Slurp. Slurp. Tsniuf. This is what I sound like now. Sipping coffee after spending a week in my flat because I had one of the worst cases of runny nose I've ever had in York. I'm already out of the woods and I'm sure my neighbors will be happy to hear. I never learned to blow my nose with even a modicum of grace.
I'm sure you're excited about this sneak peek into my daily life (I know that's why you keep coming back), but I won't bore (or disgust) you with more details.
There's news to digest, and it feels far more relevant than everything I've done this week (drink soup, play video games, and watch Stranger Things). Honestly, in hindsight it doesn't sound so bad.
If you would like to discuss any of these pressing issues, you can find me on bluesky. Alternatively, if you're just here for the headlines, ignore my ramblings and plow straight ahead.
via CD project // Polish video game company CD Projekt unveiled its sci-fi RPG in its latest financial report. Cyberpunk 2077it sold over 35 million copies in approximately five years. This is a remarkable milestone considering the game was maligned at launch due to widespread performance issues and bugs. CD Projekt has invested quite a bit of resources into restoring this experience, and it looks like that commitment has paid off.
via game developer // In discussing its approach to generative artificial intelligence, Ubisoft appears to be positioning itself as a benevolent sheriff in a dangerous new frontier. After working with the technology for the better part of two years, the French publisher invited reporters to take part in a research experiment called Teammates to demonstrate how its Gemini-based NPCs could supposedly open up new ways to play. We then sat down with key members of the company's AI team to find out why Ubisoft is betting big on an industry that seems intent on alienating creatives by stealing their jobs. However, those we spoke to expressed a more cautiously optimistic view.
via GamesIndustry.biz // Kingdom: Two Crowns And Islanders Developer Coatsink has begun a restructuring process that is expected to result in the layoffs of between 50 and 60 employees. The studio, owned by Swedish conglomerate Thunderful Group, said it needed to downsize to survive in a “more challenging co-development market.”
via game developer // Italian indie studio Santa Ragione claims it may be closed after the release of its upcoming horror film Horseswas blocked by Valve on Steam. The studio accused Valve of failing to adequately explain why the project was blacklisted back in 2023, preventing the company from implementing a fix to launch on Steam. Valve said it spoke with the developer at the time, but called its decision “final.” The situation has raised concerns about censorship and transparency, with Santa Ragione co-founder Pietro Rigi Riva calling the ordeal “scary, humiliating and patronizing.”
via Video Game Industry Memo // To what extent does the Russian government censor video games? The answer may surprise you (or perhaps not, depending on your view of the current regime in Moscow). In any case, VGIM detailed how Roskomnadzor (Russia's state media censorship body) blacklists video games, its penchant for attacking LGBTQ+ content and its advocates, and how major platforms deal with these requests.
via game developer // Splash Damage has initiated a studio-wide consultation that will result in an unknown number of cuts. Passing tactics The co-developer was bought by an unnamed group of private investors in September, wresting it from under the Tencent umbrella, and it appears their first priority will be displacing workers in order to maintain “flexibility and adaptability.” Where have we heard this before?
via game developer // Are you a child or a squid? NONE. You are the target of an acquisition for perhaps the most recognizable video game company on the planet. That's right, Nintendo intends to acquire Platoon 3 co-developer Bandai Namco Studios Singapore plans to expand its presence in the region. The Japanese company has made significant strides in Southeast Asia in recent months after opening a local unit in Singapore back in September. Still to come?
via Consequences // Geometry Wars, how I miss you. I don't understand why this little top-down shooter has stuck with me. Perhaps the delirium caused by the heady combination of a powerful soundtrack and citrus explosions led to some temporary Tetris effects. I longed for more than the air I breathe. Does this make me somehow sick? I hope so, because Chris Person from Aftermath thinks they've found the answer to my prayers.
