shareholders Archives

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

How to make the most sense out of Google I/O

Google I/O is an upcoming event where Google will announce new innovations, including updates related to Android. Presentations may cover complex topics that can be overwhelming for some audiences, but there are resources available to help distill this information. Android Central will provide a summary of announcements, including lesser-known developments. The event primarily targets developers and shareholders, with a focus on enhancing share value. For specific developments like Android 16 for the Galaxy S25, attending Samsung's developer conference may be more beneficial.

AppWizard

May 3, 2025

Grand Theft Auto 6’s delay makes me think we won’t be playing this thing on PC until 2027, or god forbid even 2028

Rockstar has announced a delay for Grand Theft Auto 6, now set for release in May 2026, extending the timeline by approximately six months. The game is currently confirmed only for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, with no announcement regarding a PC version. Take-Two's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, noted the growing importance of PC gaming. Historical patterns suggest that previous Rockstar titles have had significant delays for PC releases, potentially pushing the PC version of GTA 6 into early 2028.

AppWizard

May 2, 2025

Rockstar bumps Grand Theft Auto 6 to May 2026

Rockstar Games has announced that the release date for Grand Theft Auto VI has been shifted to May 26, 2026. The decision was communicated via a message on Twitter, where the studio expressed gratitude for fan interest and emphasized their commitment to exceeding expectations. CEO Strauss Zelnick of Take-Two Interactive supported the delay, highlighting the importance of allowing the development team time to realize their creative vision. The game was originally scheduled for a fall 2025 release, and the delay has been welcomed by other developers and publishers.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

PlaySide is making layoffs

PlaySide Studios, an Australian game developer, is reducing its workforce as part of an operational restructuring due to challenges in securing new work-for-hire projects. The layoffs will primarily affect work-for-hire and non-project specific personnel, with an undisclosed number of positions being cut. The restructuring is expected to save between AUD 4 million and AUD 5 million annually, but will incur a one-time cost of AUD 1.5 million. Ongoing projects, such as Mouse: PI for Hire, will not be impacted. The company plans to provide outplacement support and counseling services to affected employees. CEO Been Skender emphasized the need for resilience in the business model while acknowledging the difficulties faced by staff.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

Games revenue dipped 53% at Warner Bros during 2024

Warner Bros reported a 53% drop in revenue for its gaming division in 2024, as disclosed in its 10-K filing with the SEC. The overall content revenue declined by eight percent, primarily due to the decrease in gaming revenue, which saw a 29% year-on-year drop in the final quarter of 2024. The decline is attributed to underperforming titles in 2024, following the success of previous releases like Hogwarts Legacy and Mortal Kombat 1. The company plans to close several studios, including Monolith, Player First, and its San Diego studio, and will focus on four key franchises: Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and DC Comics. Warner Bros aims to restore profitability to its Games division by 2025 and enhance its contribution to the company's growth.

AppWizard

February 18, 2025

Liquid Swords latest NetEase-backed studio to lay off staff

Sweden's Liquid Swords is reducing its workforce due to challenges in the gaming industry, as stated by CEO Christofer Sundberg. The studio, founded in 2020 and backed by NetEase, has not disclosed the number of layoffs but expressed regret over the impact on employees. Sundberg noted that shifting market conditions have hindered the studio's ability to meet its success timeline, leading to the difficult decision to part ways with talented individuals. Liquid Swords is part of a trend among NetEase-backed ventures facing similar struggles, including Worlds Untold and Jar of Sparks, highlighting the volatility in the gaming industry.

AppWizard

February 17, 2025

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 closing in on two million sales

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is nearing two million sales, as reported by Lars Wingefors, CEO of Embracer Group, whose subsidiary Plaion publishes the game. It sold one million copies within the first 24 hours of its release on February 4th. The game also secured the top spot on Steam last week.

AppWizard

February 15, 2025

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has almost hit 2 million sales, a ‘reminder’ to parent company Embracer ‘to bring great products to the market’

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 has sold nearly two million units across all platforms within two weeks of its launch, following one million units sold on its first day. Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors emphasized the importance of focusing on core competencies and delivering quality products. The Embracer Group has faced challenges, including layoffs and project cancellations, particularly with Daedalic Entertainment's troubled project, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. The company has also experienced layoffs and the cancellation of a new Deus Ex game amid an aggressive acquisition strategy.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Koei Tecmo’s new CEO is Hisashi Koinuma

Koei Tecmo has appointed Hisashi Koinuma as its new chief executive officer, effective April 1st, 2025. The company is undergoing a strategic restructuring, dividing into two entities: Koei Tecmo Games and Koei Tecmo Corporate Finance. This transition aims to streamline operations and enhance focus on core competencies, with the goal of becoming the world’s leading digital entertainment company. The new management structure will take effect in the fiscal year 2025.

Winsage

February 4, 2025

Why users still couldn’t care less about Windows 11

Users are hesitant to adopt Windows 11, with some comparing its promotion to selling sand at a beach. Although there was a slight increase in Windows 11's market share last month, the transition is not smooth. Windows 11 has strict hardware compatibility requirements, including a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2 and modern CPU, which frustrated many users at launch. Microsoft added the Surface Studio 2’s Intel Core i7-7820HQ to the compatibility list to address some concerns. As older computers become less common, finding incompatible PCs is becoming rare, yet Windows 10 still dominates the market. The impending end of support for Windows 10 is one of the few reasons users might consider upgrading, but many features in Windows 11 are already available in Windows 10. Organizations question the need to upgrade due to missing features and functionality complaints in Windows 11. Microsoft announced that support for most versions of Windows 10 will end on October 14, 2025. The lack of standout features in Windows 11 makes users reluctant to upgrade, despite hardware vendors shifting focus to AI PCs. Historical transitions between Windows versions were driven by compelling reasons, but the case for Windows 11 lacks persuasive incentives. IT departments may feel pressured to upgrade due to support expiration, but motivation must go beyond compliance. Microsoft needs to offer more than basic features to encourage adoption of Windows 11 and future AI PCs.