The business of games: studio layoffs and finances, acquisitions, legal disputes, monetization and publisher controversies.
19 published articles
ESIC provisionally suspended a PTime player and coach after EWC 2026 organizers postponed their match against Vici Gaming, citing "competitive integrity issues." We look at why a game bug circulating at the same time doesn't explain the decision, and what it means for the team.
League Classic was supposed to be a free trip back to League of Legends Season 3. On the test servers, Riot locked the original champion looks behind tokens worth nearly $200 for the full set. We look at how fast the studio backed off, and why this is a rare case of player criticism changing a product before launch.
Sony announced it will end physical disc production for PlayStation starting January 2028. A petition against the decision has passed 300,000 signatures. We look at why the real reason for this change shows up more clearly in Sony's own financial numbers than in its official statement.
Rockstar released the Kortz Center Heist on July 14, the first major GTA Online heist in five years, right alongside confirmation that GTA 6 launches November 19 with no further delays. We look at why this farewell gift sparked backlash before players could even enjoy it.
Microsoft announced the largest single wave of layoffs in Xbox history: 3,200 roles and five studios in one decision pile. Nine days later, developers organized the first coordinated march in gaming history across six locations at once. Here is what actually happened and why it is more than another round of cuts.
First, trader MitaoCatCS accused Stewie2K of never returning $25,000 in skins. Days later, xQc joined in, claiming an AWP Gungnir and an AK-47 Gold Arabesque he lent for a tournament never fully came back. Here is what the former world champion is actually accused of.
The remake of a thirteen-year-old game outsold most new, heavily marketed AAA titles in its first day. Here is what Ubisoft actually changed, and why going back to an old story turned into the studio's safest bet.
The online outrage over Yasuke and historical accuracy in AC Shadows gave Ubisoft a convenient distraction. The much stronger reading is that fear after Star Wars Outlaws, quality concerns, and business pressure pushed the delay.
Hideo Kojima revealed that PlayStation Studios cancelled Physint without warning in June. After three months of searching, Xbox picked up the game. We break down what's really behind Sony's decision, and why Xbox was far from a random choice.
A record-setting Early Access launch (3 million copies in a week), and still three separate waves of mass negative reviews on Steam between March and May, each for a different reason. We break down what Steam does about waves like these, and whether they actually move sales.
Don't Nod is warning investors it could run out of cash by January 2027 without new financing. Four launches in a row sold below expectations, main investor Tencent declined to top up funding, and up to 90 jobs are at risk. We break down how the Life is Strange studio ended up on the edge for a second time.
RAGE:MP went dark on August 31 after a cease-and-desist from Take-Two, closing out a three-year process of eliminating independent GTA V multiplayer platforms. A week later, Rockstar announced its own in-house RP server, one that bypasses even FiveM, the only survivor.
Netflix was first to show 27 minutes of GTA 6 footage, reportedly paying around $100 million for six hours of exclusivity. Site traffic jumped 125%, but the service had serious access problems, and some fans are calling Rockstar greedy for paywalling a trailer.
Take-Two filed federal subpoenas against Microsoft and Discord seeking data to unmask leaker Cyberleek. The leaker responded with more footage and a $165,000 entry fee for ad space in future leaks. Rockstar hasn't touched its launch schedule.
Since August 18, new GTA 6 footage has been leaking, including a Vice City flyover and a full state map, but the same wave includes AI-generated fakes too. We look at what's actually known ahead of the August 27 Netflix reveal.
After players reacted negatively to live-service mechanics in June playtests, Guerrilla Games is shifting Horizon Hunters Gathering toward traditional co-op. The studio must show Sony progress by December.
A Rebs Gaming leak claims Activision built a Halo multiplayer prototype in June, before the project was canceled in July. We look at how this fits the outsourcing Halo: Campaign Evolved was already built on.
Stella Sacco says she lost her job on Rideshare "Stimulator" to ChatGPT. Saber Interactive denies it, and the studio's CEO accused her of breaching an NDA. We look at both sides of the dispute.
Intels decision to separate its foundry operations marks the end of the integrated device manufacturer model. To avoid collapse, the giant had to open its cleanrooms to rivals.
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