remarkable success Archives

AppWizard

April 23, 2025

Devolver lays off 40% of Nerial workforce

Indie publisher Devolver Digital has reduced its workforce at Nerial, the studio behind the Reigns series, by 40 percent as part of a strategic response to challenges with recent releases. Nerial currently has 13 employees listed on LinkedIn, though it is unclear if this reflects pre- or post-layoff numbers. The Reigns franchise has generated over a million in revenue. Additionally, Polish developer Artificer has seen a workforce reduction exceeding 50 percent, and other Devolver labels, such as Good Shepherd and Big Fan, have also experienced layoffs affecting more than half of their staff in 2024. Overall, Devolver has reduced its workforce by over 30 employees between 2023 and 2024. Cult of the Lamb has generated over a million in lifetime revenue, Astroneer has surpassed the million mark, and the Gungeon series has earned over a million and sold more than five million copies. Devolver's average expenditure on third-party titles is projected to decline from approximately .99 million in 2022 to .73 million in 2025 and further to .04 million in 2026.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

‘Minecraft’ movie mayhem raises alarms for America’s youth, ‘bad for society’: expert

Fox News is providing free access to premium content for users who enter a valid email address and agree to its Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. "A Minecraft Movie," based on the popular video game, has become a hit in theaters, attracting young audiences and generating significant social media buzz. A scene featuring Jack Black has led to enthusiastic reactions, including fans throwing popcorn and even a live chicken during screenings. Some theaters, like Springs Cinema & Taphouse in Georgia, have faced extensive clean-up due to the rowdy behavior. Director Jared Hess noted the humorous nature of the screenings, while Raymond Arroyo expressed concerns about safety and order in theaters. The film has grossed million worldwide, and Regal Cinemas plans special "Chicken Jockey" screenings to encourage fan engagement while promoting respectful behavior. Arroyo highlighted a cultural shift in entertainment from superhero films to video game adaptations, suggesting a growing trend in Hollywood.

AppWizard

April 19, 2025

A New Pack Of Minecraft Movie Figures Is Up For Preorder

The Minecraft movie has become the second-highest-grossing video game adaptation in cinematic history shortly after its release. The Minecraft Ultimate Movie Pack, featuring eight figures inspired by the film, will launch on July 1 and is available for preorder on Amazon. The pack includes figures such as Steve, Creeper, Garrett, Henry, Dawn, Natalie, Dennis the wolf, and Skeleton, each with unique accessories. Additionally, various Blu-ray editions of the film are available for preorder at Amazon and Walmart, including a limited 4K steelbook edition and a Walmart-exclusive Collector's Crafting Table Edition. Release dates for the Blu-ray versions have not been announced.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Minecraft movie has made over $550m so far

The Minecraft movie has grossed over 0 million globally, with approximately 0 million from the domestic market in the U.S. and 0 million from international audiences. Despite receiving mixed reviews from critics, it has been popular among younger viewers, particularly due to a viral Chicken Jockey meme scene. In its opening weekend, the film earned million, and interest has continued to grow since its release. The game that inspired the movie launched on April 4th, contributing to its success. Mary Parent, chair of Legendary Entertainment, commented on the film's cultural impact.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

Jack Black says hold the popcorn: ‘Minecraft’ fans get a message about messy ‘chicken jockey’ trend

Jack Black recently expressed disapproval of unruly fan behavior during screenings of "A Minecraft Movie," where he humorously urged viewers to maintain decorum, advising against throwing popcorn and referencing his character with the phrase "chicken jockey." Videos showed chaotic scenes of fans throwing objects and cheering during a pivotal moment in the film. The "Minecraft" franchise has inspired numerous memes, and the film's opening weekend grossed a record-breaking 7 million domestically and 4 million internationally, making it the highest-grossing video game adaptation, surpassing "The Super Mario Bros. Movie." The film features a cast including Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Sebastian Hansen, Emma Myers, and Danielle Brooks.

AppWizard

April 14, 2025

A Minecraft Movie soars $551M globally as Snow White further drops

A Minecraft Movie has achieved nearly 1 million in global box office earnings and is projected to earn approximately 0.6 million domestically in its second week. The film has screenings in 4,289 theaters in the U.S. and is expected to generate a total of 0.3 million over its first two weekends. It has received mixed reviews, with a score of 45% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 6/10 rating on IMDb. Disney's live-action Snow White has dropped to number eight in the box office, projected to earn only 0.8 million domestically this weekend, after initially opening with 0.2 million and experiencing a 66% drop in its second weekend. It has grossed around 0.9 million domestically against a production budget of approximately 200 million. The King Of Kings, an animated biblical film, has secured the second spot with a domestic earning of 0.05 million and an A+ CinemaScore. The action spy film The Amateur debuted in third place, bringing in 4 million, while the thriller Warfare earned 3.3 million. Other notable releases include Drop, which opened with 1.5 million, and The Chosen: Last Supper Part 3, which made 0.8 million in its opening week.

AppWizard

April 13, 2025

A MINECRAFT MOVIE Hits $400 Million At The Global Box Office

A Minecraft Movie features Jack Black as Steve and Jason Momoa as Garrett Garrison. The film has grossed over 0 million at the box office against a million budget, achieving significant financial success despite initial skepticism from fans. A viral scene involves Momoa's character battling a chicken jockey, leading to audience reactions that included clapping and throwing popcorn, prompting police intervention in some theaters. The director expressed amusement at the audience's enthusiasm and the unexpected nature of the film's success. Warner Brothers has found a blockbuster in A Minecraft Movie, which continues to generate global conversations.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

Grand Theft Auto 5 is Coming Back to PC and Xbox Game Pass on April 15

Grand Theft Auto 5 will return to Xbox and PC Game Pass on April 15, allowing players to access both the standard and Enhanced Edition. The Enhanced Edition, released in March, has received mixed reviews on Steam, currently holding a "Mixed" rating with over 33,000 user reviews. Enhancements include graphical upgrades, new vehicles, and activities like the Wildlife Photography Challenge, along with an initial boost of GTA 000,000 for new players. Since its release in 2013, GTA 5 has sold over 210 million copies globally, contributing to over 440 million units sold across the entire GTA franchise. Rockstar is also developing Grand Theft Auto 6 for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, with no announcements regarding a PC version.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

How Arrowhead helped turn around Helldivers 2’s poor fortunes

Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead, discussed the company's journey following the success of Helldivers 2, emphasizing the importance of targeting a specific audience rather than a broad one. The game's unexpected popularity attracted millions of players, prompting a reevaluation of their development approach. Jorjani noted that creating a game for a dedicated audience can resonate beyond that group, referencing From Software's challenging games as an example of how niche titles can create new genres. Despite not aiming for a mainstream audience like Call of Duty, Arrowhead attracted a diverse player base with varying expectations. Jorjani described challenges during a difficult period of balancing studio principles with the demands of a larger audience. The experiences from Helldivers 2 will influence Arrowhead's future projects and enhance their understanding of audience engagement in the gaming market.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

The history of the video game that inspired ‘A Minecraft Movie’

On April 4, "A Minecraft Movie" will be released, featuring a cast that includes Jack Black, Jason Momoa, Emma Myers, and Jennifer Coolidge. The film follows four misfits who are transported to a block-based realm and must unite with Steve, played by Black, to protect their world. "Minecraft" is a sandbox game that allows players to explore and create in a limitless environment, rated Everyone 10+ by the ESRB. It has two main modes: Creative, which offers unlimited resources and immortality, and Survival, which involves resource gathering and managing health. Markus "Notch" Persson created "Minecraft" in 2009, launching it officially in November 2011 after successful testing. He sold the game to Microsoft in 2014 for .5 billion, after which Jens "Jeb" Bergensten took over as lead designer. As of 2023, "Minecraft" is the second highest-selling video game, behind Tetris, and has received numerous updates, with the latest being the "Trials and Tales Update."