyrule Dev 'Brace Yourself Games' Confirms Layoffs
Up to half of its workforce may be gone
Canadian indie developer Brace Yourself Games (known for the Switch exclusive Cadence of Hyrule) has cut "a portion" of its workforce. Brace Yourself Games shared the following statement with PC Gamer, confirming the "incredibly difficult decision" to lay off employees. In a
News Sega Looks Set To Raise Its Game Prices Up To $70
"We would like to review the prices of titles"
Sega Sammy has suggested that it may join other major publishers in raising some of its game prices up to $70. In a recent Q&A session (thanks, VGC) with President / Group CEO Haruki Satomi and Senior Vice President / Group CFO Koichi Fukazawa, it's been confirmed that the company will be reviewing...
News Crash Bandicoot's Original Voice Actor Has Passed Away
"No words can express how much he is missed"
There's been a sad discovery recently, with the news the American voice actor and performer Brendan O'Brien (also known as the original voice of Crash Bandicoot) has passed away at 60 years of age. This information was relayed by Antonblast game developer Tony Grayson on social media. A eul
News Time Between Switch's Announcement And Launch Was A "Special Case", Says Nintendo
Could the gap be shorter for the next console?
The official translation of Nintendo's financial Q&A for the recently-released figures is now available to view online, in which the company's president, Shuntaro Furukawa, discusses the time between the Switch's announcement and its release, hinting that the same may not be applied to future...
News New Mortal Kombat Seemingly Teased By NetherRealm In 30th Anniversary Video
Update: "It is almost time" according to a new teaser
Update [Thu 11th May, 2023 05:45 BST]: The Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios has now teased a new teaser clip with the line "it is almost time attached". Mortal Kombat co-creator Ed Boon also joined in on the fun, with a comment asking about the time. The teaser shows a clock jumping...
News Inti Creates' Gunvolt Series "Has Come To A Close For Now"
Company CEO teases a "completely new project"
If you're eager for more Gunvolt games, you might be waiting a while - with Inti Creates CEO Takuya Aizu revealing the Japanese developer will be taking a break from the series. In response to a fan asking about future Gunvolt projects, Aizu revealed the series had come to a close "for now" while...
Random Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Tops GQ's 100 Greatest Games Of All Time
List compiled by over 200 industry experts
We all know The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is a pretty good game, right? Of course it is. But is it the greatest game of all time? Well, according to a recently published article from GQ Magazine, it might well be. Granted, any site can post its own list of the greatest games of all time and you...
News Nintendo Switch Surpasses One Billion Software Sales
Now that's a lot of games
As a part of the latest financial report for the fiscal year ending March 2023, Nintendo has provided updated figures for both its hardware and software sales. While the Switch's hardware numbers started to slow as the console reached 125 million units sold (as of March 2023), the big milestone this time around is on the...
News Splatoon And Link's Awakening Remake Composer Leaves Nintendo After 17 Years
Ryo Nagamatsu joined in 2006
Long-time composer at Nintendo Ryo Nagamatsu has left the company after 17 years to "work a little wider". Announcing the news on Twitter earlier today, the composer and arranger — whose most well-known works include The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Mario Kart 8, Splatoon 2, Splatoon 3, and the Link's...
News Xenoblade Developer Monolith Soft Raises Staff Salaries Across The Company
Future banked
Monolith Soft has revealed that it's increasing all staff salaries for all employees at the company. From April 2023, basic salaries have been increased "in line with rising prices", the developer has announced on its website. The raise affects everyone working at the company, including graduates, who will receive a 22% increase in...
News Nintendo Switch Is Not "Technically Capable" Of Running Call Of Duty Games, Says CMA
Despite Microsoft's confidence otherwise
Yesterday, Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard was officially blocked in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). This was accompanied by a 418-page final report that elaborates on how the authority reached its decision. The report outlines several reasons for the block, including...
News Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition Has Been Officially Blocked In The UK
Is Microsoft's deal with Nintendo in jeopardy?
Microsoft's planned acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard has been officially blocked in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The $68.7 billion acquisition was blocked on grounds that it would "alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced...
News Nintendo Subsidiary Hiring Engineer For "Current And Next-Generation" Platforms
Here we go again...
Nintendo European Research & Development (NERD) is looking to hire a Game Tech Engineer to join the team. However, However, the listing has caught people's eye as the future employee will be targeting both "current and next-generation Nintendo platforms". (Thanks, GoNintendo!) The job seeks someone to fill an engineer and...
News FTC Reportedly Wants Info From Nintendo On Call Of Duty Deal (North America)
A seven hour testimony has been requested
The US Federal Trade Commission is attempting to get more information from Nintendo regarding the 10-year licensing deal it signed with Microsoft to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. In a report published by TweakTown (via
News Former Rare Director Joel Hochberg Has Passed Away
"Joel changed the course of history"
We've got some sad news on the industry front - with a Miami Herald obituary confirming the former Rare director Joel Hochberg passed away earlier this week, aged 87. Joel lives on through his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family. As highlighted by GamesIndustry.biz, he signed on with the Ultimate...
News Kirby GDC Panel, 'The Many Dimensions Of Kirby', Now Available Online
Celebrating 30 years of Kirby
Kirby got his very own panel at this year's GDC, and for a while, many different outlets were sharing stories on how developer HAL Laboratory brought the pink puffball's adventures into full 3D with Kirby and the Forgotten Land. And now, you can watch the full 50-minute talk over on YouTube. GDC has uploaded the...
Quiz Can You Guess Which Game Industry Figures Said These Quotes?
He said she said
There have been countless quotes from notable game developers over the years and decades, whether they be inspirational, amusing, informative, or just downright bonkers. Some key quotes have become almost synonymous with their owners, and there are even a few that have become almost legendary despite lingering questions about their...
News IGDA Updates 'Game Crediting Policies' In Hopes Of Improving Industry Standards
Open-source toolkit for Unity & Unreal also in the works
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) has announced the first major update to its 'game crediting policies' guide in a decade, in hope of improving crediting standards across the video game industry. Its 'Game Credits Special Interest Group' (SIG) recognises inconsistencies...
News Devolver Digital Acquires 'Gato Roboto' And 'Gunbrella' Dev Doinksoft
"A historic moment"
Publisher Devolver Digital has announced that it has acquired Doinksoft, the developer behind Gato Roboto, the physical exclusive Demon Throttle, and the upcoming run 'n' gun title Gunbrella. Announced via Twitter, Devolver calls the acqusition "a historic moment" and included a rather amusing accompanying image that will look...
News Nintendo And Mobile Firm DeNA Launch Joint Venture Company
Update: Company now formally established
Update [Mon Apr 3rd 2023, 09:15 BST]: Nintendo has released a statement on its Japanese website to confirm that the joint venture company 'Nintendo Systems Co., Ltd' has now been formally established with DeNA. Loosely translated, the statement reads: "Today, April 3, 2023, "Nintendo Systems Co., Ltd.", a...
News It's Official, E3 2023 Has Been Cancelled
A number of publishers planned to skip the event
E3 2023 will not be going ahead, the ESA has informed its members. This comes from IGN, who has confirmed the news with two separate sources IGN was told that members were informed about the event's cancellation by email, which was sent out earlier today. In the email, the ESA stated that this year's...
News SEGA & Tencent Have Also Decided To Skip This Year's E3
“There’s no possible way this show can happen”
Following yesterday's news Ubisoft would be withdrawing from this year's E3, it seems a few more third-party publishers have decided not to attend this year's event. According to IGN, both Sega and Tencent will not be in attendance. In a statement, Sega mentioned how it would not be participating...
News Ubisoft Paris Workers Allege Crunch Culture And Workload Issues
"This is morally and physically exhausting for the employees"
A recent investigation by NME has found reports of crunch culture and poor working conditions in game development at Ubisoft Paris following a similar allegation by the French trade union Solidaires Informatique last week alleging high rates of sick leave and developer 'burn out'. The...
News Ubisoft Has Decided To Skip E3 2023, Will Now Host Its Own 'Ubisoft Forward' Event
The French publisher will "move in a different direction"
Ubisoft has announced it will no longer be attending E3 2023. In an update, the French video game company revealed it would instead be hosting its own separate event this June. In a statement to our friends at VGC, Ubisoft explained how it had decided to move in a "different direction", with...
News Atari Enters Agreement To Acquire Night Dive Studios
Retro revival
In some breaking news, the famous video game company Atari has officially entered into an agreement to acquire developer and publisher Night Dive Studios - known best for reviving classic games such as System Shock, Quake and Doom 64 on modern platforms. Atari will acquire "100% of Night Dive Studios" with hopes to "enrich" its own...
News Battle Royale Hit Apex Legends Hopes To Stick Around For 10 To 15 Years "Or More"
"We're in this for the long haul"
The online free-to-play battle royale Apex Legends has been going since 2019 and was only released on the Switch in 2021, but the general aim is to keep the franchise around for a very long time. In an interview with our friends at GamesIndustry.biz, the game's director Steven Ferreira mentioned how the team was in...
News Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Wins 'Best RPG' At Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2022
Splatoon and Pokémon also recognised
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has taken out the 'best RPG' category at the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2022. Multiple other first-party Nintendo titles were nominated with Pokémon Scarlet and Violet winning 'best scenario' and 'best character' and Splatoon 3 receiving best action game. Unsurprisingly, The Legend...
News Microsoft Wants To Bring The "Best Version" Of Call Of Duty To Nintendo Platforms
Expect the same experience across all systems
Last week, Microsoft put pen to paper, announcing its 10-year commitment to bring the Call of Duty franchise to Nintendo platforms is now legally binding. Microsoft president Brad Smith followed this up by mentioning how the tech giant would ensure the series works exactly as people expect on other...
News Level-5 CEO Teases What's Next For Yo-Kai Watch
The "next amazing thing" is in the works
Level-5 made quite the comeback at the most recent Nintendo Direct - announcing a new Professor Layton and much more. One notable omission was the Yo-kai Watch series. There's no need to worry though, as the Japanese developer seems to already be preparing something... In a brief message on social media,...
News Nintendo Is Officially Skipping E3 2023
"We have made the decision to not participate"
Nintendo has officially confirmed that it will not be attending E3 2023, following IGN's report earlier this year. In a statement made to VentureBeat and IGN, Nintendo stated that E3 did not fit into the company's plans for the year and it won't be having any presence at the Los Angeles
News Mortal Kombat 12 Confirmed, Scheduled For 2023 Release
Ed Boon: "So who has heard the news"
We've heard ongoing rumours about the next Mortal Kombat game and it seems to have finally been confirmed. During a Warner Bros. Discovery earnings call earlier on, the executive vice president of global investor strategy, Andrew Slabin, seemingly confirmed Mortal Kombat 12 and its 2023 release date. Here's...
News Saudi Arabia's PIF Is Reportedly Now Nintendo's Biggest Outside Investor
Update: Now 8.3%
Update [Fri 17th Feb, 2023 13:50 GMT]: Following stories earlier this week of further increases in the PIF's investment in Nintendo, Bloomberg now reports that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund now holds 8.3% of Nintendo, according to filings. This makes it the company's largest shareholder outside of Japan. According to...
News Nintendo's Investor Q&A Promises Switch Isn't Dead After Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom
“new titles will continue to be proposed going forward”
Earlier this week we got a look at Nintendo's Q3 financial figures for FY 2023 and there were some big milestones crossed — Switch outselling the Game Boy, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe passing 50 million sales and much more besides. All this pointed towards a Q&A session
News Nintendo Is Raising Its Employee Pay By 10% In Japan
Furukawa: "It's important for our long-term growth"
Despite a downturn in sales and profits for Nintendo in its third quarter, it's reportedly raising the base salaries of its employees by 10% in its homeland. A report by Reuters reveals the Japanese video game giant is taking action to secure the "long-term growth" of its workforce. It follows...
News Nintendo Says Switch Chip Shortages Are "Largely Resolved" As It Cuts Forecasts
"Shipments generally went according to plan"
As part of Nintendo's nine-month financial report for the 2022/23 fiscal year, the company has said that supply issues that have constrained production for several years now were "largely resolved" in the closing months of 2022. Commenting on Nintendo Switch sales in its explanatory materials, the...
News Square Enix Planning "Multiple New Titles" And New IP
Following a slump in sales
Square Enix has had a solid run on the Nintendo Switch over the past year with releases such as Live A Live, NieR:Automata, Tactics Ogre: Reborn and more recently Crisis Core, but it seems it's not been enough. The Japanese publisher and developer has reported a drop in net sales in its latest financial results period (up...
Let the theories commence
Kit and Krysta, the former hosts of Nintendo Minute, left Nintendo at the start of 2022 after a combined 25 years at the company. This gave them a ton of insight into the secretive company that they're now more than happy to share on their YouTube channel and podcast, including speculation based on their experience —...