franchises

AppWizard
June 14, 2025
Hermen Hulst, head of PlayStation studios, stated that Sony takes a careful and strategic approach to porting games to PC, typically delaying non-live service titles by at least a year after their console release to maintain the value of the PlayStation 5. Despite indications of a potential shift towards a more aggressive strategy, Hulst confirmed the company will continue its conservative approach to protect the unique value of the PS5. Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, emphasized the importance of monitoring player patterns and behaviors while expressing confidence in Sony's current strategy amidst competition in the industry.
AppWizard
June 13, 2025
Herman Hulst, head of PlayStation studios, stated that Sony is carefully strategizing the expansion of its gaming titles to the PC platform, emphasizing a "thoughtful" and "measured" approach. He highlighted the importance of maintaining high standards for single-player experiences, which are key to the PlayStation brand. Sony has already launched several first-party titles on PC, including God of War, The Last of Us series, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Days Gone.
AppWizard
June 12, 2025
The Minecraft Movie is officially in development, aiming to bring the game's blocky universe to life on screen. The film will focus on themes of creativity, adventure, exploration, and friendship, featuring a diverse cast of characters on unique journeys. Industry insiders suggest collaborations with renowned filmmakers and the use of cutting-edge technology to create visuals that reflect the game's aesthetic. This project marks a significant step in the trend of adapting video games into feature films, potentially leading to more adaptations in the future.
AppWizard
June 12, 2025
Netflix showcased a variety of animated projects at Annecy’s Imperial Palace, including adaptations from franchises like “Minecraft,” “Clash of Clans,” “Magic the Gathering,” and “Ghostbusters,” as well as the return of “Blue Eye Samurai.” Highlights included three new preschool shows based on Dr. Seuss, an adaptation of the French comic “Samuel,” and several adult-oriented series such as “Long Story Short,” “Haunted Hotel,” and “Mating Season.” “Samuel” is an acclaimed French animated series set for a wider audience release later this year. The Dr. Seuss adaptations consist of “Red Fish Blue Fish,” “Horton!,” and “The Sneetches,” with “Red Fish Blue Fish” aimed at children aged four to seven. “Long Story Short” is a family comedy from Raphael Bob-Waksberg, while “Haunted Hotel” is a horror-comedy produced by Dan Harmon. “Mating Season” is an adult animated comedy about dating in the animal kingdom. “Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85” aims to create animated series with cinematic quality, while “Splinter Cell: Deathwatch” is the first animated adaptation of the Ubisoft game. “Magic the Gathering” is described as an ambitious epic fantasy saga, and “Blue Eye Samurai” promises intense storytelling in its new season. A new “Ghostbusters” series is being developed with Sony Pictures Animation, and the “Minecraft” series is being crafted in collaboration with Mojang Studios. The “Clash of Clans” series will transform the mobile game's fantasy world into a workplace comedy.
AppWizard
June 11, 2025
Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto Online has 20 million monthly active players as of April 2025, its highest engagement since June 2022. Many of these players also engage with other popular games, particularly Fortnite, Roblox, Call of Duty, and Minecraft, with an 11% overlap of GTA Online players with Minecraft. Despite its large user base, there has been a 19% decline in average playtime among gamers who play both GTA Online and Minecraft on PlayStation. This trend suggests that player engagement with GTA Online can fluctuate based on the popularity of competing titles.
AppWizard
June 8, 2025
Takashi Iizuka, head of Sonic Team, announced details about the upcoming game Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, which will feature characters such as Hatsune Miku, Ichiban Kasuga, Joker from Persona 5, and Minecraft characters like Steve, Alex, and the Creeper. The game will have a three-lap racing format where the first-place racer can choose a new world for the next lap using Travel Rings. It will include power-ups like the Rocket Punch and Monster Truck, and will allow any character to ride any vehicle. Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds is set to release on September 25, 2025, on platforms including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch, with cross-play functionality and support for up to 12 players online.
AppWizard
June 8, 2025
SEGA announced Sonic Racing Crossworlds, a new kart racing game featuring characters from various franchises. Confirmed characters include Katsune Miku, Joker from Persona 5, Steve from Minecraft, and Ichiban from Like a Dragon. Leaks suggest potential characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob SquarePants. The game will support full crossplay at launch and is scheduled for release on September 25th.
AppWizard
June 8, 2025
The Epic Games Store is offering the games Deathloop and Ogu and the Secret Forest for free until June 12. Deathloop is a first-person shooter where players must eliminate eight targets within a time loop, while Ogu and the Secret Forest is a 2D adventure featuring hand-drawn characters and puzzles. The Steam store is giving away Borderlands 2 for free until June 8 at 10 AM PT. The Humble Choice bundle has introduced eight new games, including Warhammer 40K: Boltgun and Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remastered, available until July 1. The Humble Store is also offering an IGN Live bundle with various games for a limited two-week period. Additionally, significant discounts are available from franchises like 2K, Capcom, and Techland, and the GOG store is featuring DRM-free specials, including classic Atari titles.
AppWizard
June 7, 2025
Sonic Racing CrossWorlds will expand its character roster to include new figures from various franchises, such as Joker from Persona 5, Ichiban from the Like A Dragon series, Hatsune Miku, and Steve from Minecraft. The game will feature cross-play capabilities, allowing players from different platforms to compete against each other. It is set to launch on September 25th and will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games. The game will also introduce Travel Rings for traversing various dimensions.
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