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Game Development November 21, 2022

Triss’ jiggling breasts, flare launcher made of rat tunnel duct, hidden dinner plates, and other game dev ‘sins’

Game developers sometimes hide funny messages or find creative solutions to certain problems with their projects. All these things usually remain hidden from the player’s sight, but perhaps it is time to make confessions and reveal some secrets.

Industry News November 21, 2022

No foreign games approved in China over last 500+ days, no signs of regulatory pressure easing soon

Issues with video game licensing in China remain relevant. According to a new report, it has been over 500 days since any foreign game was approved for distribution in the country.

Game Development November 18, 2022

Tim Cain on Fallout reactivity and professional limits: “I miss making a game without constant oversight”

Tim Cain, who needs no introduction to any die-hard RPG fan, has recalled the development of the first Fallout, its RPG system, and the importance of creating reactive worlds. He also discussed how the games industry has changed since the 90s.

Legal November 18, 2022

Epic Games claims Google paid Activision Blizzard $360 million to keep it from making its own app store

The mobile environment is never calm, as Epic Games has now come up with new allegations against Google. It accused the company of making multi-million dollar deals with big publishers, including Activision Blizzard, to block potential competition.

Industry News November 17, 2022

Josh Sawyer on why Pentiment owes its existence to Game Pass: “The old mentality of publishers is focused on higher ROI”

Obsidian Entertainment veteran Josh Sawyer has opened up about the development of Pentiment, a small narrative-driven RPG he recently directed. He explained why this game wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for Game Pass.

Deals November 17, 2022

Half-Life 2 art director Viktor Antonov and Wargaming veterans form new studio Eschatology Entertainment

A group of former Wargaming developers, together with renowned video game art director Viktor Antonov, have formed the new studio Eschatology Entertainment. They have now raised $4 million to create their debut AAA game.

Industry News November 17, 2022

Blizzard and NetEase licensing deal expired: what this means for WoW in China and NetEase revenue

Blizzard and NetEase have ended their long-lasting partnership for publishing games like World of Warcraft and Overwatch in China. The companies failed to agree on new terms, so the operation of these titles in the country will be temporarily suspended next year.

Industry News November 17, 2022

Embracer may spin off some of its groups into separate publicly listed companies, reports six-month net sales of $1.6 billion

Embracer Group has released a financial report for the six months ended September 30. The Swedish holding company shared its financial results and outlined several steps it will take to respond to global macroeconomic challenges.

Market Analysis November 16, 2022

Newzoo expects global games market revenue to fall for first time in 15 years to $184 billion

Newzoo has once again cut its forecast on the global games industry. Analysts are now expecting the first decline in 15 years, with the PC market being the only main segment to experience modest growth.

Game Development November 16, 2022

Fable co-creator Dene Carter explains how ‘ripping off’ scope from other games can get development back on track

Dene Carter, a prominent game designer and programmer, has shared some tips with fellow developers. Using the first Fable as an example, he tried to explain why one shouldn’t be ashamed of copying the scope from other titles.

Deals November 16, 2022

Former Epic Games devs raise $4.1 million for remote-first studio Noodle Cat, offering 4-day work weeks

A group of Epic Games veterans have founded the new indie studio called Noodle Cat Games. They have already raised $4.1 million to hire staff and develop their debut title, while also offering flexible working options to their team members.

Events November 15, 2022

Program announced for WN Tel Aviv’22, with talks from Sony Ventures and TikTok

The next WN Conference will take place in Tel Aviv, Israel next week, on November 23-24. The program for the upcoming event has finally been announced, with talks from games industry experts, panel discussions, and private roundtables.

Industry News November 15, 2022

Report: new round of layoffs at Tencent to affect people in gaming, cloud, and streaming units

Chinese tech giant Tencent has reportedly started a new round of layoffs. Employees at several key business units, including video games, may soon lose their jobs.

Marketing November 15, 2022

Steam reviews/sales ratio approaching 60x for new hit games, so how do we estimate sales in 2022?

Probably the most popular way to estimate game sales on Steam is to add a certain multiplier to their review count. The problem is that the median ratio for big new releases has gone way up over time, so it is time to make some adjustments.

Industry News November 15, 2022

NPD: US video game spending hit $4.3 billion in October, with hardware sales falling 10% YoY

The NPD Group has released a new report on best-selling titles, consoles, and accessories in the US for October 2022. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was the main driver of game content revenue growth, while hardware sales declined year-over-year.

Legal November 14, 2022

Game Insight’s entity in Russia declared bankrupt, its leadership facing criminal charges

The Russian entity of mobile developer Game Insight has been officially declared bankrupt. In addition to that, a criminal case has been opened against its leadership, with the company owing millions to its former employees.

Market Analysis November 14, 2022

Newzoo: VR game revenues to hit $3.2 billion by 2024, sixfold increase compared to 2019

Despite some ups and downs in recent years, the VR industry continues to grow. According to Newzoo, gaming revenues in the sector will exceed $3 billion by 2024.

Legal November 14, 2022

Chris Avellone recently filed another defamation lawsuit to ‘vindicate his reputation’, seeking over $75k in damages

It has been reported that games industry veteran Chris Avellone recently filed another defamation lawsuit against one of his accusers. He is now seeking damages, claiming all misconduct allegations were false and were made to destroy his reputation.

Industry News November 11, 2022

Krafton plans to acquire The Ascent developer Neon Giant and open new studio in Canada

Krafton has released its financial report for the third quarter (ended September 30). The South Korean company behind the PUBG franchise also announced its plans to acquire Swedish developer Neon Giant.

Marketing November 11, 2022

Top 5 alternative traffic sources to boost your profit on mobile: their pros and cons

Facebook and Google are cool, but there are many other traffic sources that can make very good profits. Konstantin Bocharov, a mobile UA lead at performance marketing agency Äppska, has told us about some of the most effective alternative sources, detailing their features and sharing some tips.