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Industry News March 2, 2021

Finnish researchers developing video game to ease symptoms of depression

A group of scientists from Finland is now developing a “therapeutic action game” to treat depression. It won’t replace therapy or drugs but will help ease the symptoms.

Industry News March 2, 2021

Hardsuit Labs lays off entire narrative team after being dropped as Bloodlines 2 developer

The whole narrative team has been hit by layoffs at Hardsuit Labs. It happened after the studio was removed from the development of Bloodlines 2.

Industry News March 2, 2021

Vungle acquires mobile gaming analytics company GameRefinery for undisclosed sum

GameRefinery, a mobile gaming analytics company from Finland, joins Vungle. Both teams will cooperate to overcome the problems that IDFA changes will bring.

Industry News March 2, 2021

Frogwares claims Nacon pirated The Sinking City, publisher says it paid devs more than €10 million

The scandal surrounding The Sinking City’s release on Steam continues. Frogwares claims that the publisher pirated their game, while Nacon says that the developers just ”play the victim.”

Industry News March 1, 2021

Report: leaked Elden Ring trailer shows first gameplay footage, including combat and boss fight

A very first gameplay trailer for Elden Ring is reportedly circulating online, introducing the upcoming From Software game as an “all-new fantasy action RPG franchise.”

Industry News March 1, 2021

Google Stadia denies reports about turning down pitch for Hideo Kojima’s episodic horror game

Google Stadia reportedly cancelled numerous projects, including a pitch for Hideo Kojima’s episodic horror game. However, the company went on to deny it was in talks with the famous game designer.

Industry News March 1, 2021

Frogwares has nothing to do with The Sinking City version on Steam, asks fans to not buy it

Soon after The Sinking City returned to Steam, developer Frogwares told fans not to buy this version. It led to the game released by publisher Nacon being review-bombed by gamers.

Industry News March 1, 2021

miHoYo earned almost $800 million last year, all thanks to Genshin Impact success

The world found out about Chinese studio miHoYo after it released Genshin Impact in 2020. The game’s success helped the studio double its revenue and earn almost $800 million.

Industry News February 26, 2021

Sony confirms shutting down Japan Studio following exit of Bloodborne producer and Silent Hill director

Sony will re-organize Japan Studio, known for games like Gravity Rush and Knack. It looks like the team behind Astro’s Playroom will become a standalone studio.

Industry News February 26, 2021

Bloomberg: EA cancels ‘ambitious’ game Gaia, still has more than 35 projects in making

Electronic Arts decided to stop the development of another game called Gaia that has been in development for years. It happened shortly after the company canceled the revision of Anthem.

Featured February 26, 2021

Sheridans’ Tim Repa-Davies: “Publishers and investors are not out to trip up developers, but…”

As part of WN Dev Contest, we are discussing the industry with the jury members. In this installment, we catch up with Tim Repa-Davies, games lawyer at media and technology law firm Sheridans.

Featured February 25, 2021

WN Media Group’s Pavel Räikkönen on what’s next for video games industry

WN Media Group CEO Pavel Räikkönen has posted an overview of the global gaming market trends. The report also attempts a number of predictions on where we will see the industry evolve in the coming years.

Industry News February 25, 2021

Judge orders Valve to give Apple part of Steam private data on 436 games

Valve will have to unveil some of its private Steam information requested by Apple in a lawsuit against Epic Games.

Industry News February 25, 2021

Unity: mobile game ad revenue increased by 8% in 2020, card games showed highest growth

Unity has released its latest gaming report, providing insights from 2020 on ad revenue and the market in general. The company also issues a forecast of key trends for 2021.

Industry News February 25, 2021

Bloomberg: CD Projekt developers locked out of their workstations after ‘nightmarish’ hack

The recent hacker attack impacted the development process within CD Projekt. It looks like most of its employees have been unable to properly work for two weeks.

Featured February 25, 2021

BioWare on canceling revision of Anthem: “This will be disappointing to the community”

Anthem NEXT should have become a revision of BioWare’s online game, but now the studio decided to stop the development. It will focus on other series instead, including Dragon Age and Mass Effect.

Marketing February 25, 2021

DDM’s Rebecca Owen: “It is wonderful to have fresh ideas and new hires, but only when they are tempered with some production experience”

As part of WN Dev Contest, we are discussing the industry with the jury members. In this installment, we catch up with Rebecca Owen, Business Development Manager at Digital Development Management (DDM).

Industry News February 24, 2021

ResetEra implements total ban on threads for promoting new Harry Potter game

Forum ResetEra bans promotional posts for the upcoming Harry Potter game Hogwarts Legacy amid the discovery that its lead designer supported Gamergate.

Industry News February 24, 2021

Reasons behind Sony’s new strategy on bringing more PS exclusives to PC

Days Gone will become the next PlayStation exclusive to be released on PC. Sony wants to expand its audience, but there are a few other reasons for the company to bring its games outside its platform.

Industry News February 24, 2021

Techland in quotes from devs and management

Ten current and former Techland devs spoke anonymously to The Gamer highlighing what seems to be the crisis of the studio’s management culture. We have selected the most graphic quotes both from the team and from the management on various aspects of the Dying Light 2 development.