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@gamedeveloper.bsky.social
92K followers 52 following 4.8K posts

Serving the video game industry through breaking news, insight on game industry trends, expert advice & resources, and more. Press requests: news@gamedeveloper.com Tips: tips@gamedeveloper.com

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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 8h
Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor brings back 'over half' of furloughed staff
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Star Wars Zero Company developer Bit Reactor brings back 'over half' of furloughed staff
The studio suspended the majority of its staff ahead of the tactical Star Wars title's launch. Now it's bringing back many suspended employees.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 8h
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick named to the board of post-merger Skydance
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Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick named to the board of post-merger Skydance
From the convergence of Paramount and WB comes a newly-formed company that has tapped Kotick to sit on its board.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 11h
Electronic Arts' leveraged buyout faces a bondholder battle
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Electronic Arts' leveraged buyout faces a bondholder battle
The acquisition of Electronic Arts required taking on a lot of debt, and some bondholders are reportedly demanding more cash.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 14h
Google debuts new 'experimental' AI game platform named Google Playground
gamedeveloper.com
Google debuts new 'experimental' AI game platform named Google Playground
A platform for people who want to play games made by AI.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 14h
Unity unveils Unity Spark, an prompt-based tool for Google's AI games platform
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Unity unveils Unity Spark, an prompt-based tool for Google's AI games platform
Unity's new tool allows prompt-based game development, working in collaboration with Google AI.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
GameStop, other retailers to sell used PlayStation 5 Pro units for 66 percent over MSRP
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GameStop, other retailers to sell used PlayStation 5 Pro units for 66 percent over MSRP
The advanced PlayStation 5 console is already both highly sought-after and hard to find. Now retailers are pricing it well above MSRP.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Unlead Labs studio head says they were 'irresponsibly transparent' in preparing staff for layoffs
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Unlead Labs studio head says they were 'irresponsibly transparent' in preparing staff for layoffs
Studio head Philip Holt says he was being incredibly candid with employees as layoffs loomed.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Co-dev case study: How Blackbird Interactive and Secret Mode helped Escape the Backrooms ride the Backrooms hype wave
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Co-dev case study: How Blackbird Interactive and Secret Mode helped Escape the Backrooms ride the Backrooms hype wave
A co-dev partnership helped Fancy's hit game Escape The Backrooms reach over 4 million players.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Arc Raiders and The Finals set for TV and film adaptations from Backrooms co-producer
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Arc Raiders and The Finals set for TV and film adaptations from Backrooms co-producer
The Sweden-based Embark Studios has secured adaptations for both of its multiplayer shooters, The Finals and ARC Raiders.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Report: Ninja Theory lays off workers after failing to spin off from Xbox
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Report: Ninja Theory lays off workers after failing to spin off from Xbox
The developer of the Hellblade titles and the recently-announced Senua is reportedly cutting jobs after attempts to divest the studio from the parent company were unsuccessful.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Why it's still worth making immersive sims ft. Harvey Smith & Ben Horne
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Why it's still worth making immersive sims ft. Harvey Smith & Ben Horne
Celebrated game designer Harvey Smith and former Arkane Austin executive producer Ben Horne lay out their vision for Black Pony Immersive.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Reigns developer Nerial enters 'hibernation mode, lays off staff
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Reigns developer Nerial enters 'hibernation mode, lays off staff
The studio that gave birth to Reigns is ending operations—for now.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Heads up podcast listeners--today's episode is delayed while @bryantfrancis.me wraps up travel. You can look forward to our episode with @blackpony.com on Monday October 5!
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
'Xbox is not for sale,' CEO Asha Sharma says
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'Xbox is not for sale,' CEO Asha Sharma says
The new CEO said made a particular proclamation while speaking with New York Times.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Suda 51's Grasshopper Manufacture splits from NetEase
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Suda 51's Grasshopper Manufacture splits from NetEase
Suda51 strikes out on his own again.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ubisoft Montreal employees launch collective action to preserve hybrid work schedule
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Ubisoft Montreal employees launch collective action to preserve hybrid work schedule
A petition is the first action.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Steam's discounts and events tab will soon be fully algorithm-driven
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Steam's discounts and events tab will soon be fully algorithm-driven
Steam announced a new set of changes for its discounts and events tab that will impact which games players see.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Former Dying Light franchise lead joins Bloober Team horror imprint Broken Mirror Games
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Former Dying Light franchise lead joins Bloober Team horror imprint Broken Mirror Games
'If you’re a developer, studio, or creator working on something interesting in horror, give me a shout!'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Naughty Dog is working on new The Last Of Us 'projects'
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Naughty Dog is working on new The Last Of Us 'projects'
Naughty Dog is signaling what comes next for the studio after it finishes Intergalactic.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Control Resonant director lays out case for avoiding excessive 'yellow paint'
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Control Resonant director lays out case for avoiding excessive 'yellow paint'
'It has to feel like it’s on you to make a decision on what to do with those elements that you see within the world.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
'We were constantly overshooting our capacity:' Arc Raiders exec says success resulted in burnout
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'We were constantly overshooting our capacity:' Arc Raiders exec says success resulted in burnout
Aleksander Grøndal admits Embark has struggled to balance the needs of millions of players with those of its workforce.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Microsoft CEO says Xbox is simply 'streamlining' after cutting over 5,750 jobs in three years
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Microsoft CEO says Xbox is simply 'streamlining' after cutting over 5,750 jobs in three years
The company has also divested or shuttered a number of key studios such as Double Fine, Compulsion, Tango Gameworks, and more in recent years.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
GDC Side Quest - Exploring co-development opportunities with Sam Carlisle
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GDC Side Quest - Exploring co-development opportunities with Sam Carlisle
XDS Spark co-founder Sam Carlisle and GDC Festival of Gaming content marketing manager Beth Elderkin discuss the evolving world of co-development.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
'This shows the power that comes from employees joining forces:' King signs collective bargaining agreement with union workers
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'This shows the power that comes from employees joining forces:' King signs collective bargaining agreement with union workers
'This is an important step for King, the gaming industry and for the Swedish model.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Meta announces new VR glasses that weigh about 100 grams and cost $1,300
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Meta announces new VR glasses that weigh about 100 grams and cost $1,300
There will be new Tetris Effect, Beat Saber, and Ace Attorney games coming to the platform as well.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Former Avalanche Studios chief Natalie Francis joins Massive Entertainment as managing director
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Former Avalanche Studios chief Natalie Francis joins Massive Entertainment as managing director
Francis will step into the role starting October 1st following Thomas Andren's recent appoint as general manager for the creative network.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Irish Game Fund expands with additional funding pathways
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Irish Game Fund expands with additional funding pathways
Developers in the region will now be able to take advantage of a Development Fund, Prototype Fund, and Release Fund.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Discord re-introduces age verification policy based on 'account signal' methodology
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Discord re-introduces age verification policy based on 'account signal' methodology
Discord says it has built an age estimation model based on 'account signals' to determine an user's age group.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Report: Bethesda president tells Obsidian staff it won't lose 'creative identity' after merge
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Report: Bethesda president tells Obsidian staff it won't lose 'creative identity' after merge
Bethesda president Jill Braff is reportedly calling Obsidian's merging with Bethesda 'primarily a change in reporting structure.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"Our current model says that under the current cost structure we have a sustainable business that can generate annual profits. Our business, because the backend is driven by subscriptions, the more [hardware] units are out there, the more the economics get better for us."
gamedeveloper.com
How Nex Playground is gathering pace during a hardware crisis
Nex Playground head of international Tom Kang lays out how the motion-controlled cube console is ramping up for success in a challenging market.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Undead Labs makes 'significant' layoffs after splitting from Xbox
gamedeveloper.com
Undead Labs makes 'significant' layoffs after splitting from Xbox
Microsoft signalled its intent to divest the Seattle-based studio earlier this year.
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Reposted by Game Developer
Chris Kerr @kerrblimey.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Microsoft hasn't made it easy to gauge the health of its internal studios, but account filings submitted by Hellblade developer Ninja Theory in the UK show the company was profitable as of June 2025 (although turnover declined and operating expenses were cut by Microsoft during that fiscal year).
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Escape From Tarkov dev wants to bet on 'risky' games with its new publishing arm
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Escape From Tarkov dev wants to bet on 'risky' games with its new publishing arm
Battlestate Games Publishing aims to provide publishing support to 'hardcore' games.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
'We want to keep it very simple:' How Nex Playground is beating expectations during a hardware crisis
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'We want to keep it very simple:' How Nex Playground is beating expectations during a hardware crisis
'If we don't create margin we can't continue to invest in software, and our software costs are going up every year—significantly.'
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Reposted by Game Developer
Chris Kerr @kerrblimey.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
UPDATE: An email sent to Blizzard workers confirms the division is not impacted by "today's announcements," but that phrasing doesn't exactly close the door on future cuts. Again, Booty noted Xbox is around 75 percent of the way through its layoff round. More bad news to come before June 2027.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Xbox continues 'reset' with Halo Studios layoffs and Undead Labs divestment
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Xbox continues 'reset' with Halo Studios layoffs and Undead Labs divestment
Activision is developing the next Halo title, and Ninja Theory is being shuttered.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
'Do not': Rockstar outlines modding rules before GTA VI touches down
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'Do not': Rockstar outlines modding rules before GTA VI touches down
Official Rockstar storylines, characters, and other elements from the studio's 'established continuity' are off-limits.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Bungie declares it's 'not done with Destiny' as it lays out studio's future
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Bungie declares it's 'not done with Destiny' as it lays out studio's future
'Destiny is foundational to Bungie's future.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Sony appears to censor LGBTQ content in Marvel's Wolverine for some regions
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Sony appears to censor LGBTQ content in Marvel's Wolverine for some regions
A mutant marriage goes unmentioned in some parts of the world.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Kojima Productions' survival story may sound strikingly familiar to struggling devs
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Kojima Productions' survival story may sound strikingly familiar to struggling devs
Even celebrated auteurs have to pay bank loans on time.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
French publisher Dear Villagers confirms layoffs
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French publisher Dear Villagers confirms layoffs
The company is known for publishing titles such as Caravan SandWitch and The Forgotten City.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
MiHoYo awarded $112,000 by Chinese court after AI voice service dupes Genshin Impact characters www.gamedeveloper.com/business/mih...
gamedeveloper.com
MiHoYo wins $112,000 in Genshin Impact AI voice cloning lawsuit
A Shanghai, China-based court ruled that a genAI voice synthesizer developer infringed on MiHoYo's copyright on Genshin Impact.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Workers at Candy Crush maker King have called a strike after collective agreement negotiations reached an impasse
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King workers to strike after collective agreement talks stall
Unionized employees at the Candy Crush studio will down tools on September 25 if the impasse cannot be overcome.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says GTA VI needs to be 'marketed aggressively' despite global brand awareness
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Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick says GTA VI needs to be 'marketed aggressively' despite global brand awareness
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick says 'we cannot convince people something that something that's bad is good.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Update: Bulkhead CEO clarifies policy on hiring devs who criticize crunch
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Update: Bulkhead CEO clarifies policy on hiring anti-crunch devs
Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer clarifies policy on not hiring devs who criticize crunch on social media after saying they 'often don't make it in the door.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Nex Playground maker secures over $150 million to expand globally
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Nex Playground maker secures over $150 million to expand globally
'This investment gives us the resources to bring active play to millions more families around the world.'
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Hyper Light Drifter developer Heart Machine has laid off the majority of staff
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Hyper Light Drifter developer Heart Machine has laid off the majority of staff
The studio has downsized significantly in recent years and has now reached an existential crossroads.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Report: MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy seemingly closing after more layoffs
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Report: MindsEye developer Build a Rocket Boy seemingly closing after more layoffs
Multiple staff on the studio have written farewell posts on social media over the past 24 hours.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Shinji Mikami to join AIAS Hall of Fame at 2026 DICE Awards
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Shinji Mikami to join AIAS Hall of Fame at 2026 DICE Awards
Goichi Suda will be presenting the award to the Resident Evil director.
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Game Developer @gamedeveloper.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Activision Blizzard sued by former employee over sexual harassment
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Activision Blizzard sued by former employee over sexual harassment
A woman who worked at the studio for 14 years has accused 10 men of sexual misconduct and retaliation.
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