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Why Sensor Tower acquired VG Insights and how consolidation of data sources could hurt games market
AppWizard
March 26, 2025

Why Sensor Tower acquired VG Insights and how consolidation of data sources could hurt games market

Sensor Tower acquired Video Game Insights, marking its third M&A move following the acquisitions of Pathmatics in 2021 and data.ai in 2024. The company aims to consolidate its position in gaming analytics, expanding its services to include PC and console market intelligence. The acquisitions were partially financed by Riverwood Capital and involved credit-based financing from Bain Capital Credit. VG Insights, founded in 2020, aims to provide comprehensive analytics tools for indie PC game developers, addressing a gap in the market compared to mobile game analytics.
Valve CMO threatened the company would walk away from games if it didn't own the rights to Half-Life—'It wasn't an idle threat—we weren't going to take on all of the risk to make other people rich'
AppWizard
March 22, 2025

Valve CMO threatened the company would walk away from games if it didn’t own the rights to Half-Life—’It wasn’t an idle threat—we weren’t going to take on all of the risk to make other people rich’

Monica Harrington, a founding member and the first chief marketing officer of Valve, shared a pivotal moment from the company's early years during her presentation at the 2025 Game Developer's Conference. She realized she had not fully understood key aspects of the agreement with publisher Sierra regarding the distribution of Half-Life, which prompted her to initiate a legal fight for the Half-Life intellectual property rights to ensure Valve's long-term success.
Playdead founder dispute goes legal
AppWizard
March 12, 2025

Playdead founder dispute goes legal

Dino Patti and Arnt Jensen, founders of Playdead, are in a public dispute over intellectual property issues stemming from a LinkedIn post by Patti in 2024, where he shared an image originally owned by Jensen. Jensen is demanding DKK 500,000 (approximately ,600) as compensation. Jensen's legal team claims Patti's use of Playdead's assets and disclosure of confidential information breaches confidentiality agreements. Patti has accused Jensen of bullying him, prompting him to make the situation public. Playdead has stated they have formally addressed concerns regarding Patti's alleged infringement and unauthorized use of their trademarks and copyrighted materials. Patti left Playdead in 2016 following internal discord.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2's director had big plans for a third entry in the series, with your squad reuniting for an impossible mission amid a war between Russia and the US over Alaska
AppWizard
March 9, 2025

Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s director had big plans for a third entry in the series, with your squad reuniting for an impossible mission amid a war between Russia and the US over Alaska

David Goldfarb, the director of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, has revealed that he has written initial pages of a script for a potential sequel, Bad Company 3. He shared a detail about a fictional store named "Adiosvidaniya," which reflects current geopolitical issues, particularly regarding Russia. Goldfarb confirmed that the story would continue from the cliffhanger in Bad Company 2, stating, “Russia won and partially took over Alaska.” He also acknowledged a fan theory about reuniting original characters for a mission, responding affirmatively. However, he clarified that his work on the script is a personal project and not a formal plan from DICE, stating that the studio never considered developing Bad Company 3. Goldfarb now leads his own studio, The Outsiders.
The role of AI in mobile gaming: How Android is changing the game
BetaBeacon
February 25, 2025

The role of AI in mobile gaming: How Android is changing the game

AI is being used to personalize the gaming experience by offering quick and impactful solutions. AI game development is not feared by the industry, but rather embraced to enhance games while retaining a human touch. AI technology is also helping boost retention and engagement in mobile gaming by improving specific criteria such as retention ratio, engagement, and player spending. AI monetization is driven by a targeted approach to match players with their preferred in-game items, transforming the way we experience mobile games.
Payday 3 sales dropped off hard in 2024, but Starbreeze has hope for the future
AppWizard
February 21, 2025

Payday 3 sales dropped off hard in 2024, but Starbreeze has hope for the future

Payday 3's financial performance has significantly declined, with sales dropping to million in the 2024 financial year, compared to million in its inaugural year. In contrast, Payday 2 generated million during the same period. The game's disappointing performance led to the departure of the CEO in early 2024 and the game director in September 2023. A lead producer described the 2023 launch as 'disastrous.' Starbreeze is collaborating with platforms like PUBG and Roblox and is offering Payday 3 for free on PlayStation Plus in February to attract new players. The company is also developing a co-op Dungeons & Dragons game, currently in internal playtesting, which has received positive feedback from potential business partners.
Netflix cuts staff from Night School Studio
AppWizard
February 20, 2025

Netflix cuts staff from Night School Studio

Netflix has initiated layoffs at Night School Studio, which will not affect the studio's current content lineup. The layoffs were announced in January and are part of a broader shift in Netflix's gaming strategy, which includes the closure of its triple-A Blue studio. Mike Verdu has transitioned to a new role overseeing generative AI, and Alain Tascan has been appointed to lead Netflix's gaming division. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021.
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