All articles tagged with #self publishing
Remedy Entertainment has appointed Jean-Charles 'JC' Gaudechon, a veteran gaming executive with prior senior roles at EA and CCP Games, as its new CEO, effective March 1 to succeed interim CEO Markus Mäki. Gaudechon, who will relocate to Finland, pledges profitable growth and a stronger independence path through self-publishing while continuing to build Remedy’s creative identity and pipeline.
A romance author experiments with AI to rapidly churn out novels, discovering that bots can speed production but struggle with emotional nuance, sexual tension, and authentic representation. While some writers embrace AI to publish dozens of titles under multiple pen names, industry leaders warn of market floods and readers’ desire for human connection, highlighting ongoing debates over ethics, disclosure, and the evolving romance landscape as AI-generated books gain traction.
The author decided to self-publish after canceling a traditional book deal, citing issues with publisher demands, AI trend influence, and personal motivation, highlighting the shifting landscape of technical publishing and the benefits of self-publishing.
Youbooks is an AI-powered tool that helps users write research-backed non-fiction books, blending multiple AI models for reliable content creation. It offers a lifetime subscription for $49 (regularly $540), allowing users to generate, download, and sell their books with full rights.
Kobo, a platform known for being more open than Amazon Kindle, has updated its Terms of Service to include AI features, causing concern among authors about how their work may be used or misrepresented, with no clear opt-out options and potential impacts on their relationship with readers.
Taylor Swift's self-published book about her Eras Tour, released on Black Friday, is facing backlash from fans due to numerous typos and layout issues. Despite selling 814,000 copies over the holiday weekend and becoming a bestseller, readers have criticized the book for grammatical errors, clunky sentences, and poor image layouts. Fans have dubbed it "The Errors Tour," attributing the mistakes to the lack of traditional publishing oversight. Many expected more behind-the-scenes content and are disappointed with the overall quality.
Taylor Swift's self-published "Eras Tour" book sold 814,000 copies in its first weekend, becoming the second-best-selling non-fiction launch after Barack Obama's "A Promised Land." Despite being sold exclusively through Target, the book's success highlights Swift's influence and business acumen, following her record-breaking tour and concert film release. The book offers fans over 500 unseen photos from the tour, though some have reported errors in the publication.
Keila Shaheen's self-published book "The Shadow Work Journal" became a best seller by leveraging TikTok for marketing and direct sales. Influencer Kohn Glay's viral TikTok video recommending the book led to over 40,000 copies sold and significant earnings, showcasing the platform's power in transforming book sales and marketing strategies.
Remedy Entertainment has acquired all rights to the Control intellectual property from 505 Games, including Control, Condor, and Control 2. The transaction allows Remedy to explore self-publishing or finding a new partner for future Control projects. The maximum purchase price for the transaction is approximately €17 million, and Remedy will pay the net purchase price in three cash instalments over the next twelve months. Remedy CEO Tero Virtala expressed gratitude to 505 Games for their partnership and stated that having complete ownership over the Control franchise gives them the freedom to decide the best path forward.
Inkitt, a self-publishing platform, has raised $37 million in a Series C funding round led by Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures, bringing its total funding to $117 million. The startup uses AI to identify and develop compelling stories from its app, Inkitt, and distribute them through its second app, Galatea. It aims to expand into games, audiobooks, and video content, with a vision to become the "Disney of the 21st century." Despite declining reading trends, Inkitt has seen engagement rise and claims to have a higher success rate in publishing best-selling books than traditional publishers. The company's focus on AI-generated and personalized content has attracted investor interest, aligning with the belief that the future of entertainment will be hyper-personalized.
Hello Games, the developers of No Man's Sky, have announced their new fantasy game, Light No Fire. Despite the controversy surrounding No Man's Sky's initial release, Hello Games has learned from their mistakes and demonstrated their commitment to continuous improvement. With Light No Fire, Hello Games will have more creative and financial freedom as they self-publish the game, avoiding the pressures of a major publisher. The successful turnaround of No Man's Sky and the support from the gaming community are testaments to Hello Games' dedication. While a successful launch is crucial in a competitive gaming landscape, Hello Games deserves faith and support as they strive to deliver an exceptional gaming experience.
The landscape for indie game developers has shifted from a self-publishing-first model to one that prioritizes deal-making and acquisitions with publishers. Prominent publishers like Annapurna Interactive, Devolver Digital, and Netflix have been actively supporting indie projects, providing financial support, marketing, and resources to help these developers bring their visions to life. This shift has created a boom in the world of indie games, but it also raises concerns about potential exploitation and the consolidation of power in the hands of publishers. Nonetheless, many indie developers see the current system of bespoke publishing as a functional and stable way to bring their games to a wider audience.