TheGamer - Industry

Blatant The Last Of Us Rip Off Finally Copyright Claimed, Removed From eShop

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:16:39 GMT

The developer behind The Last Hope made no attempt to conceal the game it took, uh, inspiration from when it was released on Nintendo Switch. Because that's the point, it seems. It's almost definitely there to dupe someone who thought they were getting the non-existent Switch port of The Last of Us. One of the characters even looks exactly like Ellie and everything.

Report: AI Girlfriends Are Here, And They’re Not Run By Real Girls

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:00:21 GMT

DreamGF is a website that promises to let you create the perfect woman. CEO Georgi Dimitrov doesn’t see a problem with that, because, after all, everyone has their own idea of what the perfect woman should be.

Activision Sues TikTok Creator After Using Viral Clip In Crash Bandicoot Ad

James Troughton — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:35:48 GMT

In 2021, music critic and YouTuber Anthony Fantano posted a clip to TikTok where he watched someone cut a pizza into too many pieces, yelling "It's enough slices!" The clip went so viral it became a popular internet meme and TikTok sound bite.

This Simpsons Hit & Run Remake Is Finished, But You Can't Play It

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 13:40:47 GMT

The Simpsons: Hit & Run is the dream remake for many 2000s kids. The cult classic kid-friendly GTA clone holds a special place in our hearts and is one of the few decent licenced games we got back in the day. With that in mind, it's no surprise that so many fans are frustrated that it still hasn't seen a modern re-release, prompting one player to take matters into their own hands.

PS5 Pro Is Reportedly Named Project Trinity, Aiming For November 2024 Release

George Foster — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:53:55 GMT

According to an insider, the long-rumoured PS5 Pro is reportedly titled "Project Trinity" and aims to have released by November 2024, with developers getting their hands on development kits by the end of this year.

David Hayter Says It's "Far Past Time" Unions Protected Voice Actors And Animators

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 16:16:14 GMT

David Hayter has good reason to spend so much time raising awareness for ongoing strike action in Hollywood. For decades, Hayter has worked in multiple fields across the entertainment industry. Now, two of them - acting and writing - are embroiled in high-profile industrial action, fighting back against studios that think their work can be replaced by AI.

Report: Your Favourite Gaming Actors Want You To Stop AI Generating Their Voices

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 16:30:17 GMT

Over the past several months, much has been said about the growth of AI and its potential replacement of workers across the entertainment industry. Once merely the fever dreams of out-of-touch executives, we now have AI art creeping into our games, and even Avengers Infinity War and Endgame director Joe Russo saying that an entire movie could be AI-generated in the next two years if the technology keeps advancing.

Loot Boxes Shouldn't Be Sold To Minors, Must Allow Refunds, Say UK Publishers

James Troughton — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 12:26:28 GMT

The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (or UKIE for short) has published a new list of guidelines for loot boxes in video games on the UK government website. While not legally binding, the guidelines could result in government pushback if breached. Notably, the guidelines urge developers to restrict purchasing loot boxes for under 18-year-olds, make refunding more lenient, and disclose odds before purchasing.

Existing Activision Games Could Go Xbox Exclusive, Sony Only Wanted Call Of Duty

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 10:36:11 GMT

All Activision games apart from Call of Duty could go Xbox exclusive after the acquisition goes through. This comes as part of Sony's agreement with Microsoft, in which the PlayStation studio opted to keep Call of Duty for longer, losing other Activision games in return.

After 20 Years, Xbox Live Is Dead

James Troughton — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:53:23 GMT

Update 14:50 BST: Xbox has now officially confirmed the new 'Core' plan, set to replace Live Gold.

Destiny 2 Player Fined $500,000 For Racist Abuse, Doxing, Threats Against Dev

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 16 Jul 2023 11:30:25 GMT

Jesse James Comer, a Destiny 2 player who racially abused and terrorised a Bungie community manager and his family, has been ordered to pay almost $500,000 in damages. This comes after Comer was found to have organised a campaign of harassment towards the anonymous Bungie worker, stemming from his promotion of a Black artist in the Destiny community.

Twitter’s Unsustainable Creator Monetisation Doesn’t Even Apply To Everyone Fairly

Tessa Kaur — Sat, 15 Jul 2023 16:30:17 GMT

Earlier this week saw Twitter announce that it’s going to begin sharing ad revenue with content creators on the platform. According to the Twitter Help Center, this is part of their efforts to “help people earn a living directly on Twitter”. The feature is available in countries where Stripe supports payouts, and has rolled out to “an initial group who will be invited to accept payment”. Here’s the kicker: to be eligible you have to be either subscribed to Twitter Blue or Verified Organisations, and have at least 5 million impressions on your posts for each of the previous three months. You also have to pass human review for Creator Monetisation Standards, which are a list of fairly standard rules including having a fully completed profile, being older than 18, not having violated Twitter rules, etc.

Larry Hryb Is Leaving Xbox After 20 Years

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:44:18 GMT

Larry Hryb, who you may also know as Major Nelson, has announced that he's leaving Xbox this month after 20 years at the company to "work on the next chapter" of his career.

Xbox Fans Spam Every FTC Post After Activision Blizzard Lawsuit Loss

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 11:45:30 GMT

Xbox fans are on a normal one, spamming the FTC's Twitter account after it failed to stop Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Even completely unrelated tweets are full of replies accusing the FTC of being a bunch of Sony Ponies, with Xbox fans pretty mad despite their "team" winning this latest legal battle.

FTC Accused Of Wasting Taxpayer Money After Appealing Xbox Verdict

Joshua Robertson — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 02:20:45 GMT

After losing its recent court battle with Microsoft, the FTC decided to launch an appeal over the verdict earlier this week. It filed an appeal with the Ninth Circuit on July 12, also requesting a stay from the Northern District Court of California to prevent the deal from closing until the appeal is ruled on since the merger deadline of July 18 is fast-approaching. It's a last ditch attempt by the FTC to stop it from happening, and it's now catching a lot of heat from all sides.

BIG Festival 2023 - Latin America Rises In The Gaming Industry

Santi Leguiza — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 17:30:16 GMT

Drinking soda in the business area of the BIG Festival, I can see journalists, representatives of different government departments, game developers, and other colorful folks, all walking around making acquaintances, all flocking to Latin America to make it happen. The place is full of vibrant energy, and folks can enjoy hundreds of indie games on display.

FTC Reportedly Looking To Appeal Its Loss To Xbox Over Activision Blizzard Deal

George Foster — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 10:44:28 GMT

According to a person familiar with the case, the FTC is reportedly looking to appeal the judge's ruling in the Activision Blizzard case, which was decided in Xbox's favour yesterday.

Voice Actors Speak Out Against AI Voice Generators

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 12 Jul 2023 01:01:22 GMT

Last week, many of you will recall that Persona, Fire Emblem, and Final Fantasy voice actor Erica Linbeck deleted her Twitter account after an altercation with a fan that used her voice in an AI-generated video without permission. The creator of the video accused Linbeck of starting a "harassing campaign" over a "dumb but harmless Futaba AI cover video", an accusation that caused her to leave Twitter seemingly permanently.

ZeniMax Allegedly Held Healthcare “Hostage” To Get Rid Of Trans Employee

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 17:00:46 GMT

A former Elder Scrolls Online developer has spoken out about her experience as a transgender woman at ZeniMax Online Studios. In a four-hour video, former ESO Media Artist Leona Faren shares audio recordings that appear to confirm that management misgendered her. She also claims that her manager repeatedly outed her to workers who didn’t know she was transgender, and pressured her into resigning when she needed time off work for gender-affirming care.

Microsoft Wins FTC Court Case, Activision Blizzard Deal Can Proceed

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 11 Jul 2023 15:11:11 GMT

It's a surprise win for Microsoft today as it wins its lawsuit with the FTC. This allows the company to complete its merger with Activision Blizzard in the US. It's also a huge blow for Sony, who went all-in on providing evidence to try and get the deal scrapped altogether.

Pokemon Go Developer Accused Of Fostering Sexist, Racist "Boys Club" Workplace

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 17:41:11 GMT

Niantic has been accused of creating a "toxic boys club" work culture that actively discriminates against female employees. Women of colour are particularly discriminated against, according to one anonymous worker, who claims she was paid less than white male employees with lower job titles and fewer responsibilities.

Persona Actor Leaves Twitter After Calling Out AI Video Using Her Voice

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 15:28:59 GMT

Erica Lindbeck, the voice actor best known for her work in games such as Persona, Final Fantasy, Fire Emblem, and Mortal Kombat has left Twitter. This comes after an online feud with a content creator that used her voice in an AI-generated video, something she had strongly opposed.

Cyberpunk 2077 And Witcher Fans Protest Reddit Changes By Spamming Saucy Pictures

Joshua Robertson — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT

If you've been keeping an eye on Reddit over the course of the past few weeks, you'll know that several communities are locked in a heated battle with the higher ups due to recent API changes that have forced third-party apps to pay for access. A recent blackout caused Reddit to completely crash, but despite best efforts and several popular subreddits going dark, things seem to be carrying on as usual now the initial fury has seemingly passed.

If Developers Won't Save Their Games, Emulators Will

James Troughton — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 17:30:17 GMT

Emulating games is vital to preserving the medium’s history. Publishers and studios continue to show flagrant disregard for their own past, burning down digital stores while leaving old games trapped on old hardware. The hobbyists picking up the slack are punished for “piracy”, despite many of the games we emulate being from platforms decades old with no easy way to access anymore. Who are we hurting by downloading the original Silent Hill 2 ISO other than the publisher’s inflated ego?

Play-To-Earn Games Are Boring, Says Sega

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 13:25:09 GMT

Sega has made a significant U-turn on its approach to blockchain games, now saying that play-to-earn titles are "boring." This comes after the gaming giant previously sounded poised to go all-in on NFTs and Web3 as a whole, only to suddenly scale back its aspirations and enthusiasm for the new technology.

Threads, Meta’s Replacement For Twitter, Sucks By The Way

Tessa Kaur — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 15:30:17 GMT

I’ve been using Twitter since my early teens, which means I’ve had at least six separate accounts over the years. I kept getting older, reading my old tweets back, getting embarrassed and deleting them off the internet forever so nobody knows I was once a loser. I grew up mainlining Twitter culture into my body and brain – it’s how I know anything at all about the internet, and what other people think about things. I used it to post poetry, as a diary, as a professional networking tool, as a freelance opportunity aggregator. Twitter has served me well for over a decade, and now it’s dying because a manbaby bought a company instead of going to therapy.

Ramen, Emotions, And RPGs - Interview With Takashi Tokita At BIG Festival 2023

Santi Leguiza — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 16:15:15 GMT

At the Brazil Independent Games Festival in Sao Paulo, the biggest gaming expo in Latin America, I find myself across the table from Takashi Tokita. Though his affable demeanor doesn’t waver as we make polite small talk, I strain to keep myself together as the director of classics like Chrono Trigger, lead designer in Final Fantasy 4, and participant in at least a dozen other iconic RPGs compliments my Sonic The Hedgehog sweater before we take a picture.

Niantic's Employees Shouldn't Have To Pay The Price For Poor Management

Eric Switzer — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:57:17 GMT

Niantic CEO John Hanke informed his employees this week that the company is sunsetting one game (NBA All-World), ending development on another (Marvel World of Heroes), and shuttering its LA studio. 230 game developers lost their jobs this week so that Niantic can “bring expenses and revenue back into line.” This, despite Niantic telling Eurogamer in May that its revenue in 2023 was up over the previous year.

The Most Memorable Moments In E3's History

Joe Gvora — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 12:45:16 GMT

E3 (the Electronic Entertainment Expo) has been a monumental event that gamers from around the world have looked forward to every year. But due to a lack of interest from console manufacturers and AAA publishers, E3 might not ever return as an in-person tradition, marking the end of an era in the gaming industry.

Microsoft CEO Wants To "Get Rid" Of Console Exclusives

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 22:12:24 GMT

It's generally agreed upon in the gaming world that exclusives make or break a console. Microsoft will know that fact far too well, as it's lack of first-party releases since the Xbox Series X's launch has landed it firmly in third place in the "console wars", something that the company itself is willing to admit. However, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has stated that if he had his way, console exclusives wouldn't be a thing at all.

Microsoft Considered Buying Square Enix Back In 2019

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:15:22 GMT

It's no secret that Microsoft is on the hunt to buy up a bunch of developers it believes will help boost the value of the Xbox brand as well as Game Pass. We've already seen its efforts with Bethesda parent studio ZeniMax Media and the ongoing Activision Blizzard acquisition attempt. However, it turns out that Microsoft was actually considering buying up another massive developer and publisher, that being Final Fantasy maker Square Enix.

Jim Ryan Says Publishers "Unanimously" Hate Xbox Game Pass

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 17:18:37 GMT

It's the fourth day of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) case against Microsoft, and PlayStation boss Jim Ryan is taking the stand. In pre-recorded testimony, Ryan is giving evidence and taking questions from Microsoft's lawyers. He's certainly not holding back either.

Emails Reveal Bethesda Frustration Over Xbox Exclusivity For Starfield And TES 6

James Troughton — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 09:37:31 GMT

Bethesda has been roped into the Activision Blizzard acquisition controversy. The FTC has argued that Microsoft's treatment of Bethesda games is a sign of its intentions with Activision's library--for example, Starfield and Redfall are now Xbox exclusives despite original plans to also launch on PlayStation. Xbox has claimed that things will be different with IPs like Call of Duty, but this has sparked frustration among Bethesda executives.

Microsoft Considered Acquiring Sega To Help Bolster Game Pass

Joshua Robertson — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 23:29:53 GMT

Microsoft ongoing court battle with the FTC has thrown up a number of interesting little factoids regarding the company's previous business dealings, but you'll struggle to find a bigger revelation than the one that dropped earlier today. According to some internal documents provided during the hearing, Microsoft was strongly considering acquiring Sega's gaming studios in 2020 in an attempt to make Game Pass much more lucrative.

$5 Mario Oreos Announced, Immediately Scalped For $50

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 17:45:14 GMT

Nintendo and Oreo have partnered up for a limited run of Super Mario-themed biscuits, so you know what that means. Yup, scalpers are ruining it, seeing this kid-friendly brand promotion as an opportunity to make a quick buck. Or quite a few bucks, in this case.

Rockstar Is Working On A VR Game, According To Voice Actor Resume

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 12:08:16 GMT

Rockstar Games could be working on another VR game, according to a voice actor's resume. Voice actor Michael Ursu lists an "Undisclosed Rockstar Game" as one of the VR projects that he's worked on, sparking speculation that a classic Rockstar game could get a VR port.

Sega Hints That More Classic Games Could Be Revived

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 25 Jun 2023 17:02:33 GMT

At long last, Sega remembered that it has a Not Sonic series, reviving Samba de Amigo after 15 years. For ages, Sega's Dreamcast lineup of game characters had been relegated to supporting roles, getting a spot in team-up games with Sonic if they were lucky. But with Samba de Amigo: Party Central coming to Switch on August 29 of this year, fans are hoping more classics could be brought back from the dead.

Xbox Says That The Console War Is Just A Social Construct

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 12:44:31 GMT

Just after Microsoft admits that it's underperforming both by its own metrics and in comparison to Sony and Nintendo, it also shoots down the idea of the console wars altogether. While giving evidence to the FTC, Xbox Games boss Phil Spencer says that the console war is just a "social construct", downplaying its relevancy in the gaming industry,

Xbox Finally Admits Call Of Duty Will Run Worse On Switch

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 11:41:38 GMT

Xbox games boss Phil Spencer finally gives us a clearer idea of how Call of Duty will perform on the Nintendo Switch, admitting that it won't compare to other platforms. This comes after Microsoft and Nintendo reached a deal to ensure Call of Duty releases on at least one rival platform, albeit one far less powerful than Xbox's own hardware.

PlayStation Studio Says It's Working On More Remasters

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 11:11:41 GMT

Sony could have more remasters of its older games on the way, as one of its studios says it's increasingly focusing on improving previous releases.

Xbox Has "Lost The Console Wars", Says Microsoft

James Troughton — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 14:56:07 GMT

Microsoft has been trying a new strategy to get the Activision deal through--punching itself in the face repeatedly. Today that means admitting it has "lost the console wars," AKA that it's falling behind Nintendo and PlayStation, so buying up Activision Blizzard King won't really harm the competition. It's a bold strategy Cotton, let's see if it pays off for 'em.

Xbox Is Increasing The Price Of Game Pass And The Series X

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 23:15:00 GMT

Last year, Xbox head Phil Spencer hinted during a conference that certain things in the Xbox ecosystem may see price increases relatively soon, claiming that the company won't be able to keeps things at the same price forever. Well, it seems like that day has finally come, as it's been revealed that Microsoft will be increasing the price of both the Xbox Series X and an Xbox Game Pass subscription over the next two months.

EA Games And EA Sports Are Splitting In Two To "Empower" Creative Teams

Joshua Robertson — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 23:23:59 GMT

For the longest time, EA Games and EA Sports have existed under the same Electronic Arts umbrella, one focusing on majoritively single player narrative experiences, and the other working on sports title such as FIFA, Madden, F1 and all that good stuff. However, EA has announced that it will soon be undergoing a massive internal reorganization by splitting EA Games and EA Sports into their own major studios.

Microsoft Is Buying Activision To Put PlayStation Out Of Business, Lawyers Claim

Joshua Robertson — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 21:10:49 GMT

Update 03:18 BST - A Microsoft representative has responded to Axios Gaming's original report to explain that the internal email from Xbox Games Studio head Matt Booty was sent in 2019, prior to the announcement of the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

Xbox Says That VR Doesn't Have An Audience Yet

Joshua Robertson — Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:56:35 GMT

Even though it's a relatively niche market, it seems like every tech company out there wants to have a VR headset to call their own. PlayStation has been pretty invested in VR since it launched the first PSVR system in 2016, as have big tech companies like Google, Apple, Meta, and more. However, one company that has never shown any interest in VR at all is Xbox, and that's because it apparently doesn't think that there's an audience for VR at the moment.

PlayStation Isn't Actually Scared Of Losing CoD, Says Xbox

James Troughton — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 15:14:13 GMT

Call of Duty was a huge sticking point for the Microsoft-Activision deal in the lead-up to the CMA's decision, with Sony arguing that it being an Xbox exclusive would cause Microsoft to dominate the industry with a near-monopoly. This led to Microsoft making promises to bring the series to Nintendo platforms, Sony claiming it believes Microsoft would make CoD buggy for PS5 on purpose, and Microsoft telling Sony to make its own competitor. But allegedly, Sony CEO Jim Ryan was never scared of losing Call of Duty.

Xbox Says Devs Should "Plan Better" To Get Games Running On Series S

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:04:10 GMT

The Xbox Series S might be a great deal for gamers, but not so much for developers. This cheaper hardware doesn't just keep its price down by omitting a disc drive, but also by compromising the performance, giving devs less to work with.

Embracer Wants To “Exploit” The Lord Of The Rings, And Tolkien Fans Should Be Worried

Ben Sledge — Wed, 14 Jun 2023 15:00:16 GMT

The Embracer Group has been hoarding studios and IP for a while now, slowly becoming one of the biggest conglomerates in gaming. Studios such as Crystal Dynamics, THQ Nordic, Saber Interactive, Gearbox Software, and Dark Horse Comics are all owned by the Swedish company, and all face layoffs or closure after the recent news that a $2 billion deal went awry and Embracer must cut costs to improve its bottom line.

Phil Spencer Dodges Question On Controversial Bobby Kotick Comments

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 14:18:10 GMT

Phil Spencer has no response to controversial comments made by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, saying that he hasn't even read the interview they were shared in. This is despite Microsoft currently fighting to acquire Activision Blizzard, a company infamous for its abuse allegations, some of which revolve around Kotick himself.

Saints Row Owner Embracer Is Laying Off Staff To Save Costs

James Troughton — Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:29:49 GMT

Embracer has announced plans to close studios and lay off staff amidst a new "comprehensive restructuring program". It wants to be a "leaner, stronger and a more focused, self-sufficient company" by making "cost savings". This is in spite of its spending $300 million on acquiring Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal last year, and $1.3 billion on Gearbox in 2021.

Reddit Crashed Because Too Many Users Are Protesting Site Changes

Josh Coulson — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 21:11:07 GMT

Protests against Reddit's planned changes to third-party APIs began today, and even though nothing has been reversed just yet, it's probably fair to say the immediate impact they've had was a big success. So many subreddits participated in the planned blackout, which will continue on into the week, Reddit crashed and was effectively inaccessible for more than two hours.

The FTC Is Trying To Stop The Microsoft, Activision Blizzard Deal Again

Josh Coulson — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 18:28:08 GMT

Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard appears to have hit yet another significant roadblock. The Federal Trade Commission is already suing to block the merger from going ahead, but to make matters worse for Microsoft, it is now believed the FTC has filed for an injunction that would block the deal before its July 18 deadline.

Great Free Game Engines

Rena Darling — Sat, 10 Jun 2023 12:45:17 GMT

If you play games in any capacity, chances are you’ve been a part of a conversation about which game has better or worse graphics and gameplay. A lot of that comes down to what game engine developers work with. Luckily for indie developers, they have a wide range of free engines to choose from.

GameStop Fires CEO After Only Two Years

James Troughton — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:58:07 GMT

Two years ago, GameStop hired Matt Furlong as its new CEO to shift its focus to e-commerce due to a shrinking demand for physical media. However, he has been fired, with Chewy co-founder Ryan Cohen stepping up as executive chairman.

A Nintendo Direct Might Take Place Next Month, According To Insider

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:47:41 GMT

We're well into the summer period, and that means only one thing for gamers. It's time for hundreds of developers and publishers to compete for our attention with an assortment of events and showcases chock full of reveals and world premieres. We already have the likes of Xbox, Bethesda, Ubisoft, and Capcom, confirmed to be putting on their own shows, but one company that's being a little more reserved is Nintendo.

The Best Video Game Engines

Cameron Miller — Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:45:17 GMT

Over the years you’ve come into contact with plenty of different game engines whether you were aware of it or not. The term game engine isn’t referring to the Ghost Train from Final Fantasy 6, instead, it’s referring to the very thing used to create each and every one of your favorite video games.

Witcher Actor Doug Cockle Has Prostate Cancer

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 16:06:07 GMT

Legendary actor Doug Cockle, best known for playing Geralt in The Witcher series, has revealed that he has prostate cancer. He says his treatment is ongoing, but going well so far, and urges fans to get checked up, especially if they're over the age of 50.

Steam Wants Nothing To Do With Nintendo's Piracy Drama

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 13:28:53 GMT

Valve has responded to Nintendo's latest piracy drama, making it clear it wants to stay out of the situation entirely. This comes after Nintendo put legal pressure on the Dolphin emulator, ahead of its planned release on Steam.

Microsoft Fined $20 Million For Illegally Collecting Children's Data Via Xbox

James Troughton — Tue, 06 Jun 2023 11:04:14 GMT

The FTC has ordered Microsoft to pay a $20 million fine after finding that it had illegally gathered personal information on minors through Xbox without informing their parents.

Geoff Keighley Says E3 "Killed Itself"

James Troughton — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:13:41 GMT

E3 isn't happening this year, so it's understandable that many think the event is finally coming to a close. And since Summer Game Fest appears to be taking its place alongside The Game Awards, many have pinned the blame on Geoff Keighley, but he believes that E3 was dying before he came onto the scene.

Xbox Says There Will Be No Full CG Trailers At The Showcase

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 12:53:19 GMT

Gaming showcases have become infamous for one thing over the years - a bunch of CG trailers that bear very little resemblance to the final game. Sure, it allows for titles much earlier in development to be shown off before there's any gameplay ready, but with so many games getting revealed in this way, it's hard to tell what they will actually look like. However, Xbox promises that it will be doing things a little differently for its upcoming showcase.

PlayStation Boss Says Cloud Gaming Has Too Many Technical Difficulties

Rhiannon Bevan — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 16:51:55 GMT

Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida isn't convinced that cloud gaming is ready for mass industry adoption, citing technical issues. While making it clear that PlayStation views it as an "amazing business model," ongoing latency concerns make Yoshida less eager to pursue the technology at this point in time - a very different approach than Xbox is taking.

Steam Update Stops Publishers From Lying About Discounts

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 03 Jun 2023 16:50:24 GMT

Steam users in the EU won't be duped by false sales anymore, as legislation forces publishers to be more transparent with game prices. Thanks to these new rules, Steam pages will have to show the lowest price a game has been sold for, as well as its current and discounted price tags.

[Update] Sonic Creator Yuji Naka Gets Over 2 Years In Prison

James Troughton — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 08:25:14 GMT

Update: 02:07 BST 02/06/2023 - It's been reported that Yuji Naka has not yet been officially sentenced to over 2 years in prison for insider trading, and a decision is expected to take place on July 7 next month. Naka's defence has requested a reduced fine and the sentence to be suspended. Original story follows.

Activision Blizzard Investigators Confirm 29 Cases Of Harassment Last Year

Joshua Robertson — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 00:26:42 GMT

Earlier today, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick claimed in an interview that the company has never had a systemic issue with harassment, claiming that the board of directors would never allow him to continue running things if that were the case. Well, best get packing your things Bobby, as investigators looking into cases of harassment, discrimination, and retalitation have substantiated 29 reports out of a whopping 114 that were made last year, some of which involved more than one employee.

The Witcher 3 And Cyberpunk 2077 Director Opens New Studio With Former CDPR Devs

Lu-Hai Liang — Wed, 31 May 2023 13:01:16 GMT

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the biggest games of all time, having sold more than 50 million copies, with it contributing to the bulk of the 75 million copies that The Witcher series has sold overall. Meanwhile, Cyberpunk 2077 retains a large and dedicated fanbase despite its earlier difficulties. Now, game industy veterans with decades of experience between them have formed a new studio known as Blank., which comprise former members of the developer behind those games.

Dragon Age's Narrative Lead Says BioWare's Attempts To Use AI Were "Soulless"

Vlad Mazanko — Wed, 31 May 2023 12:41:11 GMT

Using artificial intelligence (AI) to produce content for modern games is one of the hottest topic in the industry these days, with an increasing number of developers opposing the idea. Former Dragon Age lead writer, David Gaider, has entered the debate, expressing doubts about AI ever replacing humans in the realm of quality game writing. In his words, BioWare itself made several attempts to employ such tools, but none of them proved successful.

Valheim Devs Want Mods To Be Free

Lu-Hai Liang — Tue, 30 May 2023 12:45:43 GMT

There was a time when it seemed chatter about Valheim was ubiquitous such was its popularity and word-of-mouth hype. While that buzz may have died down somewhat since then, the survival and sandbox game retains a fervent playerbase and has attracted more players since it launched on Xbox in March.

Nintendo Defends Legal Action Against Dolphin Emulator

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 29 May 2023 11:58:31 GMT

Nintendo breaks its silence on its recent legal action against the popular emulator, Dolphin. In a statement, Nintendo says it is "committed to protecting the hard work and creativity" of its developers, arguing that the emulator "harms" the studio and "stifles innovation."

CD Projekt Shoots Down Sony Acquisition Rumours

Lu-Hai Liang — Mon, 29 May 2023 11:01:49 GMT

It's been the trend that acquisitions in the video games space has been hotting up with the likes of Take-Two, Sony, Embracer Group, Microsoft, and Electronic Arts, among others, announcing huge deals over the past few years. Meanwhile, Sony recently signalled that it intends to bolster its investment capabilities as the games industry continues to consolidate.

Nintendo Collector Goes Viral For Trading Rare Items For New Zelda Switch

Lu-Hai Liang — Sun, 28 May 2023 13:11:19 GMT

While the combination of ever increasing rents, dwindling footfall, and rising digital sales mean physical game stores are getting wiped out, they still perform a great function for many gamers. This includes the ability to trade items. Being able to sell or part exchange is one of the pros of owning physical media with many a seasoned gamer taking advantage of it at their local video games store even as the practice is slowly fading away. But one instance of trading in went viral recently as a customer made an exchange that had many online viewers widening their eyes.

75 Percent Of Young Women Report Abuse In Online Games

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 27 May 2023 12:07:41 GMT

A study into abuse in online games has found that most female gamers experience harassment while playing, with the majority of victims aged between 18 and 24. 75 percent of younger respondents said they had been abused in online games, with around 50 percent of women of all age groups reporting harassment.

Nintendo Sends Valve DMCA Notice Over Wii Emulator Listing On Steam

Joshua Robertson — Sat, 27 May 2023 01:33:39 GMT

Earlier this year, the team behind Dolphin Emulator - a popular emulator that allows PC users to play Wii and GameCube games - announced plans to distribute it on Steam, going so far as to create a listing on the storefront. This ended up attracting a lot of attention, although it also seems to have turned the head of the one company that Dolphin Emulator was probably hoping not to come to blows with - Nintendo.

Xbox Reportedly Banning "Easy Gamerscore" Games

Sean Murray — Fri, 26 May 2023 17:16:15 GMT

Xbox is changing its rules concerning achievements and Gamerscore. According to a new report, Xbox Game Certification Rules have new requirements that will prevent a game from being published if you can unlock all or most of its achievements by doing absolutely nothing at all.

PlayStation Players Aren't Happy About Project Q

Josh Coulson — Thu, 25 May 2023 12:44:47 GMT

Wednesday's PlayStation Showcase might not have been as loaded as some people were expecting, but there was still a lot in there to get excited about. One of the most surprising reveals was Project Q, a handheld streaming device PS5 owners can pair with their console to play games away from their TVs. However, it seems quite a few of you aren't all that enamored with the new product and probably aren't planning on picking one up.

PlayStation's Handheld Project Q Reportedly Launching In November

Lu-Hai Liang — Thu, 25 May 2023 12:34:38 GMT

Last night's PlayStation Showcase, the first in some 600 days, paused for breath near the end of the more-than-hour-long presentation as Jim Ryan revealed new PlayStation hardware. Before we saw an extended trailer for Insomniac's forthcoming Spider-Man 2, the PlayStation chief pulled the wraps off its new handheld: Project Q.

PlayStation Officially Unveils The Handheld Project Q

Lu-Hai Liang — Wed, 24 May 2023 21:20:10 GMT

PlayStation chief Jim Ryan officially took the wraps off its handheld Project Q during today's PlayStation Showcase. Stuffed with game reveals including Spider-Man 2, the long rumoured Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater remake, and gameplay footage of Assassin's Creed Mirage, the showcase also found some time to show off new PlayStation hardware.

PlayStation Wants To Make Games For "Every Major Genre" To Expand Portfolio

Joshua Robertson — Wed, 24 May 2023 00:50:21 GMT

Even if you're on the other side of the fence of the console wars, you have to admit that PlayStation's selection of first-party titles over the past decade has been pretty extraordinary. It's that strength that has made PlayStation such a dominant force in the industry today, and it's still looking to improve on its position even now. A recent presentation from the publisher has revealed that it's aiming to eventually cover "every major genre" in an attempt to expand its portfolio of first-party offerings.

Xbox Owners Overwhelmingly Agree Quick Resume Is The Console's Best Feature

Lu-Hai Liang — Tue, 23 May 2023 17:01:10 GMT

While it can seem like Xbox and PlayStation are locked in a deadly battle, as they fight for supremacy each generation, to rule as the number one console, in reality things are different. For instance, many gamers might even have multiple consoles, or they own one and wonder what it would be like to own the other.

Blizzard Will Use AI To Create Concept Art For Characters

Sean Murray — Tue, 23 May 2023 14:10:58 GMT

AI is all the rage these days as corporations constantly pull from controversial tools that try to cut the artist out of the equation. From conversations with an extremely lifelike ChatGPT to art-generating AI that pulls from people's work without consent, there's no escaping AI, and that's especially true in the world of video games.

3DS Update Makes It Impossible To Pirate Games, Despite Store Shutdown

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 23 May 2023 13:43:49 GMT

Nintendo just dropped a surprise update for its dead console, the 3DS, and everyone hates it. Despite the eShop now being shut down, removing any way to legitimately buy new games for the platform, the latest firmware update stops users from hacking the console, making it able to run pirated games.

Nintendo Is Now Getting Sued To Refund Minors Over Mario Kart Tour Loot Boxes

James Troughton — Tue, 23 May 2023 10:26:27 GMT

Nintendo is notorious for its strict legal action against emulation, leaks, and even YouTube videos. Only recently, Gary Bowser got out of prison after three years for hacking the 3DS and Switch, but he still owes Nintendo $10 million, a number he cannot feasibly pay off. Nintendo's reputation is so well-known that a Switch emulator shut down prior to Tears of the Kingdom's launch to avoid "potential legal risks".

Indie Studio Rusty Lake Unable To Claim Own Username On Discord

Justin Reeve — Mon, 22 May 2023 23:48:38 GMT

The indie studio behind puzzle adventure games Rusty Lake Hotel, The White Door, and the Cube Escape series, Rusty Lake, is in something of a predicament as the company navigates Discord's recent policy transition which involves replacing the previous four-digit, number-based username system. Despite being offered an early opportunity to reserve a username, Rusty Lake wound up discovering that its preferred choice, Rusty Lake, had already been claimed. The studio is now effectively unable to go by their own trademark.

Epic Games' Bandcamp Has Unionized

Sean Murray — Mon, 22 May 2023 19:01:36 GMT

Fortnite and Unreal developer Epic Games now has a union. Bandcamp, the music distribution platform aimed at bringing artists to the world, has formed Epic's first union after holding a successful union vote.

Xbox Reports 450 Percent Increase In Player Punishments Over "Vulgar" Content

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 22 May 2023 17:25:23 GMT

Xbox is continuing to clamp down on toxic and abusive players on its systems, revealing that it has seen a huge increase in accounts reprimanded for posting "vulgar" content. Since improving its moderation system, the company says there's been a 450 percent increase in "enforcements" over such content, presumably ranging from taking down the post to suspending players altogether.

10 Years On Fans Remember The Xbox One's Disastrous Reveal

Lu-Hai Liang — Mon, 22 May 2023 13:11:24 GMT

Ten years ago Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One to the world, its third console after the computer giant decided to muscle in on the console race. Stepping on stage was then head of Xbox Don Mattrick to introduce and reveal the new console. But what would unfold over the next hour has gone down in video game history as a notorious spectacle in how to alienate your fanbase in one single presentation.

The Sonic Symphony Is Coming To London And Los Angeles This September

Rhiannon Bevan — Mon, 22 May 2023 13:09:40 GMT

As previously promised, the Sonic Symphony is going on tour, bringing back the ultra-popular music performance that marked the series' 30th anniversary. Two tour dates have been announced so far, with the first two shows taking place this September in the US and UK.

Sony Is Reportedly Gearing Up For More Acquisitions

Lu-Hai Liang — Mon, 22 May 2023 11:15:17 GMT

It looks like the console wars are getting ever more expensive. Where once Sega and Nintendo battled it out for supremacy for the valuable space in front of the TV, nowadays the competition can be across multiple platforms and even up in the clouds. And with ever growing consolidation, as giant games companies gobble up smaller ones, no one wants to be left behind.

The Rarest Wii Games And How Expensive They Are

Ryan Thomas Bamsey — Sun, 21 May 2023 17:31:17 GMT

The Nintendo Wii was a very special console. Making motion controls the selling point of the console after the immensely popular PlayStation 2 and Xbox made it clear they weren't required may have seemed like a risky move, but it paid off immensely.

Half Of Gamers Exposed To Extremism, According To Study

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 20 May 2023 16:45:28 GMT

51 percent of gamers who played online games last year were exposed to extremist rhetoric. This is according to new research into how the gaming community is being used to spread extremism, with groups, such as neo-Nazis, using everything from Minecraft to Discord to share bigoted material.

Take-Two CEO Says Games Should Be Made By Humans, Not AI

Rhiannon Bevan — Sat, 20 May 2023 15:05:49 GMT

Take-Two is interested in AI, but not to replace its developers. That's at least according to reassurances from the company's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, who says that AI can't make hit video games, adding that game development "is the domain of human beings."

Take-Two Says $70 Price Tag Means Gamers Are Only Buying Big "Blockbusters"

Sean Murray — Fri, 19 May 2023 18:05:21 GMT

Way back in September 2020, NBA 2K21 arrived as the very first game to be priced at $70 USD. At the time, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said that gamers "were ready" for the higher price, and since then, pretty much every other major publisher has increased prices on their triple-A titles to follow suit.

PS5 Exclusives Won't Start Coming To PC Day One

Rhiannon Bevan — Fri, 19 May 2023 12:10:13 GMT

When a game goes PS5 exclusive, it really does mean that it's a PS5 exclusive. While Microsoft is, for obvious reasons, willing to share its Xbox offerings with PC players, Sony has proven reluctant, having them wait years for ports. However, it seems like this strategy is working well for Sony, as it has no plans to change this business model anytime soon.

(Update) Doom Co-Creator Is Heading Up A Convention For People "Tired Of Woke Propaganda"

James Troughton — Thu, 18 May 2023 12:25:29 GMT

Update 14:52 BST 18/05/23: John Carmack has since posted about the backlash to his attending the anti-woke convention, stating that it's "unfortunate Rob has made BasedCon so intentionally provocative. I told him as much after the event last year - I felt a little uncomfortable." He also claims that he is "not a culture warrior" and doesn't "follow activists on either side", adding that he went to the con simply because he liked the books.

PlayStation Showcase Announced For May 24

Sean Murray — Wed, 17 May 2023 14:08:33 GMT

PlayStation has confirmed that it is holding a showcase at the end of the month on May 24. During this hour-long presentation, it will take the lid off some of its upcoming titles starting at 1 PM PDT.

Microsoft CEO Refuses To Rule Out Pulling Activision Games From The UK

Joshua Robertson — Tue, 16 May 2023 21:45:11 GMT

Microsoft has encountered a lot more hurdles than it probably expected in its attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard. For starters, the deal was blocked by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last year, which has sued Microsoft due to concerns over competition in the gaming industry. Microsoft is pretty confident that it will win in court, especially given that the EU has now given the deal the green light. However, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is proving to be much more of a headache for the company.

Ubisoft Has 2,000 Devs On Assassin's Creed, Wants Hundreds More

Sean Murray — Tue, 16 May 2023 18:25:07 GMT

Ubisoft already has four Assassin's Creed games in active development, including the upcoming Assassins Creed Mirage, Codename Red, Codename Hexe, and Codename Jade, and we recently found out that there are four more currently in the prototyping stage. Now we're finding out that Ubisoft is seemingly all-in on Assassin's Creed with plans to add hundreds more staff to Assassin's Creed projects.

Assassin's Creed Mirage, Avatar, Skull & Bones To Launch Before March 2024

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 16 May 2023 18:12:47 GMT

Skulls & Bones has yet another launch window, kinda. According to Ubisoft, the long-awaited adventure game will be with us by March 2024, alongside Assassin's Creed Mirage, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and more. Official release dates for some of Ubisoft's most anticipated projects are also going to be revealed during Ubisoft Forward next month, although it remains to be seen if the company can stick to them this time.

Sega Games Could Be Next To Get $70 Price Tag

Lu-Hai Liang — Tue, 16 May 2023 16:36:09 GMT

Consoles and video games seem like they're getting ever more expensive, but if you were hoping for them to get cheaper then we have some possible bad news. Sega could be the latest publisher to decide to launch their games at a higher price.

Assassin's Creed NFTs Coming Soon, Fans Furious

Rhiannon Bevan — Tue, 16 May 2023 12:32:32 GMT

Ubisoft isn't giving up on NFTs, even after the pushback with the Ghost Recon collection. Now, it's Assassin's Creed's turn, as a website for some kind of blockchain-infused "Smart Collectibles" surfaces online, much to fans' disappointment.