business development Archives

AppWizard

May 5, 2026

Surprise: The studio making Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is full of former BioWare devs

LucasFilm Games announced a new title, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, at The Game Awards 2025, described as a "spiritual successor" to the Knights of the Old Republic series. Casey Hudson, former project director of KotOR and Mass Effect, is the CEO and game director at Arcanaut Studios, which he co-founded after leaving BioWare. The development team includes former BioWare employees, such as Chris Bain, the CFO, and Ryan Hoyle, the CTO. The studio's team also features talent from companies like Microsoft, Epic, Remedy, The Coalition, and ZeniMax. The game's artistic direction includes sci-fi visuals that align with the Old Republic aesthetic. Fate of the Old Republic will introduce new characters and a fresh storyline, not serving as a direct sequel to previous games. Arcanaut Studios was established in 2025.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Google executive responsible for AI has a solution for the game industry’s problems, and you’re not going to believe this but it’s AI

Jack Buser, the global director for games at Google Cloud, is focusing on using AI and cloud solutions to tackle challenges in the gaming industry. He noted a rebound in revenue growth but highlighted issues such as declining profits, project cancellations, and layoffs, with only Roblox and the Chinese market thriving. Buser advocates for AI as a potential solution, despite concerns about "rightsizing" strategies that may prioritize profits over employee welfare. His previous role at Stadia ended with mixed results, raising doubts about the feasibility of AI-driven game development. The industry is still awaiting a groundbreaking AI-generated game. Buser emphasizes the need for clearer discussions about AI and suggests that embracing it could lead to easier revenue generation, similar to trends in reality television.

AppWizard

April 2, 2026

Open-world crime game Samson had to be pared back mid-development, which led to its unusual structure: ‘It’s become more unique’

Samson is a game set to launch on Steam and EGS on April 8, where players must meet daily financial targets while managing limited action points. The game emphasizes strategic hand-to-hand combat, having removed gunplay to enhance engagement. Players navigate the city of Tyndalston, utilizing the environment for escape and exploration. Driving mechanics are designed to reflect realism and spontaneity. The development team at Liquid Swords has faced challenges in securing funding and acknowledges the pressure of the upcoming launch, emphasizing their commitment to quality despite potential bugs.

AppWizard

March 31, 2026

Nightdive’s Larry Kuperman retires after 25-year career in games: ‘We never looked at games as products’

Larry Kuperman, Vice President of Business Development at Nightdive Studios, has announced his retirement from full-time work after a 25-year career in the gaming industry. He has held various roles, including publisher at Stardock and retailer at GameStop, but is notably recognized for his contributions to game preservation at Nightdive. Kuperman discussed the complexities of reviving classic games, citing challenges such as intellectual property rights, with specific examples like the rights to "No One Lives Forever" and "System Shock." He joined Nightdive during a crucial period and highlighted the studio's commitment to its community by honoring promises made to Kickstarter backers for the remaster of "System Shock 2." Kuperman emphasized the importance of viewing games as art and has introduced innovative features in remastered games. He plans to remain active in the industry, particularly with the International Game Developers Association, to support newcomers.

AppWizard

November 21, 2025

SRS #255 Ryan Montgomery – Roblox & Minecraft: Hacker Exposes the Larg

Ryan Montgomery is a leading ethical hacker and penetration tester, ranked #1 on TryHackMe's Capture The Flag leaderboard. He is the founder of Pentester, a cybersecurity platform in Boca Raton, Florida, providing tools for vulnerability scanning, data breach detection, and risk mitigation. As Chief Technology Officer of the Sentinel Foundation, he collaborates with law enforcement to combat child exploitation and human trafficking, often infiltrating dark web sites to expose predators. Montgomery has over 19 years of experience in cybersecurity, focusing on ethical hacking, data protection, and online safety. His work aims to protect vulnerable populations and dismantle predatory networks.

AppWizard

November 12, 2025

Your PC backlog is going to grow as Digiphile enters the PC games bundle market

Digiphile is a new digital gaming platform founded by former Humble Bundle professionals, focusing on community engagement and innovative features. It allows users to contribute to monthly game bundles and includes a credit exchange system for trading games. The platform also incorporates a charitable aspect, offering exclusive physical items for donations. Digiphile's inaugural bundle, "The Return of the Immersive Sim," includes titles like System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster and proceeds will support the Arbor Day Foundation. The platform aims to provide competitive pricing and diverse offerings in the digital gaming market.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

GOG Autumn Sale discounts Cyberpunk 2077, Silent Hill 2 and Fallout: New Vegas

GOG has launched its annual Autumn Sale, running until November 4, featuring discounts on various PC games, including both contemporary hits and classic titles under the GOG Preservation Program. Notable discounts include Cyberpunk 2077 and its DLC, Silent Hill 2 remake at 50% off, and Disco Elysium - The Final Cut at 75% off. The 2016 reboot of Doom is available at an 80% discount, while Fallout: New Vegas Ultimate Edition, Spore Collection, and SimCity 3000 Unlimited are also discounted. The Preservation Program, established in 2024, aims to keep classic games playable on modern hardware, but GOG faces challenges in maintaining it, as noted by Marcin Paczynski, GOG’s senior business development manager.

AppWizard

October 17, 2025

Capcom Initially Against GOG Bringing Original ‘Resident Evil’ Trilogy Back to PC

GOG.com has successfully revived the original Resident Evil trilogy for PC, despite initial reluctance from Capcom, the franchise's creator. Marcin Paczynski, GOG’s senior business development manager, indicated that Capcom preferred their modern remakes and did not initially see the value in releasing the original versions. After persistent discussions, Capcom agreed to the project, leading to a positive reception with 94% positive reviews on GOG. Following this success, Capcom approved GOG's plans to release Dino Crisis and Dino Crisis 2, which launched in January. All titles have received enhancements for modern compatibility and are part of GOG’s Preservation Program to ensure their accessibility.

AppWizard

October 16, 2025

Capcom was reluctant to release original Resident Evil titles on GOG

Capcom was initially reluctant to release older Resident Evil titles on GOG, believing their remastered versions provided a superior gaming experience. However, after considerable persuasion from GOG, Capcom agreed to launch the classic games on the platform. The response from the gaming community was overwhelmingly positive, with a 94 percent positive review rate across all titles, demonstrating the enduring appeal and value of the classic versions.

AppWizard

August 5, 2025

Production company Lyrical opens new indie publishing arm

Lyrical Media has launched an indie publishing arm called Lyrical Games, led by Blake Rochkind, formerly of Private Division. The team includes professionals from Private Division, Devolver, Humble, and Microsoft. Lyrical Games has signed three projects, including one from Blackbird Interactive, known for Homeworld 3. The firm emphasizes that developers are often the best stewards of their games and aims to provide attractive deal terms while allowing developers to retain ownership of their intellectual property.