• Xbox Game Studios CEO Craig Duncan and chief of staff Louise O'Connor are stepping down from their roles
• Their departures come amid reports of mass job cuts at Xbox
• The news also follows reports of several studio closures, including Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, and Double Fine

Xbox Game Studios CEO Craig Duncan is reportedly stepping down from his position this week after less than two years in the role.

That's according to The Game Business, which claims that Duncan's chief of staff, Louise O'Connor, is also leaving the company, less than a year after joining.

Duncan accepted the role in 2024 after the previous boss, Alan Hartman, retired, but has been part of Xbox since 2011 and was the head of Microsoft's Sea of Thieves studio, Rare, for 14 years.

His role as CEO meant he oversaw many Xbox-owned studios, such as Rare, as well as Halo Studios, The Coalition, Flight Sim, Turn 10, Playground Games, Obsidian, Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, Double Fine, InXile, Undead Labs, and more.

Meanwhile, O'Connor joined Rare in 1999 as an animator of the Nintendo 64 game Conker’s Bad Fur Day, but left the studio in 2025 after the cancellation of Everwild, before becoming the chief of staff in September last year.

The pair's departure from Xbox comes after Bloomberg reported that CEO Asha Sharma is considering mass job cuts after she and chief content officer Matt Booty outline a new "Xbox reset."

The news also follows new reports that Microsoft is shuttering several award-winning studios, including Hellblade developer Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games, the maker of South of Midnight, and Psychonauts studio, Double Fine.

Employees at Ninja Theory, which just announced its new game Senua at the Xbox Games Showcase 2026, were reportedly told about the closure on June 15 and told The Verge that they're hoping to find a new buyer.

Bloomberg and Kotaku first reported the closures of Compulsion Games and Double Fine, which are in "active negotiations" about spinning off.

Sharma has been CEO for just over 100 days, and in that time has reformed "Microsoft Gaming" back into "Xbox" and reiterated her plan to "return to Xbox" by taking the brand back to its roots.

At the Xbox Games Showcase, Sharma announced that Gears of War: E-Day will be an Xbox console exclusive, along with Clockwork Revolution.

• The Future Game Show Summer Showcase airs on June 6
• The show will feature new trailers from more than 40 upcoming games
• An extended look at Exodus gameplay will follow the main show

The annual Future Game Show Summer Showcase is almost here, and alongside new trailers and game announcements, this year, a special extended look at Exodus will be featured.

To get ready for the event, here's everything you need to know about Future Game Show Summer Showcase, including when and how to tune in, and what games to expect.

Start time

The Future Games Show Summer Showcase returns on Saturday, June 6 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST / 9PM CEST.

The show will be hosted by actors Alix Wilton Regan, best known for her role in Dragon Age: Inquisition, Cyberpunk 2077, and the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, and The Last of Us, Death Stranding, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle star Troy Baker.

Where to watch

You'll be able to tune in to the showcase on the Future Game Show's official Twitch, YouTube, X / Twitter, and TikTok, as well as Steam, Epic Games Store, Facebook, and more.

Like most gaming showcases, we expect the broadcast to begin a countdown up to 30 minutes beforehand, so we'd recommend tuning in a little earlier before it officially begins.

What to Expect

This year's showcase will feature 10 world premieres, exclusive game demos, developer interviews, and new trailers from more than 40 upcoming games, including some of the most anticipated titles coming later this year.

Some games already confirmed include IllFonic's single-player horror game, Halloween: The Game, which launches on September 8, as well as a new trailer for the tactical first-person shooter from Team 17, WARDOGS.

A new gameplay trailer for Annimo, a new creature-catching open-world role-playing game (RPG), a release date announcement for the first-person psychological horror Don't Fret, a new gameplay trailer for the horror RPG, The Pines, and more will also be featured

FGS Live from Los Angeles will immediately follow the Summer Showcase and feature even more world premieres and exclusive trailers, as well as additional news and interviews, including from Perfect Garbage, the developer of the highly anticipated farming, murder-mystery sim game, Grave Seasons.

Viewers can expect a new gameplay trailer for the horror roguelite Shark Dentist, new gameplay from the team-based shooter Terminal War, and a gameplay reveal for the action-adventure RPG Alkahest.

What's more, fans can also expect a dedicated, extended gameplay reveal for Exodus, Archetype Entertainment's upcoming sci-fi action adventure RPG, scheduled to launch in 2027.

• A new Entertainment Software Association study found that most Americans think video games provide the most entertainment value for their money compared to other forms of entertainment
• 75% of parents are actively play video games each week, while 81% enjoy playing with their children
• The majority of players across all age groups are also spending money on in-game content

A new Entertainment Software Association (ESA) study has found that the majority of gamers in the United States prefer to spend their money on video games because they think they provide more entertainment value than other forms of media.

As detailed in its annual Essential Facts About the U.S. Video Game Industry report conducted in partnership with YouGov, video games are more popular than ever among most age groups.

According to the ESA, 67% of Americans between the ages of five and 90 are now playing video games one or more hours per week, which equates to 212.3 million. This is up by 3% (7.2million) compared to 2025, and split fairly equally between men and women, with 53% of men and 46% of women actively playing.

The latest stats show that parents actually like their children playing video games and enjoy gaming with them, with 75% actively playing video games each week, and 81% saying they also game with their children (52% at least weekly).

Nearly half (49%) of parents also believe that their children playing games teaches important skills, such as problem solving and creative thinking, while the majority of American adults recognize the positive benefits of play.

85% find games to be fun, 78% say they offer stress relief, and 79% say they provide mental stimulation. Younger gamers in the Gen Z category (88%) also believe gaming brings people together and builds relationships (87%).

Gaming is a billion-dollar industry, and the cost of consoles and software has been increasing over the past few years, with most AAA first-party games now costing upwards of $80 to $90.

However, according to the study, most Americans (63%) believe games offer the most value for their money compared to other forms of media like video streaming services for music, TV, movies, books, and magazines.

The majority of players across all age groups are also spending additional money on in-game content, with 69% of Gen Alpha, 78% of Gen Z, and 67% of Millennials typically spending $20 per month.

54% of parents are even purchasing in-game content for their children, although we don't know which games. 93% of them also said they require approval for in-game purchases made by their kids.

• Former Xbox executive Laura Fryer says the company is "making some small and smart moves to start winning back fans"
• Fryer says Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's decision to rebrand the company name to all caps was one of them
• She adds that "At the end of the day, if you want players and your team to care deeply, give them real ways to feel invested"

Former Microsoft Game Studios executive producer Laura Fryer thinks Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's decision to rebrand to 'XBOX' was a "smart" move.

Last month, Sharma put a simple poll on X asking fans whetherthey prefer: "Xbox" or "XBOX". The latter received the most votes, and shortly after, the name was changed across the company's social media profiles and on its websites.

According to Fryer, who spoke about the change in her new YouTube video, the move by Sharma was "smarter than it looks," despite some people probably thinking it wasn't a big deal.

"By actually asking and then doing it, they're building real momentum and player trust," Fryer explained. "Xbox is getting people invested in what they're building. This was a total layup for Asha. It doesn't matter that much to the Xbox team if it's in all caps or not, but it matters a lot to the Xbox fans."

The former executive continued, discussing how, while it's important for studios and companies to stick to what they believe in - like Unknown Worlds Entertainment not adding weapons to Subnautica 2 at the request of fans - she believes allowing some fan input is vital.

Citing a book called Influence by Robert Cialdini, Fryer said, "When people take a small public stand like voting, they become way more invested and loyal. Path of Exile showed this in 2021 when they let players vote on a new cyclone skill effect. Thousands voted, the winner got made, and those players felt like they actually helped build the game.

"So, when fans want something small, don't hesitate. Just do it. But at the same time, you have to protect your core pillars."

Fryer said this also applies to teams within the industry, like game development, and sharing and adopting ideas is just as important. She recalls when she joined the Xbox AGT team and leadership was looking for a name for its external developer event, and when she suggested "XFest", the idea was taken on and lasted a decade.

"Every single time someone would say to me, 'I'll see you at XFest.' It really made me happy because I felt like I had actually helped shape the culture instead of just executing on someone else's vision. Xbox is applying this same mindset to players now, too."

She also praised Xbox's new Player Voice system that allows players to submit feedback, with requests already being introduced, as well as Sharma's recent goal to build a stronger Xbox in an internal memo.

"When I read this, I immediately saw someone who's thinking both about the big pillars and the small moves. Xbox isn't in a good state," Fryer said. "They have a long way to go to get back their fans and it's going to be a tough road. But she seems to understand that."

She added, "At the end of the day, if you want players and your team to care deeply, give them real ways to feel invested. tart small. Listen on the low hanging fruit. Protect what matters. And set your ego aside. You'll be amazed how fast that builds real passion and loyalty. And that's how great games and great teams are actually built.

"The Xbox team is making some small but smart moves to start winning back fans. And I can't wait to see what they do next."

• Arkane Studios co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith say they almost made a Blade Runner game and Thief 4
• Bethesda approached Arkane with the idea, and Arkane developed pitches for both projects
• Thief 4 eventually became the foundation for Dishonored

According to former Arkane Studios co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith, the Deathloop developer almost made a Blade Runner game and Thief 4 before it made Dishonored.

In a new YouTube series, spotted by user 'Knoebel' on BlueSky (via Eurogamer), the developers sat down to reflect on Dishonored and its development 14 years after its release.

Early on in the video, Colantonio revealed that Bethesda approached the studio to consider creating a new game in the Thief series, which would have been Thief 4.

"Before we did Dishonored, we were supposed to either do Thief or Blade Runner," said Colantonio. "Bethesda approached us with the proposition, 'Hey, we have the Thief franchise, and we know the people to make that game, and it's you'. It's our game."

"Which is basically like coming to two cats and saying, 'We have a big bag of catnip here on the one side. We have another bag of catnip here, which one do you want? You want both?'" Smith added. "We were both so excited. Blade Runner and Thief, two of our favourite things of all time."

"We were in such a dire situation business-wise, and they came up not only to save us from business, but also to bring frankly, the IP that I would have liked to work on the most," Colantonio said.

Smith continued, saying that they had "an amazing pitch" for what would have been Thief 4, with Colantonio interjecting to add that they had "some videos" as well, and for Blade Runner, they had worked with one of Arkane's animators who specialised in first-person combat to create some fighting animations.

"We also did some Replicant fighting because we had talked to Doug Church [a veteran game designer], and he said, you know, even sitting around in a room together, they would be doing things with their bodies that humans couldn't do," Colantonio added. "Like, reaching in and grabbing the eggs out of the boiling water or whatever. So we had flips, and it was super exciting to be working on Blade Runner. The story pitch we had for Blade Runner was just– I loved it.

"The funny thing was that we initially thought we were going to be [working on] Thief. I was so excited, and they said, well, it might also be Blade Runner, and there was no way I could focus on Thief and Blade Runner at the same time."

Unfortunately, Arkane was never able to make its vision for Blade Runner and Thief 4 a reality, and because Bethesda hadn't yet acquired the studio, they were concerned about the direction they were going in.

That is, until Bethesda suggested to "keep what you're doing and call it Dishonored".

"[Dishonored] started on the base of Thief 4," Colantonio revealed.

Dishonored was released in 2012, and Arkane later developed Dishonored 2, which launched in 2016.

In early 2024, it was reported that Arkane Austin wanted to make a new single-player game, such as a Dishonored sequel, before the studio was shut down.

• Former Assassin's Creed Hexe director Clint Hocking says he used AI to learn to code
• Hocking says he used ChatGPT to mostly debug code, but found that it "sucked"
• He later switched to JavaScript and learned to code "despite ChatGPT"

Far Cry 2 and former Assassin's Creed Hexe director Clint Hocking has admitted to using AI in the past to help him learn to code, but found the process to be "brutal."

In the latest issue of Edge Magazine, which focused on how AI tools have been used in the gaming industry, Hocking revealed his own stance on the divisive technology and believes that its integration is inevitable.

The developer also said that he has used ChatGPT, one of the most popular AI tools, to help him learn how to code.

"It was brutal," Hocking said. "ChatGPT kind of sucked. It didn't really know how to code. Everything was broken. It was mostly me trying to debug code without knowing how to code myself."

However, after about a year and a half, Hocking abandoned the software in favor of JavaScript, acknowledging that "in some ways he learned to code despite ChatGPT" and likened the AI tool to a tutor rather than an alternative to learning.

Hocking was the original creative director for Assassin's Creed Hexe, but departed Ubisoft for the second time earlier this year after it appointed three experienced Assassin's Creed developers to lead the franchise at the company's newly formed Tencent-funded subsidiary Vantage Studios.

Now, Jean Guesdon, the creative director of Black Flag and Origins is leading Assassin's Creed Hexe. Guesdon was also one of the three veterans appointed to head the new studio.

In other news, Ubisoft has shared plans to release more Assassin's Creed games and new Far Cry and Ghost Recon titles by March 2029. In the company's latest financial report, it said it "expects a significantly bigger content pipeline over FY2027-28 and FY2028-29" across these three major brands.

While new Far Cry and Ghost Recon titles have yet to be announced, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced launches on July 9, Hexe could launch in 2027, and there are also plans to release the multiplayer spin-off Codename Invictus and the mobile game Assassin's Creed Jade.

• Actors Troy Baker and Alix Wilton Regan will co-host the 2026 Future Games Show Summer Showcase
• The showcase will feature world premieres, new trailers, and deep dives into over 40 games
• This year's event airs on June 6 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST

The hosts for this year's Future Games Show Summer Showcase have been announced as actors Troy Baker and Alix Wilton Regan.

Baker is an award-winning actor best known for his roles as Joel Miller in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us, Higgs Monaghan in Death Stranding, and, most recently, Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

"I’m truly honored to be hosting the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 alongside the wonderful Alix Wilton Regan," Baker said. "There’s a certain magic in stepping into new worlds and discovering what’s hidden just beneath the surface - and this show is full of those moments. With world premieres, new trailers, and deep dives into over 40 games, I can’t wait to share what we’ve uncovered together."

Wilton Regan, who is the new voice of Lara Croft in the upcoming Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis and has also starred in Cyberpunk 2077, the player character in Dragon Age: Inquisition, and more.

"I’m absolutely thrilled to be joining Troy Baker for the Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6," said Wilton Regan. "We’ll be unveiling world premieres, dazzling new trailers, and a host of extraordinary titles - so do come along and join us. It’s all shaping up to be a wonderfully daring adventure, with plenty of surprises in store."

As Baker mentioned, the Future Games Show Summer Showcase will feature world premiere reveals and exclusive trailers, as well as stealth demo drops from some of the industry’s biggest studios.

The show will also feature more than 40 games from upcoming AAA and indie developers, including some of the most anticipated titles coming later this year, such as IllFonic's single-player horror game, Halloween: The Game, which launches on September 8, as well as a new trailer for the tactical first-person shooter from Team 17, WARDOGS.

Viewers can also expect an extended gameplay reveal for EXODUS from developers Archetype Entertainment immediately after the main showcase.

Fans can watch the 2026 Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 6 at 12PM PT / 3PM ET / 8PM BST at Twitch, YouTube, Steam, and more.

FGS Live From Los Angeles, a multi-format showcase hosted by FGS channel presenters, will follow the main Summer Showcase, which will bring fans even more world premieres, exclusive trailers, and news.

The Nex Playground is a kid-friendly console that's pitched as a safer alternative to giving children access to tablets or traditional gaming devices. It launched in the US in December 2023, and ahead of its UK release I spoke with Nex's bosses about the product's privacy features, technical specs, and the company's success so far.

They also had plenty to say about the current offerings for younger gamers, with Tom Kang, the company's president and head of international, describing popular platform Roblox as "like a poster child for unsafe".

The Nex Playground is a locked-down ecosystem that offers more than 60 games designed specifically with ages three to 12 in mind. Outfitted with a wide-field-of-view camera, it relies on intuitive motion controls detected via video and processed entirely on the device.

Nex CEO David Lee told me that creating something that parents are comfortable giving their children is the company's "number one" concern. "No video [is sent to a] central cloud. Everything is local. This is a closed system, and we're not allowing third-party things," he explained. "There's no browser, [...] the library is curated."

Lee also argued that the company's business model differs from most device manufacturers, which means it can more closely align with what parents want. Early on in their life cycles, some tablets, and many games consoles, are sold at slim margins or even a loss, with vital further revenue generated via the subsequent sales of software and advertising data.

The relatively modest technical specs of the Playground suggest that it's sold with healthy margins from the get go, removing the need for Nex to claw back profit elsewhere. A library of five games is included with the initial purchase, while a budget-friendly subscription called the Play Pass enables users to access a rapidly growing selection of additional titles — and covers the costs of future game development.

"We are not trying to offer in app purchases, or sell ads," Lee said. "We're not trying to sell a new game and, you know, in a way we leave a lot of money on the table."

Parent-first design

Lee thinks that this approach is worth it, and will set the company up for success in the long run. "We only have a business if parents are resolving their problems, and stay with us for very long time," he told me. "We need to build that trust, because that is core of the whole model of how this works."

It's a message that's clearly resonating with parents in the US, where the Nex Playground has steadily grown from shipping just 5,000 units in late 2023 to almost 700,000 last year. The product even made headlines when it outsold Sony's PlayStation 5 Slim Digital Edition system for a week in November 2025 (per Circana Retail Tracking Service data).

"We managed to do something that people feel could not be done for a long time," added Lee. "There's been no new entrant to the market in over 20 years, and we managed to break through. We had to bring back some of the basics and keep our motivation pure."

The console's success comes at a time where parents worldwide have been growing increasingly concerned about the safety of their kids online. In the UK, Roblox is the most popular gaming platform among the eight to 12 age demographic, but has been said to "pose real risks to children's safety" by online safety experts due to the apparent possibility of them encountering inappropriate content and communicating with adults online.

It hosts million of games made by other Roblox players, and offers the tools required for users to create their own. It's owned by Roblox Corporation, a publicly listed company that's worth more than $30 billion.

While Kang revealed that he respected the recent introduction of age-based accounts and enhanced parental controls, he described retrofitting safeguarding systems like that as "the worst thing you could do to a business."

"They're a publicly traded company, we never want to get there. We want to grow and build that trust that gets stronger over time," he added. "That's why gradual growth is very good, because it allows you to make incremental improvements with trust and safety in mind. Not, 'hey I need 10 million users next week.'"

For its part, a Roblox representative told us that safety is a priority for the platform, and pointed to its many safeguarding features. These include the rollout of mandatory facial age estimation technology earlier this year (a first for a gaming platform of its size), that new age-based account system, and a suite of parental controls.

Although it offers chat functionality, it is monitored with filters that aim to block sensitive information and detect attempts to move conversations to other platforms. The company also assists law enforcement as appropriate.

Pre-orders for the Nex Playground start in the UK on May 18 for £269, with the console available at Amazon, Argos, and Smyths Toys. Those in the US can pick one up now for $299 at retailers including Amazon and Best Buy.

• Nex aims to become a leader in Trust and Safety as it launches its Playground gaming console in the UK
• The launch comes as gaming companies grapple with the Online Safety Act 2023, which includes special measures for services likely to be used by children
• President and head of international Tom Kang describes Trust and Safety as "foundational" for the company

Nex president and head of international Tom Kang has declared his company is prepared for the UK's Online Safety Act 2023 legislation and poised to become an industry leader in Trust and Safety.

"We're not a complaint organization, we're a leading organization," he told me ahead of the release of the Nex Playground gaming console in the UK.

"We're in the process of hiring a Trust and Safety industry leader, who we've been consulting with for months. We want her to do research, leading stuff that will create the model of what Trust and Safety could mean. The gold standard."

The Nex Playground is designed primarily for children between the ages of three and 12, hailing from a team led by ex-Apple designer turned Nex CEO David Lee. It features an AI-powered camera used to read the player's movement to control fun, interactive games — including a version of baseball and a port of popular fruit-swiping mobile game Fruit Ninja.

Lee describes privacy as a "number one" concern and tells me that all video is processed directly on the device using an integrated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) rather than sent to the cloud. Although its custom operating system is based on the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), it's completely locked-down and does not allow the installation of third-party apps.

Trust and Safety from day one

The UK launch comes as gaming companies in the region grapple with the complex legislation of the Online Safety Act 2023, which applies a duty of care to the operators of a wide range of "user-to-user" services with special measures for those that are more "likely to be accessed by children."

Microsoft recently introduced an age verification system for users of its Xbox consoles in the UK, with a one-time check required to access the platform's full social features such as voice and text communication.

Sony is also beginning to roll out its own age verification system for those on PlayStation, with a mandatory age check expected to access communication features later in 2026.

"It's difficult to retrofit your business backwards, if you open the Pandora's box and if you create all those loopholes," argues Kang, who appears confident in Nex's ability to meet these obligations. "We start, from day one, foundational in everything we do, as having no leaks in that bucket."

Nex plans to roll out some online play features this year, though Lee assures me that these have been built on a "symmetric, social consent" model that necessitates mutual intent. In essence, the two players will need to input unique codes from each other in order to connect.

"No stranger can actually do that," says Lee. "Even after that, there's no video or sound or text."

UK pre-orders for the Nex Playground start on May 18 for £269 and will be available at Amazon, Argos, and Smyths Toys.

• The hosts for the PC Gaming Show 2026 have been announced
• Frankie Ward, Mica Burton, and Sean "Day[9]" Plott will host the main showcase
• Content creator Eliz will host the preshow alongside Frankie Ward, which will include interviews with special industry guests

The PC Gaming Show has announced the four hosts who will present the annual showcase next month.

This year's event will air on June 7 at 12PM PDT / 3PM EDT / 8PM BST / 3AM CST and will once again be hosted by esports and gaming presenter Frankie Ward, presenter and actor Mica Burton, and game developer Sean "Day[9]" Plott, as well as a new presenter and content creator, Elz.

The main show will be hosted by Ward, Burton, and Plott, who will return to guide viewers through the announcements, which will feature "over 50 games" from the biggest companies in the industry, including the likes of Devolver Digital, Creative Assembly, and Skystone Games.

Viewers can also expect world premieres, exclusive announcements, developer interviews, and updates on upcoming games.

"We are back! I'm delighted to once again present the PC Gaming Show this June, alongside my incomparable co-hosts Mica, Elz, and Frankie," said Plott. "Together we'll showcase deep dives, awesome trailers, and an abundance of world premieres. See you next month!"

Ward and Elz will host the PC Gaming Show pre-show, which will feature interviews and discussions with special industry guests, including the creator of Citizen Sleeper 1 and 2, Gareth Damian Martin.

"What an honour to be joining the magnificent presenting team on the PC Gaming Show," said Elz.

"It’s going to be a great show full of special guests and news from the world of PC games. Join Frankie and I on the sofa in June to see who we have the pleasure of chatting to, I can’t wait!"

Viewers will be able to tune in and watch the showcase live at on Twitch, YouTube, X/Twitter, and Steam as part of the season gaming events and broadcasts.

• Tekken creator Katsuhiro Harada has founded a new studio called VS Studio
• The developer will be supported by Fatal Fury publisher SNK
• VS Studio will develop new, unannounced projects under SNK

Fatal Fury publisher SNK has announced its investment in a newly established game development studio founded by Tekken creator Katsuhiro Harada.

VS Studio was established earlier this month and will be supported by SNK, which will help launch the new team and plans to make it a consolidated subsidiary. The new studio and the publisher will also collaborate on brand new, unannounced development projects to "further strengthen their development capabilities."

"We are pleased to announce the launch of our new game development studio, VS Studio," said CEO Katsuhiro Harada in a press release. "VS Studio's philosophy is 'Beyond tradition, crafted to perfection.' We will combine technology, sensibility, and world-class expertise to pursue the ultimate.

"From a free, open, and spacious environment, we will generate new ideas and create memorable games. We established this studio to bring this vision to life."

According to Harada, the "VS" in the studio's name holds various meanings, but mainly represents its roots in "Video game Soft (VS Development Division)," the spirit of "Versus" challenging tradition, as well as other meanings that symbolize "innovation and challenge" such as "Visionary Standard," "Volition Shift," and "Vanguard Spirit."

"Having been involved in game development for many years, I've constantly considered how I want to spend my time as a developer and what kind of environment allows developers to perform at their best. VS Studio is one answer to that question," Harada continued.

"By bringing together technology and knowledge, and working with passionate colleagues, we aim to deliver the best gaming experiences to users worldwide. VS Studio aspires to be a studio that continues to take on such challenges, and we are looking for new team members who share our vision. Please look forward to the future of VS Studio."

Harada, who was the Tekken series director and producer, left Bandai Namco at the end of 2025 as the iconic franchise celebrated its 30th anniversary. At the time, the developer confirmed that he'd planned to depart the company for several years and had gradually handed over all his responsibilities to the team.

"I am extremely proud to welcome Mr. Katsuhiro Harada, who has been a long-time friend and a worthy rival to us, into our group," said SNK game designer Yasuyuki Oda.

"We’ve long discussed the hypothetical scenario of working together, and now that dream has become a reality. To be honest, nothing has been decided yet, but I have no doubt that things will become even more exciting than ever before. We look forward to your continued support for SNK and VS Studio."

• A Japanese game developer has said that it's hard for smaller studios to justify Xbox ports of games
• They revealed that Xbox consoles are "not even stocked" in major stores there
• Microsoft's gaming brand has consistently struggled to gain a foothold in the region

A developer who worked on farming action role-playing game (RPG) Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin has said that some smaller companies "can't afford" to spend their precious resources creating Xbox versions of titles when there is limited demand.

The remarks come after y-koichi (who is credited as working in character and environment modelling in addition to planning assistance and writing) teased a potential Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin sequel. In an X post that we have machine translated, they stated that "Sakuna 2 will come out someday."

This prompted a fan to ask about the possibility of an Xbox port of any potential sequel. The original game only released for PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.

"Xbox, well... Personally, it's a console I have strong sentimental attachment to," y_koichi replied. "But honestly, with our company's manpower we just can't afford to spread ourselves across multiple platforms like that. In Japan, it's not even stocked in major retail stores."

The comments reflect Microsoft's struggle to gain a foothold in the region's console market, evidenced by poor sales of both the Xbox Series X and Series S in recent years. Japanese outlet Famitsu reported that overall Xbox Series sales had dropped roughly 75% year-on-year in 2025, with barely more than 31,000 units shifted in 12 months.

In contrast, more than 1,500,000 Nintendo Switch and 879,000 PlayStation 5 consoles were sold in the same period.

This recent decline is easy to attribute to a string of price hikes, with both systems becoming significantly more expensive in both 2023 and 2024, but Xbox consoles have been unpopular there well before these came into effect.

As detailed in 2019 by CNBC, the original Xbox was disliked by local consumers thanks to its bulky design. The same report outlined that Microsoft was struggling to convince developers to create games for the platform, an issue that evidently persists today.

• Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has suggested that the price of Grand Theft Auto 6 won't be unreasonable
• He says consumers "need to feel like the thing itself is amazing and the price they were charged was fair for what they got"
• He added that game pricing has actually gotten cheaper over the years

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has hinted at the price of Grand Theft Auto 6 by suggesting fans will pay a "reasonable" amount given the quality of the game.

As reported by IGN Zelnick addressed the ongoing speculation about how much the hotly anticipated game will cost at the iiCon conference for video game executives. While the CEO couldn't confirm if GTA 6 will have a $100 price tag, as rumors have indicated, he did hint that the cost won't be unreasonable.

"Consumers pay for the value that you bring to them, and our job is to charge way, way, way less of the value delivery," Zelnick said.

“How you feel about something you buy is the intersection of the thing itself and what you pay for. Consumers need to feel like the thing itself is amazing and the price they were charged was fair for what they got."

Fans have reacted to Zelnick's comments under IGN's article, with many claiming that they'd happily pay $100 for a game like GTA 6. others are more comfortable paying up to $80 for the long-awaited title.

"I am perfectly fine with a $100 or more game," one user said, adding, "If a publisher has faith in their expensive game, let em launch it at whatever."

Another said, "It could be 120 and id STILL buy it. Most people would... even the 'uh im not at all excited for this'. Hell, even the penny pinchers. Its not about the money, its that its gonna be EVERYWHERE and everyone will talk about it so much that even that guy who was waiting for the PS5 pro to go down all these years (and never bought one) will too."

With the launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo began charging up to $80 for first-party games like Mario Kart World, and it's speculated that more and more publishers and studios will begin doing the same, including Rockstar Games.

Rumors about GTA 6 getting a $100 price tag have been circulating since the game's announcement, but analysts have suggested that a $70 price would generate more money for Rockstar.

Zelnick continues, saying game pricing has gotten cheaper over the years compared to how inflation has caused prices to go up elsewhere, with many major titles being priced between $60 and $70 for more than 10 years.

"If you look at it through that lens, that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense," he said. "But that isn’t the lens through which we look. Instead, we look at… how do we deliver something amazing, and how do we make sure that what people pay for it feels very reasonable."

The CEO went on to admit that he is "terrified" of the question of how to measure the success of GTA 6 and that Take-Two is mainly thinking about "making the most spectacular piece of entertainment on Earth, in history – and it’s a pretty daunting challenge."

"If we do that, and if we’re of service to our customers, then the upside will take care of itself," Zelnick said, before adding, he does "think a lot of people will be calling in sick on November 19," which is when the game launches.

Elsewhere, the CEO has confirmed that GTA 6's planned marketing is scheduled to kick off "soon."

• A new Earth Appreciation Festival sale has arrived on PC gaming platform Steam
• It offers savings on more than 170 nature-focused games
• Discounted titles include Frostpunk 2 and Coral Island

The Earth Appreciation Festival sale is live right now on Steam, highlighting more than 170 games that showcase the natural world or engage with themes such as climate change and pollution.

Organized by developers Slug Disco, Stray Fawn, and Mechanistry, it's the fifth incarnation of the sale and has been timed perfectly with Earth Day 2026 this week. It's presented with Cool Earth as an official charity partner, with developer activations and content creator streams to raise money.

The sale is split into two different categories. First, there are relaxing nature games like the adorable island sandbox Coral Island, puzzle city-builder Terra Nil, the cute frog collection game Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge, and Ant Keeping Simulator (no prizes for guessing what that one is about).

They are contrasted by a line-up of grittier eco-dystopian games, including the brilliant strategy titles Frostpunk 2 and Endless Legend 2.

Early access products and upcoming releases are also being shown off in the Earth Appreciation Festival Showcase, viewable in a distinct tab on the sale page. There's a good variety of games here, and I've already added both cyberpunk comedy RPG Neo Junk City and roguelike deckbuilder Into the Grid to my personal wishlist based on their cool art directions alone.

If you'd rather not part with any cash at all, then you can always check out the list of games with free demos available. I know that my colleague Rob Dwiar is a big fan of the plant puzzle game Botany Manor, so I'll be trying out its demo later today.

The sale ends on April 24, 2026, so make sure to check it out before the end of this week if you're interested.

• PUBG: Battlegrounds director Taeseok Jang has spoken on live-service failures like Concord
• He argued that "it's really hard to succeed every time" when making such games
• He also revealed that he views such failures as a learning opportunity

PUBG: Battlegrounds director Taeseok Jang has said that the recent high-profile failure of live-service games like Concord and Highguard is disappointing, but he views them as a learning opportunity for developers.

Speaking to GamesRadar+, Jang said that "it's really hard to succeed every time" when making new games. He continued: "I try to put myself in their positions and try to think, 'oh, what could I have done better in that situation?'"

He explained that ultimately the goal is to "try to learn from it" and avoid the same mistakes.

Sony's online shooter Concord launched for PlayStation 5 and PC back on August 23, 2024. It only managed to attract just under 700 players on launch day on Steam, according to SteamDB data. That's an almost unbelievably poor showing for a major game that would indicate catastrophically low sales, even when you factor in potential copies shifted for consoles.

The game shut down just two weeks after launch, with the servers going offline for good, and retailers refunded those who purchased the game.

Although less dramatic, free-to-play hero shooter Highguard was a similar flop. It came out for PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC on January 26, 2026, and despite some decent initial player numbers, the game lost its audience over the course of a few weeks and was taken offline at the start of March.

Despite Jang's words, developer PUBG Corporation has had some similar failures of its own. Back in February it launched PUBG: Blindspot, a top-down PUBG spin-off that only lasted a couple of months before having its service ended.

• Morbid Metal developer Felix Schade has discussed the inspirations behind his game's art direction
• He originally intended to make an origami-themed game, but pivoted to gritty sci-fi
• He was also greatly encouraged by Bright Memory: Infinite

Morbid Metal developer Felix Schade has discussed the art direction of the recently launched action game and revealed one of his biggest inspirations.

Schade developed Morbid Metal over the course of nine years, initially working from his bedroom and posting clips of his early efforts online. The resulting flurry of social media attention eventually caught the attention of gaming giant Ubisoft, with the company agreeing to publish his title. This gave him the funds to create a now 11-person game studio.

The game was recently released in early access and is available via Steam, with a largely positive reception from players so far. In addition to a unique shapeshifting mechanic, it stands out thanks to its gritty sci-fi art direction that looks almost like a cross between Warframe and the Shadow Warrior series.

Morbid Metal didn't always look this way, however, and, in an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Schade revealed how its art direction has evolved over its lengthy development time. He said his original vision for the game was something origami-themed, "where you can fold your piece of paper into different origami figurines, each with their own unique skills" in a bright and colorful world.

"At the beginning, I was just trying to figure out what I could do on my own. This origami setting, it worked, but it didn't really feel like me," he added. The big change in direction came when he started working on Morbid Metal full-time in 2020: "When I really took it more seriously, it was really important for me that [the game] was something that I could be fully passionate about."

From a setting and visual perspective, it needed to be something that I really resonate with personally," he continued. "Otherwise, I don't think I would have the perseverance to do this for nine years!"

He also pinpointed one particular indie game that was a huge source of encouragement. "At around that time, there was a game called Bright Memory: Infinite, also made by a solo dev," he recalled.

"The game really gave me so much inspiration, and the confidence that something visually striking can be done by a very small or solo dev team. He proved it, and I was like, 'okay, I can do this too.'"

Asked why the direction that he settled on appealed, Schade simply said, "I love it. It's just cool."

• Roguelike action game Morbid Metal launched earlier this week after nine years of development
• Published by Ubisoft, the game started life as a university project by Felix Schade
• "We slowly but surely grew into the 11 developer team we are now," he explained

Screen Juice launched the Ubisoft-published roguelike action game Morbid Metal earlier this week as the culmination of nine years of work led by developer Felix Schade.

Speaking to TechRadar Gaming at a recent event, Schade detailed the game's origins as a university project and the story of how he founded a now 11-person studio on the long road to release.

"It all started when I was in university, I was studying game design," he began. "It was a semester where we could do our own project or an internship, and I always knew that I wanted to eventually start my own studio if possible, but I was still young and had never made a full game."

At the time, he set out to make "a small game" to start his career and serve as a portfolio piece to entice potential employers.

Although the final release has a gritty sci-fi art direction, Schade's original vision was very different. "I came up with this idea that was based on what I was preparing for the application to the university, which was kind of like an origami-themed game where you can fold your piece of paper into different origami figurines, each with their own unique skills," he said.

"It was very slow-paced compared to what Morbid Metal is now."

The shape-shifting system remains a core mechanic in the current release, but was refined over a number of years alongside a total transformation in the overall art direction.

Data shows that more than 20,000 games were released on Steam in 2025 alone, and getting eyes on small projects like this is always a massive challenge. Luckily, Schade benefited from strong word of mouth after posting screenshots and clips of early builds to social media.

"In mid to Fall 2020, I was actually at the point where I was taking this seriously now, so I stopped my master's program and really concentrated on Morbid Metal, taking it full time," he explained.

"I started posting online, and I got good feedback for it. There also was this one particular Reddit post that got a lot of attention, a couple million views, that really opened the door for a lot of people, and also got a lot of publishers interested in the game."

This caught the attention of Ubisoft, with the French gaming giant eager to publish the game. "Once Ubisoft signed the publishing contract with me, it was time to hire people," he continued. "That was pretty much exactly three years ago, actually, and we slowly but surely grew into the 11 developer team we are now."

Reflecting on the experience, Schade described being "so relieved" at that initial burst of attention. "I didn't really expect it because I was just kind of dabbling around in my bedroom for a couple of years and didn't really show anyone other than my parents," he said.

With the game now officially released on PC early access, he's eager to continue listening to what people have to say about the game. "We just launched into early access for good reason. Back then, the feedback was so valuable, and it still is," he added.

"We want to make a really cool and fun game for players, and for that we just need to know what they like about it, and what they don't like about it."

If you're interested in giving Morbid Metal a go, you can currently get the game on Steam for the price of just $13.49 / £11.99 / AU$20.21 thanks to a limited time 25% launch discount.

• The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 will air on June 7
• New gameplay and "huge news" for upcoming titles will be revealed
• The showcase will be followed by the Gears of War: E-Day Direct

Microsoft has announced plans for its annual Xbox Games Showcase this summer, along with a Gears of War: E-Day Direct.

The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 is scheduled to air on June 7 at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM BST and will be followed immediately by a "deep-dive" into the return of the Gears of War franchise with the Gears of War: E-Day Direct showcase.

To watch both livestreams, viewers can tune in on Xbox's official social channels, like YouTube, Twitch, Xbox ASL Twitch, and its Facebook.

The main showcase is expected to offer "first gameplay looks and huge news on upcoming titles" from Microsoft's first-party studios and third-party partners, including games "from the biggest franchises to soon-to-be indie darlings."

Immediately after, Xbox will "go even deeper on one of the games coming later this year", Gears of War: E-Day, directly from developer, The Coalition Studio.

The game was officially revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase in 2024, so it's a high likelihood we'll finally hear a release date announcement and see new gameplay.

"Gears of War: E-Day Direct will take players into the start of Emergence Day, offering new details, gameplay and insights about the hugely anticipated origin story to the Gears of War saga," Microsoft said in an Xbox Wire post.

To celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary, the company is bringing back Xbox FanFest and will include a look back at the last 25 years, "alongside a forward view of what’s next".

The Xbox Games Showcase is typically a huge event filled with exciting updates on new and upcoming games, so I'm expecting some big hitters this year, and perhaps even the long-awaited release date for Playground Games' Fable, which is due out later this year.

• Sony has shut down Dark Outlaw Games one year after its founding
• The studio was reportedly in the early stages of developing its project
• Sony is making additional cuts elsewhere, including in mobile development, and "around 50 people" have been laid off

Sony has shut down Dark Outlaw Games one year after its founding, and is also making cuts across mobile game development.

As spotted by Eurogamer, ResetEra user J-Soul first broke the news that a new project was "still in the early stages" of development when Sony pulled funding from the "incubation studio" founded last year under Call of Duty Zombies veteran Jason Blundell.

This is now reportedly the second game project helmed by Blundell that Sony has shut down after Deviation Games. Deviation Games was formed in 2020 and was working on an original AAA IP, but the studio was later closed in March 2024.

J-Soul also reported that there have been "an unspecified number of layoffs within PlayStation in the US and UK" and that the number is said to be "small."

The ResetEra user also claimed that PlayStation is moving away from the mobile game market, but will continue to support previously announced titles like MLB The Show Mobile, Ratchet & Clank: Ranger Rumble, and other NCSOFT titles but "outside of these titles, we will be scaling back in this space" to "focus our efforts on a few select high impact projects."

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier later confirmed the closure of Dark Outlaw Games on BlueSky, and also verified that PlayStation is making other cuts, "including in mobile development," and that "around 50 people" have been laid off.

Dark Outlaw's shutdown comes one month after PlayStation closed down Bluepoint Games, the studio responsible for the modern remakes of Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls.

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hermen Hulst released an internal statement at the time, suggesting that "rising development costs" were a factor in the studio's shuttering.

The closure came five years after Sony acquired the developer, and after PlayStation canceled Bluepoint's live-service God of War project, which it had been working on until January 2025. It reportedly spent the last year pitching new ideas before it was officially closed down last month. An estimated 70 employees were laid off.

• Fortnite developer Epic Games is laying off more than 1,000 employees
• This was confirmed by a memo sent to staff written by CEO Tim Sweeney
• "I'm sorry we're here again," Sweeney wrote.

Fortnite developer Epic Games has announced that it will lay off more than 1,000 employees.

A memo written by founder and CEO Tim Sweeney sent out to staff confirmed that the developer will be cutting more than 1,000 jobs. "I'm sorry we're here again," he wrote.

He blamed a "downturn in Fortnite engagement" for the decision and said that the company was now spending "significantly more" than it was bringing in.

Wider economic factors like the gaming industry's recent slower growth and the weaker uptake of current generation consoles, in addition to stiff competition from other forms of entertainment, were also fingered as causes. Interestingly, Sweeney does specifically clarify that the layoff isn't "related to AI" as some might fear, and said that the company wants to "have as many awesome developers" as it can.

It comes alongside $500 million worth of identified cost savings, focusing on contracting, marketing, and the closing of open roles.

This news comes just weeks after Epic Games announced that it would be raising the cost of the Fortnite in-game currency V-Bucks in order "help pay the bills". The new prices came into effect on March 19, 2026, and mean that a standard $8.99 purchase grants just 800 V-Bucks rather than the previous 1,000.

"The cost of running Fortnite has gone up a lot," the company noted in its blog post at the time.

• Ubisoft has laid off 105 employees at its Tom Clancy studio, Red Storm Entertainment
• The company has also ceased game development at the studio
• A Ubisoft source said the job cuts were part of the company's ongoing cost-cutting efforts

Ubisoft has reportedly ended game development at its Tom Clancy studio, Red Storm Entertainment, and laid off more than 100 staff members.

According to GamesIndustry.biz, a source familiar with the situation informed the outlet that Ubisoft has cut a total of 105 jobs at the North Carolina studio and decided to cease game development.

It's said that the studio will remain open, but remaining employees will primarily work on Ubisoft's Snowdrop engine, which was used for The Division series, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Star Wars Outlaws, as well as IT and customer relations.

Red Storm was founded in 1996 and is historic for working on games in the Tom Clancy franchise, including Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon series, several of the original Rainbow Six titles, XDefiant, and Assassin's Creed Nexus VR.

Most recently, it worked on the canceled Splinter Cell VR game and The Division Heartland, which was also canceled in 2024.

A Ubisoft source said that the layoffs at Red Storm are part of the company's ongoing cost-cutting efforts and that those affected will be offered support, including severance packages.

This is the third round of layoffs to hit Red Storm in three years. 45 employees lost their jobs across Ubisoft San Francisco and Red Storm in August 2024, followed by 19 employees in July 2025.

These latest layoffs follow 71 job cuts at Ubisoft Halifax, the company's mobile game studio, as well as 60 jobs at fellow European developer RedLynx in October 2025.

Earlier this year, Ubisoft cut 55 jobs across its The Division studio, Massive Entertainment, and Ubisoft Stockholm.

It also laid off 40 employees at Ubisoft Toronto in February, the studio responsible for Watch Dogs, Far Cry 6, and the Splinter Cell remake. This followed the cancellation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and five more unknown games, plus the delay of seven more.

• The nominess for the BAFTA Games Awards 2026 have been announced
• Clair Obscur: Expedition is leading with 12 nominations across 17 categories
• Dispatch, Ghost of Yotei, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach are also up with nine, eight, and sevens respective awards

BAFTA has announced the nominations for the 22nd BAFTA Games Awards 2026, celebrating a total of 42 games across 17 categories.

Among the 42 games, Sandfall Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is up for the most awards, receiving 12 nominations across categories like Best Game, Debut Game, Game Design, Narrative, and more.

Dispatch, Adhoc Studio's superhero workplace comedy, which was notably absent from last year's Game Awards despite being one of the favorites among players, is following behind Clair Obscur with nine nominations, followed by Ghost of Yotei with eight, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach with seven, six for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and five for Arc Raiders.

Nine out of the 12 nominees in the performance categories receive their first BAFTA nomination, including Ben Starr, Charlie Cox, Jennifer English and Kirsty Rider for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Aaron Paul and Jeffrey Wright for Dispatch, Erika Ishii for Ghost of Yōtei, Tom McKay for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, and Alix Wilton Regan for Lies of P: Overture.

A total of 17 studios are nominated for the first time this year, including six in the Debut Game category. Alongside the highlighted games, other titles up for a BAFTA include Atomfall, Ball x Pit, Battlefield 6, Blue Prince, Donkey Kong Bananza, Elden Ring Nightreign, Hades 2, Helldivers 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and more.

"Today’s nominations recognise 42 outstanding games that highlight the very best of the global games industry," said Tara Saunders, chair of BAFTA’s Games Committee. "This year’s nominations reflect an industry reshaping itself – with a vibrant mix of established studios standing alongside a wide range of independent studios, and a number of development teams earning nominations for the first time.

"The exceptional craft, artistry and innovation behind these titles shines through. A nomination is an extraordinary achievement, and I extend my warmest congratulations to every nominee for their innovation, hard work and resilience.”

This year, the annual ceremony will take place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London, on April 17, 2026, but fans can tune in to watch the live show on BAFTA's YouTube channel.

You can take a look at the full list of nominees on BAFTA's website.

• A lawsuit against Sony for "unfair" charges on the PlayStation Store has begun
• It accuses Sony of “exploiting" UK customers by charging higher prices on its store
• Around 12.2 million PlayStation users in the UK could be compensated for any purchases, amounting to around £2 billion total if the case is won

A class-action lawsuit filed against Sony could mean millions of UK PlayStation users are entitled to a collective £2 billion in compensation for alleged unfair charges made on the PlayStation Store.

As reported by Sky, the case, which has been branded 'PlayStation You Owe Us', was filed in 2022 by consumer campaigner Alex Neill, who accuses Sony of “exploiting its UK customers, by charging them too much” for the sale of digital games and in-game content.

The lawsuit also claims that Sony broke competition law through its control of the PlayStation Store, and argues that "Sony has a near monopoly on the sale of digital games and add-on content".

Since game developers are charged a 30% commission for selling their games on the PlayStation Store, and Sony sets the price of games, Neill alleges the cost is "excessive and unfair" and 20% more than physical editions.

"The result is that Sony can and does set the retail prices of all such content itself without facing any retail competition for digital content," said Robert Palmer KC, on behalf of the claimant. "It allows it to obtain monopoly profits from digital distribution, setting retail prices at what it refers to as its target margin of an excessive and unfair 30% above the level of the digital wholesale prices."

He also added that players are inclined to purchase digital games from the PlayStation Store, since only three of Sony's current consoles contain a disk drive.

If Neill wins the case, an estimated 12.2 million PlayStation users in the UK could be compensated for any purchases "over a period of about" 10 years (specifically between August 2016 and February 2026), amounting to around £2 billion total, and £162 each.

Users will automatically be included in any judgment on an "opt-out" basis.

Sony has argued against the claims, saying that its distribution model is justified because allowing third-party stores for downloads would introduce security and privacy risks.

The trial began on Tuesday, March 10, and is expected to last around nine weeks before a verdict is made.

• A new report claims that Sony will no longer release its single-player games on PC in addition to PlayStation 5
• Multiplayer games and those developed by third-party teams are still expected to get ports, though
• The move is seemingly being made to increase the appeal of the console

In some bad news for PC gamers, it appears as though Sony is going to be offering fewer versions of its biggest releases on the platform going forward.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Sony no longer plans to release major single-player games on PC. This marks a significant pivot in strategy following a string of PC releases of major PlayStation 5 exclusives such as The Last of Us Part 1, Marvel's Spider-Man 2, and Horizon Forbidden West, among many others.

The report highlights the recent Ghost of Yotei as an example of a game that will not be coming to PC, in addition to the upcoming title Saros. Apparently, a Ghost of Yotei port was planned until recent weeks, when it was scrapped as part of this change.

Multiplayer titles are still expected to arrive on PC and other platforms, though. The Bungie-developed Marathon, for example, is set to launch on PS5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC this week. Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will also still come to PC when it drops in August of this year.

Importantly, games developed by third-party teams and published by Sony could still be released on PC. Examples named include Death Stranding 2 and Kena: Scars of Kosmora, both of which still have PC versions planned.

The report speculates that Sony has made this decision in order to avoid confusing consumers and increase the appeal of its flagship PlayStation 5 console. We'll have to see whether there's a significant uptick in console sales when the next big exclusive drops.

• Amazon has ended its partnership with UK-based Maverick Games
• The studio is currently working on its debut title - an open-world driving game
• Development will continue, and the studio is seeking new avenues of funding

Amazon continues to scale back its gaming endeavors as it ends its partnership with Maverick Games, a UK-based studio headed by former Playground Games and Sumo Digital staff that's developing an open-world driving title.

As reported by The Game Business, the studio, whose headcount includes former Forza Horizon creative lead Mike Brown, has been let go by publisher Amazon Game Studios.

A statement from an Amazon Game Studios spokesperson to The Game Business reads: "As part of our strategic evolution to focus on projects that leverage Amazon’s unique strengths and scale, including the recent re-launch of Luna and our Tomb Raider franchise partnership with Crystal Dynamics, we have decided to release Maverick Games from their publishing agreement with Amazon Game Studios.

Amazon also stressed: "This decision allows Maverick Games the flexibility to find a publishing partner whose strategic priorities are better aligned with bringing their game to market."

Thankfully, Maverick Games' project hasn't been written off entirely. According to studio leads Mike Brown and Harinder Sangha, development is ongoing: “We’re grateful to Amazon Games for their partnership and collaboration. Development of our debut title continues to progress as strongly as planned. We’re in active dialogue with partners who share our long-term ambition for the IP and look forward to sharing more later this year.”

Amazon Game Studios has entered a partnership with Crystal Dynamics, and looks to publish two new Tomb Raider games over the next two years. These are Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis - a remake of the original Core Design title - and Tomb Raider Catalyst - an all-new game set after the events of Tomb Raider Underworld.

Amazon's scaling back of its gaming efforts make for grim reading. It's recently canned much of its MMO division, and is due to shut down New World: Aeternum next year. Amazon also plans to cease operations for King of Meat, and will shut that game down in early April, while offering refunds to all players.

• Assassin's Creed Hexe creative director Clint Hocking is departing the studio again
• The project will now be led by Jean Guesdon, the creative director on Black Flag and Origins
• Hocking first left Ubisoft in 2010 but returned to work as creative director on Watch Dogs: Legion

Ubisoft veteran developer and Assassin's Creed Hexe creative director Clint Hocking is departing the studio for the second time.

The news, reported by VGC, comes after Ubisoft appointed three experienced Assassin's Creed developers to lead the franchise at the company's newly formed Tencent-funded subsidiary Vantage Studios.

Though no details on Hocking's exit have been revealed, Ubisoft has confirmed that Jean Guesdon, the creative director on Black Flag and Origins, will now lead Assassin's Creed Hexe.

Guesdon is also one of the three newly appointed Assassin's Creed franchise leads.

"Clint Hocking, creative director on Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe, will be departing Ubisoft," said a Ubisoft spokesperson in a statement provided to IGN.

"We sincerely thank him for his vision, creative contributions, and dedication over the years, and we wish him the very best in his next chapter.

"Development on Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe continues with a seasoned team. The game will deliver something distinctive within the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Jean Guesdon, Head of Content for the Assassin's Creed brand, is now acting as the Creative Director on the project.

"We look forward to sharing more information in the future."

Hocking joined Ubisoft in 2002 and worked as a designer and scriptwriter on Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell before serving as creative director on Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and then Far Cry 2 in 2008.

He later left the company in 2010 to work at LucasArts, Valve, and Amazon, before returning to Ubisoft to serve as a creative director on Watch Dogs: Legion. Hocking then moved over to work on the Assassin's Creed series, and was most recently working on Hexe.

The next Assassin's Creed game does not have a release date yet, but it's said Hexe "will not be an RPG", unlike previous entries in the series, and is speculated to be set in Germany between the early-1620s and the mid-1630s.

• The new CEO of Xbox, Asha Sharma, has discussed her vision for the brand in a recent interview
• She said wants to "return" to "the spirit that the team was founded on" and remains "committed" to consoles
• Still, she also revealed that there will be continued efforts to reduce "the artificial divide between different types of devices"

Asha Sharma, the new CEO of Xbox, has revealed her vision for the future of the brand.

In an exclusive interview with Windows Central, she explained that the "Return to Xbox" referenced in her first internal memo since taking on the role is all about taking the brand back to its roots.

"The spirit of 'Return to Xbox' is about returning to the spirit that the team was founded on," she said. "It's that spirit of surprise, it's the spirit of building something nobody else was willing to try."

Given the company's recent push away from dedicated hardware, best exemplified by the maligned 'This Is an Xbox' campaign, many die-hard Xbox fans are understandably concerned that Xbox consoles are on the way out.

Sharma offered some words of reassurance: "I think that our core Xbox fans and players have invested up to 25 years of themselves in these universes and our console. I want to make sure everybody knows I'm committed to Xbox, starting with the console."

In spite of this, it's clear that efforts to bring Xbox software to other machines aren't going away. "We want to invest in reducing the artificial divide between different types of devices that they want to use with us. I think that's going to mean a lot more investment in breaking down the barriers, in helping developers build once and show up across different hardware experiences," she said.

"For me, I believe Xbox starts with its fans, and we'll grow from there. That's what I wanted to signal with the 'return to Xbox'."

The idea of a "return" to what made the brand great is undeniably what a lot of fans want to hear, but it seems a tad contradictory in the light of these subsequent comments. Xbox sales have slumped as a result of many factors, significantly the recent Series X and Series S console price hikes but also the gradual release of desirable exclusive titles like Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle on other platforms.

Surely it's impossible to be "committed" to the console first and foremost while continuing down a path that has only decreased its relevance?

With rumors suggesting that the next Xbox is on track for a 2027 launch, we'll have to wait and see whether this approach pans out.

• Microsoft's 'This Is an Xbox' campaign was reportedly disliked by staff
• The Verge reports that it "offended many Xbox employees internally"
• The initiative was tied to the wider "Xbox everywhere" strategy that was seemingly being pushed at the time by former Xbox president Sarah Bond

Microsoft's 'This Is an Xbox' campaign was reportedly disliked by many employees internally.

That's according to The Verge, which reports that the 2024 advertising stunt not only divided consumers at the time, but also "offended many Xbox employees internally".

Though the details were divulged, it's said that the initiative was tied to the wider "Xbox everywhere" strategy that was being pushed at the time by former Xbox president Sarah Bond, who resigned from her position last week following the retirement of Microsoft gaming CEO Phil Spencer.

The 'This Is an Xbox' campaign centered around not just the console, but also other devices. It claimed that tablets, phones, the Samsung Smart TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and more, all count as "an Xbox". It essentially pushed the idea that players wouldn't need to buy an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or Xbox One to play their favorite games.

Although this is true in some cases, it's suggested that Microsoft was undervaluing its main hardware, especially at a time when the company was pushing the idea of releasing Xbox games on other platforms.

The Verge reports that Bond's link to the marketing efforts last year suggested the former president was invested in broadening the Xbox brand away from being known as only console-based.

It's also noted that Bond personally announced the Xbox mobile gaming store in July 2024, as a way to further the multi-device Xbox push, and that Xbox employees, past and present, paint a negative picture of Bond's relationship to other staff.

After Spencer's retirement and Bond's resignation were formally announced last week, it was confirmed that Asha Sharma, an executive of Microsoft's CoreAI division, would be taking over the role of Xbox Gaming CEO.

In a message shared at the time, Sharma made promises about "the return of Xbox" and creating games "crafted by humans".

Despite the CEO's comments, however, original Xbox co-founder and console designer, Seamus Blackley, believes that Microsoft will eventually sunset its gaming business as the company shifts its focus to AI.

• Original Xbox console designer Seamus Blackley thinks Microsoft Gaming will be "sunsetted" under new management
• Blackley believes the job of the new Xbox Gaming CEO, Asha Sharma, is to "just gently usher all of these business units into the new world of AI"
• Sharma replaced former Xbox chief Phil Spencer following the announcement of his retirement last week

The original Xbox console designer and co-founder, Seamus Blackley, believes that Microsoft will eventually sunset its gaming business as the company shifts its focus to AI.

Last week, Microsoft announced that Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has retired from the company and been replaced by Asha Sharma, an executive of Microsoft's CoreAI division. The shakeup also saw the exit of Xbox president Sarah Bond, Spencer's would-be successor.

It's a huge moment for the company, and Sharma has since shared a message promising "the return of Xbox", while also remarking on AI and her commitment to content created by real people.

"As monetization and AI evolve and influence this future, we will not chase short-term efficiency or flood our ecosystem with soulless AI slop," Sharma. "Games are and always will be art, crafted by humans, and created with the most innovative technology provided by us."

Now, in a recent interview with GamesBeat, the original Xbox co-founder has said that he believes Microsoft's ongoing AI push will eventually see the end of Xbox gaming as we know it, despite Sharma's promises.

"Xbox, like a lot of businesses that aren’t the core AI business, is being sunsetted," said Seamus Blackley. "They don’t say that, but that’s what’s happening. I expect that the new CEO, Asha Sharma, her job is going to be as a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night."

According to Blackley, Microsoft head Satya Nadella, who has invested a lot of money in the "transform model AI future", believes that AI will "subsume games like it will subsume everything", which could mean the end of the traditional gaming business.

"The job of all these people is to just gently usher all of these business units into the new world of AI," Blackley said. "That’s what you’re seeing here. Whether or not you agree with it, whether you agree with AI having the potential to do that, whether AI will be successful, is a separate matter. But that’s what we're seeing. That is in no way surprising."

He continued: "It would have been shocking if they had somebody in there in a meaningful role who was passionate about games, passionate about the creator-driven business of games, because it would be in direct conflict with everything else Microsoft is doing. Microsoft is a company that is now about enabling its customers by enabling AI to drive things. That’s at odds with the auteur model of any art, but specifically of games. Microsoft doesn’t have the problem that Apple does, or that Netflix does, where they have an auteur-driven content model to manage. Games are the only place where they have a content business."

• Summer Game Fest 2026 is scheduled to air on June 5, 2026
• The event will be two hours long and feature new game announcements
• The showcase will be followed by SGF Play Days on June 6 and The Game Business conference on June 8

Summer Game Fest host Geoff Keighley has announced the dates for the 2026 annual gaming showcase, along with the additional key events.

In a new social media post, Keighley confirmed that the main Summer Game Fest presentation will air on June 5, 2026, at 2PM PT / 5PM ET / 10PM BST at the Dolby Theatre and will be approximately two hours long.

Normally, Summer Game Fest is hosted on the official Game Awards YouTube and Twitch channels. The annual awards show was also founded by host Geoff Keighley.

For now, we don't have confirmation of which studios will be present at the showcase, but Keighley has said there will be "new game announcements" and the live show will be followed by the Day of the Devs, which traditionally highlights new and upcoming indie games.

After the main event, the invite-only SGF Play Days will be held for media and influencers from June 6 to June 8, offering hands-on access to new games, followed by The Game Business live conference on June 8.

Last year's Summer Game Fest was a huge event that unveiled brand new trailers and announcements for games like Resident Evil Requiem, which finally launches this week, 007 First Light, Dying Light The Beast, Mafia The Old Country, and more.

There are plenty of games to look forward to in the latter half of 2026, and there's always the possibility we'll be treated to new trailers and launch date reveals for a bunch of them, including FromSoftware's Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, Control Resonant, and Marvel's Wolverine.

There's the obvious excitement around Grand Theft Auto 6, which launches on November 19. However, given Rockstar Games' track record for sharing its own trailers and announcements, we think it's unlikely the game will make an appearance at SGF this year.

• Ubisoft has laid off 40 employees at Ubisoft Toronto
• The cuts come as part of the company's ongoing cost-cutting scheme
• The company confirmed the studio's Splinter Cell remake is still in the works

Ubisoft has laid off even more staff as part of its ongoing cost-cutting plan, this time at its Splinter Cell remake studio in Toronto.

Ubisoft Toronto is responsible for games like Watch Dogs, Far Cry 6, and Splinter Cell Blacklist, and it's been confirmed that 40 roles will be impacted by the cuts according to Canadian outlet MobileSyrup.

The layoffs are part of the company's organizational restructuring process, which began last year, and the launch of Vantage Studios, a new Tencent-funded subsidiary that will lead the development of the company's biggest franchises: Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

Following this, additional cuts occurred at The Division studio, Massive Entertainment, and Ubisoft Stockholm, as well as the cancellation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and five more unknown games, plus the delay of seven more.

“Following the  recent  announcement of the  final phase of Ubisoft’s global cost-savings plan and the  discontinuation of projects, Ubisoft Toronto will be reducing its workforce by 40 roles. This decision was not taken lightly and does not in any way reflect the talent, dedication, or contributions of the individuals affected. Our priority now is to support them through this transition with comprehensive severance packages and robust career placement assistance,” said Ubisoft in a statement to Kotaku.

The Toronto studio was also working on the Splinter Cell remake, but Ubisoft has confirmed that the game is still in active development. It will also continue to assist development on other titles, like Rainbow Six Siege alongside Ubisoft Montreal.

MobileSyrup also reported on an internal email sent to employees, in which Ubisoft notes that the Toronto studio will also remain "a key contributor to several codev mandates and service teams."

• Bluepoint Games, the studio behind the modern remakes of Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls, has been shuttered by PlayStation
• The company acquired Bluepoint in 2021
• Sony CEO Hermen Hulst has suggested "rising development costs" was a factor in the studio's closure

PlayStation has shut down Bluepoint Games, the studio responsible for the modern remakes of Shadow of the Colossus and Demon's Souls, five years after acquiring it.

That's according to Bloomberg, which confirmed the closure with PlayStation, and reported that an estimated 70 employees will be affected when the studio officially closes next month.

"Bluepoint Games is an incredibly talented team and their technical expertise has delivered exceptional experiences for the PlayStation community,” a PlayStation spokesperson said in a statement to Bloomberg. "We thank them for their passion, creativity and craftmanship."

The shutdown comes after PlayStation canceled Bluepoint's live-service God of War project, which it had been working on until January 2025, and reportedly spent the last year pitching new ideas before it was closed down.

Bluepoint Games was behind the terrific remakes of several PlayStation titles, including the aforementioned 2018 remake of Shadow of the Colossus and the 2020 Demon's Souls remake, after which the studio was acquired in 2021.

It also developed the God of War Collection, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, and Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection.

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hermen Hulst has since released an internal statement regarding the studio closure (via Stealth40k), suggesting that "rising development costs" were a factor in Bluepoint's shutdown.

"As I mentioned in the December Town Hall, 2025 had some strong highlights within PlayStation Studios. Ghost of Yotei launched to critical and commercial success, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach further showcased our commitment to narrative excellence, and Helldivers 2 and MLB The Show continue to drive on-going player engagement and revenue," Hulst said.

"At the same time, we're operating in an increasingly challenging industry environment. Rising development costs, slowed industry growth, changing player behaviour, and broader economic headwinds are making it harder to build games sustainably.

"To navigate this reality, we need to continue adapting and evolving. We've taken a close look at our business to ensure we're delivering today while still well-positioned for the future. As a result, we will be closing Bluepoint Games in March."

Hulst continued: "This decision was not made lightly. Bluepoint is an incredibly talented team, and their technical expertise has delivered exceptional experiences for the PlayStation community. I want to thank everyone at Bluepoint for their creativity, craftsmanship, and commitment to quality. Where possible, we will work to find opportunities for some impacted employees within our global network of studios."

The Sony CEO goes on to say that the company is "confident in the direction" it's headed, and it has a "robust roadmap for FY26, with much to look forward to in the months ahead."

• The Future Games Show Spring 2026 showcase will be co-hosted by actors Devora Wilde and Shai Matheson
• The show kicks off next month and will offer world premieres, exclusive trailers, demos, and more
• The first three games have been confirmed for the showcase, including Samson: A Tyndalson Story, Silver Pines, and The Dungeon Experience

The Future Games Show Spring 2026 showcase officially kicks off next month, and we have our hosts, along with the first few games that will be featured in the upcoming presentation.

The showcase, sponsored by HyperX and scheduled to begin on March 12, 2026, at 1PM PT / 4PM ET / 8PM GMT, will be co-hosted by two game industry actors, Devora Wilde and Shai Matheson.

Wilde is perhaps best known for her role as Lae'zel in the award-winning Baldur's Gate 3, as well as her work in the critically acclaimed Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Split Fiction.

"I am incredibly excited to be hosting the Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 12 with Shai Matheson," Wilde said in a press release. "The show promises exclusives and world premieres from some of the most creative studios in the world. I’m looking forward to sharing new reveals and giving fans an early look at what’s ahead this year."

Matheson is the voice of Batman in LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, which is due to release this year, and has also appeared in Wuthering Waves and Dragon Quest 11.

"Shai Matheson here, AKA LEGO Batman, letting you know I will be gliding in to host the Future Games Show Spring Showcase on March 12 with the amazing Devora Wilde," Matheson said. "Don’t miss it, we will be unveiling world premieres, exclusive trailers and so much more. See you then."

When the Spring Showcase kicks off next month, viewers will be treated to world premieres, exclusive trailers, and demos for new titles, including 40 games from AAA and indie studios.

The first three games have already been confirmed. They include gritty action brawler Samson: A Tyndalson Story, from the creators of Just Cause, Silver Pines, a survival-horror metroidvania developed by Wych Elm and published by Team 17, and finally, the comedy first-person adventure from Devolver Digital, The Dungeon Experience.

Following the showcase, FGS Live From GDC Festival of Gaming will air, a multi-format showcase hosted by FGS channel presenters that will offer more world premieres, exclusive trailers, and news from the showfloor.

Viewers will be able to tune in to watch Future Games Show Spring Showcase at Twitch, YouTube, Steam, X / Twitter, TikTok, and more.

• Wildlight Entertainment has laid off an unspecified number of Highguard developers
• The studio confirmed the layoffs, but confirmed that a "core group of developers" will continue to work on the game
• The free-to-play hero shooter launched just two weeks ago

Wildlight Entertainment has confirmed that it has laid off an unspecified number of staff, just two weeks after the launch of its live-service hero shooter, Highguard.

According to former senior-level designer Alex Graner (via IGN), it appears that most of the development team has been affected. "Unfortunately, along with most of the team at Wildlight, I was laid off today," he wrote on LinkedIn.

Graner added, "This one really stings as there was a lot of unreleased content I was really looking forward to that I and others designed for Highguard."

At this time, it's unclear just how many employees have been cut, but the studio's LinkedIn states that it had as many as 200 employees.

Wildlight Entertainment has also released a statement, confirming the layoffs.

"Today we made an incredibly difficult decision to part ways with a number of our team members while keeping a core group of developers to continue innovating on and supporting the game," it said in a social media post.

"We're proud of the team, talent, and the product we've created together. We're also grateful for players who gave the game a shot, and those who continue to be a part of our community."

In terms of what this means for its new hero shooter, a representative told Eurogamer that work on the game will continue, but will be given to a "core group of developers". How many are included in that group is unclear.

Tech artist Josh Sobel was also laid off, saying on X / Twitter, "It was the best team I've ever worked with, and I've never put so much of myself into a project before. I wouldn't trade the past 2.5+ yrs for anything."

In a separate post, Sobel said, "I LOVED working at Wildight," adding, "It wasn't just a gig to me. 2.5yrs of working towards a promising, rose-tinted future, with the most passionate and efficient devs on the planet."

Sobel continued: "I don't think gamers really understand just how special this group of talented devs was. There were stumbles, as any new team would face, but our ability to execute on goals and pivot at a moment's notice was unmatched. I am devastated that this team as a complete unit can no longer be.

"We accomplished a lot, and I couldn't be more proud. But it's hard to believe it's over. Hard to believe that this was the result of all our efforts. I wish the best of luck to everyone who remains at Wildlight. If the numbers climb, I'll be the first in line to apply again."

Created by former Apex Legends and Titanfall developers, Highguard was announced at The Game Awards in December and launched just over a month later for free.

If you're thinking about checking it out, the game is now available to play on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

• Riot Games is expected to lay off 80 staff members from the 2XKO team
• Despite launch success, the game apparently underperformed by Riot's standards
• The game's 1.0 version has been live for just a few weeks

2XKO developer Riot Games is set to lay off a significant portion of the team that worked on the free-to-play tag fighting game.

In an update posted to the official Riot Games website, executive producer Tom Cannon detailed the motivation behind the decision.

"After a lot of discussion and reflection, we are reducing the size of the 2XKO team," he wrote.

"I want you to know that decision wasn’t made lightly. As we expanded from PC to console, we saw consistent trends in how players were engaging with 2XKO. The game has resonated with a passionate core audience, but overall momentum hasn’t reached the level needed to support a team of this size long term."

Per Kotaku, 80 employees are expected to face redundancy, which amounts to roughly half of the entire 2XKO development team. This is in spite of a relatively successful console launch. The game finally came to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S in January, following a lengthy early access period on PC.

During its console launch period, 2XKO became one of the most downloaded free-to-play titles of the month, beating out similarly free competitors like Marvel Rivals and Highguard.

Cannon rightly acknowledged that this news "will raise questions and concerns." He promised that updates will continue to be shared, and that 2XKO will continue to receive content.

Rioting

Ultimately, it's not a good look. 2XKO has already had its fair share of controversies of varying sizes. From its lengthy development period to launching with a pitifully small 11-character roster (for a 2v2 fighting game, no less), this latest news hasn't exactly inspired confidence in the player base.

"I cannot wait for 2XKO to never be in another fighting game tournament after this year," posted one user on Bluesky.

"I thought I was pretty cynical regarding Riot and 2XKO, but it turns out I wasn’t nearly cynical enough," wrote another.

The layoffs have been understandably devastating for some. "Ten years on 2XKO, 12 at Riot and I got laid off with 30 minutes notice lol. Gonna take some time," wrote one Bluesky user who seemingly worked on the project.

What makes this even more of a shame is that 2XKO has been, largely, positively received by its players. The usual free-to-play complaints are there regarding microtransactions and overall business model, of course, but the core game seems to be fun and engaging.

I could be flippant and say 2XKO's developers were punished for not immediately pulling in League of Legends or Teamfight Tactics numbers, but maybe there is a grain of truth to that.

The Netease Games HQ in Hangzhou, China, feels like a well-oiled machine. Two sprawling campuses sit in the middle of the massive city, each almost its own ecosystem with thousands of employees working, grabbing meals at the mega canteen or the many ‘Netease Coffee’ branded cafes, visiting the gym for a quick workout in between answering emails, or wandering its plant-filled quads on a break.

It’s fitting that such huge grounds house Joker Studio, a team hard at work creating an equally massive virtual world in its upcoming free-to-play behemoth Sea of Remnants. It’s a project of almost unprecedented scale in the free-to-play space, featuring more than 400 named non-player characters (NPCs), each with their own unique storylines that can be directly impacted by the player, in addition to a meaty branching main story - it sounds like the promise of Fable but on steroids.

As I sit down with Sea of Remnants product lead Innis, it’s the logistics of just how all of this is going to be achieved that I’m most interested in.

All aboard

“So production-wise, our NPC pipeline, with those who are in charge of writing the narratives and branching stories for each of those NPCs, is independent from our main narrative writing pipeline,” he explains. “They do not have a shared resources pool, and are not limiting the development of each other. The NPC team are simply going to keep on working on the 400 narrative lines, even though we know that to complete it might be a very ambitious long-term target.”

Although managed by its own team, these NPC stories are still going to impact the overall world - with a range of possible outcomes and environmental styles depending on your choices. “Not just the narrative itself, but also the branching choices you make with those NPCs is going to have an impact on the world,” he adds, going on to highlight the fact that the player has the option to kill many of the game’s characters, leading to a more desolate and decaying environment.

Conversely, he reveals that there are more prosperous outcomes “if the player encourages most of the NPCs to do business out on the ocean.”

Despite this rather segmented setup, collaboration is still important and has shaped the trajectory of the project so far. “Internally we often say that each of our pipelines shall not just work on their own,” Innis says. “Whenever teams have any new ideas, they are encouraged to bring in some colleagues from other pipelines to discuss whether there are new possibilities generated from any of the new changes there, whether we should design some new branches, and so on.”

Discussions within the studio are responsible for everything, right down to the puppet pirate theme. “We didn't actually start off with the pirate theme. We started with a few keywords like ‘memory’. When discussing ‘memory’, we decided that we wanted to convey an attitude of living life to its fullest, or living in the moment, and also relaxing when facing difficulties and challenges. Those are the key points that we wanted to convey with our game, and that was far before the pirate theme was determined. Starting from those keywords, we then decided which artistic visual style we wanted and what theme we wanted to have,” he begins.

“When we do our development internally, we have a term called 'emergence'. In the process of development, especially in the initial stage, sometimes new ideas would come to the surface and emerge. That's the time when we want to add new things to the project, for example, that visual direction and the pop elements we want to put into the designs. The pirate theme was one of the things that emerged in that process.”

Sea-RPG

Given its focus on player choice and the wide-ranging impacts of decisions, undoing past decisions by having your character forget them is a major feature that emerged during development. Innis compares the Sea of Remnants experience to that of a Computer Role Playing Game (CRPG) where players “get to have lots of variety in choosing their own crew, as well as having their own builds.”

“But with CRPGs, especially single-player CRPGs, there’s a problem,” he continues. “When I play them, every time we want to try a new setup, it requires me to start the whole game over, or at least start the battle again from the beginning of it to select a new team. We wanted to solve that kind of problem, so in our design of the world and the systems with numbers, the values of stats and properties, we have designed everything in such a way that we can leverage amnesia mechanics to formulate a very unique process where you can leave imprints and an impact on the world, while still allowing players to try out new possibilities.”

For Innis, the core of any RPG is being able to experience the impossible: “Sea of Remnants is still an RPG game, and with RPG games, it's all about offering players things that they only get to experience in the game, not anywhere else, not in their real life, not in any other games.”

After more than 10 hours hands-on, I feel confident in saying that Sea of Remnants is on track to deliver when it launches for PC, Xbox and PlayStation consoles, and mobile later this year. For a run-down of how well it all works, learn why it’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious games ever made in my full hands-on preview.

Alternatively, see my interview with another Sea of Remnants developer on building the ultimate open-world pirate playground or learn about the staggering amount of post-launch support that’s already planned.

• Ubisoft has begun a voluntary redundancy process at its Paris headquarters
• The proposal could involve up to 200 positions being cut
• No decision will be finalized until a collective agreement is settled with unions and validated by French authorities

One week after announcing major restructuring plans at Ubisoft, the company has now begun a voluntary redundancy process at its Paris, France headquarters.

As part of its new cost-cutting scheme, Ubisoft has now proposed that 200 jobs be cut at its Paris HQ, where it currently employs 1100 people; a plan that applies exclusively to Ubisoft International employees with French contracts.

As VGC reports, an email sent to staff on Monday states that the company has now entered negotiations for a Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (RCC), which is a voluntary mutual termination agreement that allows French companies to reduce their workforce through union negotiation.

However, no decision will be finalized until a collective agreement is settled with unions and validated by French authorities.

"In line with last week's announcements on its new operating model and the acceleration of cost-reduction initiatives, Ubisoft International has initiated discussions regarding a potential Rupture Conventionnelle Collective, a collective, voluntary mutual termination agreement that could involve up to 200 positions at its headquarters in France," a Ubisoft spokesperson told VGC.

"At this stage, this remains a proposal, and no decision will be final until a collective agreement is reached with employee representatives and validated by French authorities. The proposal applies exclusively to Ubisoft International employees under French contracts and has no impact on other French entities or Ubisoft teams worldwide."

This new plan follows major changes to Ubisoft last week, which saw the cancellation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake and five more unknown games, as well as the delay of seven more.

Ubisoft also shuttered its Stockholm division, which contributed to the development of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandoraw and its Halifax division, which was a mobile game studio.

According to reports, three of these titles are all-new IPs, while another is thought to be a mobile game.

There's also no word on the long-rumored Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, and whether the game could have been affected by the changes.

In a statement at the time, Ubisoft CFO Frederick Duguet said Ubisoft "went through a thorough review of projects across December [and] January, with the current market evolution in mind — which is consistently more selective."

"You've seen the last quarter showing a never-before-seen level of competition," Duguet said. "Competition and selection is here to stay. [...] When you are coming in number one, number two, with great content quality in a given segment, then you can have a very strong reward in terms of player reception and financial performance. That's what really informed our pipeline review. We selected what would be the best projects to put the Creative Houses in the best position to succeed in that market."

• Nintendo of America's new president, Devon Pritchard, has made her first official public appearance at the 15th Annual New York Game Awards
• Pritchard joined Nintendo in 2006 and later became Nintendo of America Vice President of Revenue, Marketing, and Consumer Experience in 2021
• The Nintendo alum officially took over the role of NOA's president on January 1, 2026, from Doug Bowser

Devon Pritchard has just made her first official public appearance since taking up the role of Nintendo of America's new president earlier this month.

During the 15th Annual New York Game Awards, former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé and New York Times columnist Harold Goldberg introduced Pritchard via a pre-recorded video to celebrate the ceremony and the Playing With Purpose nonprofit writing program.

"Hi everyone, it is great to be here. My name is Devon, and before anything else, I want to celebrate the New York Game Awards. 15 years of supporting the games industry and in doing so lifting up the voices, stories, and dreams of so many," Pritchard said.

"This show connects people who are united by a shared belief that every dream matters, and that everyone deserves a chance to do meaningful and creative work in games and storytelling. The 'Playing With Purpose' programme supports the creators, the coders, the writers, and anyone else dreaming big to join this community and bring all that makes them unique.

"I'm excited to meet you! To hear those stories and to learn from your journeys. And remember, like any good video game character, you're on an adventure, and every step you take matters. There's some gnarly bosses, sure, but also many good friends along the way who will support you, and powerful rewards for those who persevere.

"So keep believing, keep playing, and know that you truly belong in this game."

Pritchard's message at the awards show marked the occasion as her first public appearance since taking over Doug Bowser's role of President and COO of Nintendo of America on January 1, who stepped down at the end of 2025.

But who is Devon Pritchard? The industry veteran has been with Nintendo for 20 years, having joined Nintendo of America in 2006 as the head of its legal department.

Afterward, she went on to lead the company's business affairs and public relations sector, before landing the role of Nintendo of America Vice President of Revenue, Marketing, and Consumer Experience in 2021.

When Bowser announced his departure in late 2025, he praised Pritchard's history with the company, writing in a statement that "It's time for the next generation of leadership and Devon's track record speaks for itself."

"She is an exceptional leader, and her promotion is a testament to her strong performance and strategic contributions to the company’s growth. I have full confidence that she will guide the company to even greater heights," Boswer said.

Alongside her new leadership position, Pritchard has also joined Nintendo of America's board of directors and is now an NCL (Nintendo Company Lt) executive officer.

Pritchard will be heading up Nintendo of America following the company's launch of the Switch 2 and will now oversee the current-generation and its future.

• Ubisoft is undergoing major structural changes
• This involves the cancellation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
• Several other titles have reportedly been canceled or delayed

Ubisoft is undergoing a large-scale restructuring effort which sadly involves the shelving of some projects and major delays for others.

Arguably the most high-profile cancellation as a result of this process is The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. This would-be remake faced a famously troubled development period, with Ubisoft having already restarted the project and pushed its release window back to 2026.

As reported by IGN, Ubisoft has canceled six games in total (including The Sands of Time) and delayed seven more. Reportedly, three of these titles are all-new IPs, while another would have been a mobile game.

As for the seven games that have received delays, little information is available at present. However, it's possible that one of them could be the long-rumored Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake.

As part of this restructuring process, Ubisoft has shuttered its Stockholm and Halifax divisions. The former contributed to the development of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, while the latter was a mobile game studio.

In a statement to IGN, Ubisoft CFO Frederick Duguet said: "We went through a thorough review of projects across December [and] January, with the current market evolution in mind — which is consistently more selective.

"You've seen the last quarter showing a never-before-seen level of competition. Competition and selection is here to stay. [...] When you are coming in number one, number two, with great content quality in a given segment, then you can have a very strong reward in terms of player reception and financial performance. That's what really informed our pipeline review. We selected what would be the best projects to put the Creative Houses in the best position to succeed in that market."

The restructure involves Ubisoft splitting its various development divisions into five distinct 'Creative Houses'. We know that Vantage Studio will head up the company's most lucrative franchises; those being Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six.

Meanwhile, Creative House 2 will look after Ubisoft's various shooters including Ghost Recon and The Division. Creative House 3 will manage live service games, such as For Honor, The Crew, and potentially Trackmania.

CH4 is one a lot of you will probably have your eyes on, as this will be where Ubisoft's single-player outings are formed. The likes of Rayman, Prince of Persia, and even Beyond Good & Evil 2 will be managed here.

Lastly is Creative House 5, the casual and family-friendly division. Expect Just Dance and various card and board game adaptations to be managed here.

• The Division executive producer Julian Gerighty has shared an update on The Division 3
• The sequel is still in development, and is "shaping up to be a monster"
• According to Gerighty, The Division 3 will be "as big an impact as The Division 1 was"

The Division's executive producer, Julian Gerighty, has provided a small update on the development of The Division 3. As spotted by VGC, Gerighty was interviewed by New Game+ Showcase about upcoming The Division projects. He confirmed that "The Division 3 is in production".

While we did already know that the game was in development (it was revealed in 2023), Gerighty went on to say that the upcoming sequel is "shaping up to be a monster".

During the interview, Gerighty comments on the kinds of players that still support The Division 2, following up with a tidbit on The Division 3's development:

"Within these walls, in Massive [Massive Entertainment], we're working extremely hard on something that I think will be as big an impact as The Division 1 was".

You can listen to the comments in the video above, which gives a short interview with Julian Gerighty on the current state of The Division and what's in store for the future.

The Division 3 was announced back in 2023, and it'll once again be headed up by Massive Entertainment, under the lead of executive producer Julian Gerighty. Currently, The Division 2 is still receiving major updates, and the series will reach its ten-year anniversary in March 2026.

• The Xbox Developer Direct 2026 showcase has been announced and will air on January 22
• The broadcast will feature new trailers for Fable and Forza Horizon 6
• A new look at Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation will also be revealed

Xbox has announced its Developer Direct 2026 showcase will take place later this month and offer new looks at some of the company's most anticipated games.

The first major gaming presentation of the year is scheduled to air on January 22, 2026, at 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 6PM GMT and can be watched live on Xbox's official YouTube and Twitch channels.

According to the Xbox Wire post, this year's broadcast will bring viewers news, new gameplay, and insights from development teams working on upcoming titles.

The show will feature two games from Playground Games, with the UK studio expected to offer a first extended look at Fable and debut a gameplay trailer for Forza Horizon 6.

Fable is set to launch sometime this year, but the upcoming deep dive will give player a first look at "some stunning new gameplay", as well as the game's core themes, which include choices, consequences, drama action, and more.

Playground Games will showcase the next Forza game in an open-world gameplay trailer, which will also include reveals of new features.

"Fittingly for Xbox’s 25th anniversary year, that includes the return of some of our most legendary franchises, which rub shoulders with a brand new title from one of Japan’s most beloved studios," Xbox said.

This title is Beast of Reincarnation, which was revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase last year, and is developed by Game Freak.

The studio will share new details about the action role-playing game's (RPGs) protagonist Emma and her "innovative plant manipulation actions and gameplay with her canine companion, Koo."

• GameStop is reportedly closing down multiple stores across the US this month
• Though unconfirmed by the company, sources say that the closures are part of ongoing cost-cutting efforts and to adapt to changing shopping habits
• A Securities and Exchange Commission filing was also published in December that said GameStop plans to close "a significant number of additional stores"

GameStop is reportedly planning to shutter even more stores across the United States in January.

As reported by The Independent, sources from customers and local media suggest that the video game retail chain will close down multiple stores in Ohio, Illinois, New York, Kansas, Kentucky, Connecticut, and Minnesota this month as part of ongoing cost-cutting efforts and to adapt to changing shopping habits.

An unofficial GameStop closing list (via Desert Sun) is currently tracking the closings.

The list claims that 25 locations are confirmed to close this month, with nine listed as reported through customer alerts, in-store signs, and direct notices.

The new closures follow the 590 U.S. stores that closed during the last fiscal year as part of GameStop's "store portfolio optimization review" (via Fast Company), with 1,000 stores worldwide closing over the preceding year, as CNN reported in March 2025, after it shared its intention to invest in Bitcoin.

The company reported operating 2,325 stores in the US in early 2025, and an estimated 3,200 stores globally.

GameStop hasn't released an official statement yet confirming the shutdowns; however, a Securities and Exchange Commission filing was published in December that detailed closing "a significant number of additional stores" during its 2025 fiscal year, ending January 31, 2026.

"During fiscal 2024, we initiated a comprehensive store portfolio optimization review which involves identifying stores for closure based on many factors, including an evaluation of current market conditions and individual store performance," the filing reads. "This review, among other things, resulted in the closure of 590 stores in the United States in fiscal 2024. We anticipate closing a significant number of additional stores in fiscal 2025."

• 2025's most-played games on PS5 and Xbox are fairly predictable
• In fact, they're exactly the same as they were in 2024
• The usual suspects include Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Fortnite

You'll get no prizes for guessing what the US's most played games of 2025 were. Especially as they're the exact same five as the year before.

The data comes from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, who took to Bluesky to share information on 2025's most-played games across both PS5 and Xbox consoles for the US.

It's definitely not the most brain-busting Wheel of Fortune board we've ever seen, with titles like Fortnite, Roblox, and Grand Theft Auto 5 comfortably occupying both PlayStation and Xbox lists. The same now as they did in 2024.

Here's the top 5 PS5 list, for reference:

1. Fortnite
2. Call of Duty
3. Grand Theft Auto 5
4. Roblox
5. Minecraft

The Xbox list features the same five games, but Minecraft and Roblox have switched places. Understandable to a degree, given that the Mojang-developed survival sandbox finds its home at Microsoft these days.

2025 was a pretty astronomical year for video games. It felt like countless landmark titles released last year, including Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Blue Prince, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Silent Hill f, just to name a handful of bangers. It appears that the children still yearn for the mines, though.

• Industry veteran Vince Zampella has died at the age of 55
• He was involved in a car accident in Los Angeles on December 21
• Zampella was best known as the co-creator of the Call of Duty series and the co-founder of Respawn Entertainment

Vince Zampella, an industry legend best known as the co-creator of Call of Duty and co-founder of Respawn Entertainment, has died at the age of 55.

According to NBC Los Angeles, Zampella was killed in a single-car crash that occurred on December 21. It took place on a road north of Los Angeles in the San Gabriel Mountains.

"The southbound car veered off the road, hit a concrete barrier and a passenger was ejected," the California Highway Patrol said.

"The driver died at the scene and the passenger died at a hospital, authorities told NBC4 Investigates," the report reads.

It's now been confirmed that he was the driver of a 2026 Ferrari 296 GTS, but the passenger has not been identified at this time.

Zampella co-created the massively successful Call of Duty franchise with Jason West in 2003 at their studio Infinity Ward, a series that went on to shape the first-person shooter (FPS) genre in gaming.

Infinity Ward has shared its own statement on X / Twitter following Zampella's passing, writing, "rest in peace Vince. As one of the founders of Infinity Ward and Call of Duty, you will always have a special place in our history.

"Your legacy of creating iconic, lasting entertainment is immeasurable. Our deepest condolences to Vince’s family and loved ones upon this terrible tragedy."

The industry veteran left Infinity Ward in 2010 after a legal dispute with Activision. He and West co-founded Respawn the same year, a studio that developed Titanfall and Titanfall 2, Apex Legends, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

"We're heartbroken by the passing of our founder and dear friend Vince Zampella," Repawn said on X / Twitter. "Vince was a titan and legend of this industry, a visionary leader and a force who shaped teams and games like Call of Duty, Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars Jedi series and Battlefield for our community in ways that will be felt for generations.

"His impact reached far beyond any one game or studio. We will remember Vince for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Respawn and Battlefield. Most importantly, he championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered. We will miss him greatly. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all who love him."

Before his passing, Zampella acted as the executive vice president at EA, overseeing the Battlefield series. EA also provided a statement to Kotaku.

"This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work, Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching," the statement reads.

"A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come."

• Ubisoft has acquired the rights to the free-to-play MOBA, March of Giants, previously being developed by Amazon’s Montreal Games
• Development on the game will be continued at Ubisoft, and the original team of developers will join them
• The game is being led by two former Ubisoft developers, including senior production lead Alex Parizeau and creative director Xavier Marquis, who was the original creative director behind Rainbow Six Siege

Ubisoft has today announced that it has acquired the rights to Amazon's free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), March of Giants.

According to the press release, development on the game will now be continued by Ubisoft and the original team from Amazon’s Montreal Games studio, who are now working on the March of Giants' next large-scale update after the game's closed alpha.

These developers consist of a group of industry veterans, led by two former Ubisoft team members, including Alex Parizeau, senior production lead and former managing director of Ubisoft Toronto, who has overseen several major AAA productions, and creative director Xavier Marquis, who was the original creative director behind Rainbow Six Siege.

"Returning to Ubisoft brings things full circle," said Marquis, "We built some of our most meaningful work here, and we’re excited to continue developing March of Giants from within Ubisoft. This game has enormous potential, and I know Ubisoft can help us take it to the next level."

March of Giants is a 4v4 tactical MOBA that features real-time strategy and lane-based combat that puts players in the role of a giant combatant on an urban battlefield, commanding battalions against much smaller enemies.

"My thanks go to Amazon for their commitment during the first chapters of March of Giants," said Parizeau. "Our closed alpha was an important milestone and showed a glimpse of the game’s real promise. Now, by joining Ubisoft, we’re uniting behind a shared vision to build March of Giants into one of the next great, enduring MOBAs."

The next major update is expected to introduce new giants, expanded competitive modes, add foundational systems designed to support long-term growth, and more.

Yves Guillemot, co-founder and CEO, Ubisoft, added, "March of Giants has a real opportunity to bring something fresh and dynamic to players, and to help Ubisoft compete in one of gaming’s biggest arenas. We’re looking forward to welcoming back Alexandre, Xavier, and many of the seasoned March of Giants team who have previously worked at Ubisoft, and the entire team’s ambition, creativity and talent align perfectly with our desire to build bold new experiences for players. We look forward to supporting them as they shape the future of this promising new IP."

• Rockstar Games has reiterated that recent firings of GTA 6 employees were because they were leaking company secrets on Discord
• The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has denied these claims, accusing Rockstar of union-busting
• In a new statement, Rockstar hit back at the counter-allegations, saying the IWGB doesn't know who was in the Discord channel

Rockstar Games has once again addressed accusations of union-busting from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), claiming that it fired over 30 Grand Theft Auto 6 developers for sharing company secrets in a Discord channel.

Last week, UK Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer said the UK Parliament would investigate union-busting allegations against Rockstar Games after the studio fired 31 in the UK and three in Canada in October, calling the case "deeply concerning."

Following Starmer's words, Rockstar released a statement, reiterating on its initial defence, saying that it took action against a small group of individuals who "distributed and discussed confidential information (including specific game features from upcoming and unannounced titles) in a public forum, in breach of company policy and their legal obligations" and that claims of dismalls due to union membership or activities was false.

In response, the IWGB denied the claims, saying that the game developer's latest statement is "littered with falsehoods and disinformation" and that Rockstar has "given multiple, conflicting reasons to explain why the workers were fired, as if attempting to reverse engineer a rationale for the dismissals."

"Once again, they have chosen to mischaracterise workers speaking about their working conditions in a private forum as 'leaking information'," the statement reads. "It is hard to understand this statement as anything but a desperate attempt to deflect from the global scrutiny they have come under over the last month. From the UK Prime Minister in the House of Commons, to the game developers across the world erupting in protest - all eyes are on Rockstar and their lawless attack on the people who make them their billions."

According to IGN, Rockstar said that the Discord channel, which it claimed was used to spread company secrets, included non-Rockstar employees, including a game journalist, an employee of a rival developer, and multiple anonymous members.

It also claimed that current employees who were aware of Rockstar's policies informed the GTA developer of the alleged sharing of confidential information and expressed concern about what the now-fired employees were discussing in the channel.

In yet another statement, IWGB communications officer Jake Thomas has reaffirmed that all members of the Discord were either union staff, Rockstar employees, or officials, and that moderators removed any members once they left the company.

Thomas also denied that any game journalists were in the union Discord, but admitted that one union official had previously written "a couple of articles for a paper, but is a game worker and union rep and was in the group in that capacity", but there were no discussions of game features in the chat.

"We’re not entirely sure what game features from upcoming titles is referring to, and as far as I have seen nothing that was discussed on the Discord lines up with that, all conversations were to do with working conditions," Thomas said.

Now, in Rockstar's latest statement to IGN, the studio hit back at the IWGB's counter-allegations, saying, "As we suspected and as evidenced by the response to our statement, they have no idea who was in this Discord", but didn't elaborate.

GTA 6's delay came shortly after the firings, and the game is now scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026.

The IWGB is currently representing the dismissed employees and filed legal claims against Rockstar in November, alleging that the studio's conduct "constitutes trade union victimisation and blacklisting".

• Sony was the big winner in terms of sales this Black Friday
• The PS5 outsold both the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox systems thanks to strong discounts
• The Xbox consoles were even beaten by an obscure family gaming machine

If you were keeping an eye on the console deals this Black Friday, then it will likely come as no surprise that the PlayStation 5 was the best selling console of the sales event in the US and the UK.

According to data from Circana, the PS5 accounted for 47% of console sales in the US - that's almost double the share of the Nintendo Switch 2 (which sat at 23%) and over four times that of Xbox (just 10%).

In short, the period was a big win for Sony and a disastrous showing for Microsoft. Even an obscure system called the Nex Playground was more popular than the Xbox Series X and Series S, accounting for 14% of sales.

Designed for families, the Nex Playground is cube-shaped device that's billed as an 'active playground' rather than a traditional gaming console. It costs $249.99 and comes with five games out of the box including Fruit Ninja.

Players control the Nex Playground via motion control, captured by a camera on its front.

It was a similar story in the UK, where GSD reports that the PS5 had a 62% share of the market for the week. The Nintendo Switch 2 came in at 23% while the Xbox systems were just 10% of sales.

The reasons for this seem simple: the PS5 received by far the best discounts in both regions for Black Friday. Discounted bundles made it a highly tempting option in the US, and the PS5 Slim Digital Edition fell to an incredible record low price in the UK.

The Nintendo Switch 2 received a few discounts too, though they were much more restrained - unsurprising given the console's recent release.

It was almost impossible to find savings on the Xbox systems, in contrast, which presumably pushed consumers towards the alternatives offered by Sony and Nintendo.

• Sony has announced a new partnership with Bad Robot Games
• The company will produce and publish the studio's new game, a four-player, cooperative shooter directed by Left 4 Dead's Mike Booth
• The game is being developed for PS5 and PC

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that it will produce and publish Bad Robot Games' next working title as part of a new partnership.

The company shared the news in a new press release today, confirming that Bad Robot Games is currently developing an unannounced, four-player, cooperative shooter directed by Left 4 Dead's Mike Booth for PlayStation 5 and PC.

"Partnering with Sony Interactive Entertainment allows us to bring our new IP to life, with an expansive vision for this new universe," said Anna Sweet, CEO of Bad Robot Games.

"With the support of PlayStation, we hope to deliver a bold, innovative experience that is truly special for players. I could not be more excited that Mike Booth is at the creative helm, crafting a cooperative adventure that will lead to unforgettable moments with friends."

Bad Robot Games is a division of Bad Robot, the film, television, and theater production company founded by filmmaker JJ Abrams, and has previously worked on the interactive streaming series, Silent Hill Ascension, which was released in 2023.

"We’re greatly impressed with the talent Bad Robot Games has assembled at their studio, and are thrilled to partner with them to help produce and publish their upcoming game," said Christian Svensson, vice president and head of 2P/3P content ventures and strategic initiatives at Sony.

"Their unique creative voice and passion for innovating across all forms of interactive entertainment perfectly aligns with SIE’s mission to craft experiences that resonate deeply with players. We can’t wait for gamers to step into the world they’ve been building."

• The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted begins today at 12PM PST / 3PM EST / 8PM GMT
• The showcase will count down the 25 most anticipated PC games in development
• Announcements, trailers, and special looks from over 50 games will also be featured

The annual PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, which will count down the 25 most anticipated PC games in development, officially returns later today, and there are plenty of announcements to look forward to.

The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, which is powered by Xbox Game Pass, is scheduled to air today, December 4, at 12PM PST / 3PM EST / 8PM GMT and can be watched live at PC Gamer’s YouTube, Twitch, X, and Facebook channels, as well as at GamesRadar+, Steam, Bilibili, and more.

The showcase's "most wanted" PC games in development have been voted for by a council of over 120 industry members from a longlist of 100 games chosen by PC Gamer, with long-listed games featuring some of the most anticipated titles of 2026, including 007 First Light, Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and Resident Evil Requiem.

Alongside the main event, hosted by Frankie Ward, with co-host Midas and narration from Baldur’s Gate 3's Amelia Tyler, viewers can also look forward to plenty of trailers, announcements, and behind-the-scenes looks at over 50 games.

Those include a new trailer from Team 17's four-player co-op shooter, Rogue Point, a behind-the-scenes look at High On Life 2, trailers for Cairn, Killing Floor 3, Witchspire, and Remant Protocol.

A new gameplay trailer for Soulmask's ancient Egypt downloadable content (DLC), Shifting Sands, will also be revealed, along with announcements from developers such as Dotemu, Lightbulb Crew, and Playstack.

• The Golden Joystick Awards 2025 airs today, November 20, at 8AM PST / 11AM EST / 4PM GMT / 5PM CEST
• The ceremony will feature 26 categories, including the brand new Best Remake/Remaster category
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is leading with seven nominations, including for Ultimate Game of the Year

The Golden Joystick Awards 2025, one of the biggest ceremonies of the year that celebrates the industry's best games, is close at hand - here's when you can tune in.

The 43rd annual Golden Joystick Awards begin today on Thursday, November 20, at 8AM PST / 11AM EST / 4PM GMT / 5PM CEST, and can be watched on the official social channels, including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter / X, Facebook, Steam, and TikTok.

This year, the show will be hosted by Resident Evil Village and Baldur's Gate 3 actor Maggie Robertson and she'll be joined by several guest presenters from the games industry, including Alix Wilton Regan (Dragon Age: Inquisition and Cyberpunk 2077), Doug Cockle (The Witcher franchise) and Ciara Berkeley (The Witcher 4), Ben Starr (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33), and more.

Over 120 games, studios, hardware, and TV Shows are being represented across 22 categories that have been voted for by the public, including the brand new Best Remake/Remaster category.

There are a total of 26 categories, but four categories, Streamer’s Choice Award, Breakthrough Award, Hall of Fame, and Critics’ Choice, are chosen by an expert panel of journalists and content creators.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is leading with seven nominations, including in the biggest category, Ultimate Game of the Year, Studio of the Year, and more.

The game is accompanied by Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Ghost of Yōtei, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, all of which have five nominations each.

Indie titles like Blue Prince, Hades 2, and Hollow Knight: Silksong are also up for some awards, including Ultimate Game of the Year.

Alongside the main event, audiences can also expect a live performance featuring music from games nominated in the Ultimate Game of the Year category reimagined by music quintet Sonaris Ensemble.

Elsewhere, the nominations for The Game Awards 2025 have been announced, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 dominates the categories as the most-nominated game in the show's history.