game publishing Archives

AppWizard

June 4, 2026

‘We have a great relationship with IO Interactive,’ Amazon says, but it won’t commit to bringing the studio back for future Bond games

Jeff Gattis, the general manager of Amazon Gaming, indicated a potential shift in the development of future James Bond games, suggesting that sequels might be produced by MGM and possibly Amazon Game Studios, which could mean IO Interactive may step back from its Bond responsibilities. An Amazon spokesperson clarified that the company is not entirely moving away from IO Interactive, though future plans remain unclear. Amazon's gaming division has faced challenges, including significant layoffs and project cancellations. Gattis expressed a belief in the convergence of television and video games, suggesting that major intellectual properties will need to integrate video game narratives. He did not confirm IO Interactive's involvement in future Bond games, stating that decisions regarding the next Bond game are still being considered. IO Interactive has not publicly responded to these developments.

AppWizard

May 30, 2026

Balatro publisher Playstack only discovered it because they had a guy checking all the new releases on Steam every day: ‘I saw the game the day it went up on Steam’

Patrick Johnson, head of discovery at Playstack, discussed the indie publisher's involvement with the game Balatro, which is anticipated to be the 2024 game of the year. He emphasized the importance of diligent effort in game publishing and noted that Playstack scouts games across various platforms, reviewing titles on Steam daily. Despite skepticism about the significance of Steam wishlists, Playstack chose to support Balatro, which had few followers and wishlists at the time. Johnson reached out to the game's developer, LocalThunk, via Twitter, leading to a pivotal interaction during a challenging time for the developer. Playstack's early involvement was highlighted as a key factor in the game's potential success. Additionally, Playstack is in discussions to sell its majority stake to Integrated Media Company (IMC) for million, indicating a significant transition for the indie publisher.

AppWizard

May 9, 2026

Stellar Blade is the latest Denuvo game that has been cracked

Stellar Blade was cracked by the cracker known as ‘voices38,’ bypassing its Denuvo anti-tamper technology nearly a year after its release by Sony on PC in June 2025. Unlike typical practices, Sony has not removed the game from circulation. The voices38 crack bypasses Denuvo protections without altering the operating system, unlike the HYPERVISOR Bypass, which requires disabling certain Windows security features. Previous Denuvo cracks have allowed the technology to operate in the background. Legitimate owners of Stellar Blade face penalties while pirates access the game freely, raising questions about Denuvo's effectiveness. Other publishers, including Capcom, Square Enix, KRAFTON, NEOWIZ, Gearbox, Bethesda, Bandai Namco, and Warner Bros, have removed Denuvo from several of their titles.

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Slay the Spire 2 devs weren’t going to make a sequel, but then the publisher handling the first game’s ports shut down and things got ‘very murky’

Slay the Spire 2 has captivated many gamers, with one player logging 118 hours in the game. The sequel introduces a balance shift, two new characters, and a co-op feature. Mega Crit co-founder Casey Yano initially expressed reluctance to create a sequel, preferring to update the original game. However, as game publishing evolved, the studio faced challenges in justifying updates for the PC version while supporting console and mobile players. This led to the decision to develop Slay the Spire 2, which has proven successful.

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

Roblox’s age verification checks are “unpopular,” but chief safety officer Matt Kaufman says they’re worth the cost

Roblox developers face challenges due to new mandatory security measures and age verification restrictions, which have sparked debate among them. To publish games aimed at younger players, developers must now meet specific criteria tied to the new Roblox Plus subscription service, which has replaced the previous Premium model. Concerns have been raised about the impact of these changes on the platform's future, with players expressing frustration over the lack of concessions made in response to feedback. Chief Safety Officer Matt Kaufman acknowledged the unpopularity of the changes but emphasized their necessity for ensuring age-appropriate content. Additionally, Roblox recently settled a proposed lawsuit from Nevada for million, which will fund children's programs and an online safety awareness campaign. Proposed changes to game publishing are set to take effect in June, allowing developers to create games without a subscription, but those games will only be visible to users aged 16 and older.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Epic Games Store locks in two well-rated PC free games to close February 2026

The Epic Games Store has introduced updates to enhance its digital marketplace for both developers and gamers. Key changes include a revamped user interface for easier navigation, improved search functionality, and better tools for game publishing and analytics for developers. The store is expanding its library of exclusive titles through partnerships with game developers and is launching promotional events featuring discounts, free game giveaways, and exclusive content. Additionally, Epic Games is emphasizing community feedback to ensure the platform evolves according to user needs.