Tag: Industry
News Riot Games Reportedly Cancels Smash Bros. Style Fighter Codenamed 'Pool Party'
"A platform fighter in the vein of Super Smash Bros. Melee"
The Super Smash Bros. series is the king of brawlers and many other companies have attempted to recreate this magic with certain other franchises over the years. With this in mind, Riot Games (the same team behind League of Legends) has apparently cancelled its own "unannounced" Super...
News Square Enix And Nintendo Co-Dev Reports Losses After Multiple Projects Cancelled
Tose has worked on series like Final Fantasy and Paper Mario
2024 has been a challenging year for the video game industry and it seems Japanese developer Tose (a team that's worked on countless Nintendo projects since the Famicom era and also helped out Square Enix over the years) has experienced some financial losses due to multiple projects being...
News Tales Of Kenzera: Zau Studio Is Reportedly Facing Layoffs
Game launched on Switch earlier this year
Update: Surgent Studios has released its own statement on Twitter: Original Story: Surgent Studios, the developer behind the recent Metroidvania Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, is reportedly facing layoffs after staff members were spotted posting messages on LinkedIn that indicate their time at the studio has...
News Capcom Announces Summer Showcase 2024, Airing Next Week
It will focus on three upcoming releases
In some industry-related news, Capcom has today announced it will be hosting a 'Capcom Next - Summer 2024' showcase on 1st July 2024. This broadcast will run for 25 minutes and will focus on three titles - the newly announced Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster,
News Bandai Namco's Smash Bros. Studio "No Longer" Advertising Select Roles For Nintendo Projects
"They probably filled them"
Remember last year when Bandai Namco announced a new in-house development team 'Studio 2 & Studio S' for commissioned projects - with Nintendo series like Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart seemingly a big part of the plans? After advertising for multiple roles, it appears there's been a small development. As spotted...
News FromSoftware Boss Wouldn't Allow Studio Layoffs To Happen, Cites Satoru Iwata
Nintendo's former president famously took a pay cut
The former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata had an incredibly positive impact on the video game industry during his lifetime, and it seems FromSoftware's current president (and Elden Ring game director) Hidetaka Miyazaki has drawn from the teachings of this Nintendo legend. Speaking to
News Summer Game Fest Will Return To Los Angeles In June 2025
Geoff Keighley confirms
Summer Game Fest had all sorts of surprises this year and if you're wondering about the future of this event, Geoff Keighley has already confirmed it will return to Los Angeles in June 2025. In a brief post on social media, he mentions the event will continue to help "build what's next" alongside the games industry: In...
News Nintendo Is Seeking More Talent To Help Run Its Switch Online Service
It wants to create a "lasting relationship" with consumers
The Switch Online service will seemingly be carried over in some way or form to the next hardware generation, and as we get closer to the reveal of a "successor" system at some point this fiscal year, Nintendo is now seeking recruits in Japan to help sustain its subscription-based offering...
Guide Summer Game Fest Conference Schedule 2024: Dates, How To Watch, Everything You Need To Know
Another round
It really feels like Summer Game Fest 2023 only just ended, yet here we are gearing up for another look at what Geoff Keighley has up his sleeves for Summer Game Fest 2024. The opening showcase is today, and in this guide we'll be going over exactly when you need to tune into the various showcases over the Summer months, plus which...
News Shiver Entertainment Has Updated Its Website After Being Acquired By Nintendo
The studio will continue to port and develop games for "multiple platforms"
Last month, Nintendo announced it had "entered into an agreement with Embracer Group" to acquire the Miami, Florida-based team Shiver Entertainment. It seems no time has been wasted, with the Shiver Entertainment website already receiving a few updates to its home page...
News Ubisoft Toronto Joins Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time 'Remake' Project
"We're excited to rewind time"
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake has bolstered its development with Ubisoft Toronto joining the project. Here's what this developer had to say in a brief message on social media: "We’re excited to rewind time and bring our studio’s creativity, expertise and updated tech to refresh this beloved classic...
News Nintendo Shows More Positive Signs Of Growth With Boost In Employee Count
It also announced an acquisition last month
It's been an incredibly difficult period for the video game industry with layoffs, reshuffles and studio closures. Fortunately, Nintendo is actually in a great place right now thanks to the Switch. Following its recent acquisition of Shiver Entertainment, page 22 of its 84th Shareholder Meeting summary...
News Geoff Keighley Would Love Nintendo To "Be A Big Part" Of Summer Game Fest
"But it hasn't happened yet"
Although Nintendo has done some big reveals at The Game Awards, it's not been involved in the Summer Game Fest. Creator Geoff Keighley has mentioned in a recent Q&A how he hopes that can change in the future. Speaking about the major first-party companies (aka the big three) - Keighley noted how Summer Game Fest has...
News Crash Bandicoot And Spyro Studio 'Toys For Bob' Is Now Officially Independent
It will partner with Xbox to publish its next game
In March, the Crash Bandicoot and Spyro developer Toys for Bob announced it would leave Activision and the Xbox team to become an independent studio. In an update on social media, it's now made this official with a profile update. In its bio description on X, it now says "We are an independent game...
News Take-Two CEO Responds To Reports Of Studio Shutdowns
Update: The Kerbal team will be laid off in June
Update #2 [Wed 29th May, 2024 05:35 BST]: Although the Take-Two CEO mentioned how Intercept Games and Roll7 haven't been shut down, it seems a layoff is on the way. As highlighted in a LinkedIn update of a senior programmer at Intercept Games (Kerbel Space Program 2), employees will be let go next...
News Atari Acquires Intellivision Brand And Rights To 200+ Titles
Deal "ends the longest-running console war in history"
Atari has announced that it has acquired the Intellivision brand along with the rights to over 200 games in a move that, according to Digital Eclipse's studio head Mike Mika, "ends the longest-running console war in history". As a result, Intellivision Entertainment LLC will rebrand and will...
Feature Nintendo's Latest Studio - Who Is Shiver Entertainment?
A brief look at Nintendo's newest acquisition
You could be forgiven for thinking, 'Another day, another video game company acquisition,' but Nintendo's announcement that it is buying Shiver Entertainment and making the port specialists a wholly-owned subsidiary isn't business as usual for the Japanese firm. Nintendo is, historically, extremely...
News Nintendo Announces Acquisition Of Shiver Entertainment
The Embracer-owned studio has ported multiple titles to Switch
There have been all sorts of acquisitions in the video game industry recently and today it is Nintendo's turn. The Japanese company has "entered into an agreement with Embracer Group" to acquire the Miami, Florida-based team Shiver Entertainment. Shiver has previously worked under...
News Square Enix To "Aggressively Pursue" Multiplatform Strategy, Includes "Nintendo Platforms"
Plans to step up digital sales, shift from quantity to quality, and more
Square Enix has released a three-year Medium-term Business Plan and its financial report for fiscal year 2024. And while it's mixed results for the developer, it has addressed how its going to try and improve things. Most notably, the company has revealed a brand new...
News EA Apparently Exploring The Idea Of In-Game Ads In Traditional AAA Titles
"We'll be very thoughtful as we move into that"
Third-party video game giant Electronic Arts had its earnings call this week and CEO Andrew Wilson was asked about the possibility of "dynamic ad insertion across more traditional AAA games". The idea is supposedly already being explored, but it's "still early on that front" and the company will be...
News Nintendo Will Continue To Support Physical Media And "Maximise" All Software Sales
"This policy will remain unchanged going forward"
Nintendo's digital software sales have grown remarkably over the years — and the same can be said for all of the big publishers. But in terms of where the Big N's focus lies, it's not dedicating itself to a digital-only future. During the financial results briefing for FY2024, Nintendo President...
News Nintendo Acknowledges That Successor Announcement May "Impact" Switch Sales
"We recognize that it is becoming more challenging to maintain momentum"
Nintendo President Shuntaro Furakawa was asked if he thinks the announcement of a "successor to Nintendo Switch" — which was made following the latest finacial report — will affect the momentum of the Switch's current sales. Responding during the Financial Results...
News Frontier Confirms Plans For A Third 'Jurassic World Evolution' Game
A Switch 2 release, perhaps?
Developer Frontier has confirmed that it has signed a fresh licensing deal with Universal Products & Experiences for a third Jurassic World Evolution game (thanks, VGC). Although the second game didn't make it to the Switch, the first Jurassic World
News Nintendo's Profit During The Switch Generation Is Absolutely Wild
It's apparently surpassed the "combined profit" of previous eras
The latest financial earnings release is now live, and in case you missed it, the Nintendo Switch has officially surpassed 140 million sales worldwide. The hybrid system has performed tremendously over the past seven years, and it's now not far off the lifetime sales of the Nintendo...
News Rumoured 'Hi-Fi Rush' Switch Port In Doubt As Microsoft Culls Tango Gameworks And Other Studios
A "reprioritization of titles and resources"
In the latest shocking blow to the gaming and developer communities, Microsoft has announced a series of studio closures and consolidations, including the shuttering of Tango Gameworks, the developers behind 2023's acclaimed Hi-Fi Rush. The game was released recently on PlayStation and, much like the...
News Princess Peach: Showtime! And Mario Vs. Donkey Kong Both Pass 1 Million Sales
There's life in the Switch yet
Nintendo has confirmed that Princess Peach: Showtime! and Mario vs. Donkey Kong have both passed 1 million sales on Switch. According to the company's latest financial release, Princess Peach: Showtime! sold a total of 1.22 million units since its launch on 22nd March 2024, while Mario vs. Donkey Kong managed a total...
News Here Are The Top Ten Best-Selling Nintendo Switch Games As Of March 2024
Another 1.39m for Mario Kart
As part of Nintendo's end-of-year financial report for FY2024, the company has updated its top ten best-selling games list for the Switch with new sales figures. The order stays the same as last quarter, and sales of all games show relatively minor bumps, although Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, and
News Nintendo Switch Surpasses 140 Million Sales As Company Acknowledges Successor
13.50 million sales forecast for FY2025
As part of its latest financial earnings release, Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch has now sold a total of 141.32 million units since its launch in 2017. Digging in a bit deeper, the console managed to shift a total of 15.70 million units across its three SKUs during FY2024. This is down by 12.6%...
News Nintendo Switch "Successor" Announcement Is Coming "This Fiscal Year"
Update: Reportedly best described as "Switch next model"
Update [Tue 7th May, 2024 19:12 BST]: On an earnings call following the release of the end-of-year financials, president Shuntaro Furakawa was reportedly asked whether the "successor to the Switch" will be an entirely new console. According to David Gibson, senior research analyst an MST...
News Nintendo Partner Paladin Studios Closes Its Doors After "Almost 19 Years"
"Our quest has ended"
Netherlands indie developer Paladin, who worked with Nintendo in 2020 on the Switch eShop title Good Job!, has announced it has "closed the studio" after "almost 19 years". Apart from Nintendo, the 45-person studio (which began life in 2005 and peaked at 55 people at one stage) worked with various other "incredible partners"...
Feature "It's Fun, So It's Okay!" - Celebrating Takashi Tezuka's Astonishing 40-Year Nintendo Career
A look back at a glittering catalogue
Takashi Tezuka seems like a good laugh, the kind of chap who knows how to have fun. Despite all the Master-Sword-waving and PR-related hijinx from fellow Nintendo luminary Shigeru Miyamoto over the years, you still get the impression he's merciless in the workplace — an exacting, intimidating,...
News Atari Is Reviving The 'Infogrames' Publishing Label
The armadillo returns
Atari has announced that it is reviving the dormant publishing label Infogrames, once famous for publishing games such as Hogs of War, Heart of Darkness, Alone in the Dark, and many more. Though once one of the most recognisable publishers in Europe, the Infogrames name was ditched in favour of the Atari brand in 2009...
News Embracer Group To Split Into Three Separate Companies
Sullied name
Embracer Group has announced its intention to split the company into three separate entities going forward in what seems to be a drastic attempt to streamline its operations and rebuild its reputation after months of downsizing and layoffs. Announced via the official website (thanks, VGC), the company confirmed that each entity will be
News WayForward Director Says Nintendo Changed The Way He Looks At Making Video Games
"It's like seeing a color that doesn't exist"
Yesterday, during the latest Indie World presentation, WayForward revealed Yars Rising - a new Metroidvania based on the classic Atari franchise. Veteran game designer James Montagna is directing this new project and apparently has a new outlook on game design after teaming up with Nintendo for last...
News Ex-PlayStation Dev Gio Corsi Joins Nintendo of America
"Here we go!"
Gio Corsi, who is perhaps best known in the industry for his six-year tenure at PlayStation, has announced that he has joined Nintendo of America's 'AAA Third-Party Portfolio Management' team. Announced via a post on X, Corsi said "This week I began my new gig filled with fun & adventure", while his profile has now been updated...
News Saber Interactive CEO Doesn't Think $70 Video Games Are Sustainable
"I think the market is going to shift"
This generation has seen the arrival of $70 USD triple-A titles and even Nintendo has upped its prices with Link's latest outing The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While it seems like this new price point is here to stay, Saber Interactive's CEO Matthew Karch doesn't think it's a sustainable model and...
News Staff At UK Retailer GAME Reportedly Facing Redundancies
Most employees now under zero hour contracts
Staff at UK retailer GAME are reportedly facing redundancies as the firm moves most of its workforce under zero hour contracts. As reported by Eurogamer, it's not currently known how many employees will be laid off, but it's understood that all non-managerial staff will now be on zero hour contracts...
News Dragon Quest 12 Reportedly Suffers Delay, Producer "Steps Down" Following Reshuffle
Square Enix has supposedly found a candidate to replace him
Square Enix is currently undergoing a large-scale organisational "overhaul" and it seems Dragon Quest has been impacted. According to a new report from Bloomberg, Dragon Quest's "top producer" Yu Miyake, who is now 56 years of age (and has contributed to "numerous" Dragon Quest titles over...
Rumour New Prince Of Persia Game Reportedly Arriving "Later This Year"
"Developed by Dead Cells developer Evil Empire"
Ubisoft's Prince of Persia series enjoyed a successful return earlier this year thanks to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and it seems more adventures could be on the way. According to a new "exclusive" from Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson, Ubisoft is aiming to release a "roguelite" game "later this...
News Thunderful Sells Publisher Headup For €500k After Acquiring The Studio For 11 Million
Something's not adding up here
Thunderful Group is once again back in the news today as it has been reported that the studio is selling Pumpkin Jack publisher Headup at a fraction of what it was bought for back in 2021. Word of this sale comes to us from Gamesindustry.biz which reports that Thunderful has sold the publisher for €500,000 — quite...
News Sega Sells Relic Entertainment And Announces Layoffs Across Multiple Teams
240 jobs will be cut
Sega has announced that it has sold Relic Entertainment to an unspecified investor and will cut a total of 240 jobs across multiple teams in Europe. As reported by IGN, the job losses will be split across Sega Europe, Creative Assembly, and Sega Hardlight. It's reported that the latter will be the least affected, with the...
"Some" contractors will be cut, others will become full-time employees
It's been a difficult start for the video game industry this year and now according to Kotaku senior reporter Ethan Gach, Nintendo of America has massively downsized its "small army of contractors" responsible for testing games and hardware. In an official statement, a Nintendo...
News GameStop Hit By Layoffs As Analyst Predicts 'Unsustainable' Sales Decline
Share price also takes a tumble
GameStop has announced that it has made an unspecified number of job cuts as it grapples with a sharp decline in revenue. As reported by Reuters (thanks, IGN), the firm saw $1.794 billion in sales for its fourth-quarter of the fiscal year; a fairly drastic drop from the $2.226 billion earned over the same period the...
News Free Radical Co-Founder Is Probably Done With TimeSplitters For Good
"It was a big letdown."
To the disappointment of many, including us, it was confirmed earlier this year that Free Radical Design, the developer behind the highly anticipated revival of TimeSplitters, would be closed down by Embracer Group and the game ultimately cancelled. It was a dire end to what many had hoped would be a grand return to the...
News Resident Evil Creator Shinji Mikami Gets Back To Work With A New Company
What could it be..?
Shinji Mikami, best known for creating the Resident Evil franchise and for his work on titles such as P.N.03 and The Evil Within, has seemingly established a brand new company after leaving Tango Gameworks in 2023. As spotted by VGC, the information can be found via a short biographic description on the new Sha
News Mario Kart Live Developer Warns Of Layoffs After "Major Project" Axed
46 of 121 staff members might be impacted
The Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit developer Velan Studios has announced it's going through a bit of a rough patch. Following a whole host of game companies making some serious job cuts over the past few months, the US-based studio behind not only this Mario Kart game but also Hot Wheels: Rift Rally and the...
News Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Just Won Two More Awards
At the 2024 Game Developers Choice Awards
Nintendo's award-winning Switch exclusive The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has just won two more awards - this time at the 2024 "Game Developers Choice Awards". Link's latest outing has been recognised for having the "best technology" and "best innovation" of any game over the past year. Here are...
News Super Mario Bros. Wonder Devs Show Off "Unused Wonder Effects" At GDC 2024
Including a giant block Mario!
Nintendo left a lot of ideas on the cutting room floor during the development of Super Mario Bros. Wonder, and now at this year's Game Developers Conference, the game's director Shiro Mouri and producer Takashi Tezuka have shared some insight. In a series of slides (
News Thunderful Extends Its Distribution Agreement With Nintendo
"We’re exceedingly proud of this long-lasting partnership"
Publisher Thunderful has announced that it has extended its distribution agreement with Nintendo to publish the firm's products in the Nordics and the Baltics between Bergsala AB and Nintendo of Europe AG. Confirmed via an official statement (thanks, Go Nintendo), Thunderful states that...
News 'Tales' Series Artist & Character Designer Mutsumi Inomata Has Passed Away
Known for her work on Tales of Destiny, Graces, and more
Manga, anime, and video game artist Mutsumi Inomata — best known for her work on multiple games in the Tales series — has passed away at age 63 (via VGC). The announcement of her passing was shared on her official Twitter earlier today, written by Inomata's younger sister. Tributes have...
