All articles tagged with #game industry
International game developers are skipping GDC 2026 as escalating US border controls, visa hurdles, and safety concerns intersect with the conference’s pivot to a broader ‘festival of games.’ Interviews describe detentions, social-media scrutiny, and prohibitive costs, prompting some to call for relocating or regionalizing events to maintain global industry connections and preserve GDC’s relevance.
Dispatch is an episodic superhero game from AdHoc Studio that offers a TV-like experience with each episode designed for a single gaming session, providing a satisfying and well-calibrated narrative that respects players' time, contrasting with the endless grind of live-service games.
The article reviews the tumultuous year of 2025 in the game industry, highlighting trends such as the rise of generative AI, deprofessionalization, union activity, indie studio funding via Kickstarter, and the impact of tariffs on costs, while also noting the industry's ongoing struggles with economic contraction, exploitation, and social issues.
Bruce Straley, a veteran game developer known for his work on The Last of Us and Uncharted, left Naughty Dog in 2017 due to a desire for ownership and new challenges, and has since founded his own studio, Wildflower Interactive, emphasizing creative independence. He also expressed dissatisfaction over not being credited for his contributions to The Last of Us TV adaptation.
Dan Houser revealed that the development of Red Dead Redemption 2 was extremely challenging, being behind schedule and over budget, with significant pressure to succeed, but the game ultimately became critically acclaimed. He highlighted the game's themes of searching for meaning in a violent setting and praised the team's dedication to realism. Additionally, Rockstar recently faced layoffs amid union disputes, and Houser has since started a new studio working on a sci-fi game.
Supergiant, a resilient indie game developer, launched Hades 2 and plans their next project based on team passion rather than growth ambitions, contrasting with industry layoffs and closures; their focus on modesty and team cohesion has helped them thrive in a tumultuous industry.
Hell is Us' creative director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête criticized Team Cherry's surprise release of Hollow Knight: Silksong, calling it 'a little callous' due to the short notice and impact on other games like Hell is Us, which was released on the same day. He highlighted the challenges of releasing games in a crowded market and the difficulty of securing a quiet release window today.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a French RPG by Sandfall, has sold over 4.4 million copies worldwide, with rapid initial sales and strong ongoing performance, highlighting its success despite a modest budget and competitive pricing.
Former industry executives, including a former Xbox VP, criticize Xbox Game Pass for potentially harming retail game sales and not adequately compensating content creators, raising concerns about the long-term health of game development and the industry.
Ex-Bethesda boss Pete Hines criticizes Xbox Game Pass, highlighting how short-sighted decisions in subscription-based gaming are harming content creators and questioning the sustainability of the model, despite its popularity and perceived value.
A year after its release, Sony's Concord is considered the worst video game launch of all time due to its disastrous player count, massive financial loss, and quick shutdown, marking a significant failure in the industry and raising questions about Sony's judgment in its live-service game strategy.
Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden criticizes Xbox Game Pass, warning it may harm game developers by discouraging creative risk-taking and turning them into 'wage slaves,' raising concerns about the long-term health of the industry.
Gamers and developers are protesting against the censorship of NSFW games, which is often enforced through financial censorship by payment processors like Stripe, Visa, and PayPal, impacting what can be sold or hosted online. Industry groups emphasize the importance of artistic freedom and warn that such restrictions threaten creative expression, with some organizations gathering information to oppose overly cautious enforcement that leads to self-censorship.
Virtuos, the studio behind Oblivion Remastered and other major titles, is reportedly laying off 7% of its staff (around 300 employees) across multiple regions due to financial strains from over-investment in Oblivion and a freeze on raises and bonuses, with protests and concerns about future capacity. The industry continues to face widespread layoffs, exemplified by recent cuts at Microsoft.
Virtuos, a game development studio known for Oblivion Remastered and supporting major titles like Cyberpunk 2077, is laying off around 300 employees, primarily in China and France, reflecting broader industry challenges despite its diverse portfolio.,