Tag: Industry - Page 9
News Ubisoft Reportedly Looking To Block Takeover Bids Via A New Partnership
Company shares jump 10% in light of takeover reports
Ubisoft's founder - the Guillemot family - is reportedly looking into partnering with a private equity firm with a view to acquire the games publisher. In light of the reports, company shares have jumped 10% over the course of the last day or so. As reported by equities news and data service...
News Reggie Talks About NoA Union Issues: "This Isn't The Nintendo That I Left"
"The reports I hear really strike me as just not the company I knew"
As you might have heard over the past few weeks, Nintendo of America has come under fire for its alleged treatment of part-time and contract workers. NoA actually issued a response to one of these complaints, noting how the video game giant was "fully committed" to providing a...
News Former Nintendo Of America Associate Producer Talks Crunch On Zelda: Ocarina Of Time
"You’re putting in some serious time to get it done"
Back in the late '90s, all eyes were on Nintendo and the development of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. After numerous delays, the game launched in November 1998 to rapturous applause and plaudits and is now widely considered one of the best video games ever made. But, with the delays and...
Review Disrupting The Game: From The Bronx To The Top Of Nintendo - Reggie Fils-Aimé
Intriguing insights blended with business can-do tropes
Reggie Fils-Aimé is an iconic figurehead of 21st Century Nintendo, arriving in the public eye at a pivotal moment of the company's history as it underwent a Satoru Iwata-led revolution. After the GameCube's challenging generation in the face of new competition from Microsoft's Xbox and the...
Squeenix deal includes Tomb Raider, Deus Ex and 50+ games
Embracer Group, the Swedish video game holding company and parent of Gearbox, Saber Interactive and THQ Nordic (among many others), has entered into an agreement to acquire several studios and a selection of IP from Square Enix. Included in the deal are three studios — Crystal Dynamics,...
News Reggie Fils-Aimé Is A Big Believer In Blockchain And "Play To Own"
Just as long as it makes sense for the player
At last month's SXSW event in Austin, Texas, Reggie Fils-Aimé took to the stage to discuss various aspects of his career, from the start of his tenure at Nintendo to his post-retirement work with Gamestop and Cornell University. While talking about the future of video games and the innovations driving...
News Next Level Games Is Seeking New Talent For Future Nintendo Projects
"We're hiring"
Ahead of the release of Mario Strikers: Battle League this June on the Switch, Canadian-based developer Next Level Games has put out the call for new team members. In a rare social media update, it's mentioned how it's currently seeking Performance Engineers and Tools Engineers. If you head on over to its official website, you'll...
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,
Talking Point WATA And The Grey Areas Of Game Preservation - Is There Any Better Way?
WATAAARGH
The game industry is youthful compared to other areas of entertainment and recorded culture - younger than film and TV, and of course a baby compared to printed works. Yet we're now decades into the history of gaming, especially if you go back to the systems of the 1970s, perhaps even a little earlier. Even if you choose to focus on the...
News Nintendo Of America Criticised Over Treatment Of Part-Time And Contract Workers
"I feel like I hit a glass ceiling where my input no longer mattered"
Earlier this week it emerged that Nintendo of America and recruitment company Aston Carter have been named in a workers' rights complaint; the complaint alleges actions such as 'discharge' from employment and 'coercive statements'. Nintendo of America issued a response saying that...
News Former Joy-Con Drift Repairs Supervisor Says Work Volume Was "Very Stressful"
"Easily thousands of Joy-Cons were coming through each week"
Joy-Con drift sucks. Many of us have had it, and we're sure many of us have had to contact Nintendo to send it off to get repaired. But did you know Nintendo itself doesn't handle the repairs? Kotaku has investigated the process of getting your Joy-Cons repaired if they get the dreaded...
Random Devolver Cheekily Prods Sega Over Sonic Origins Pre-Orders
To promote Trek to Yomi
Ahhh, you can always count on Devolver Digital to take the bull by the horns and have fun with any kind of situation. And this time, Sega is the butt of the joke. Earlier this week, Sega's long-awaiting Sonic compilation, Sonic Origins, got an official release date of 23rd June after a few days of leaks. And while some...
News Capcom Has Revised Its Earnings Forecast Due To Strong Sales Of Series Like Monster Hunter
Up and up
Capcom appears to be on a roll - with news the Japanese publisher and developer has had to revise its earnings forecast simply because its games have been selling so well. Favourable performances from Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin and Resident Evil: Village have been cited as some of the main reasons for the earnings forecast...
News Nintendo Responds To Workers' Rights Complaint
"We take matters of employment very seriously"
Earlier this week, Nintendo of America was named alongside hiring firm Aston Carter in a National Labor Relations Board filing, where an "unnamed worker" claimed their legally protected right to unionise was violated. Nintendo has now officially responded to this with the following statement (via...
News Konami Looks To Change Its Name, Because Why Not
Don't worry, 'Meta' isn't in there
Konami - or to use its current full name, Konami Holdings Corporation - is looking to change its name to coincide with the company's 50th anniversary. So long as shareholder's approve of the move, Konami's board of directors has agreed to change the company's name to Konami Group Corporation. Wild, we know. If the...
News Nintendo Of America Named In Workers' Rights Complaint
NLRB filing names NOA with recruitment firm Aston Carter
Nintendo of America has been named alongside hiring firm Aston Carter in a National Labor Relations Board filing alleging "concerted activities" and "coercive actions" to violate an individual worker's protected right to unionise. As reported by Stephen Totilo at Axios Gaming, the complaint...
News Reggie Fils-Aimé To Talk Memes With Geoff Keighley In Bonus Audiobook Content
Not getting the audiobook? What's wrong with you?
Reggie Fils-Aimé's upcoming book, Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo, is only a few weeks away, and we're excited to read about the story of Nintendo, and gaming's, most well-known President. To say Reggie has inspired thousands is an understatement. He invigorated Nintendo...
News Ex-Rare Devs To Give Talk On The Development Of GoldenEye 007 (UK)
Tickets on sale now at The Centre for Computing History in Cambridge
GoldenEye 007 is one of the most revered video games of all time, known for its move into more realistic shooting mechanics after the likes of DOOM and Wolfenstein, and for proving the validity of FPS games on consoles. If you're based in the UK and are able to pop along to...
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 QuakeCon Will Be An All-Digital Show For The Third Year Running
"Still too much uncertainty to commit"
The long-running Zenimax operated 'QuakeCon' will once again be a digital-only event for 2022. Taking place on August 18-20, it will be the third year in a row that QuakeCon will be opting to go all-digital in the wake of ongoing uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, plans are supposedly...
News Nintendo Make Changes To Switch Online's Automatic Renewals
Following a CMA investigation
Okay, how many of us have fallen victim to this: saying we're going to cancel our subscriptions, forgetting, and then being charged a hefty sum of money for a year's more. It's a vicious cycle that, unless you remember to cancel or take your card details off, would leave you with lighter pockets. Auto-renewal has long...
News Bandai Namco Appears To Be Remastering A '3D Action Game' For Nintendo
What could it be?
Bandai Namco - the Japanese company behind series like Tekken and Pac-Man - appears to have a new project in the works, contracted by Nintendo. According to multiple job listings on Bandai Namco's Japanese website (via
News Vicarious Visions Is Seemingly No More After It Merges With Blizzard Entertainment
Developer will work solely on Blizzard games
Vicarious Visions, known for its work on Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, will merge with Blizzard Entertainment and work solely on Blizzard games moving forward. Blizzard Entertainment is known for franchises such as Diablo, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Hea
News New Subnautica Game Is In "Early Development"
And you could dive in and join the team
Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds has revealed that a new game in the underwater survival exploration series is in "early development". (Thanks for the tip, solarwolf!) In a job listing posted last night for the studio, it confirmed the team is looking for a Senior Narrative Designer to "help shape the next...
News Nintendo Acquires Land For New Development Building In Japan
Scheduled to be completed by 2027
This just in: Nintendo has announced it's acquired new land. According to an official PR, it has bought this land next to its Kyoto HQ for around $5 billion Yen (that's close to $40 million USD). This new area will be home to the headquarters' second development building (tentative name). The purpose of the...
News More Switch Owners Would Consider Game Pass If Activision Titles Were Added, Poll Finds
Like and subscribe for skateboarding
Xbox Game Pass is pretty hard to resist, right? A monthly subscription brings you tons of titles that you can download and play whenever you want - as long as they stay on the surface. And with Microsoft acquiring companies like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, the prospect of those games becoming exclusive to...
News Lost In Cult's 'A Handheld History' Is An Unofficial Love Letter To Portable Gaming
Featuring some familiar writers!
Handheld consoles have been instrumental to the growth and popularity of gaming as a whole. Without the likes of Nintendo's own Game Boy, DS, or even the Switch, we frankly dread to think what the industry would look like. Gaming journal publisher 'Lost in Cult' is looking to celebrate the storied history of...
News Bandai Namco Has Officially Launched Its New Logo
Take a look
In October last year, Bandai Namco - the Japanese video game publisher responsible for series like Pac-Man, Tekken and Dark Souls - announced it would be changing its company logo. This change was scheduled to come into effect this year, and it's now officially happened as of the beginning of April. The new logo can be seen on the
News Reggie Fils-Aimé's New Book Gets A Familiar Audiobook Narrator
Our ears are ready
Reggie Fils-Aimé will soon be releasing his own book - Disrupting the Game: From the Bronx to the Top of Nintendo - which will take readers through his journey in advertising to becoming the CEO of Nintendo of America, all the while providing unique lessons to help readers springboard their own success. Now, it's been revealed...
News Nintendo UK Executive Andy Yates Retires After 26 Years
A Switch in lifestyle for the veteran
Andy Yates, a veteran of Nintendo UK, has announced his retirement. Yates started working for Nintendo in 1996 and has held various roles within the company during the 26 years he's been there for. Initially working as the Exclusive Nintendo Distributor at THE Games, who held official distribution rights for...
News Capcom Increases Base Salaries For Japanese Staff By 30%
Move comes ahead of expected fifth consecutive year of record profits
Recently, we reported that Bandai Namco increased the monthly earnings for its Japanese staff, and now Capcom will be following suit by raising the base salary of its Japanese staff by 30%. As reported by VGC, the move will take effect from the 2022 fiscal year (so, now) and will...
News Epic Games Faces Lawsuit Over The 'It's Complicated' Fortnite Dance
Not the first, won't be the last
Epic Games finds itself facing a fresh lawsuit after YouTuber and choreographer Kyle Hanagami claims that the 'It's Complicated' emote used in Fortnite is actually based on one of his own dance moves. Although the emote was introduced to the game in August 2020, Hanagami's move dates back to 2017. He has asked for a...
News Activision Blizzard Reaches $18 Million Settlement For Sexual Harassment Lawsuit
Several lawsuits still outstanding
Activision Blizzard is currently in a spot of bother with multiple lawsuits levied against the company in relation to widespread sexual misconduct. It's now looking like at least one of the lawsuits will be nearing its end, with a settlement of $18 million due to be approved by U.S District Judge Dale Fischer...
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 Activision Blizzard Hit With New Harassment And Discrimination Lawsuit
"700 reported incidents occurring under CEO Robert Kotick’s watch"
Activision Blizzard has been hit with a fresh lawsuit that claims the company's "frat boy" environment has allowed 700 reported incidents of sexual harassment and discrimination. The suit has been filed in by Attorney Lisa Bloom in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf...
News Dragon Quest Creator Yuji Horii Receives GDC Lifetime Achievement Award
Says more Dragon Quest announcements are coming "soon"
If you're familiar with Dragon Quest, one other name you've likely heard before is Yuji Horri - the creator of the famous and long-running Japanese RPG series that's been active for more than 35 years now. He's reached a point in his career where he's now receiving lifetime awards for his...
News Nintendo's New 'Ask The Developer' Interview Is With The Kirby Team
HAL Laboratory talks about the Forgotten Land
Last July, Nintendo kicked off a new 'Ask The Developer' series - inspired by its famous series 'Iwata Asks'. So far, it's released an entry on Game Builder Garage, the Nintendo Switch OLED and Big Brain Academy, and now the latest one focuses on the upcoming first-party release,
News Samantha Robertson Has Left Nintendo Of America After 11 Years
"It’s been an honor"
Nintendo of America employee Samantha Robertson has revealed she's left the company after 11 years. If you've ever tuned into a Treehouse stream, you've likely seen Robertson on camera showcasing an upcoming release. Samantha started out in 2011 as a localisation writer and editor (including product development &...
News 'Yooka-Laylee' Creator Playtonic Expands With Second Studio
"We want to broaden our reach, without going too far"
Playtonic Games, the studio behind the Yooka-Laylee series, has opened a second office in the UK town of Leamington Spa. Playtonic – which was founded in 2015 by former Rare staffers – recently gained investment from the Chinese giant Tencent. It has released two games so far,
News Chucklefish Hands Over Final Stardew Valley Publishing Responsibilities To Creator
"We wish the team at ConcernedApe all the best"
Updated: In 2018, the Stardew Valley creator Eric "ConcernedApe" Barone announced he would self-publish the game in the future. It followed a year later with the original publisher Chucklefish being accused of exploiting contributing workers during its development of
News Ori Developer Moon Studios Labelled "Oppressive" Workplace In New Report
The team is reportedly "fed up", founders respond
Moon Studios, the Austrian developer behind the Ori games, has been labelled an "oppressive" place to work in a new report. According to GamesBeat, a number of "current and former" employees believe Moon's "behind-the-scenes atmosphere" does not match up with the style and tranquility of its games...
News Tencent Acquires Majority Shareholding Of RiME Developer Tequila Works
"Allows us to make Tequila Works a stronger studio"
Tencent has been consistently making headlines in recent months with its continuing expansion in the gaming industry through acquisitions and investments. Recent acquisitions include the developer behind Ninjala, and it also confirmed a minority shareholding in Playtonic Games last November. Those...
News EA Play Live Is Reportedly Skipping 2022
Will reveal more about new games "when the time is right"
The third-party video game giant Electronic Arts - known for franchises like Battlefield, Need for Speed and FIFA - will apparently be skipping its annual 'EA Play Live' event this year. In a statement provided to IGN, an EA representative said the company would reveal its next projects when...
News Konami Is Whipping Up A Free Indie Games Convention For June
“To create a platform for exchange between creators"
Earlier today, Konami announced that it would be hosting a new event, Indie Games Connect 2022, in Japan that's entirely free to exhibitors and creators on 26th June. One of the biggest barriers for entry for fledgling developers, and for attendees, is the price of these events, so it's a...
News Capcom, SEGA, SNK, And More Are Back In The Ring For A Third Fighting Game Roundtable
Round 3... fight!
The third iteration of the Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable kicks off on 21st March! Starting at 3:00 pm JST - that's 6:00 am UK time, so make sure you've got your coffee - the live stream will feature members of Arc System Works, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Arika, SEGA, and SNK, who will discuss all things beat 'em up and...
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 Sakurai Is Back To Work, But It Might Have "Nothing To Do With Game Production"
Smash Bros. creator gives a cryptic update
The creator of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate arguably deserves some much needed time off, but it sounds like Masahiro Sakurai is back at it again. This time, however, his work might not be game-related. As reported by our friends at GoNintendo, the industry legend shared some comments with Famitsu that...
News Sakurai Wins 'Most Valuable Creator' At Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2021
Monster Hunter Rise takes out GOTY
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai has been recognised by the Dengeki Game Awards as Japan's most valuable video game creator in 2021. This award was decided based on user voting within Japan. Sakurai shared the news with his followers over on Twitter, while also thanking everyone who supported...
News Ubisoft Subject To "Cyber Security Incident", But No Player Data Was Compromised
Precautionary password reset initiated
Ubisoft has confirmed that it has been the target of a cyber attack. The company confirmed the incident via a statement on its website, stating that the "cyber security incident" caused "temporary disruption" to some of its games, systems, and services. The good news, however, is that there is currently no...