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ESA wants to be consulted on Trump tariffs
AppWizard
February 5, 2025

ESA wants to be consulted on Trump tariffs

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has requested to participate in discussions about future tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump, expressing concern that these tariffs could burden American consumers. The video game industry relies on imported components, particularly from China, and currently faces a 10 percent tariff. There were also plans for a 25 percent tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, which are temporarily suspended. The ESA stated that tariffs on video game devices and related products would impact Americans of all ages and emphasized the need for a transparent consultation process with the private sector. They highlighted the cultural significance of video games and warned that tariffs could negatively affect hundreds of millions of Americans and the industry's contributions to the US economy. The ESA is eager to collaborate with the Administration and Congress to sustain the economic growth supported by their sector.
Build A Rocket Boy acquires PlayFusion
AppWizard
December 10, 2024

Build A Rocket Boy acquires PlayFusion

Leslie Benzies' Build A Rocket Boy has acquired UK-based developer and publisher PlayFusion. Mark Gerhard, the CEO and CTO of PlayFusion, will become co-CEO at Build A Rocket Boy, focusing on enhancing the studio's content pipeline and user-generated content tools. The acquisition aims to reshape the gaming landscape and democratize premium game development. The collaboration is expected to deliver original online experiences and empower players to create their own high-quality games.
Radical Forge secures $3.4m in funding
AppWizard
November 5, 2024

Radical Forge secures $3.4m in funding

Radical Forge has secured an investment of £2.6 million from Mercia Ventures' Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, which will help create 15 new positions at their Middlesbrough studio and support the release of their game, Southfield, in early 2025. The investment follows earlier layoffs at the company. CEO Bruce Slater expressed enthusiasm about the funding and partnership with Mercia, while Chris McCourt from Mercia highlighted the potential for Radical Forge to attract talent and undertake larger projects amid industry downsizing.
The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted returns to reveal the 25 most-anticipated PC games this December
AppWizard
October 30, 2024

The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted returns to reveal the 25 most-anticipated PC games this December

PC Gamer will host the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted on December 5 at 12 pm PST, 3 pm EST, and 8 pm GMT. The event will feature a curated list of the 25 most anticipated upcoming games, compiled by a council of games industry experts. It will be broadcast on multiple platforms, including the PC Gamer Twitch channel, YouTube, Twitch Gaming, Steam, and Bilibili.
AI game testing bots will make buggy AAA launches a thing of the past
AppWizard
October 28, 2024

AI game testing bots will make buggy AAA launches a thing of the past

The trend of buggy launches in AAA game development is driven by market pressures prioritizing speed over quality, leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and stressed development teams. The launch of Cyberpunk 2077 in 2020 exemplifies this issue, resulting in CD Projekt Red facing refunds, removal from the PlayStation store, and significant investments in post-release fixes and expansions. Fixing production bugs post-launch can cost studios upwards of 0,000 due to the interconnected nature of game design. Advancements in AI and gaming technology have made it possible to reduce the occurrence of post-launch bugs, with automated testing systems now more effective due to deep learning and increased computational capabilities. The industry's shift towards modular development and the use of third-party tools highlights the inefficiency of manual bug hunting. Successful launches, like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, demonstrate the benefits of investing in automated QA tools for ensuring smooth releases. Automating testing with AI-powered tools is becoming essential for cost-efficiency and competitiveness in a market that demands high-quality releases.
Cryptic Studios reportedly makes further cuts
AppWizard
October 11, 2024

Cryptic Studios reportedly makes further cuts

Cryptic Studios is experiencing another round of layoffs, with several employees announcing their departure on LinkedIn, effective after October 31st. The exact number of affected staff is unconfirmed. This follows a previous round of layoffs in November 2023, part of challenges faced by the Embracer Group. Departing employees, including character artist Amelia March and senior artist Mauricio Tejerina, expressed their sentiments about leaving the company and their hope for future opportunities.
Former Humble staff found new publisher Good Games Group
AppWizard
October 9, 2024

Former Humble staff found new publisher Good Games Group

A group of former employees from Humble Games has launched a new publishing venture called Good Games Group, led by Alan Patmore and Mark Nash. Good Games Group plans to collaborate with developers previously partnered with Humble Games. This development follows the restructuring at Humble Games, where all 36 staff members were laid off by parent company Ziff Davis. The Powell Group has been brought in to manage ongoing projects during this transition. Steve Horowitz from Ziff Davis expressed optimism about Humble Games' future and highlighted the strategic partnership with The Powell Group. Patmore stated that Good Games Group's mission is to bring exceptional indie games to the global community while continuing to work with indie developers from Humble Games.
Oof: Years before Steam, a Blizzard engineer wanted to turn Battle.net into a third-party game store, but was reportedly turned down
AppWizard
October 8, 2024

Oof: Years before Steam, a Blizzard engineer wanted to turn Battle.net into a third-party game store, but was reportedly turned down

Blizzard Entertainment once considered transforming Battle.net into a third-party game store before Steam was launched, but ultimately rejected the idea. This decision raises questions about how the gaming ecosystem might have differed if Blizzard had pursued this path. The book also discusses the potential development of a StarCraft shooter and multiple rejected proposals for new real-time strategy games. It highlights the departure of key figures like O'Brien, Wyatt, and Jeff Strain in 2000 over creative differences related to Warcraft 3, which led to the founding of ArenaNet, known for the Guild Wars series. Jason Schreier's book, "Play Nice: The Rise, Fall, and Future Of Blizzard Entertainment," is based on over 350 interviews and explores Blizzard's history and its impact on the gaming industry.
The games industry is undergoing a 'generational change,' says Epic CEO Tim Sweeney: 'A lot of games are released with high budgets, and they're not selling'
AppWizard
October 2, 2024

The games industry is undergoing a ‘generational change,’ says Epic CEO Tim Sweeney: ‘A lot of games are released with high budgets, and they’re not selling’

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, announced that Fortnite reached a peak of 110 million active users over the last holiday season, marking new records in concurrency. He noted this success amid a generational change in the gaming industry. In contrast, several high-profile titles, including Suicide Squad, Final Fantasy 16, Starfield, and Star Wars Outlaws, have underperformed despite strong branding and investment.
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