industry

Winsage
July 19, 2025
Microsoft will discontinue its Movies & TV digital storefront on Xbox consoles and Windows devices on July 18, 2025, ending the ability to purchase new movies and TV shows through the Microsoft Store. Users will still have access to previously purchased content via the Movies & TV application on their devices. The closure will affect new entertainment content acquisitions on Microsoft.com and the Microsoft Store on Windows and Xbox, but users can continue to enjoy their existing digital libraries. The refund policy for movies and TV shows will remain unchanged, with purchases being ineligible for refunds. Content portability options are available through Movies Anywhere for U.S. residents, but direct migration to alternative services is largely unavailable. Third-party entertainment services will continue to be available on Microsoft's platforms for new content purchases. The Movies & TV storefront has been operational since 2015, evolving from earlier services. Microsoft will maintain server infrastructure for existing content libraries and provide ongoing support for previously purchased content. Content licensing agreements will dictate the availability of purchased titles.
AppWizard
July 19, 2025
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 19, 2025
This week, over 20 games launched on Steam, accumulating more than 50,000 wishlists, with nine titles exceeding 100,000 wishlists. The Switch eShop has introduced new publishing guidelines in Asia regarding game bundles and content restrictions. Roblox is enhancing its safety platform with new features for players aged 13 and above. Star Wars Battlefront II's recent Steam revenue is estimated at millions, contributing to its overall success. Subnautica 2 has a wishlist total of 2.48 million amid a lawsuit against Krafton. The American Time Use survey shows individuals spend an average of 34 minutes on games and computers for leisure. Valve has improved wishlist data updates on Steam, but some users reported bugs in their charts. Payment providers like PayPal have restricted payments for certain extreme adult-themed games on Steam, prompting Valve to clarify its content policies.
TrendTechie
July 18, 2025
Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. has secured a credit line of .3 billion to acquire a controlling stake in JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The credit facility is supported by banks including Barclays Plc, HSBC Holdings Plc, and Standard Chartered Plc, with a maturity period of up to four years. Torrent plans to purchase 53.8% of JB Chemicals from KKR & Co. for approximately .4 billion and has made a mandatory offer for an additional 26% of shares at 1,639 rupees per share. JB Chemicals' market valuation reached .6 billion in 2024, with a 20% increase in stock price. The Indian M&A landscape has seen an 18% increase in activity in 2025, despite an 8% decline in the Asia-Pacific region. JB Chemicals focuses on pharmaceutical products for various disorders and is headquartered in Mumbai, while Torrent Pharmaceuticals is based in Ahmedabad.
Winsage
July 18, 2025
Square Enix will cease support for Final Fantasy XIV on Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, coinciding with Microsoft's end of security updates for the operating system. After this date, players may still be able to play the game, but technical support will not be available. Players are encouraged to upgrade to Windows 11 to ensure continued support, and the minimum system requirements for the game will be revised on October 15, 2025. Alternatives for playing the game include PlayStation 5, Xbox, and macOS, with crossplay support available.
AppWizard
July 18, 2025
Ephemera, a blockchain-based messaging platform, secured million in a Series B funding round, co-led by Union Square Ventures, A16z Crypto, and Lightspeed Faction, achieving a valuation of 0 million. The round included participation from Coinbase, Sound Ventures, and actor Ashton Kutcher. The funding was structured as equity with token warrants, and Fred Wilson from Union Square Ventures joined Ephemera’s board. The platform is developed by the creators of XMTP, a decentralized messaging network utilizing IETF-standard Messaging Layer Security, which is trusted by companies like Mozilla, Google, Wire, and Cisco. XMTP aims to allow users to transfer conversations between different messaging apps, addressing concerns about centralization and user ownership of messages.
AppWizard
July 17, 2025
The number of games on Steam disclosing the use of Generative AI has surged by nearly 800% over the past year, with just under 8,000 titles currently utilizing this technology, representing approximately 7% of the total Steam library. A year ago, around 1,000 games were reported to disclose the use of Generative AI. The influx of low-effort, AI-generated content has raised concerns among developers and players, particularly regarding quality dilution in gaming storefronts like the Nintendo eShop. Some developers have faced imitation of their popular titles, leading to frustration over misleading consumers. While some developers have stopped using AI due to backlash, others have adopted defensive language about their practices. The reported figures reflect only those developers who voluntarily disclose their use of Generative AI, suggesting the actual prevalence may be higher. Generative AI is being used in various ways, including for content moderation in games like Comedy Night, which filters offensive user-uploaded content. An artist known for contributions to Persona and Shin Megami Tensei attempted to train an AI model to replicate their style but found the results unsatisfactory, illustrating the challenges of AI in creative fields.
AppWizard
July 17, 2025
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
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.
Search