gaming industry Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2025

Gustave’s voice actor, Charlie Cox, admits he needs to ‘play the game’ after asking if Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s goofball sidekick is the ‘big baddie at the end’

Charlie Cox participated in a Q&A session at GalaxyCon where he discussed his role in the game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. He admitted to being unfamiliar with the game and did not know who the character Esquie was when asked by a fan. Cox expressed surprise at the game's success and reminisced about his time in the studio, noting the impressive visuals compared to older games. He humorously described himself as out of touch with gaming culture and acknowledged the need to engage more with the medium by playing the game. Despite his lack of familiarity, he expressed enthusiasm for the development team at Sandfall and Kepler, stating that he was happy for their success and mentioned that the game was a frontrunner for Game of the Year.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

Ubisoft CEO responds to the Stop Killing Games petition, stating the publisher is ‘working on’ improving its approach to end-of-life support, but that ‘nothing is eternal’

During Ubisoft's annual shareholder meeting, CEO Yves Guillemot addressed concerns about the Stop Killing Games campaign, which arose after the shutdown of Ubisoft's online racing game, The Crew. He acknowledged the complexities of supporting online games and stated that while Ubisoft strives to support its games, "nothing is eternal." Guillemot clarified that the campaign does not demand perpetual support but calls for end-of-life plans allowing games to function independently after official support ends. Ubisoft plans to implement such measures for The Crew 2, enabling offline play in the future. He also noted that as technology evolves, certain software may become outdated, necessitating new versions of games. The Stop Killing Games campaign has surpassed one million signatures, but concerns about potential signature spoofing have been raised by organizer Ross Scott, which could affect the campaign's credibility.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

Ubisoft’s Guillemot: “Support for all games cannot last forever”

Yves Guillemot, CEO of Ubisoft, discussed the challenges of service-based games during an investor meeting, stating that "nothing is eternal" in the gaming industry. He addressed concerns from shareholders about the Stop Killing Games petition, which calls for the continued availability of purchased games. Guillemot mentioned that Ubisoft is working on solutions to lessen the impact of game deprecation on players, citing The Crew's availability for offline play as an example. He also noted a promotional event in September 2024 for The Crew 2. Guillemot acknowledged that the issue of game longevity is not unique to Ubisoft and that all video game publishers face similar challenges. He explained that as technology evolves, software can become obsolete, leading to the discontinuation of services. He emphasized Ubisoft's commitment to ensuring a positive experience for players amid these industry changes.

AppWizard

July 19, 2025

Swarovski has launched a collection of very exclusive Minecraft figurines

Swarovski has collaborated with Minecraft to launch a collection featuring four iconic figures: Alex, Steve, The Pig, and The Creeper, each with a crystal skin. The figures are available for pre-order at a price range of 0 to 0, allowing fans to purchase the entire set or individual characters.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Lawsuit insists Krafton pushed for Subnautica 2 delay

The former leadership team of Unknown Worlds has filed a lawsuit against Krafton, claiming that Krafton pressured them to delay the release of Subnautica 2 beyond its expected 2025 launch. The lawsuit alleges that Krafton intentionally delayed the game by withdrawing marketing materials and retracting commitments necessary for pre-launch preparations, aiming to avoid a 0 million payment owed to the founders and employees of Unknown Worlds. Following the acquisition, Krafton reportedly decided to push the game's launch to 2026 to retain revenue while avoiding the payment. Krafton responded by stating that its decisions were made to ensure the game's quality and to meet fan expectations, expressing disappointment over the lawsuit and affirming its commitment to defend its position in court.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Codev giant Virtuos making layoffs

Virtuos is reducing its workforce by approximately seven percent, equating to around 300 positions. The layoffs will primarily impact its Asian operations, with 200 employees affected, 70 roles in Europe, and fewer than ten positions in France. The company aims to realign its global capabilities to enhance high-value co-development services. Virtuos will provide separation pay, job placement assistance, and opportunities for affected employees within its network. This decision reflects broader job cuts in the gaming industry, as seen with Microsoft's recent layoffs.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Ubisoft appoints company vet Derennes and Charlie Guillemot co-CEOs of new subsidiary

Ubisoft has appointed Christophe Derennes and Charlie Guillemot as co-CEOs of its new subsidiary, supported by Tencent, to enhance its presence in the gaming industry. Derennes has been with Ubisoft since 1997, serving as managing director for North American operations, while Guillemot has experience leading Ubisoft's Owlient studio and founded a web3 gaming studio called Unagi. The subsidiary will focus on developing and expanding Ubisoft's core franchises, including Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry, with Tencent investing .5 billion. Derennes stated the goal is to grow these iconic brands while staying true to their essence and transforming them into expansive experiences.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Metaphor: ReFantazio hits 2m sales

Metaphor: ReFantazio has sold over two million copies, as announced by developer and publisher Atlus. The game sold one million units on its first day and reached the two million mark nine months after its release. It debuted in October 2024 and became the third highest-grossing game on Steam during its launch week.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

Microsoft Tests Streaming Xbox Games on PC

Microsoft's Xbox division is testing a new feature that allows users to stream their personally owned games through the Xbox PC app, eliminating lengthy installations. This feature is currently available to Xbox Insiders with a Game Pass Ultimate subscription and enables players to access their game libraries on Windows devices using cloud technology. The app manages processing on remote servers, conserving local storage and reducing download times. This initiative is part of Microsoft's strategy to unify its gaming ecosystem and respond to competition from services like Nvidia's GeForce Now and Amazon's Luna. The feature aims to democratize access to games without requiring a subscription for owned titles. Challenges include reliance on internet connectivity and privacy concerns regarding cloud data management. If successful, this could lead to broader integration across Xbox platforms, including smart TVs. Feedback from Insiders will influence the rollout pace.

AppWizard

July 16, 2025

ULTIMATE GAME and SOUL M GAME Join Forces to Bring Legendary PC Game IRIS to Mobile — Launching IRIS ORIGIN SEA Exclusively in Southeast Asia in 2025

Ultimate Game Co., Ltd. has formed a strategic partnership with South Korea's Soul M Game Inc. to launch IRIS ORIGIN SEA, a mobile-optimized version of the PC game IRIS, exclusively in Southeast Asia in 2025. The collaboration aims to preserve the authenticity of the original game while enhancing it with new features and cross-platform play. The development has taken over three years using the Unity Engine. Ultimate Game plans to pursue a public listing within five years to support growth. The marketing strategy will focus on digital marketing for precise audience targeting and personalized in-game campaigns.