Metacritic has shared its list of top game publishers of 2021, with Microsoft leaping to the first place. The company has outperformed other big companies, including Sony, Activision Blizzard, and EA.

The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) has published a new annual UK Games Industry Census, studying how the pandemic has affected working attitudes and workplace diversity in the country.

Makers Fund has closed its largest fund, raising $500 million for innovations in interactive entertainment. This time the company will focus on early-stage investment, with the median check between $5 million and $10 million.

Amid global support for Ukraine, more companies are suspending their business operations in Russia. Sony, Nintendo, WarnerMedia, and some other studios have joined the ongoing exodus.

Playwind Games has closed a $4 million funding round led by Garena. The Free Fire creator is now stepping into the space of casual mobile titles with a social focus.

Chinese developers might face even tougher regulations on the games industry. Holding parents accountable and a complete ban on video games for underage players are among the new proposed measures.

Supercell, a world-famous mobile developer and publisher, has taken the next step in its support of Ukraine. The company decided to remove all of its games from digital storefronts in Russia and Belarus.

Vlad Suglobov, the CEO of G5 Entertainment, has opened up about supporting Ukrainian employees, opening new offices in other countries, and his decision to not suspend selling games in Russia.

Valve has shared Steam’s results for 2021, which were successful even compared to rapid growth in 2020. The platform’s user base, spending, and playtime increased year-over-year.

Three more companies have announced their decision to suspend game sales in Russia. The list includes Rockstar, Activision Blizzard, and Electronic Arts.

The list of companies suspending or stopping their business in Russia is getting bigger. Microsoft has announced its decision to stop all new sales of its products and services in the country while also committing to helping and supporting Ukraine.

More than a dozen advocacy groups have raised their concerns over Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. They asked the Federal Trade Commission to closely review the deal to stop potential damage to the market, including a threat to fair competition.

Google has joined a broad range of companies that have limited or banned their services in Russia. The company decided to stop selling in the country, with restrictions covering search, YouTube, and publishing partners.

Some members of the GitHub community have been asking to ban Russian users for a week now. The platform, however, has decided to not restrict any developers, adding that it will still continue to examine government mandates. 

OtherSide Entertainment has confirmed that it has a new Warren Spector game in development. The System Shock creator is now working on an immersive sim based on a new IP.

Fortis is a new developer and publisher, which has already made a few acquisitions. Formed by executives from big game companies, the studio plans to pursue a GaaS model and produce titles across several genres.

Netflix has announced an acquisition of Next Games for €65 million. The Finnish studio is known for developing mobile titles based on TV series like The Walking Dead and Stranger Things.

Kevuru Games, an outsource studio based in Ukraine, has cut ties with clients from Russia. It also fired employees who “expressed a neutral position or supported Russia” in the wake of the latest events.

Shirley Curry, who is known as Skyrim grandma, has revealed that she had a stroke in her sleep and forgot how to play her favorite video game. The 85-year-old YouTuber says that she feels lost but hopeful.