gaming division Archives

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.

AppWizard

February 19, 2025

Spencer: Xbox isn’t trying to move players away from owning games

Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, clarified that Microsoft is not trying to move players away from game ownership but aims to provide various options for gaming, including traditional ownership and subscription models like Xbox Game Pass. He reassured gamers about the future of hardware and the ability to continue playing their games, emphasizing the company's commitment to maintaining players' libraries through features like backward compatibility and Play Anywhere. Spencer stated that players can purchase any game available on Game Pass, reinforcing the flexibility in gaming experiences. He acknowledged the need for profitability while focusing on maximizing options for gamers. Additionally, he noted that embracing Windows and cloud technology has been crucial for Microsoft's growth, particularly in Asia, where cloud and PC gaming are expanding rapidly.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Kayleen Walters appointed head of Mojang

Microsoft has appointed Kayleen Walters as the new head of Mojang Studios, while Federico San Martin will manage franchise development. Walters joined Microsoft in 2018 as head of franchise development for Minecraft and was promoted to Vice President of brand and entertainment for Minecraft in 2023. She has over 13 years of experience at LucasFilm in franchise management. Walters succeeds Åsa Bredin, who is leaving Mojang for personal reasons.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

‘Change is never easy’: Minecraft studio Mojang announces studio head switch

Åsa Bredin has stepped down as studio head of Mojang to focus on personal goals. She had been in the role since 2023 after joining the company two years earlier. Kayleen Walters, currently vice president and head of franchise development at Microsoft, will take over as the new head of Mojang. Walters has extensive experience, including a 13-year tenure at Lucasfilm as vice president of franchise marketing and integrated planning. She will be based in Redmond, Washington, and will frequently travel to Stockholm. Microsoft Studios COO Helen Chiang expressed confidence in the team's ability to adapt to this leadership change.

AppWizard

November 17, 2024

Xbox chief calls recent PC exclusives an “anomaly,” reaffirms Xbox ecosystem goals

Microsoft's upcoming game releases for fall include several major titles debuting as PC exclusives, such as World of Warcraft: The War Within expansion, Ara: History Untold, and Towerborne, which will not be available on Xbox consoles initially. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, described this PC-centric approach as a temporary "anomaly" and emphasized the company's goal of making games accessible across various platforms within the Xbox ecosystem. He stated the intention for ownership across cloud, PC, and console platforms. Spencer expressed optimism about potential cross-platform play with Sony's PlayStation and clarified that the PC exclusives are tied to specific reasons, such as the World of Warcraft expansion's PC roots and Towerborne's early access launch. He reassured fans that this is not the new standard and highlighted the upcoming Diablo 4 DLC as an example of cross-ecosystem availability. Spencer also confirmed that a long-rumored Xbox handheld device is in development and that the Xbox team is exploring a Microsoft mobile game store, which has been delayed for further market research.

AppWizard

November 15, 2024

Microsoft’s PC-Only Games Are An “Anomaly,” Says Phil Spencer

Microsoft is releasing several PC-exclusive titles this fall, including World of Warcraft: The War Within, Ara: History Untold, and the early-access Towerborne. Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, described the trend of PC-only releases as an "anomaly" and emphasized the company's commitment to making games accessible across multiple platforms, including Xbox consoles, PC, and cloud. He stated that Microsoft aims for a seamless gaming experience where players can own their games across the Xbox ecosystem, regardless of the platform. Some Microsoft-owned titles, like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, will be shared with Sony's PlayStation, and upcoming releases such as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch on Xbox and PC before reaching PS5.

AppWizard

November 11, 2024

FromSoftware parent Kadokawa to expand publishing business

Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of From Software, aims to enhance its publishing capabilities for console and PC games. The company is focused on maximizing the lifetime value of its flagship title, Elden Ring, which has sold over 25 million copies since its launch in February 2022. Sales for Elden Ring increased following the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on June 21st. Despite strong sales figures, Kadokawa anticipates that overall sales in its gaming division may not meet earlier projections due to project delays. However, for the first half of the current fiscal year ending September 30th, Kadokawa reported a 32.8 percent increase in net sales to ¥18.1 billion and a 50.8 percent rise in operating profit to ¥6.1 billion.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

COD Black Ops 6 brought in more Game Pass players than any other launch

The launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 has set a record for the franchise, achieving the highest launch figures in its history and driving more Game Pass subscriptions than any previous launch. The game had the biggest Day One player count and Game Pass subscriber adds. Unit sales on PlayStation and Steam increased by over 60 percent year-over-year. For the quarter ending September 30th, Microsoft's gaming division reported revenue of .7 billion, a 43 percent increase, with Xbox content and services growing by 61 percent year-on-year, partly due to the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Hardware sales declined by 29 percent, but Game Pass achieved record revenues and the highest average revenue per subscriber to date.

AppWizard

October 29, 2024

Tencent pushes back on games layoff reports

Tencent has denied rumors of layoffs within its gaming division, stating that no restructuring efforts are underway and that the Timi Studio Group is actively hiring. The company refuted reports suggesting a reduction in workforce and consolidation of its 13 development studios into four. However, there have been leadership changes within the Interactive Entertainment Group, including the amicable departure of Vice President Zeng Yu and ten other management transitions, including Huang Lanxiao stepping down as General Manager of Timi's Level 1 studio.

AppWizard

October 22, 2024

Report: Netflix closes down triple-A Blue studio

Netflix has decided to close its Blue studio, which was developing a high-budget, multi-device triple-A game in Southern California. The studio attracted notable industry veterans, including Chacko Sonny, Joseph Staten, and Rafael Grassetti, who are no longer with the company. Netflix's gaming efforts are now primarily focused on mobile platforms, aiming to expand its library with existing titles and original games.