<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> <rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title>GamesIndustry.biz Latest Articles Feed</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/feed</link><description>This is a feed of the latest articles from GamesIndustry.biz.</description><atom:link href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/feed" rel="self"></atom:link><language>en-us</language><lastBuildDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000</lastBuildDate><item><title>PS5 hits 2m UK sales, making it the fourth fastest-selling games console of all time</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ps5-hits-2m-uk-sales-making-it-the-fourth-fastest-selling-games-console-of-all-time</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Christopher Dring</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2022 08:30:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ps5-hits-2m-uk-sales-making-it-the-fourth-fastest-selling-games-console-of-all-time</guid><category>GfK</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Annotation-2022-10-12-175144.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Annotation-2022-10-12-175144.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Annotation-2022-10-12-175144.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Annotation-2022-10-12-175144.png" /> <p> The PlayStation 5 has broken past two million sales in the UK. </p><p> It is the fourth fastest home console to reach the figure, matching the PS3 but behind the PS4 (No.3), the PS2 (No.2) and Nintendo Wii (No.1). All data is courtesy of GfK. </p><p> The console's performance has been held back due to stock shortages. Nevertheless, it is the most lucrative console to reach two million sales, having generated &pound;919 million. By comparison, Wii had generated &pound;358 million at two million sales, PS4 &pound;700 million and Xbox One (the previous highest) &pound;726 million. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ps5-hits-2m-uk-sales-making-it-the-fourth-fastest-selling-games-console-of-all-time">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Homa raises $100m in Series B funding round</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/homa-raises-100m-in-series-b-funding-round</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 21:02:31 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/homa-raises-100m-in-series-b-funding-round</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Homa</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Co-founders-Homa-Series-B.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Co-founders-Homa-Series-B.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Co-founders-Homa-Series-B.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Co-founders-Homa-Series-B.jpg" /> <p> Mobile games publisher Homa Games announced that it has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round. </p><p> Last year the company amassed <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/homa-games-raises-usd15m-for-hypercasual-titles">a total</a><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/homa-games-raises-usd50m"> of $65 million in funding</a>. </p><p> The company was founded by CEO Daniel Nathan and chief revenue officer Le Bas in 2018, it is based in Paris, Ile-de-France. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/homa-raises-100m-in-series-b-funding-round">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Testronic launches new localization studio in Portugal</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/testronic-launches-new-localization-studio-in-portugal</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 19:16:07 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/testronic-launches-new-localization-studio-in-portugal</guid><category>Testronic</category><category>localization</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Lisbon_office-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Lisbon_office-00.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Lisbon_office-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Lisbon_office-00.jpg" /> <p> Testronic announced that it has launched a new localization studio in Lisbon, Portugal. </p><p> Founded in 1998 and headquartered in London, the firm offers companies games services such as translation and live operation support. </p><p> Testronic also said that the Libson office will strengthen its functionality QA services and player support operations. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/testronic-launches-new-localization-studio-in-portugal">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Tuque Games rebrands as Invoke Studios</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tuque-games-rebrands-as-invoke-studios</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 17:57:06 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tuque-games-rebrands-as-invoke-studios</guid><category>Invoke Studios</category><category>Development</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Invoke-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Invoke-00.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Invoke-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Invoke-00.jpg" /> <p> Wizards of the Coast has announced that video game developer Tuque Games has been renamed Invoke Studios. </p><p> Established in 2012 and based in Montreal, the company developed the 2016 cooperative shooter Livelock. </p><p> During 2019, <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/wizards-of-the-coast-acquires-tuque-games">Invoke was acquired by Wizards of the Coast </a>and it is currently developing a AAA game based on the Dungeons and Dragons IP. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tuque-games-rebrands-as-invoke-studios">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Activision Blizzard facing another sexual harassment suit</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-facing-another-sexual-harassment-suit</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 17:09:31 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-facing-another-sexual-harassment-suit</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>Legal</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/WCCFactivisionblizzard11.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/WCCFactivisionblizzard11.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/WCCFactivisionblizzard11.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/WCCFactivisionblizzard11.jpg" /> <p> <strong><em>[Content warning: The following story contains details of sexual harassment and blackmail.]</em></strong> </p><p> Activision Blizzard is being sued by another former employee alleging sexual harassment, according to the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11300499/Call-Duty-video-game-maker-Activision-Blizzard-sued-female-worker-sexual-assault.html">Daily Mail</a>. </p><p> The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who claims product manager Miguel Vega groped her, belittled her, and made frequent unwanted sexual advances toward her. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-facing-another-sexual-harassment-suit">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Lawsuit accuses State of Survival makers of misleading pricing</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-accuses-state-of-survival-makers-of-misleading-pricing</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:46:39 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-accuses-state-of-survival-makers-of-misleading-pricing</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Funplus</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/SoS-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/SoS-00.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/SoS-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/SoS-00.jpg" /> <p> A lawsuit filed against Funplus International and KingsGroup Holdings claims that the pair have been misleading consumers for years about sales in the mobile game State of Survival. </p><p> <a href="https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/video-games/state-of-survival-class-action-alleges-game-falsely-advertises-former-price-of-microtransactions/">As reported by Top Class Actions</a>, the complaint accuses the companies of advertising limited time sales next to supposedly normal prices, even though it never actually charged users the normal price. The suit was filed on September 2 in a California federal court. </p><p>The complaint alleges misleading practices which include telling users that they will receive discounts of 99%, for example players would pay an amount of $9.99 for a bundle that is normally priced at $997.40.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-accuses-state-of-survival-makers-of-misleading-pricing">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Valve's six tips on optimising your game for Steam Deck</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-six-tips-on-optimising-your-game-for-steam-deck</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:52:50 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-six-tips-on-optimising-your-game-for-steam-deck</guid><category>Valve</category><category>Steam Deck</category><category>How to make money from video games</category><category>Academy</category><category>GI Live London</category><category>Steam</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/steam-deck-dog.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/steam-deck-dog.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/steam-deck-dog.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/steam-deck-dog.jpg" /> <p> Steam Deck, Valve's portable games device, launched earlier this year and gives players a Switch-like experience for playing PC games. </p><p> After months of long wait times for anyone who ordered, Valve has announced the <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-steam-deck-is-now-readily-available-for-purchase">Steam Deck is now readily available for purchase</a> &ndash; so what better time to ensure your PC titles are compatible with it? </p><p> At GI Live: London last month, Valve designer Alden Kroll and business development head Erik Peterson answered developer questions and gave advice on a range of subjects, including how to optimise your game for Steam Deck. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-six-tips-on-optimising-your-game-for-steam-deck">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Haven wants to clarify machine learning's fuzzy future</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/haven-wants-to-clarify-machine-learnings-fuzzy-future</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:51:01 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/haven-wants-to-clarify-machine-learnings-fuzzy-future</guid><category>Development</category><category>Haven Studios LLC</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/haven-ai-ml.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/haven-ai-ml.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/haven-ai-ml.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/haven-ai-ml.jpg" /> <p> Yesterday, we ran <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/machine-learnings-potential-for-players-and-developers">a story about a panel</a> in which Haven Studios CEO Jade Raymond and chief technology officer Leon O'Reilly talked with PlayStation 4 and 5 hardware architect Mark Cerny about the studio's experiments in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and how such technologies might shape the industry in the future. </p><p>After the panel, we are given a chance to speak with O'Reilly and Raymond about the Montreal studio's hopes for the new tech. Both been around the games industry for a while, and they've seen a variety of heavily hyped new technologies come down the pipe &ndash; digital distribution, stereoscopic 3D, AR, VR, cloud streaming &ndash; and succeed or fail to widely varying degrees. Wtih that in mind, we ask if their attitude toward each "next big thing" has changed over the years. </p><p> "I'm still very optimistic," O'Reilly says. "We're very focused on game development for a lot of these technologies, and we're very clear on what problems we're trying to solve and how these will more efficiently solve them. When you have consumer-facing technologies, you don't always know whether there's going to be a market there for your technology or not, and that's often why they fail. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/haven-wants-to-clarify-machine-learnings-fuzzy-future">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Take-Two CEO says Microsoft-Activision acquisition "a good thing"</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/take-two-ceo-says-microsoft-activision-acquisition-a-good-thing</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 14:08:37 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/take-two-ceo-says-microsoft-activision-acquisition-a-good-thing</guid><category>Take-Two Interactive</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/zelnickwrapinterview.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/zelnickwrapinterview.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/zelnickwrapinterview.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/zelnickwrapinterview.jpg" /> <p> As international anti-trust regulators <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-regulator-details-concerns-over-microsofts-proposed-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard-xbox-responds">examine Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard</a>, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has come out in favor of the union. </p><p> In <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja39VKlxprs&amp;t=409s">an interview with The Wrap</a>, Zelnick stopped short of predicting what the regulators would decide, but said he would welcome the deal going ahead. </p><p> "We're certainly of the belief that it's a good thing for Microsoft and for the industry," Zelnick said. "We're in favor&hellip; It's a highly fragmented business and there's plenty of room for creativity to go around. Microsoft is an ally of ours, and if this makes their business more powerful, we think that's good for us." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/take-two-ceo-says-microsoft-activision-acquisition-a-good-thing">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Whitethorn Games shares updated publishing agreement and transparency breakdown</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/whitethorn-games-shares-updated-publishing-agreement-and-transparency-breakdown</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 11:40:48 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/whitethorn-games-shares-updated-publishing-agreement-and-transparency-breakdown</guid><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/whitethorn-logo.jfif/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/whitethorn-logo.jfif"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/whitethorn-logo.jfif/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/whitethorn-logo.jfif" /> <p> US publisher Whitethorn Games has shared its publishing agreement online, alongside a transparency report that gives insight into how much its staff are paid, the amount of funding its games get, and how much the firm recoups in return. </p><p> According to the report, Whitethorn takes an average of 28% of a title's net revenue, with the lowest and highest percentage ever requested being 8% and 35%, respectively. </p><p> It also states that the average amount of funding a title receives stands at $232,000, with the highest figure spent on one game alone hitting $340,000. The average marketing spend per title falls at approximately $56,000. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/whitethorn-games-shares-updated-publishing-agreement-and-transparency-breakdown">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Sony paid $3.5m to put Ark Survival Evolved on PS Plus</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-paid-35m-to-put-ark-survival-evolved-on-ps-plus</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 09:42:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-paid-35m-to-put-ark-survival-evolved-on-ps-plus</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Retail</category><category>Ark: Survival Evolved</category><category>Ark 2</category><category>Snail Games</category><category>Studio Wildcard</category><category>subscription</category><category>Game Pass</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Ark-Survival-Evolved.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Ark-Survival-Evolved.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Ark-Survival-Evolved.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Ark-Survival-Evolved.jpeg" /> <p> Sony paid $3.5 million to secure Ark Survival Evolved as a PlayStation Plus title in March 2022. </p><p> The information was shared as part of an <a href="https://sec.report/Document/0001104659-22-100894/">SEC filing</a> from Studio Wildcard parent company Snail Games, <a href="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-and-sony-paid-millions-to-have-ark-games-on-their-subscription-services/">VGC</a> reported. </p><p> The report also included some information about Studio Wildcard's deal with Microsoft to have Ark titles on Game Pass. The initial agreement expired in 2021, but was then extended for Ark: Survival Evolved, while Ark 2 will be on Game Pass for three years. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-paid-35m-to-put-ark-survival-evolved-on-ps-plus">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>UK regulator details concerns over Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Xbox responds</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-regulator-details-concerns-over-microsofts-proposed-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard-xbox-responds</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Christopher Dring</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 09:20:03 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-regulator-details-concerns-over-microsofts-proposed-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard-xbox-responds</guid><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/actihq.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/actihq.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/actihq.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/actihq.jpeg" /> <p> The Competition and Markets Authority has detailed its concerns over Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. </p><p> The UK regulator is seen as the key element as to whether this deal would be allowed to go ahead. The deal did not pass the initial phase of approval, and has <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cma-recommends-second-phase-of-microsoft-activision-investigation ">been sent to a second phase. </a> </p><p> Now the group has cited its concerns over the deal, and Microsoft has responded to them. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-regulator-details-concerns-over-microsofts-proposed-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard-xbox-responds">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks in the wake of Stadia shutdown</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/google-announces-cloud-gaming-chromebooks-in-the-wake-of-stadia-shutdown</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 12 Oct 2022 08:54:03 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/google-announces-cloud-gaming-chromebooks-in-the-wake-of-stadia-shutdown</guid><category>Google</category><category>streaming games</category><category>cloud gaming</category><category>Stadia</category><category>Google Stadia</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/chromebook-gaming_MYCfD3N.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/chromebook-gaming_MYCfD3N.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/chromebook-gaming_MYCfD3N.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/chromebook-gaming_MYCfD3N.jpg" /> <p> Google has unveiled a range of Chromebooks "built for cloud gaming," despite only recently announcing the upcoming shutdown of its own cloud gaming service Stadia. </p><p> <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/google-announces-cloud-gaming-chromebooks-less-than-a-fortnight-after-stadia-shutdown">Eurogamer</a> reports the firm released details of the Ideapad Gaming Chromebook, the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, all of which have been built to specifications that enable games streaming. </p><p> All three will have 120Hz+ high resolution screens, and have been tested by GameBench to run titles at 120 frames per second with input latency of less than 85ms. Models will either have WiFi 6 or 6E connections, and some will feature RGB gaming keyboards. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/google-announces-cloud-gaming-chromebooks-in-the-wake-of-stadia-shutdown">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Meta acquires Camouflaj, Armature Studio, and Twisted Pixel</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meta-acquires-camouflaj-armature-studio-and-twisted-pixel</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:59:42 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meta-acquires-camouflaj-armature-studio-and-twisted-pixel</guid><category>Development</category><category>Meta</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Meta-Acquisitions_10-11-22-1024x576.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Meta-Acquisitions_10-11-22-1024x576.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Meta-Acquisitions_10-11-22-1024x576.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Meta-Acquisitions_10-11-22-1024x576.jpg" /> <p> Meta announced during its Connect Keynote 2022 that it has acquired Camouflaj, Armature Studio, and Twisted Pixel. </p><p> The news of the three studios joining Oculus Studios took place as it also revealed the <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/facebook-acquiring-oculus-for-usd2-billion">Meta Quest Pro</a>. </p><p> Founded in 2011, Camouflaj developed the adventure title R&eacute;publique for consoles and PC. It was revealed that the studio has partnered with Marvel Entertainment, Endeavor One, and Sony Interactive Entertainment to bring Marvel's Iron Man VR to the Meta Quest 2 on November 3. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meta-acquires-camouflaj-armature-studio-and-twisted-pixel">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Meta Quest Pro headset announced, launching October 25</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meta-quest-pro-headset-announced-launching-october-25</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 19:30:01 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meta-quest-pro-headset-announced-launching-october-25</guid><category>Development</category><category>Meta</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/meta-quest-pro-03.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/meta-quest-pro-03.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/meta-quest-pro-03.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/meta-quest-pro-03.jpg" /> <p><strong>Original story, October 11, 2022: </strong> Meta unveiled the Meta Quest Pro during its Connect Keynote 2022 today. </p><p> The new VR headset will launch on October 25 at $1,499, with 256 GB in storage. </p><p> When compared to the Meta Quest 2, the Pro's optical lenses will be 40% lighter, Meta said. It will also feature higher-resolution screens. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/meta-quest-pro-headset-announced-launching-october-25">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Revealed: The finalists for the 2022 Canada Best Places To Work Awards</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/revealed-the-finalists-for-the-2022-canada-best-places-to-work-awards</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">GamesIndustry Staff</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 15:51:32 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/revealed-the-finalists-for-the-2022-canada-best-places-to-work-awards</guid><category>MEGAMIGS 2022</category><category>Development</category><category>Jobs</category><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/best_places_canada.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/best_places_canada.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/best_places_canada.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/best_places_canada.jpg" /> <p> The finalists for the 2022 Best Places To Work Awards Canada have been revealed. </p><p> Electronic Arts and Relic Entertainment have been nominated in four categories, while Behaviour Interactive has picked up three nominations. </p><p> These are the finalists for our Special Awards only, which are for excellence in specific areas. The winners of these awards, plus the main Best Places badge winners, will be revealed on Tuesday, October 18th during a digital awards presentation (airs 2pm Montreal time). </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/revealed-the-finalists-for-the-2022-canada-best-places-to-work-awards">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Quantic Lab faces further claims of poor management and misleading clients</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/quantic-lab-faces-further-claims-of-poor-management-and-misleading-clients</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:40:23 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/quantic-lab-faces-further-claims-of-poor-management-and-misleading-clients</guid><category>Development</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cyberpunk_hacker_2.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cyberpunk_hacker_2.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cyberpunk_hacker_2.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cyberpunk_hacker_2.jpeg" /> <p> QA outsourcing firm Quantic Labs is facing more allegations of poor management and deceiving its clients, according to sources at the company. </p><p> Speaking to <a href="https://www.pcgamer.com/quantic-QA-tester-report/">PC Gamer</a>, two current and eight former employees at the Embracer-owned company, said it was allegedly accepting more projects than it had the capacity for on a consistent basis. </p><p> As a result, its staff were reportedly spread too thin, leading to projects without enough resources and poor quality work being delivered to clients on titles including Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, Divinity: Original Sin 2 and others. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/quantic-lab-faces-further-claims-of-poor-management-and-misleading-clients">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Machine learning's potential for players and developers</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/machine-learnings-potential-for-players-and-developers</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 14:16:51 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/machine-learnings-potential-for-players-and-developers</guid><category>Development</category><category>PlayStation</category><category>Haven Studios LLC</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Haven-Studios-Panel.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Haven-Studios-Panel.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Haven-Studios-Panel.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Haven-Studios-Panel.jpg" /> <p> By now, Haven Studios should be comfortable working on the technological edge. </p><p> After all, much of the studio's founding team came from Google, where they were working to create first-party Stadia games that would showcase the power of cloud streaming technology. </p><p> Haven is with Sony these days &ndash; the PlayStation maker provided investment for the start-up and <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/jade-raymonds-haven-studio-is-already-inspiring-other-playstation-studios-and-not-just-with-its-game">outright acquired it earlier this year</a> &ndash; but the devs have still been relying on cloud tech to help with hybrid remote/local development, and are looking to push the envelope to see how other emerging technologies can change the way games are made. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/machine-learnings-potential-for-players-and-developers">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Cathay Capital reportedly pours €50m into Shiro Games</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cathay-capital-reportedly-pours-50m-into-shiro-games</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:23:11 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cathay-capital-reportedly-pours-50m-into-shiro-games</guid><category>investment</category><category>Shiro Games</category><category>Financial</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Shiro_Y7IEx65.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Shiro_Y7IEx65.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Shiro_Y7IEx65.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Shiro_Y7IEx65.jpeg" /> <p> Dune: Spice Wars developer Shiro Games has a new investor, Cathay Capital. </p><p> The French studio didn't disclose the deal's figures but French newspaper <a href="https://www.lesechos.fr/tech-medias/hightech/jeux-video-la-pepite-francaise-shiro-games-valorisee-150-millions-deuros-1867794">Les Echos</a> reported that the investment was just shy of &euro;50 million. </p><p> The publication added that it's Cathay Capital's first investment in the games industry, with Shiro now valued at &euro;150 million. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cathay-capital-reportedly-pours-50m-into-shiro-games">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Splatoon 3 sold 2.7m boxed copies in three weeks | Japan Monthly Charts</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/splatoon-3-sold-27m-boxed-copies-in-three-weeks-japan-monthly-charts</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 10:36:22 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/splatoon-3-sold-27m-boxed-copies-in-three-weeks-japan-monthly-charts</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>famitsu</category><category>Retail</category><category>Splatoon 3</category><category>Charts</category><category>Nintendo</category><category>japan</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Splatoon_3.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Splatoon_3.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Splatoon_3.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Splatoon_3.jpeg" /> <p> Splatoon 3 was comfortably the biggest selling game at Japanese retail last month. </p><p> Nintendo's cartoony shooter shifted 2.7 million physical copies following its release on September 9, according to the latest charts from Famitsu. </p><p> The platform holder previously announced that Splatoon 3 <a href="https://www.nintendo.co.jp/corporate/release/en/2022/220912.html">sold 3.45 million physical and digital copies in Japan</a> within three days, making it Switch's fastest-selling game in the company's home market. It also scored the franchise's <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/splatoon-franchise-scores-its-first-ever-uk-no1-uk-boxed-charts">first No.1 in the UK retail charts</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/splatoon-3-sold-27m-boxed-copies-in-three-weeks-japan-monthly-charts">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Game Pass reportedly made $2.9bn on consoles in 2021</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/game-pass-reportedly-made-29bn-on-consoles-in-2021</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 11 Oct 2022 10:33:18 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/game-pass-reportedly-made-29bn-on-consoles-in-2021</guid><category>Retail</category><category>Xbox</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>Financial</category><category>Game Pass</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/1588287408_Xbox_Game_Pass_supera_la_barriera_dei_10_milioni_di.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/1588287408_Xbox_Game_Pass_supera_la_barriera_dei_10_milioni_di.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/1588287408_Xbox_Game_Pass_supera_la_barriera_dei_10_milioni_di.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/1588287408_Xbox_Game_Pass_supera_la_barriera_dei_10_milioni_di.jpg" /> <p> Xbox Game Pass reportedly generated $2.9 billion on consoles during the calendar year 2021, according to documents from Brazil's Administrative Council for Economic Defence. </p><p> The figures were shared by <a href="https://www.tweaktown.com/news/88846/microsoft-reveals-how-much-money-game-pass-actually-makes/index.html">TweakTown</a>, based on <a href="https://sei.cade.gov.br/sei/modulos/pesquisa/md_pesq_documento_consulta_externa.php?HJ7F4wnIPj2Y8B7Bj80h1lskjh7ohC8yMfhLoDBLddZWoazymAm3fzadi2ZAXvLcQ_mPnh9TKYr-vfYEwy6keZZOMKZczt9vQOXNv1vNhntbvXC7ELtVe2yf0-z4a85-#_Toc113614646">documents</a> released by CADE following its <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-approved-by-brazilian-regulator">approval of the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard deal</a> last week. </p><p> Revenue made from Game Pass on PC was not included, and there wasn't any further detail about the figure. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/game-pass-reportedly-made-29bn-on-consoles-in-2021">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Playrix to close Russia and Belarus offices and relocate staff</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playrix-to-close-russia-and-belarus-offices-and-relocate-staff-report</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 14:20:44 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playrix-to-close-russia-and-belarus-offices-and-relocate-staff-report</guid><category>Playrix</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Playrix.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Playrix.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Playrix.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Playrix.png" /> <p><strong>Update, October 11, 2022:</strong> Playrix has confirmed it is pulling out of Russia and Belarus "due to the continued aggression against Ukraine and in order to maintain its operations."</p><p>The company clarified that it already ceased commercial activities in these two markets at the beginning of the war. It has since relocated hundreds of employees to offices across Europe, including new ones opened this year.</p><p>Now the company will close all offices in Russia and Belarus, shut down all operations of any development studios in the region, and relocate any remaining staff to other countries.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playrix-to-close-russia-and-belarus-offices-and-relocate-staff-report">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Don't do that: What to avoid when soft launching a game</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dont-do-that-what-to-avoid-when-soft-launching-a-game</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Sergey Ryabtsev &amp; Alina Zlotnik</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 13:12:08 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dont-do-that-what-to-avoid-when-soft-launching-a-game</guid><category>How to make money from video games</category><category>User acquisition</category><category>Marketing</category><category>Mobile</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Key_Art_L%26F_1.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Key_Art_L%26F_1.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Key_Art_L%26F_1.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Key_Art_L%26F_1.png" /> <p> If you're reading this article, it's highly likely you know what a soft launch is and why we need it. So instead of focusing on things you might already know, we'll concentrate on mistakes developers and publishers commonly make when they launch their mobile games. </p><p> We'll take Love &amp; Flowers, one of the games from our portfolio that was eventually cancelled, as an example, going through its problems and some ways to solve them. </p><p> Soft launch is the release of a game to a restricted audience in advance of a worldwide launch in order to improve the product based on the received feedback. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/dont-do-that-what-to-avoid-when-soft-launching-a-game">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Sonic the Hedgehog film producer forms media company Story Kitchen</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sonic-the-hedgehog-film-producer-forms-media-company-story-kitchen</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:53:12 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sonic-the-hedgehog-film-producer-forms-media-company-story-kitchen</guid><category>Media</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/sonic-2_tiJf698.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/sonic-2_tiJf698.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/sonic-2_tiJf698.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/sonic-2_tiJf698.jpg" /> <p> Dmitri Johnson, co-producer of the successful Sonic the Hedgehog movie series, has partnered up with John Wick writer Derek Kolstad to launch Story Kitchen, a new media firm. </p><p> Johnson is the founder of dj2 Entertainment, which is best known for bringing video game adaptations to the big screen and beyond. The studio's other upcoming projects include a Tomb Raider TV series, and an It Takes Two movie based on Hazelight's hit game. </p><p> Kolstad is best known for his work on the John Wick movie series, but is also currently working on a Splinter Cell anime with Netflix. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sonic-the-hedgehog-film-producer-forms-media-company-story-kitchen">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Activision Blizzard appoints new EVP corporate affairs and chief communications officer</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-appoints-new-evp-corporate-affairs-and-chief-communications-officer</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:23:58 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-appoints-new-evp-corporate-affairs-and-chief-communications-officer</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>Recruitment</category><category>Jobs</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Lulu-Cheng-Meservey_DiJ4qD9.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Lulu-Cheng-Meservey_DiJ4qD9.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Lulu-Cheng-Meservey_DiJ4qD9.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Lulu-Cheng-Meservey_DiJ4qD9.jpeg" /> <p> Activision Blizzard has appointed Lulu Cheng Meservey as executive vice president for corporate affairs and chief communications officer. </p><p> In this newly created role, Meservey is due to "shape the company&rsquo;s strategic direction" and "lead its communications efforts" as part of the leadership team, the announcement said. </p><p> Meservey had been serving on Activision Blizzard's board since April; she stepped down from the board to take on her new role. She also was part of the company's workplace responsibility committee that was <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-creates-workplace-responsibility-committee">created in 2021</a> after the <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-filed-against-activision-blizzard-for-harassment-and-discrimination-against-women">lawsuit for harassment and discrimination against women</a> filed against the company in July 2021. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-appoints-new-evp-corporate-affairs-and-chief-communications-officer">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>EA desktop app set to replace Origin now available</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-desktop-app-set-to-replace-origin-now-available</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:11:31 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-desktop-app-set-to-replace-origin-now-available</guid><category>Electronic Arts</category><category>Retail</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/ea-app.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/ea-app.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/ea-app.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/ea-app.png" /> <p> A new desktop app set to replace EA's Origin is now available to download. </p><p> Simply dubbed the EA app, the "new, enhanced PC platform" will see Origin, which launched in 2011, slowly phased out. </p><p> Access to games and content, plus progress, achievements, cloud saves and friends lists and other data pertaining to Origin accounts should transfer seamlessly over to the EA app. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-desktop-app-set-to-replace-origin-now-available">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Square Enix Montreal rebrands as Onoma</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-montreal-rebrands-as-onoma</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 10 Oct 2022 09:07:59 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-montreal-rebrands-as-onoma</guid><category>Square Enix Montréal</category><category>Onoma</category><category>Embracer Group</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Onoma.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Onoma.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Onoma.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Onoma.jpeg" /> <p> Five months after being acquired by Embracer, Square Enix Montreal has now been renamed Onoma. </p><p> In a <a href="https://www.studio-onoma.com/en/studio-onoma-our-rebrand-story/">post on its new website</a> going into detail about the rebrand, the company explained that Onoma is Greek for "name," adding that a "Rebrand Squad" was created soon after the <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/embracer-acquires-crystal-dynamics-eidos-montreal-and-square-enix-montreal-for-usd300m">studio was acquired, in May 2022</a>. </p><p> The post said that a total of 165 names were considered before settling on Onoma, with one of the main criteria being for it to "be easy to pronounce in both French and English." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-montreal-rebrands-as-onoma">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Fourth Floor acquires video production company Explosive Alan</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fourth-floor-acquires-video-production-company-explosive-alan</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 21:43:47 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fourth-floor-acquires-video-production-company-explosive-alan</guid><category>mergers</category><category>Business</category><category>aqcuisition</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/F-F-1010.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/F-F-1010.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/F-F-1010.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/F-F-1010.jpg" /> <p> Advertising service provider Fourth Floor has acquired video production company Explosive Alan. </p><p> Founded in 2017, it has collaborated with gaming firms such as Ubisoft, Square Enix, and NetEase. </p><p> The company said that with the acquisition it aims to grow its audience via marketing, animation and social media sales. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fourth-floor-acquires-video-production-company-explosive-alan">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Bidstack secures $11m in funding round</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bidstack-secures-11m-in-funding-round</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 20:41:17 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bidstack-secures-11m-in-funding-round</guid><category>Bidstack</category><category>advertising</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/bid-stack-00.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/bid-stack-00.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/bid-stack-00.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/bid-stack-00.png" /> <p> In-game advertising and video game monetization platform Bidstack announced that it's acquired $11 million in a new funding round. </p><p> Founded in 2015, the company has gone on to work with game publishers such as Codemasters and Take-Two. </p><p> The latest funding round included a $6 million investment from software giant and Denuvo owner Irdeto. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bidstack-secures-11m-in-funding-round">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Valve's Steam Deck is now readily available for purchase</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-steam-deck-is-now-readily-available-for-purchase</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 18:51:02 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-steam-deck-is-now-readily-available-for-purchase</guid><category>Valve</category><category>Steam Deck</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/steam-deck-00.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/steam-deck-00.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/steam-deck-00.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/steam-deck-00.png" /> <p> Valve has announced that the Steam Deck is now readily available for purchase, this news comes a year after the handheld system was announced <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-unveils-steam-deck-pc-gaming-handheld">back in July 2021</a>. </p><p> Months prior the platform holder said that pre-order <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-shortens-steam-deck-wait-times">wait times became shorter</a>. </p><p> Last year, parts shortages and COVID-related factory closures <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valve-delays-steam-deck">prompted delays</a> both to the system itself and accessories like the docking station. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/valves-steam-deck-is-now-readily-available-for-purchase">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Adult game publisher says Nintendo getting stricter on nudity</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/adult-game-publisher-says-nintendo-getting-stricter-on-nudity</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 15:37:50 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/adult-game-publisher-says-nintendo-getting-stricter-on-nudity</guid><category>Nintendo</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/screen3-(1).jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/screen3-(1).jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/screen3-(1).jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/screen3-(1).jpg" /> <p> Games publisher Gamuzumi said its upcoming titles Hot Tentacles Shoot and Elves Christmas Hentai Puzzle were rejected by Nintendo for featuring nudity. </p><p> The company <a href="https://twitter.com/gamuzumi/status/1575862637438517248">said on Twitter</a> that Nintendo was concerned that obscene content could damage its brand. </p><p> Previous Gamuzumi releases with ESRB descriptors for nudity included Elves Fantasy Hentai Puzzle and Inside Her (Bedroom), which remain available as of this writing. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/adult-game-publisher-says-nintendo-getting-stricter-on-nudity">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Has CD Projekt overburdened itself? | This Week In Business</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/has-cd-projekt-overburdened-itself-this-week-in-business</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:53:01 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/has-cd-projekt-overburdened-itself-this-week-in-business</guid><category>CD Projekt RED</category><category>Development</category><category>This Week in Business</category><category>The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt</category><category>Cyberpunk 2077</category><category>Business</category><category>CD Projekt</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/the_witcher_3_6006826.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/the_witcher_3_6006826.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/the_witcher_3_6006826.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/the_witcher_3_6006826.jpg" /> <p> CD Projekt announced a lot of games this week. Perhaps too many. </p><p> The company <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cd-projekt-joint-ceo-steps-down-as-studio-confirms-new-slate-of-releases">released its group strategy update on Tuesday</a>, a presentation primarily for investors but shared publicly where the studio's ravenous fans could start lapping up what few details were given. </p><p> The long and the short of it was, in addition to the bits and pieces the company's development teams are already working on (such as the Phantom Liberty DLC for Cyberpunk 2077 and the next-gen update for The Witcher 3 they're <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cd-projekt-red-brings-witcher-3-next-gen-update-in-house-delays-it-indefinitely">supposed to be working on</a>), the company now has seven new projects in the works: </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/has-cd-projekt-overburdened-itself-this-week-in-business">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Multiple editorial staff laid off at Vice</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/multiple-editorial-staff-laid-off-at-vice</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:21:37 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/multiple-editorial-staff-laid-off-at-vice</guid><category>Media</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/vice-og.jfif/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/vice-og.jfif"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/vice-og.jfif/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/vice-og.jfif" /> <p>Media firm Vice has let go of several employees this week, across its games vertical Waypoint and technology arm Motherboard.</p><p>Among the staff let go are former Motherboard staff writers Gita Jackson and Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai, and former audience development manager Rachel Pick.</p><p>Both Franceschi-Bicchierai and Pick had been working across Waypoint and Motherboard for seven years, while Jackson joined Motherboard in 2020. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/multiple-editorial-staff-laid-off-at-vice">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Pitching to work on a well-known IP</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pitching-to-work-on-a-well-known-ip</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 11:54:54 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pitching-to-work-on-a-well-known-ip</guid><category>How to make money from video games</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Marketing</category><category>Dlala Studios</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/disney-illusion-island.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/disney-illusion-island.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/disney-illusion-island.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/disney-illusion-island.jpeg" /> <p>Preparing any sort of pitch can be nerve-wracking enough, whether it's for funding or a publishing deal. That's why the GamesIndustry.biz Academy has an <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-ultimate-guide-to-pitching-your-game">entire family of guides dedicated to pitching</a>.</p><p>But when you're pitching for the chance to develop a game around an established intellectual property &ndash; especially one that's already popular around the world &ndash; there can be an added level of intensity. </p><p>Fortunately, one studio that has been through this process multiple times has shared its secrets. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pitching-to-work-on-a-well-known-ip">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>After Stadia, is the future still bright for cloud streaming? | Opinion</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/after-stadia-is-the-future-still-bright-for-cloud-streaming-opinion</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Rob Fahey</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 11:07:23 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/after-stadia-is-the-future-still-bright-for-cloud-streaming-opinion</guid><category>Google</category><category>Stadia</category><category>cloud gaming</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/stadia_desk.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/stadia_desk.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/stadia_desk.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/stadia_desk.jpg" /> <p> After being predicted so widely and for so long, the end, when it finally came, was anti-climactic. <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/stadia-shutting-down">Google lost patience with Stadia</a>, just as most people had expected it to from the outset. </p><p> Establishing a foothold in the games business takes far more money, perseverance, and time than anyone ever expects &ndash; just ask Microsoft &ndash; and Google may have plenty of the former, but it&rsquo;s rarely credited with being good at maintaining focus long-term in the face of adversity. </p><p> Stadia wasn&rsquo;t an instant hit; Google&rsquo;s attention drifted, and eventually, with one swift pivot, Stadia just wasn&rsquo;t on the roadmap any more at all. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/after-stadia-is-the-future-still-bright-for-cloud-streaming-opinion">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>EU regulators surveying developer concerns over Microsoft Activision merger</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/eu-regulators-surveying-developer-concerns-over-microsoft-activision-merger</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:53:05 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/eu-regulators-surveying-developer-concerns-over-microsoft-activision-merger</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>Investigations</category><category>Industry</category><category>european union</category><category>Xbox</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>acquisition</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/activision_roster.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/activision_roster.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/activision_roster.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/activision_roster.jpg" /> <p> The European Union's antitrust regulators are preparing for their investigation into Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, including issuing surveys to developers to gauge their concerns over the deal. </p><p> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/eu-wants-know-if-microsoft-will-block-rivals-after-activision-deal-2022-10-06/">Reuters</a> reports the EU is due to make a preliminary decision on whether to approve the acquisition by November 8. Survey respondents have until October 10 to reply. </p><p> It's expected that the European Commission will begin a four-month long investigation into the deal, in line with <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-activision-acquisition-expected-to-face-deeper-investigations-in-uk-eu">reports from last month</a>. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/eu-regulators-surveying-developer-concerns-over-microsoft-activision-merger">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Ubisoft unveils global creative office</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-unveils-global-creative-office</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 21:59:21 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-unveils-global-creative-office</guid><category>Ubisoft</category><category>Development</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Ubisoft_Multi-Prod_.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Ubisoft_Multi-Prod_.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Ubisoft_Multi-Prod_.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Ubisoft_Multi-Prod_.jpg" /> <p>Ubisoft has created a new global creative office, which it says will elevate creativity and ensure that it delivers high quality games. </p><p> The organization will be made of poles, which Ubisoft said "will leverage [their] expertise to dive into the specificities of [their] audiences, game design and tech." </p><p> The company added that moving anyway from being a centralized firm can better support the key segments of the company. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-unveils-global-creative-office">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Harry Potter mobile games have amassed $1bn in player spending</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/harry-potter-mobile-games-have-amassed-1bn-in-player-spending</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 20:52:43 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/harry-potter-mobile-games-have-amassed-1bn-in-player-spending</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Sensor Tower</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/HP-00-0.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/HP-00-0.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/HP-00-0.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/HP-00-0.jpg" /> <p> Sensor Tower reports that to date, consumers worldwide have spent $1 billion on Harry Potter mobile games. </p><p> When the global revenue was broken down by digital storefronts, the App Store made up the majority at 66% of player earnings, having generated $683 million. </p><p> The Google Play marketplace pulled in 33% of earnings at $342.5 million. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/harry-potter-mobile-games-have-amassed-1bn-in-player-spending">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Report: Cloud gaming market on pace to generate $2.4bn in 2022</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-cloud-gaming-market-on-pace-to-generate-24bn-in-2022</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:24:16 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-cloud-gaming-market-on-pace-to-generate-24bn-in-2022</guid><category>Newzoo</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Newzoo_Global-Cloud-Gaming-Forecast_00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Newzoo_Global-Cloud-Gaming-Forecast_00.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Newzoo_Global-Cloud-Gaming-Forecast_00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Newzoo_Global-Cloud-Gaming-Forecast_00.jpg" /> <p> Newzoo released a new report which says that the cloud gaming market is set to generate $2.4 billion this year. </p><p> The 2022 Global Cloud Gaming Report's forecasted figure represents an increase of 74% year-over-year. </p><p> In terms of cloud gaming consumer spending by region, Asia-Pacific was number one, making up 36.5% of revenue. Europe followed having generated 30% of the earnings and North America was third at 27%. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-cloud-gaming-market-on-pace-to-generate-24bn-in-2022">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Come and Make: Iron Man</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/come-and-make-iron-man</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Sponsored Article</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/come-and-make-iron-man</guid><category>Motive Studio</category><category>Sponsored</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Annotation-2022-09-20-135505.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Annotation-2022-09-20-135505.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Annotation-2022-09-20-135505.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Annotation-2022-09-20-135505.png" /> <p> EA Motive continues to make headlines. </p><p> Based in Montreal, the developer is best known for making the critically acclaimed <em>Star Wars</em> Squadrons, and has already built a reputation for working with fan favorite IPs. It&rsquo;s currently working on the remake of Dead Space, which is due out in January. </p><p> And with Dead Space coming to the end of its development, the team has its eyes on another major project. Just two weeks ago, it announced that it is teaming up with Marvel to create a brand new Iron Man video game. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/come-and-make-iron-man">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Pete Hines promoted to Bethesda's head of global publishing</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pete-hines-promoted-to-bethesdas-head-of-global-publishing</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 16:31:07 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pete-hines-promoted-to-bethesdas-head-of-global-publishing</guid><category>Development</category><category>Jobs</category><category>Bethesda Game Studios</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Beth-execs.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Beth-execs.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Beth-execs.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Beth-execs.jpg" /> <p> Pete Hines, former senior VP of global marketing and communications at Bethesda Softworks, has been promoted to head of global publishing at the studio, <em>GamesIndustry.biz</em> can confirm. </p><p> Additionally, Erin Losi, vice president of global marketing and communications, will now lead all of Bethesda's global marketing and communication efforts. </p><p> Hines joined Bethesda Softworks in 1999 as a member of the marketing team, primarily working in a PR capacity on the studio's Fallout projects. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/pete-hines-promoted-to-bethesdas-head-of-global-publishing">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Overwatch 2 | Critical Consensus</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-critical-consensus</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 15:01:50 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-critical-consensus</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>overwatch-2</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/OW2-10101.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/OW2-10101.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/OW2-10101.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/OW2-10101.jpg" /> <p> When Activision Blizzard released the hero shooter Overwatch in 2016, it was met with positive critical and consumer reception. </p><p> Over the years, the game went on to see multiple additions and updates. It also inspired a number of games similar to itself: a colorful cast of characters with various roles, and an assortment of abilities. October 4 marked the release of its sequel, Overwatch 2 (OW2) across multiple platforms. </p><p> While Overwatch 2 is technically an overhaul of the previous game and not a separate new release with new heroes, and multiple changes, critics judged it as though it is a proper sequel to the original. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-critical-consensus">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>In these uncertain times, the games industry must hold its nerve | Opinion</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/in-these-uncertain-times-the-games-industry-must-hold-its-nerve-opinion</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Christopher Dring</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:49:02 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/in-these-uncertain-times-the-games-industry-must-hold-its-nerve-opinion</guid><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/keepcalmzelda.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/keepcalmzelda.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/keepcalmzelda.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/keepcalmzelda.jpg" /> <p> There's a quote from games exec Reggie Fils-Aime that I really like. </p><p> "When you&rsquo;re doing well, don&rsquo;t be excited about that high-flying performance. When you&rsquo;re doing poorly, don&rsquo;t be sad. Always have an even keel and always focus on the next big adventure." </p><p> It&rsquo;s a lesson from his time at Nintendo, which is a company that has a long history of jumping between success and failure. But it&rsquo;s advice that can apply to anyone to working in video games. And certainly to a few of us right now, who might be feeling a little anxious looking at the recent market data. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/in-these-uncertain-times-the-games-industry-must-hold-its-nerve-opinion">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>FunPlus furthers presence in Barcelona with a new studio</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/funplus-furthers-presence-in-barcolena-with-a-new-studio</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:25:29 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/funplus-furthers-presence-in-barcolena-with-a-new-studio</guid><category>publisher</category><category>Funplus</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/FP-FM.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/FP-FM.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/FP-FM.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/FP-FM.jpg" /> <p> FunPlus announced that it has a new game development studio in Barcelona with the intention to further grow in the country. </p><p> The expansion joins publishing division FunPlus Barcelona, which was established in 2019. </p><p> Enri Cabestany, vice president of publishing for Europe and LATAM, will oversee the new studio. He brings with him a career history of over 15 years of publishing games and managing personnel. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/funplus-furthers-presence-in-barcolena-with-a-new-studio">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Microsoft's Activision Blizzard deal approved by Brazilian regulator</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-approved-by-brazilian-regulator</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 13:20:35 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-approved-by-brazilian-regulator</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>Microsoft</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/activision-blizzard_TLkJN6p.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/activision-blizzard_TLkJN6p.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/activision-blizzard_TLkJN6p.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/activision-blizzard_TLkJN6p.jpg" /> <p> Regulators in Brazil are the latest to approve Microsoft's proposed mammoth acquisition of Activision Blizzard. </p><p> The Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE), announced yesterday that it had agreed to the merger "with no restrictions." </p><p> "Considering the huge popularity of Call of Duty, it is reasonable to infer that if Activision Blizzard games were no longer available on Sony consoles, PlayStation users could decide to migrate to Xbox, or even a PC, to continue having access to franchise games," CADE said in a <a href="https://sei.cade.gov.br/sei/modulos/pesquisa/md_pesq_documento_consulta_externa.php?HJ7F4wnIPj2Y8B7Bj80h1lskjh7ohC8yMfhLoDBLddZou1UxFwR2xny_H8WpNqBA9LEUmxpnNJZhTSHmSvXvpffRtONbaxBeOzHPgm0V3c1aCdhWaTZo9OtUDTJX_L_7">document</a> detailing the decision. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsofts-activision-blizzard-deal-approved-by-brazilian-regulator">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Lawsuit accuses Roblox of enabling sexual exploitation</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-accuses-roblox-of-enabling-sexual-exploitation</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 11:21:28 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-accuses-roblox-of-enabling-sexual-exploitation</guid><category>Roblox</category><category>Legal</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg" /> <p> <em>Content warning, this article contains references to suicide, sexual and financial exploitation, and substance abuse</em> </p><p> A lawsuit lodged in San Francisco this week has alleged that Roblox enabled the financial and sexual exploitation of a young girl, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/game-company-roblox-enabled-girls-sexual-exploitation-lawsuit-claims-2022-10-05/">Reuters</a>. </p><p> The girl, who is currently around 13 years old according to the outlet, started playing Roblox when she was "nine or ten years old." The case states that the individual met adult men via the platform. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/lawsuit-accuses-roblox-of-enabling-sexual-exploitation">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>The rise and fall of Stadia</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-rise-and-fall-of-stadia</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 10:19:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-rise-and-fall-of-stadia</guid><category>Google</category><category>streaming games service</category><category>streaming</category><category>Stadia</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Google_Stadia_Hero.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Google_Stadia_Hero.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Google_Stadia_Hero.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Google_Stadia_Hero.jpg" /> <p> "The next generation is not in a box." </p><p> A full year before PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S were announced, Google presented its own vision for gaming's future: Stadia, a cloud gaming service that enabled you to play across any device. </p><p> The service was teased in the days before its unveiling via an outdoor exhibition near San Francisco's Moscone Center, on the corner of 4th Street and Howard Street, intriguing GDC 2019 attendees with historical gaming pieces such as the Nintendo Power Glove, the Dreamcast and a copy of ET: The Extra-Terrestrial for Atari 2600. An empty case at the end of the timeline would later be home to a Stadia controller. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-rise-and-fall-of-stadia">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Starbreeze returns to third-party publishing</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/starbreeze-returns-to-third-party-publishing</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:33:01 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/starbreeze-returns-to-third-party-publishing</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Starbreeze</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/The-Tribe-Must-Survive.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/The-Tribe-Must-Survive.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/The-Tribe-Must-Survive.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/The-Tribe-Must-Survive.png" /> <p> Starbreeze is returning to third-party publishing, launching a dedicated publishing arm after dropping this part of its business following its restructuring in 2019. </p><p> To kickstart its publishing efforts, the Stockholm-based company signed a deal with The Tribe Must Survive developer Walking Tree Games to publish the game in Early Access from 2023, with a full launch expected in 2024. </p><p> The announcement did note that the publishing agreement between Starbreeze and Walking Tree Games is "pending that the developer gets funding from the German federal games industry-funding programme." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/starbreeze-returns-to-third-party-publishing">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Bandai Namco Europe takes majority stake in Limbic</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-europe-takes-majority-stake-in-limbic</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 06 Oct 2022 08:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-europe-takes-majority-stake-in-limbic</guid><category>Limbic Entertainment</category><category>Bandai Namco</category><category>Financial</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Park-Beyond.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Park-Beyond.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Park-Beyond.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Park-Beyond.jpg" /> <p> Bandai Namco Europe has increased its investment in German developer Limbic Entertainment, taking a majority stake. </p><p> The company <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-take-minority-stake-in-might-and-magic-dev-limbic-entertainment">had acquired a minority stake in the studio in February 2021</a>, and since then had announced the Limbic team was working on sim title Park Beyond. </p><p> This investment follows Bandai Namco Europe's strategy to "accelerate Western development capabilities," the announcement said. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-europe-takes-majority-stake-in-limbic">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Cult of the Lamb leads at Australian Game Developer Awards</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cult-of-the-lamb-leads-at-australian-game-developer-awards</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 16:10:13 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cult-of-the-lamb-leads-at-australian-game-developer-awards</guid><category>Awards</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cult-of-the-lamb-a.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cult-of-the-lamb-a.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cult-of-the-lamb-a.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cult-of-the-lamb-a.jpg" /> <p> The annual Australian Game Developer Awards took place last night, a celebration of exceptional talent hailing from the region. </p><p> Massive Monster's <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/combining-cute-with-the-occult-in-cult-of-the-lamb">Cult of the Lamb</a> was the big winner of the evening, picking up four awards including Game of the Year. </p><p> Wylde Flowers, from developer Studio Drydock won twice, taking home Excellence in Narrative and Excellence in Mobile Games. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cult-of-the-lamb-leads-at-australian-game-developer-awards">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Once more Into the Breach | Why I Love</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/once-more-into-the-breach-why-i-love</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Alain Puget</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:47:14 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/once-more-into-the-breach-why-i-love</guid><category>Why I Love</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/ITB_large.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/ITB_large.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/ITB_large.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/ITB_large.jpg" /> <p><i>Why I Love is <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/topics/why-i-love">a series of guest editorials on GamesIndustry.biz</a> intended to showcase the ways in which game developers appreciate each other's work. This entry was contributed by Alain Puget, creative director of Alkemi, which recently launched the card game narrative journey <a href="https://store.steampowered.com/app/1170080/Foretales/">Foretales</a> on PC and Switch.</i></p><p>When I launched Into the Breach for the first time, I was not prepared for what hit me.</p><p>You see, when I tried FTL, the real-time strategy roguelike debut title from Subset Games, I very quickly bounced off of it, hard. It felt very random and unfair to me, and it took a whole afternoon of discussion with friends, who were very hardcore fans of FTL, to convince me to try it again. The second time around with a few basic tips from them, I finally got why the game was indeed an absolute gem.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/once-more-into-the-breach-why-i-love">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>FIFA 23 boxed launch beats FIFA 22 | UK Physical Charts</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fifa-23-boxed-launch-beats-fifa-22-uk-physical-charts</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 14:31:26 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fifa-23-boxed-launch-beats-fifa-22-uk-physical-charts</guid><category>GfK</category><category>Retail</category><category>FIFA 23</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/FIFA-23.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/FIFA-23.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/FIFA-23.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/FIFA-23.jpeg" /> <p> FIFA 23 debuted at the top of the UK physical charts, beating FIFA 22 launch sales. </p><p> Sales for this year's instalment have gone up 1,6% compared to 2021, which may sound like a small increase but is significant as it follows two years of serious decline at retail for the FIFA franchise. And the series was already steadily decreasing before that. </p><p> Sony's consoles dominated FIFA 23's sales, with 41% of the copies shifted going to the PS5, now the biggest retail platform for the football series, and 30% going to PS4.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fifa-23-boxed-launch-beats-fifa-22-uk-physical-charts">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Gamurs raises $12m to use "predominantly" for acquisitions</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamurs-raises-12m-to-use-predominantly-for-acquisitions</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:35:17 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamurs-raises-12m-to-use-predominantly-for-acquisitions</guid><category>Gamurs</category><category>Media</category><category>Financial</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Gamurs.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Gamurs.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Gamurs.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Gamurs.jpeg" /> <p> Media network Gamurs has raised $12 million in a series A round. </p><p> The round was co-led by LA Dodgers Ownership Group's investment branch, Elysian Park Ventures, and sports-focused capital fund Cerro Capital. </p><p> VC funds Powerhouse Capital, Aura Ventures, and Artesian also contributed to the round. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamurs-raises-12m-to-use-predominantly-for-acquisitions">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Combining cute with the occult in Cult of the Lamb</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/combining-cute-with-the-occult-in-cult-of-the-lamb</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 13:12:36 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/combining-cute-with-the-occult-in-cult-of-the-lamb</guid><category>Massive Monster</category><category>Development</category><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cult-1.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cult-1.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cult-1.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cult-1.jpg" /> <p> The Australian games circuit has a rich history of turning out great indie titles, such as the BAFTA-winning Hollow Knight, Unpacking and The Artful Escape, to name a few recent entries. </p><p> That streak is carried by Cult of the Lamb, a recently-released roguelike from developer Massive Monster that invites players to build a cult as a cartoon lamb. The game combines cute building and light social mechanics with some much sinister themes. </p><p> Since its August release, the game has become a critically acclaimed hit, award-winning hit, picking up four wins at the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs) including Game of the Year. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/combining-cute-with-the-occult-in-cult-of-the-lamb">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Sandsoft opens new studio in Riyadh</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sandsoft-opens-new-studio-in-riyadh</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:53:31 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sandsoft-opens-new-studio-in-riyadh</guid><category>Mobile</category><category>Sandsoft Games</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Sandsoft-Games.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Sandsoft-Games.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Sandsoft-Games.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Sandsoft-Games.jpeg" /> <p> Mobile game company Sandsoft has announced the opening of a new development studio in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. </p><p> The new developer will be led by head of studio Yahsir Qureshi, previously executive producer at the company. Prior to joining Sandsoft, Qureshi spent almost five years at EA as senior lead product manager on FIFA Ultimate Team, and also worked at Natural Motion on Dawn of Titans. </p><p> Sandsoft Riyadh will be the company's new headquarters, with the team "committed to nurturing local talent," the announcement said, also unveiling a paid internship programme called Press Start. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sandsoft-opens-new-studio-in-riyadh">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Overwatch 2 suffers multiple DDoS attacks at launch</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-suffers-multiple-ddos-attacks-at-launch</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 09:18:28 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-suffers-multiple-ddos-attacks-at-launch</guid><category>DDoS</category><category>Overwatch</category><category>Overwatch 2</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Blizzard</category><category>Development</category><category>DDoS attack</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/overwatch-2-robots.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/overwatch-2-robots.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/overwatch-2-robots.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/overwatch-2-robots.jpg" /> <p> Blizzard has confirmed Overwatch 2 has been targeted by at least two DDoS attacks, and is continuing to work on restoring the game. </p><p> Overwatch 2 launched globally yesterday and replaces the original hero-based arena shooter, which went offline on Monday. Among other changes and additions, Overwatch 2 shifts the game to a free-to-play model. </p><p> However, players reported a variety of server errors and expressed frustration at being unable to join Overwatch 2 matches. <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/blizzard-says-overwatch-2-servers-experiencing-mass-ddos-attack">Eurogamer</a> reports some users claimed to be in queues of up to 40,000 people. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-suffers-multiple-ddos-attacks-at-launch">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Industry supports One Special Day fundraiser</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/industry-supports-one-special-day-fundraiser</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Oct 2022 08:44:15 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/industry-supports-one-special-day-fundraiser</guid><category>Charity</category><category>specialeffect</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/One-Special-One-2022.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/One-Special-One-2022.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/One-Special-One-2022.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/One-Special-One-2022.jpeg" /> <p> SpecialEffect's flagship fundraiser, One Special Day, is due to take place this Friday, October 7. </p><p> During that day, revenue from partner studios will be donated to the charity, with the participating games available via the One Special Day Steam Promotion or, for mobile titles, directly on the <a href="https://onespecialday.org.uk/buy-games/">event's website</a>. </p><p> Over 90 studios are due to participate, via the sale or other initiatives, including EA, King, PlayStation London, Sumo Group, Xbox, and more. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/industry-supports-one-special-day-fundraiser">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Gruby announces Tencent as its newest minority shareholder</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gruby-announces-tencent-as-its-newest-minority-shareholder</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:59:53 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gruby-announces-tencent-as-its-newest-minority-shareholder</guid><category>Gruby Entertainment</category><category>Tencent</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/dead-link-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/dead-link-00.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/dead-link-00.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/dead-link-00.jpg" /> <p> Gruby Entertainment announced that conglomerate Tencent is now a minority shareholder of its studio. </p><p> The exact amount of the investment wasn't disclosed in the announcement. </p><p> However the game developer said that Tencent aims to expand the growth of the Poland-based games company. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gruby-announces-tencent-as-its-newest-minority-shareholder">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>US labor board says Activision retaliated against unionizing QA</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-labor-board-says-activision-retaliated-against-unionizing-qa</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:15:54 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-labor-board-says-activision-retaliated-against-unionizing-qa</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>Raven Software</category><category>Development</category><category>Legal</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Ravensoftware.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Ravensoftware.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Ravensoftware.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Ravensoftware.jpg" /> <p> The National Labor Relations Board has found merit to at least one part of a complaint lodged against Activision Blizzard by the union representing Raven Software QA testers, according to <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2022/10/03/activision-raven-union-raises-nlrb/">The Washington Post</a>. </p><p> The board has determined that the publisher's April decision <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzard-converts-all-us-qa-staff-to-full-time">to raise the minimum hourly pay for all QA testers except those at Raven</a> was evidence of retaliation against employees for protected union activity. </p><p> An Activision Blizzard spokesperson disagreed with that finding, telling The Post, "Due to legal obligations under the [National Labor Relations Act] requiring employers not to grant wage increases while an election was pending, we could not institute new pay initiatives at Raven because they would be brand new kinds of compensation changes, which had not been planned beforehand. This rule that employers should not grant these kinds of wage increases has been the law for many years." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-labor-board-says-activision-retaliated-against-unionizing-qa">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Supercell to end development on Everdale</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/supercell-to-end-development-on-everdale</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 17:43:39 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/supercell-to-end-development-on-everdale</guid><category>Supercell</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Everdale_Splash.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Everdale_Splash.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Everdale_Splash.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Everdale_Splash.jpg" /> <p> Finnish studio Supercell is winding down development on Everdale, just over a year after its launch. </p><p> "It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you that the team has decided to end the development of Everdale," the developer wrote in a blog post. "At Supercell, we set our standards extremely high for our games: our goal is to make games which will be played for years and remembered forever." </p><p> "Although we gave it our all, it became clear to us that Everdale does not meet our ambitions for a Supercell game." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/supercell-to-end-development-on-everdale">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Keywords Studios further expands in Australia</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/keywords-studios-further-expands-in-australia</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 17:21:40 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/keywords-studios-further-expands-in-australia</guid><category>Keywords Studios</category><category>Development</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/keywords-aus001.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/keywords-aus001.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/keywords-aus001.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/keywords-aus001.jpg" /> <p> Outsourcing firm Keywords Studios has further expanded its presence in Australia, as it launched two new studios in the country. </p><p> Tantalus South, is located in Adelaide and Tantalus North, is based in Brisbane. </p><p> They will join the likes of Keywords' <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/keywords-studios-acquires-85-percent-interest-in-tantalus-media">Tantalus Melbourne</a>, one of the company's Australian subsidiaries. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/keywords-studios-further-expands-in-australia">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>CD Projekt joint CEO steps down as studio confirms new slate of releases</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cd-projekt-joint-ceo-steps-down-as-studio-confirms-new-slate-of-releases</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:52:55 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cd-projekt-joint-ceo-steps-down-as-studio-confirms-new-slate-of-releases</guid><category>Development</category><category>CD Projekt</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cd-projekt-strategy.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cd-projekt-strategy.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/cd-projekt-strategy.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/cd-projekt-strategy.jpg" /> <p> CD Projekt joint CEO Marcin Iwi&nacute;ski today announced that he is <a href="https://twitter.com/CDPROJEKTRED_IR/status/1577329245210267653">stepping down from that role by the end of the year</a> as he submits his candidacy to be the chairman of the company's supervisory board. </p><p> Iwi&nacute;ski would succeed Katarzyna Szwarc, the current chair of the supervisory board. </p><p> "Our hugely ambitious strategy has such an inspiring and strong team at the helm," Iwi&nacute;ski said, "and I deeply believe in our plan to take CD Projekt to new heights. As such, I intend to remain a major shareholder, and in my new non-executive role I will remain active and engaged dedicating my focus on supporting the entire management board." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/cd-projekt-joint-ceo-steps-down-as-studio-confirms-new-slate-of-releases">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Airship Interactive announces relocation to Manchester</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/airship-interactive-announces-relocation-to-manchester</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 15:40:53 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/airship-interactive-announces-relocation-to-manchester</guid><category>Development</category><category>Airship Interactive</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/AI-office.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/AI-office.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/AI-office.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/AI-office.jpg" /> <p> Art design and co-development game studio Airship Interactive has announced that it will be relocating its headquarters to South Manchester. </p><p> Airship will be taking up its new residence in Bruntwood SciTech&rsquo;s Glasshouse at Alderley Park. </p><p> Founded in 2010 by CEO Joe Harford and originally based in Lytham, Lancashire, the company has worked with companies such as Ubisoft, Microsoft, and EA. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/airship-interactive-announces-relocation-to-manchester">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Is Unity still focused on making games?</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/is-unity-still-focused-on-making-games</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 14:42:18 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/is-unity-still-focused-on-making-games</guid><category>Unity</category><category>Development</category><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/John-Riccitiello_zAvm4rq.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/John-Riccitiello_zAvm4rq.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/John-Riccitiello_zAvm4rq.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/John-Riccitiello_zAvm4rq.jpg" /> <p>Many people still think of Unity as simply a game engine maker, which is a technically accurate description but risks giving people a slanted impression of the company's business.</p><p>The Create Solutions part of Unity -- which contains the basic tools needed to make a game -- is actually a smaller piece of the company's pie than Operate Solutions -- which focuses more on engagement, monetization, and user acquisition. And it has been that way for some time.</p><p>This has created some tension for developers who would prefer to think of gaming more as an art than a business, tension that has been aggravated by the announced plans for Unity <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ironsource-to-merge-with-unity">to merge with app monetization platform IronSource</a>, as well as <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unitys-riccitiello-promises-to-do-better-after-insulting-devs-that-dont-prioritise-monetisation">remarks by Unity CEO John Riccitiello</a> about the mental faculties of developers who didn't concern themselves with monetization. (He later apologized for those comments.)</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/is-unity-still-focused-on-making-games">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>A guide to localisation in live-ops games</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/a-guide-to-localisation-in-live-ops-games</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Heather Pan</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 13:41:13 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/a-guide-to-localisation-in-live-ops-games</guid><category>How to make money from video games</category><category>localisation</category><category>Development</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Pixel-map.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Pixel-map.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Pixel-map.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Pixel-map.jpeg" /> <p> Congratulations! You have managed to launch your game and it&rsquo;s on a stable and steady live-ops schedule. </p><p> The game&rsquo;s retention rate is doing well and it&rsquo;s earning a decent revenue, you might now be thinking about scaling your game, of which one of the options is to offer it to a wider audience in different regions. </p><p> Aside from expanding your marketing efforts there is another option to make your game more accessible to the new audience: localisation. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/a-guide-to-localisation-in-live-ops-games">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>The deeper change behind Asmodee Digital's rebrand</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-deeper-change-behind-asmodee-digitals-rebrand</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 13:00:08 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-deeper-change-behind-asmodee-digitals-rebrand</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Twin Sails Interactive</category><category>rebranding</category><category>Asmodee</category><category>Embracer</category><category>Asmodee Digital</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/ember-knights.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/ember-knights.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/ember-knights.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/ember-knights.jpg" /> <p> Asmodee Digital, the long-running purveyor of digital board game adaptations, has had something of an overhaul. </p><p> The most obvious example is its recent rebrand, with the company announcing that as of last month it is <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/asmodee-digital-rebrands-to-twin-sails-interactive">now operating as Twin Sails Interactive</a>. Less than a week after the new brand was unveiled, we sat down with managing director Nicolas Godement at Gamescom, who tells us the name was "the face of a deeper change that's been going on for about 18 months." </p><p> "As Asmodee Digital, we were known for digital board game conversions, primarily on mobile and PC," he says. "For the past year or two, we've been expanding our range of titles to games that are just games &ndash; brand new video games, third-party, indie, AA, so not just digital board games. It's something we've done for strategic reasons, and we wanted a name that both conveyed the fact that we've brought in a wider range of games but also spoke to our values of who we already are." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-deeper-change-behind-asmodee-digitals-rebrand">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Chairman of FromSoftware parent firm charged with bribery</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/chairman-of-fromsoftware-parent-firm-charged-with-bribery</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 12:45:50 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/chairman-of-fromsoftware-parent-firm-charged-with-bribery</guid><category>From Software</category><category>Legal</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/kadowaka-logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/kadowaka-logo.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/kadowaka-logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/kadowaka-logo.jpg" /> <p> The chairman of Japanese firm Kadowaka Corporation, the parent firm of developer FromSoftware, has been charged with bribery. </p><p> As reported by <a href="https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-chairman-of-fromsoftwares-parent-company-has-been-charged-with-bribery/">VGC</a>, Tsuguhiko Kadowaka was arrested on suspicion of bribery on September 14, and has now been charged with bribing a member of the Tokyo Olympics organising committee. </p><p> Kadowaka has also been charged &yen;69 million ($476,000), and has announced his resignation from the corporation. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/chairman-of-fromsoftware-parent-firm-charged-with-bribery">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Playtika closes Best Fiends studio Seriously</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playtika-closes-best-fiends-studio-seriously</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 10:42:23 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playtika-closes-best-fiends-studio-seriously</guid><category>playtika</category><category>Mobile</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/frontpage_hero.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/frontpage_hero.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/frontpage_hero.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/frontpage_hero.jpg" /> <p> Best Fiends developer Seriously has been shut down by its parent company, Playtika. </p><p> According to <a href="https://mobilegamer.biz/playtika-closes-best-fiends-maker-seriously-after-clash-over-studio-direction/">Mobilegamer.biz</a>, the mobile developer's office in Helsinki was closed on September 30, with all 120 employees let go, after its <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playtika-to-reportedly-lay-off-250-staffers">LA office also shut down earlier this year</a>. </p><p> Production of Seriously's games has been moved to Israel and Poland to other Playtika studios. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playtika-closes-best-fiends-studio-seriously">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Indie legend Sam Barlow and Rare veteran Louise O'Connor to keynote GI Academy event</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/indie-legend-sam-barlow-and-rare-veteran-louise-oconnor-to-keynote-gi-academy-event</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Christopher Dring</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:59:14 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/indie-legend-sam-barlow-and-rare-veteran-louise-oconnor-to-keynote-gi-academy-event</guid><category>Academy</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/MicrosoftTeams-image_mDuVC8T.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/MicrosoftTeams-image_mDuVC8T.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/MicrosoftTeams-image_mDuVC8T.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/MicrosoftTeams-image_mDuVC8T.png" /> <p>The creator of Her Story and Immortality Sam Barlow, and Rare legend Louise O'Connor will keynote the GI Academy student event this month.</p><p>The entirely free digital event takes place in Discord between October 26th - 28th, and is created in partnership with Total War developer Creative Assembly. You can <a href="https://gamesindustry.us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b9e2ea3c5bf495a0ea0f662c6&amp;id=3cb2384a7f">sign up for free here.</a> </p><p>Alongside Barlow and O'Connor, big game developers will be popping into the Discord throughout the event. These include the senior creative director of Call of Duty: Warzone: Ted Timmins, and Caroline Marchal, the CEO of As Dusk Falls developer Interior/Night. They'll be answering questions from students during the show.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/indie-legend-sam-barlow-and-rare-veteran-louise-oconnor-to-keynote-gi-academy-event">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Tattoo artist wins copyright claim against Take-Two</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tattoo-artist-wins-copyright-claim-against-take-two</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:17:47 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tattoo-artist-wins-copyright-claim-against-take-two</guid><category>Take-Two</category><category>Legal</category><category>Law</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Randy-Orton.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Randy-Orton.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Randy-Orton.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Randy-Orton.png" /> <p> Tattoo artist Catherine Alexander has won her case against Take-Two, with a jury agreeing that reproducing her work on pro wrestler Randy Orton in the WWE 2K series did not constitute fair use. </p><p> Alexander had initially <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/take-two-sued-over-use-of-tattoos-in-wwe-2k">filed a complaint for copyright infringement in 2020</a>, over the inclusion of the six tattoos she inked on Randy Orton in the WWE 2K series. </p><p> The case went to trial last week, with Alexander winning $3,750 in damages, according to <a href="https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/legaldocs/lbvgnqbqopq/IP%20WWE%20COPYRIGHT%20verdict.pdf">court documents</a>. Take-Two had initially argued that the inclusion of the tattoos did constitute fair use as they were only used to reproduce the likeness of Randy Orton accurately, but the jury disagreed. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tattoo-artist-wins-copyright-claim-against-take-two">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Russia-based publisher My.Games sold for $642m</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/russia-based-publisher-mygames-sold-for-642m</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:16:47 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/russia-based-publisher-mygames-sold-for-642m</guid><category>My Games</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Mail.ru</category><category>acquisition</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/my.games.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/my.games.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/my.games.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/my.games.png" /> <p> My.Games has a new owner after previous parent VK Company, part of the Mail.ru Group, sold the business in a deal worth $642 million. </p><p> In a <a href="https://vk.company/en/press/releases/11276/">statement</a>, VK revealed the deal includes all assets of My.Games, including its studios and game products. </p><p> The buyer was Aleksander Chachava, managing partner of Leta Capital, who was chosen after a "multi-stage selection procedure" to find a new owner for the games division. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/russia-based-publisher-mygames-sold-for-642m">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Nintendo completes Dynamo Pictures acquisition, relaunches as Nintendo Pictures</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-completes-dynamo-pictures-acquisition-relaunches-as-nintendo-pictures</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 04 Oct 2022 08:25:10 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-completes-dynamo-pictures-acquisition-relaunches-as-nintendo-pictures</guid><category>Nintendo</category><category>Nintendo Pictures</category><category>Business</category><category>acquisition</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/nintendo-pictures_v5gIEXc.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/nintendo-pictures_v5gIEXc.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/nintendo-pictures_v5gIEXc.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/nintendo-pictures_v5gIEXc.jpg" /> <p> Nintendo's purchase of Japanese CG production company Dynamo Pictures has been completed, with the firm rebranded Nintendo Pictures. </p><p> The platform holder <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-to-acquire-visual-production-firm-dynamo-pictures">announced the acquisition earlier this year</a> &ndash; its second buy of 2022, following the purchase of <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-acquires-long-running-partner-studio-srd-co">long-running partner studio SRD in February</a>. </p><p> The deal was expected to close on October 3, and sure enough Dynamo's website has been redesign in keeping with its new Nintendo Pictures branding. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-completes-dynamo-pictures-acquisition-relaunches-as-nintendo-pictures">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Sony targets 2m PSVR2 headsets by March 2023</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-targets-2m-psvr2-headsets-by-march-2023</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 21:03:40 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-targets-2m-psvr2-headsets-by-march-2023</guid><category>Development</category><category>Sony Interactive Entertainment</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/VR-head-0101.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/VR-head-0101.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/VR-head-0101.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/VR-head-0101.jpg" /> <p> Sony reportedly intends to manufacture 2 million PlayStation VR 2 (PSVR2) headsets by March 2023. </p><p> <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-10-03/sony-psvr2-headset-production-plan-2-million-units-by-march-2023">As per Bloomberg</a>, sources told the publication that the plan is based upon expectations that supply chain issues will be somewhat relieved. </p><p> Supply chain issues have gone on to affect <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-reportedly-increasing-ps5-production-to-10m-units-by-2021">mass production of the PlayStation 5 console</a> and other hardware over the past few years. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-targets-2m-psvr2-headsets-by-march-2023">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Roblox removes games depicting war in Ukraine</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-removes-games-depicting-war-in-ukraine</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:09:46 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-removes-games-depicting-war-in-ukraine</guid><category>Development</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Roblox</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/roblox-codes-main-promo-image.jpg" /> <p> Gaming platform Roblox has recently removed two games depicting war within Ukraine. </p><p> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-63078950">As reported by the BBC</a>, the titles featured real world locations and in-game experiences which mirrored the Russian invasion of Ukraine. </p><p> The publication notes that the games War on Larkiv: Ukraine and Battle for Ukraine, were removed for violating community standards, hours after it contacted Roblox about them. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/roblox-removes-games-depicting-war-in-ukraine">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Blizzard hires Osama Dorias as lead content designer | Jobs Roundup: October 2022</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bitkraft-appoints-brooke-gabrian-as-global-head-of-people-jobs-roundup-october-2022</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">GamesIndustry Staff</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:33:01 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bitkraft-appoints-brooke-gabrian-as-global-head-of-people-jobs-roundup-october-2022</guid><category>Jobs</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/osama-dorias.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/osama-dorias.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/osama-dorias.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/osama-dorias.jpg" /> <p><em>It can be difficult keeping track of the various comings and goings in the games industry, which is why we compile them in semi-regular round-ups.</em></p><p>If you have new appointments or transitions in your company that belong here, please send the names of the appointees, new role and company, and prior role and company to <a href="newhires@gamesindustry.biz">newhires@gamesindustry.biz</a>.</p><p>Video game publisher Blizzard Entertainment has hired veteran game designer Osama Dorias as lead content designer.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bitkraft-appoints-brooke-gabrian-as-global-head-of-people-jobs-roundup-october-2022">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Amber receives $20m investment</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/amber-receives-20m-investment</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jeffrey Rousseau</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:05:18 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/amber-receives-20m-investment</guid><category>Amber Studio</category><category>Development</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/AMBER_logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/AMBER_logo.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/AMBER_logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/AMBER_logo.jpg" /> <p> Video game development and studio services agency Amber has secured a $20 million investment. </p><p> With the $20 million funding, it is now at a $190 million company valuation. </p><p> The fund from Emona Capital will go towards the expansion of the firm, it said in the announcement. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/amber-receives-20m-investment">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Chaos;Head Noah Steam launch goes ahead after initial rejection</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/chaoshead-noah-rejected-by-steam-will-still-launch-on-switch</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:15:50 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/chaoshead-noah-rejected-by-steam-will-still-launch-on-switch</guid><category>Valve</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Spike Chunsoft</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/chaosheadnoah.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/chaosheadnoah.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/chaosheadnoah.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/chaosheadnoah.jpg" /> <p>Spike Chunsoft has cancelled the planned Steam release of Chaos;Head Noah, but still plans to launch the Switch version of the title on October 7 as planned.</p><p>The company announced on Friday that the Steam release was scrapped "due to Steam's guideline-required changes to the game's content."</p><p>"Spike Chunsoft, Inc. believes these changes would not allow the game to be released to its standards," the company said.</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/chaoshead-noah-rejected-by-steam-will-still-launch-on-switch">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Bandai Namco: "Elden Ring is just the beginning"</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-elden-ring-is-just-the-beginning</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 13:52:03 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-elden-ring-is-just-the-beginning</guid><category>Publishing</category><category>Bandai Namco</category><category>Elden Ring</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Elden-Ring.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Elden-Ring.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Elden-Ring.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Elden-Ring.jpeg" /> <p> For a few years now, conversations on this very site about Bandai Namco have been revolving around the company's desire to "<a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/is-bandai-namco-on-the-verge-of-cracking-the-west">crack the West</a>" via its European branch, its strategy to <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-we-want-50-percent-of-our-games-to-be-new-ip">focus on new IP</a>, and to <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-how-long-can-we-sustain-working-with-independent-studios">work with the biggest independent studios</a>. </p><p> This year, our conversation with Bandai Namco Europe CEO Arnaud Muller at Gamescom felt like all of this is now coming together, underlined by the massive success across Western markets of Elden Ring.</p><p> The FromSoftware-developed hit is currently 2022's best-selling title across Europe, ahead of FIFA 22 or Pok&eacute;mon Legends: Arceus. As of June 2022, it had sold 16.6 million units globally and is Bandai Namco's fastest-selling game of all time. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bandai-namco-elden-ring-is-just-the-beginning">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Fandom acquires GameSpot, Metacritic and Giant Bomb, other sites</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fandom-acquires-gamespot-metacritic-and-giant-bomb-other-sites</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:51:58 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fandom-acquires-gamespot-metacritic-and-giant-bomb-other-sites</guid><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Fandom_acq_announce_2022_full_02_M7SCyvk.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Fandom_acq_announce_2022_full_02_M7SCyvk.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Fandom_acq_announce_2022_full_02_M7SCyvk.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Fandom_acq_announce_2022_full_02_M7SCyvk.png" /> <p> Entertainment platform Fandom has acquired a number of gaming brands from Red Ventures, including GameSpot, Metacritic, and Giant Bomb, as well as several other media sites. </p><p> The deal will see the above brands combined into Fandom's main platform, according to the company. It will also "continue to expand Fandom's global fan platform to super serve entertainment and gaming fans as well as partners." </p><p> Other brands included in the transaction are guides website GameFAQs, entertainment sites Cord Cutter News and Comic Vine, and television programming website TV Guide. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/fandom-acquires-gamespot-metacritic-and-giant-bomb-other-sites">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Tencent "aggressively seeking" to invest overseas with new M&amp;A strategy</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tencent-aggressively-seeking-to-invest-overseas-with-new-ma-strategy</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:22:30 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tencent-aggressively-seeking-to-invest-overseas-with-new-ma-strategy</guid><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/tencent0.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/tencent0.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/tencent0.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/tencent0.jpg" /> <p> Tencent has reportedly made a shift in its acquisitions strategy with eyes on snapping up bigger stakes in companies outside of China, according to people familiar with the matter. </p><p> As per a report from <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/tencent-shifts-focus-majority-deals-overseas-gaming-assets-growth-sources-2022-10-01/">Reuters</a>, the firm aims to shift from its position as a "passive financial investor" in mainland businesses to a majority stakeholder in overseas firms, notably in "gaming assets in Europe." </p><p> Tencent is also looking to acquire European assets "related to the so-called Metaverse," though no further details were given. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/tencent-aggressively-seeking-to-invest-overseas-with-new-ma-strategy">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Three key members of Disco Elysium studio have left "involuntarily"</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/three-key-members-of-disco-elysium-studio-have-left-involuntarily</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 11:19:46 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/three-key-members-of-disco-elysium-studio-have-left-involuntarily</guid><category>Development</category><category>Disco Elysium</category><category>Za/um</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Disco_Elysium_SOCIAL.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Disco_Elysium_SOCIAL.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Disco_Elysium_SOCIAL.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Disco_Elysium_SOCIAL.jpg" /> <p> Three members of ZA/UM, the studio behind the acclaimed Disco Elysium, have been dismissed from the studio. </p><p> The news emerged via a <a href="https://medium.com/@martinluiga/the-dissolution-of-the-za-um-cultural-association-779788390a03">Medium post</a> by Martin Luiga, a co-founder and secretary of "the ZA/UM cultural association," a group of creative people that is separate from the games studio of the same name. Luiga was an editor on Disco Elysium. </p><p> In the post, he reported that ZA/UM Studio founder and Disco Elysium designer Robert Kurvitz, writer Helen Hindpere, and art director Aleksander Rostov have not been working at the company "since the end of last year," adding that "their leaving the company was involuntary." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/three-key-members-of-disco-elysium-studio-have-left-involuntarily">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Activision Blizzard's Frances Townsend has stepped down</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzards-frances-townsend-has-stepped-down</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 09:08:05 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzards-frances-townsend-has-stepped-down</guid><category>Activision Blizzard</category><category>Jobs</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Frances-Townsend.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Frances-Townsend.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Frances-Townsend.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Frances-Townsend.jpeg" /> <p> Activision Blizzard's executive vice president for corporate affairs Frances Townsend has stepped down from her position. </p><p> She had joined the company in March 2021 and her last day was Friday, September 30, according to the <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/activision-blizzard-compliance-chief-frances-townsend-steps-down-11664564356">Wall Street Journal</a>. </p><p> Townsend, a former homeland security advisor under US President George W. Bush, will continue to act as senior adviser to the board and CEO Bobby Kotick, but will no longer be an Activision Blizzard employee, a spokesperson told WSJ. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/activision-blizzards-frances-townsend-has-stepped-down">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Ubisoft, Bungie, IO Interactive and Tequila Works mobilise to deal with post-Stadia fallout</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-bungie-io-interactive-and-tequila-works-mobilise-to-deal-with-post-stadia-fallout</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Oct 2022 08:46:31 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-bungie-io-interactive-and-tequila-works-mobilise-to-deal-with-post-stadia-fallout</guid><category>Google</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Stadia</category><category>Tequila Works</category><category>Gylt</category><category>Ubisoft</category><category>streaming</category><category>IO Interactive</category><category>Bungie</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/stadia_pad_fEY2cRq.JPG/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/stadia_pad_fEY2cRq.JPG"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/stadia_pad_fEY2cRq.JPG/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/stadia_pad_fEY2cRq.JPG" /> <p> <strong>Original story, October 3:</strong> Publishers and developers are scrambling to support their players in the wake of Google's announcement that Stadia will be shutting down. </p><p> The troubled streaming service <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/stadia-shutting-down">will close on January 18, 2023</a> &ndash; just over three years after it launched &ndash; meaning users will no longer have access to games they have purchased. But several companies are looking for workarounds. </p><p> Ubisoft, one of the biggest publishers to support Stadia with multiple releases, announced <a href="https://twitter.com/UbisoftSupport/status/1575922767593078793">via Twitter</a> that it is "working to bring the games you own on Stadia to PC through Ubisoft Connect." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-bungie-io-interactive-and-tequila-works-mobilise-to-deal-with-post-stadia-fallout">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Free advice for scandal-hit publishers | This Week in Business</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/free-advice-for-scandal-hit-publishers-this-week-in-business</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:15:10 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/free-advice-for-scandal-hit-publishers-this-week-in-business</guid><category>This Week in Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/pexels-julia-larson-6456266a.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/pexels-julia-larson-6456266a.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/pexels-julia-larson-6456266a.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/pexels-julia-larson-6456266a.jpg" /> <p> We've heard some concerning things recently around multiple companies who have had scandals in their past and are trying to move past them. </p><p> We've heard that they're tired of taking it on the chin for things that happened years ago, and are considering taking a more aggressive stance against accusers who have turned into vocal and enduring critics. </p><p> For everyone's sake, please do not do this. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/free-advice-for-scandal-hit-publishers-this-week-in-business">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>GamesAid's first ever fundraising gala set for November</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamesaids-first-ever-fundraising-gala-set-for-november</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:51:35 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamesaids-first-ever-fundraising-gala-set-for-november</guid><category>Charity</category><category>GamesAid</category><category>Industry</category><category>fundraising</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/gala-logo-w-bckd.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/gala-logo-w-bckd.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/gala-logo-w-bckd.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/gala-logo-w-bckd.jpg" /> <p> GamesAid has announced a brand new charity event, with plans to hold its first ever gala later this year. </p><p> The evening will feature a dinner for over 200 guests and a presentation that will celebrate the work done by the organisation's partner charities and the industry supports that have raised funds from them. </p><p> The gala itself will be a fundraising effort, with all profits going to this year's GamesAid partners, including AFK: Working with Disabilities, Autistica, Lifelites, Solving Kids Cancer, The Clock Tower Sanctuary and Winston's Wish. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamesaids-first-ever-fundraising-gala-set-for-november">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>In the face of recession | Podcast</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/in-the-face-of-recession-podcast</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">GamesIndustry Staff</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 13:35:18 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/in-the-face-of-recession-podcast</guid><category>Podcast</category><category>recession</category><category>leak</category><category>GI Podcast</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/recession-wide.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/recession-wide.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/recession-wide.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/recession-wide.jpg" /> <p>You can now download the latest episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast, in which we discuss the biggest stories from the business of video games.</p><p> We start this week's episode with thoughts on how the industry will fare in the impending recession. The business models supporting games companies have changed dramatically since the last financial collapse, so how will economic changes affect spending on everything from free-to-play titles and in-game purchases to subscriptions? </p><p> We also discuss the recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leak and the consequenes of leaks in general on the industry in general. For one thing, it's highlighted the misconceptions that video games' graphics are finalised before the gameplay, but do consumers need to understand more about how these titles are developed? </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/in-the-face-of-recession-podcast">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Overwatch 2 tries to balance acquisition against retention | Opinion</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-tries-to-balance-acquisition-against-retention-opinion</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Rob Fahey</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 10:24:17 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-tries-to-balance-acquisition-against-retention-opinion</guid><category>Blizzard</category><category>Overwatch 2</category><category>Retail</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Overwatch-2b.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Overwatch-2b.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Overwatch-2b.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Overwatch-2b.jpeg" /> <p> As the release slate of major games for the remainder of the year continues to thin out &ndash; the latest casualty being Ubisoft&rsquo;s pirate-themed naval combat game <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-delays-skull-bones-until-march">Skull &amp; Bones, which has slipped back to March</a> &ndash; increased attention inevitably focuses on what&rsquo;s left in the line-up. </p><p> Nintendo still has a strong holiday quarter on the cards, with Bayonetta 3 and Pokemon Scarlet / Violet giving it solid pitches at two very different parts of the Switch demographic, while Sony has a sure-fire hit in God of War Ragnarok in November. </p><p> Beyond those platform exclusives, however, there are only a handful of big titles still slated for the upcoming months. There&rsquo;s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, which seems like a guaranteed blockbuster; there&rsquo;s Gotham Knights, which could really go either way (after the critical and commercial failure of Square Enix&rsquo; Avengers game, I don&rsquo;t think any superhero title can be considered a slam dunk, with the possible exception of Sony&rsquo;s Spider-Man series). And then there&rsquo;s Overwatch 2. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/overwatch-2-tries-to-balance-acquisition-against-retention-opinion">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Developers voice concerns over Stadia closure</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/developers-voice-concerns-over-stadia-closure</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 30 Sep 2022 08:44:42 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/developers-voice-concerns-over-stadia-closure</guid><category>Google</category><category>Development</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/google_stadia_gT4QKb6.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/google_stadia_gT4QKb6.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/google_stadia_gT4QKb6.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/google_stadia_gT4QKb6.jpg" /> <p> Several developers have voiced concerns following the announcement of Stadia's closure, as they were not given prior notice. </p><p> Yesterday, Google announced that <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/stadia-shutting-down">Stadia will be shutting down in January 2023</a>, but for many developers, the public announcement was the first they heard about it. </p><p> Maia developer Simon Roth <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/SimoRoth/status/1575576596567961600">tweeted</a> that it was "months of [his] work going in the bin again," adding that he wasn't given any prior notice: "Every time something bad happens in games. The people affected, sometimes having their lives turned upside down, learn from the press or Twitter. No emails, phone calls, no heads up, no note on the website." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/developers-voice-concerns-over-stadia-closure">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Stadia shutting down</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/stadia-shutting-down</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 16:39:37 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/stadia-shutting-down</guid><category>Google</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/google_stadia_gaming.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/google_stadia_gaming.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/google_stadia_gaming.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/google_stadia_gaming.jpg" /> <p>Google is calling it quits on Stadia, as announced in <a href="https://blog.google/products/stadia/message-on-stadia-streaming-strategy/">a post on the company blog</a> today by Stadia VP and general manager Phil Harrison. </p><p>"[W]hile Stadia's approach to streaming games for consumers was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn't gained the traction with users that we expected so we've made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service," Harrison said. </p><p>Harrison said Google would be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store, as well as game and add-on content sales made through the Stadia store. Most of those refunds are expected to be completed by mid-January 2023. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/stadia-shutting-down">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Saudi Arabia sets aside $13 billion to acquire a major publisher</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia-sets-aside-13-billion-to-acquire-a-major-publisher</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 15:30:48 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia-sets-aside-13-billion-to-acquire-a-major-publisher</guid><category>Savvy Games Group</category><category>Publishing</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/savvy-logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/savvy-logo.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/savvy-logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/savvy-logo.jpg" /> <p>Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Group today outlined an investment plan that will see it commit SAR 142 billion ($37.8 billion) to build the country's presence in the global games industry, including SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) earmarked "for the acquisition and development of a leading game publisher to become a strategic development partner."</p><p>Savvy Games Group is 100% owned by the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and has Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman serving as the chairman of its board of directors.</p><p>"Savvy Games Group is one part of our ambitious strategy aiming to make Saudi Arabia the ultimate global hub for the games and esports sector by 2030," Prince Mohammed said. "We are harnessing the untapped potential across the esports and games sector to diversify our economy, drive innovation in the sector and further scale the entertainment and esports competition offerings across the Kingdom."</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/saudi-arabia-sets-aside-13-billion-to-acquire-a-major-publisher">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Unknown Worlds' Moonbreaker: Canterbury Tales, miniatures, audio dramas and a best-selling author</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unknown-worlds-moonbreaker-canterbury-tales-miniatures-audio-dramas-and-a-best-selling-author</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">James Batchelor</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 14:03:19 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unknown-worlds-moonbreaker-canterbury-tales-miniatures-audio-dramas-and-a-best-selling-author</guid><category>Moonbreaker</category><category>Gamescom</category><category>Development</category><category>Gamescom 2022</category><category>Unknown Worlds</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/charlie-cleveland.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/charlie-cleveland.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/charlie-cleveland.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/charlie-cleveland.jpg" /> <p> Among the sea of sci-fi survival horror shooter 'you're going to die&hellip; in space' type games at Gamescom Opening Night Live, there were a handful of more original ideas. One such title that generated no small amount of interest was Moonbreaker, the next new IP from Subnautica developer Unknown Worlds. </p><p> Two days after its debut, we sat down with the game's director and studio co-founder Charlie Cleveland (pictured above) to discuss the dramatic shifts this represents for the company. For one thing, it's yet another change of genre. </p><p> Unknown Worlds began as the team behind Natural Selection, a Half-Life mod that mixed first-person shooter and real-time strategy elements. Since then, the studio has produced games ranging from relaxing puzzle game Zen of Sudoku to first-person survival and exploration outing Subnautica. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/unknown-worlds-moonbreaker-canterbury-tales-miniatures-audio-dramas-and-a-best-selling-author">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Ex-Nintendo worker details labor complaint</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ex-nintendo-worker-details-labor-complaint</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:26:55 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ex-nintendo-worker-details-labor-complaint</guid><category>Nintendo</category><category>Legal</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Nintendo_of_America_Headquarters.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Nintendo_of_America_Headquarters.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Nintendo_of_America_Headquarters.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Nintendo_of_America_Headquarters.jpg" /> <p>The person at the heart of <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-of-america-receives-labor-complaints-for-alleged-violations-of-the-nlra">an April labor complaint</a> against Nintendo and contracting firm Aston Carter has come forward in an interview with <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/09/29/nintendo-tester-union-busting-whistleblower">Axios</a>.</p><p>The tester, Mackenzie Clifton, provided more details on the specifics of their complaint, telling Axios they tried to ask Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser about unionization in a January company meeting, and Nintendo and Aston Carter fired them for it in February. </p><p>Clifton said they tried to ask Bowser for Nintendo's position on the recent trend of unionization among QA teams in the games industry, but the subject was not addressed in the meeting. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ex-nintendo-worker-details-labor-complaint">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Limited Run launches book publishing imprint</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/limited-run-launches-book-publishing-imprint</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/limited-run-launches-book-publishing-imprint</guid><category>Limited Run</category><category>Retail</category><category>Business</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Press-Run.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Press-Run.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Press-Run.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Press-Run.jpeg" /> <p> US-based collector's editions publisher and distributor Limited Run Games has announced the launch of its own book publishing imprint, called Press Run. </p><p> The book publishing label will be led by Limited Run's media curator Jeremy Parish, former editor-in-chief at USgamer and senior creative director at Greenlit Content, and Jared Petty, currently senior editor and project manager of publications at Limited Run and former IGN senior editor. </p><p> Press Run will be publishing games-related books every month, with the first title being "Limited Run: The Complete Run Vol. I", dedicated to the publisher's own games between 2015 and 2016. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/limited-run-launches-book-publishing-imprint">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>The Children’s Code: What we’ve learned one year on</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-childrens-code-what-weve-learned-one-year-on</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Isabel Davies &amp; Patrick Rennie</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 11:04:49 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-childrens-code-what-weve-learned-one-year-on</guid><category>How to make money from video games</category><category>Development</category><category>Legal</category><category>Law</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/20220929_081536.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/20220929_081536.jpeg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/20220929_081536.jpeg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/20220929_081536.jpeg" /> <p> The Age Appropriate Design Code (more commonly referred to as the Children&rsquo;s Code) is a binding code of practice which sets out new principles for online services which are "likely to be accessed by children." </p><p> The principles build on the UK&rsquo;s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), with a specific focus on making online services safer for children. We wrote a <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-age-appropriate-design-code-a-quick-practical-guide-for-games-businesses">quick guide</a> for the GamesIndustry.biz Academy last year that can bring you up to speed. </p><p> Since coming into force on 2 September 2021, the UK&rsquo;s data protection authority (the Information Commissioner's Office, or ICO) has targeted companies providing streaming platforms, social media services and video games. The ICO has engaged video games companies &ndash; including platforms, publishers and developers &ndash; via voluntary audits and comprehensive questionnaires in order to understand how the industry is complying with the Children&rsquo;s Code (you can find <a href="https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2022/09/children-are-better-protected-online-in-2022-than-they-were-in-2021/">more details in the ICO's post here</a>). </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-childrens-code-what-weve-learned-one-year-on">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Genshin Impact makes $3.7 billion in mobile lifetime revenue</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/genshin-impact-makes-37-billion-in-mobile-lifetime-revenue</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 10:01:38 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/genshin-impact-makes-37-billion-in-mobile-lifetime-revenue</guid><category>MiHoYo Limited</category><category>Sensor Tower</category><category>Retail</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/genshinimpact001.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/genshinimpact001.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/genshinimpact001.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/genshinimpact001.jpg" /> <p> MiHoYo's RPG Genshin Impact has generated $3.7 billion in player spending since its launch two years ago. </p><p> The title, which came out September 28, 2020, is ranked as the third most profitable mobile game globally since that date, according to new data from Sensor Tower. </p><p> Tencent reigns at the top of the chart with Honor of Kings, which generated $5.5 billion in the last two years, and PUBG Mobile, which follows with $4.9 billion made in the same period. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/genshin-impact-makes-37-billion-in-mobile-lifetime-revenue">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>PlayStation Stars launches in Asia today, more territories next month</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-stars-launches-in-asia-today-more-territories-next-month</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Marie Dealessandri</dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:25:28 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-stars-launches-in-asia-today-more-territories-next-month</guid><category>Retail</category><category>Sony Interactive Entertainment</category><category>PlayStation</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/PlayStation-Stars.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/PlayStation-Stars.png"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/PlayStation-Stars.png/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/PlayStation-Stars.png" /> <p> Loyalty programme PlayStation Stars is launching in Asia today (September 29), Sony announced. </p><p> In a post on <a href="https://blog.playstation.com/2022/09/28/playstation-stars-launches-in-asia-today-with-additional-markets-coming-soon/">PlayStation Blog</a>, VP for network advertising, loyalty and licensed merchandise Grace Chen detailed the company's rollout plan, with the programme also due to launch on October 5 in North and South America, and on October 13 in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. </p><p> PlayStation Stars is free to join and <a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/new-playstation-stars-loyalty-rewards-scheme-launches-later-this-yea">was announced last July</a>, with players able to earn loyalty points and digital collectibles by taking part in various activities and challenges. Loyalty points can then be redeemed on a selection of PlayStation Store products. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-stars-launches-in-asia-today-more-territories-next-month">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Ubisoft delays Skull &amp; Bones until March</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-delays-skull-bones-until-march</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Brendan Sinclair</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2022 17:37:18 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-delays-skull-bones-until-march</guid><category>Ubisoft</category><category>Development</category><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Hero-fallback-desktop.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Hero-fallback-desktop.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Hero-fallback-desktop.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Hero-fallback-desktop.jpg" /> <p>Skull &amp; Bones has been delayed yet again, as the game has been pushed back from its November 8 release date to a March 9, 2023 launch instead.</p><p>"While the game development is finished at this stage, the extra time will be used to further polish and balance the experience using players' feedback from our technical tests and Insider Program which happened over the past two weeks," Ubisoft said in explaining the delay.</p><p>"This is the right decision both for our players and for the long-term success of the game as March 9, 2023 provides for a suitable release window for this very unique new brand."</p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-delays-skull-bones-until-march">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>The fragile state of Steam in mainland China - and why it's important | Opinion</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-fragile-state-of-steam-in-mainland-china-and-why-its-important-opinion</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Jack Forsdike</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:55:51 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-fragile-state-of-steam-in-mainland-china-and-why-its-important-opinion</guid><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/steam-china2.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/steam-china2.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/steam-china2.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/steam-china2.jpg" /> <p> Steam is treading on thin ice in mainland China, and the majority of commentators within the Chinese gaming circle are confident that the platform's days are numbered. But what role exactly does Steam currently play, and what would change if it were to be banned outright? </p><p> Steam's position as the leading PC games distribution platform currently extends even to mainland China, where it uncomfortably sits in a complex, gray area as an unofficial distributor. Steam supports Chinese language, and more crucially, it is possible to pay for games on Steam using the Chinese currency Renminbi either through WeChat Pay or Alipay, the two largest e-payment services in China. </p><p> Games accessible on Steam are not licensed for domestic release, and yet, for many international developers, Steam opens the door to an ever-growing number of Chinese gamers that they'd have no hope of otherwise reaching. This obviously goes both ways, with Steam providing both Chinese gamers and developers with a window to the global games market which starkly contrasts with the strictly regulated domestic market enclosed by layers of bureaucracy. </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-fragile-state-of-steam-in-mainland-china-and-why-its-important-opinion">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>ASA cracks down on 'sexist' mobile game adverts</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/asa-cracks-down-on-sexist-mobile-game-adverts</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Danielle Partis</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:49:19 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/asa-cracks-down-on-sexist-mobile-game-adverts</guid><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/woman-holding-phone.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/woman-holding-phone.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/woman-holding-phone.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/woman-holding-phone.jpg" /> <p>The Advertising Standards Authority has taken action against several mobile game adverts today, deeming them likely to cause "serious or widespread offence." </p><p>As spotted by <a href="https://www.eurogamer.net/advertising-standards-authority-acts-on-sexist-mobile-phone-ads">Eurogamer</a>, three mobile games were flagged to the ASA for featuring harmful gender stereotypes in promotional material. </p><p>One Twitter advert for Refantasia: Charm and Conquer, from Chinese studio Oasis Games, was reported as "sexist", and was described as displaying an "anime-style young woman in a cage." </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/asa-cracks-down-on-sexist-mobile-game-adverts">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item><item><title>Mobile games publishers need a transformation before it’s too late</title><link>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/mobile-games-publishers-need-a-transformation-before-its-too-late</link><dc:creator xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">Sponsored Article</dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 28 Sep 2022 14:15:45 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/mobile-games-publishers-need-a-transformation-before-its-too-late</guid><category>Sponsored</category><category>Development</category><category>Publishing</category><media:content medium="image" type="image/jpeg" url="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Facebook-Gaming-Logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Facebook-Gaming-Logo.jpg"></media:content><description><![CDATA[<img src="https://assets.reedpopcdn.com/Facebook-Gaming-Logo.jpg/BROK/resize/1920x1920%3E/format/jpg/quality/80/Facebook-Gaming-Logo.jpg" /> <p><em>By Kate Minogue, Head of Marketing Science, Facebook Gaming, EMEA at Meta</em></p><p> Over two years ago, in a bid to focus on consumer privacy, Apple announced their plans to introduce App Tracking Transparency (ATT). Its arrival, among other changes, would give cookies and id-based attribution a shelf life --changing the way mobile advertising ids are used and, as a result, causing mammoth disruption to usual marketing practices.</p><p>Long-rumored, when the announcement was officially made, advertising and adjacent engineering teams scrambled to unpack and understand the SKAdnetwork and Conversion Schema components of ATT. They invested into being &ldquo;ready&rdquo; for their arrival, but for a lot of companies, this is where they <a href="https://www.adexchanger.com/research/delays-to-id-deprecation-have-advertisers-slow-rolling-their-measurement-solutions/">stopped.</a> </p> <p><a href="https://www.gamesindustry.biz/mobile-games-publishers-need-a-transformation-before-its-too-late">Read more</a></p>]]></description></item></channel></rss>