u/Iggy_Slayer

Time stamp for the ND part is 10:43 in case it doesn't embed properly. The video is about sony's many issues with live service in general and goes into multiple studio's woes but to me this stood out because everyone has assumed that ND has just been faffing about on intergalactic for the whole 7 years since TLOU 2 came out.

This is just yet more proof of why live service is a plague. Full quote from the vid

>A lot of people at ND were working on it. I think there's a belief out there that it was just kind of a side project while most people were working on intergalactic...no the opposite is true. Intergalactic did not have the majority of staff until after tlou online was cancelled. The majority of the studio was working on either tlou online or the remasters/remakes.

He also says tlou online cost "hundreds of millions" by the time it was canned.

https://preview.redd.it/xx022jtbeshh1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=c4d51a5d8f0b21b7cb8520eb5c2a03f4e6902fcd

>Beast of Reincarnation has an interesting, apocalyptic setting, an extremely memorable wolf companion, and an action-packed beast-battling premise that is instantly very cool, but its execution falls short of its promising ideas more often than not. The story is a bland, cliche-filled tale better-told by other games in the genre, combat quickly grows stale due to a lack of enemy variety and the predictable attack patterns that undermine what makes action RPG combat thrive, and boss fights end up being quite disappointing despite looking badass as all get out. There's still plenty to like about Beast of Reincarnation, though, especially the dire wolf himself, who is actually exactly as awesome as he looks, plus some memorable levels to explore and creatures to fight every now and again, but those blooming flowers can be hard to spot among the weeds.

>"They are doing extremely well. Even before Summer Game Fest 2026, both FFVII Remake and Rebirth had been selling steadily. Back when Rebirth was announced, every time it became a hot topic, sales of Remake would rise. Similarly, I'm sure every time Revelation attracts attention, more people will become interested in Rebirth.

>Following Summer Game Fest 2026, we saw an enormous response in terms of sales. I can't share specific figures, but sales are several times better than we had expected.

>I think fans and dedicated fan communities are very interested in how many copies the games have sold, but I can say they're performing even better than most people probably imagine. That means more and more people are playing the previous entries, which gives me great confidence as we prepare to release FFVII Revelation to the world.

>I know there are requests for us to disclose the numbers, but that's something that falls under our investor relations policies, so l hope people understand."

This came up in a broader interview which you can read at the link. By all accounts the games really did get a huge surge post Revelation announcement. Remake alone is estimated to have done around 400k copies just on steam in the sale it had pre-summer sale going by the steam trackers out there. It was hanging around in the global top 10 for weeks, and Rebirth was pushed almost to the top 10 june charts in the US thanks to the sw2/xbox ports.

>Xbox is rolling out a test for ad-supported cloud gaming that will be available on a voluntary basis for members of its fan-feedback community, Xbox Insiders.

>Beginning Thursday, Xbox Insiders with an Xbox account will have the option to try out the free, ad-supported experience via a selection of games the players already own, including “Forza Horizon 6” and “007 First Light,” or through free-to-play games like “Call of Duty: Warzone,” “Genshin Impact,” and “War Thunder.”

>During the test, players will see a two-minute block of multiple ads before joining the cloud streaming queue to play their selected game. Variety has confirmed the ads will be from globally recognizable brands and specific to the markets that Xbox Insiders are viewing them within.

>Players will then have a one-hour game play session that’s uninterrupted by ad breaks but includes countdown warnings. If at the end of the session a player wants to continue, they can select to watch a new block of ads before resuming gameplay.

The dystopian future marches on. Even if you own the games you still have to watch ads.

Here is the full message from Gameplay Group on the last-minute delay:

>The official launch of Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game is almost here, and we can’t wait for players and fans around the world to jump in and start playing.

>As we approach launch, we want to update our community on a few platform-specific details.

>For Nintendo Switch players, the Nintendo Switch version will be available as the standard edition only. Additionally, cross-play with other platforms and language localization beyond English will not be available. We are committed to bringing these features, along with upgrading to Deluxe Edition, to players as soon as possible and will keep you updated on our timeline and progress.

>For the Xbox community, we are forced to delay the release. Due to unforeseen circumstances on a backend feature, we will now launch by September 3. Existing pre-orders will remain active and will not be canceled.

>Our priority is delivering the best possible experience on every platform and we are working tirelessly to make that happen. Thank you for your patience, understanding and continued support. We’re excited to get everyone into the fight as soon as possible. Tune in here for updates as we have them.

Re-posted with the correct title this time. I forgot to list physical last time, sorry. Also this is PS5 only since this is about sony's decision to remove physical.

The 7 games in question

1. RE Requiem
2. Crimson Desert
3. MLB the Show 26
4. 007 First Light
5. Lego Batman
6. WWE 2K26
7. CoD Black Ops 7

He said this during a podcast he does

>there are a lot of people out there in studio leadership within xbox who absolutely detest game pass and think it has destroyed the value of their games, think it has taken away the value from all games in general and has been a detriment to the games industry in those people's view, because of how it devalues games

He also thinks they will eventually move away from day 1 gamepass for their own games especially since they seem to be doubling down on making games exclusive again.

This was by far the best trailer for the game yet. It really seems to have a lot of ambition compared to most other HD2D games.

There's a lot more info over on gematsu too. Looks like the evil jump rope minigame from FF9 returns...

>A video game developer is laying off nearly 400 workers in Maryland this fall — including over 200 in Baltimore County — amid another round of layoffs issued by parent company Microsoft Corp.

>Rockville-based Zenimax, a division of Xbox, is terminating 166 workers, according to Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filings with the Maryland Department of Labor. Its Cockeysville affiliate that develops large online multiplayer games, ZeniMax Online Studios, is laying off 213 workers. The cuts come after Microsoft announced plans Monday to lay off 3,200 people largely tied to its Xbox video gaming division.

>The Zenimax layoffs are tied to an address at 1370 Piccard Drive in Rockville. ZeniMax Online Studios' layoffs are associated with an address at 200 International Circle in Cockeysville. The effective date for the layoffs is listed as Sept. 4.

>Dozens of former local employees have since made posts on LinkedIn to note they've been affected by the cuts.

>One former environment artist told the Washington Business Journal that workers at ZeniMax Online Studios, which develops titles like "The Elder Scrolls Online," learned of their terminations during a group video call Monday. The now-former employee, based in Maryland, was unable to say where those workers were based given the company's remote work policy, but said it represented a notable chunk of the company.

>"They basically crippled the art and design department," said the former employee, who asked to remain anonymous to speak candidly of the layoffs. "It's basically a skeleton crew left."

>Another local employee, a former engagement manager at ZeniMax Online Studios, said they were unaware of how many workers were laid off but noted cuts took place across Zenimax and its sibling companies — Bethesda Softworks and Bethesda Game Studios, both also of Rockville. Terms of the layoffs, including severance allocations, were still being negotiated, the manager said.

>Zenimax and the union representing many of its employees, ZeniMax Workers United-CWA, have not responded to a request for comment.

Gee I wonder what good old microsoft is planning to do to create art with no art people left...

>Following significant layoffs at Doom series developer id Software, reportedly affecting approximately 50% of its workforce and just part of 1600 immediate layoffs affecting Xbox game studios, a source with knowledge of Xbox’s plans has told This Week in Videogames that Microsoft still plans to utilise id’s proprietary game engine, id Tech, moving forward.

>The suggestion comes despite a significant number of staff devoted to developing and maintaining id Tech, now in its eighth iteration, having been affected by the layoffs.

Not really sure how running an engine with no senior expertise is going to work but I guess we'll find out.

>Multiple anonymous sources have told Game Developer that around 50 percent of employees at the Texas-based studio have been laid off. One person claimed that equates to over 90 redundancies. 

>Another source told Game Developer the studio's QA department has been decimated by the cuts. One laid off worker posting publicly on Linkedin corroborated those claims and expressed anger at the studio being torn apart in service of "another 'reorganisation' of assets."

>It's currently unclear how many of the 100-plus union members at id Software have been ousted.

>In an internal email obtained by IGN, Bethesda president Jill Braff said the company—which is a sibling studio of id Software and others under ZeniMax—is being restructured around its biggest franchises. 

>"To best position Bethesda for future growth, we are shifting from a planning model primarily centered on what's next for each independent studio to one that focuses on our strongest franchises and determining the content roadmap that best serves our players and Bethesda as a whole," reads the email.

>A source familiar with the situation has corroborated the contents of Braff's email and explained Bethesda will now be laser focused on Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake. They said Bethesda intends to make it easier for its development teams to collaborate but noted it will not be shuttering any existing studios.

The article is paywalled so I'll quote the relevant bit

>Microsoft bought game production companies including Activision Blizzard to beef up the offerings on Game Pass, its Netflix-style subscription service. The company had projected Game Pass subscriptions would reach around 77 million this year, according to a document revealed during legal proceedings related to the Activision acquisition. It currently has about 30 million, a person familiar with the matter said.

This is roughly where they've been for years now. They were hanging around ~25m for a long time and then got to 30m by folding the rest of xbox live gold subs into a gamepass tier back in 2023. And now in 2026 they're still in that 30m range.

>Unfortunately, within a few hours of slogging through the snow, setting up camp at Horseshoe Overlook, and discovering Valentine, I was bored out of my skull.

>Listen, I'm not just hating to be contrarian for the sake of it. I wanted to love the game. The original Red Dead Redemption had me weeping during that unforgettable, devastating final scene. And Grand Theft Auto 5 is one of my all-time favorites, too, so I was all set for Rockstar's next major outing to blow me away. Arguably, it did, but not in the way I was expecting.

>At the time, Red Dead Redemption 2 was one of the most detailed games I'd ever played. The world felt alive. The story was gripping. The characters were entertaining, personable, and sometimes even relatable. And technically? It's a masterpiece. Take hunting, for example: 178 different kinds of animals, each with different habitats and behaviors, and many of them require bait to attract them while you lie in wait.

>The problem is that with Rockstar leaning so far into realism, Red Dead Redemption 2 may be impressive, but it isn't fun. Slowly following the scent of a bear, setting a trap, then hiding in a bush for minutes on end isn't engaging gameplay. Another example is that looting is astoundingly detailed: the ability to search through every individual drawer and the fact the game doesn't just open an inventory screen in its UI is commendable, but it takes so, so long.

>Various core mechanics of the game are nothing short of clunky, too. Take riding a horse, for example; I'm not expecting the same level of precision I'd find when driving a car in GTA 5, because it's a live animal with legs instead of wheels, after all. But I would expect the game's primary transport method to be relatively smooth, and while it is easy going across flat, open terrain, making sharp turns, riding across narrow paths, or engaging in combat while on horseback is often frustrating.

For some reason polygon decided to take a shot at this game after all these years. I can't really say any of their critique is wrong but they didn't really go into as much detail for a take that's going to enrage a lot of people. I still think nakeyjakey's video on this (and rockstar in general) is the gold standard critique for these games.

>Sega has, in several previous financial reports, stated that they plan to release four titles from flagship IP in the year ending March 2026. Following the management meeting, this line-up was updated to confirm that two of these titles are Persona 4 Revival and Stranger than Heaven.

>The following question and answer is included in the Q&A:

>What is Sega’s definition of a “flagship IP title?” I would like to understand the benchmarks used, especially given the rising development costs and increase in the break-even threshold

>As a general guideline, we define a flagship IP title as one expected to sell over 5 million units over the course of it’s lifetime. We would like to aim for 10 million units in the future, however we believe that the immediate priority is to build a solid track record by accumulating sales through a combination of new releases and repeat sales.

For comparison's sake the current highest selling RGG studios game ever from what I can tell is yakuza like a dragon 7 at 2.8m. Infinite wealth, the most recent main entry, just recently barely got to the 2m mark. So putting these expectations on RGG is pretty bold to say the least.

For context in case people missed it: The other day there was hope that GTA was going to get a proper physical release as soon as a month after the launch due to a rockstar customer service response.

>The matter was settled until it wasn't. On Thursday, an email accidentally provided (more) false hope for a GTA VI disc. The email, a response to a ticket filed to Rockstar Support asking for a disc-based version of Grand Theft Auto VI, stated, "You will be able to acquire a physical copy during the following months."

>The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the authenticity of the email as coming from Rockstar.

>The language is being misinterpreted by a hopeful internet, a source with knowledge of the plans told THR. At this point in time, there are no plans for Grand Theft Auto VI discs to be printed — not at launch, and not months after.

>The email's use of the phrase "physical copy" there refers to the same "physical version" (the code in a case) announced on Wednesday, and its "the following months" language is a clunky reference to the months following Wednesday's announcement, the source said, and not the months following the Nov. 19, 2026 release.

>With such a high level of fidelity on show, then, a question still dangles over which platform is actually being used to generate these shots. To be clear, we find it unlikely that these are real-time results on PS5, Xbox Series X - or in the best case on console, PS5 Pro. We'd like to be pleasantly surprised of course, and this will be firmly answered once it releases. However in many instances the combination of pristine image quality, suggesting a native 4K render (or higher), and inconsistent lighting on foreground characters casts doubt over how feasible it is.

>Incidentally, these would be easy for Rockstar to generate within the game's development environment, where the framing, character positions, and lighting could orchestrate a perfect shot - irrespective of frame-rate - with all settings dialled up to 11. To be clear, the ray tracing aspect is very much an expected a feature on console - and indeed we have it already in GTA 5 - but as for what's possible on base PS5, Pro, and Series X, time will tell how close real time console visuals actually end up to these images.

I definitely felt like many of these were bullshots as the lighting and character placements in spots just didn't look right for gameplay.

Note that out of the 72% split only 11% counts for physical sales, although capcom considers switch 2 GKC sales to be digital so that probably skews things. There's no platform breakdown of these sales as far as I can tell.

>Several studios in Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox gaming division, including Montreal-based Compulsion Games and San Francisco-based Double Fine, are in active negotiations to spin off as they try to thwart closure, according to people familiar with the company’s plans.

>Cambridge, England-based Ninja Theory, the maker of Hellblade, is also in conversations with Xbox, as are several other studios across the portfolio that are at risk of being shuttered.

>The studios may still have the opportunity to buy themselves back from Xbox and go independent, although many employees will likely lose their jobs as a result, said the people, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the press. Employees at several studios have been informed of the situation and given permission to seek new work but were told that the status of the studios is still in flux.

>Compulsion Games, Double Fine and Ninja Theory all made award-winning games that were not commercial hits. But even some of Xbox’s more commercially successful studios are not yet sure how they will fit into Sharma’s new mandate, which will prioritize the biggest franchises as the company looks to return to growth.