I don’t believe in miracles but I’m turning 33 this Sunday, which is incidentally the very same day I’ll be heading to a Los Campesinos! gig to thrash around to an onslaught of timeless indie bangers. Sheer coincidence or divine intervention? I’ll let you decide.
On the off chance you want to commemorate the occasion, here’s a link to the group’s latest live album. A veritable feast for any lapsed emos out there.
I’ll be taking a very long weekend to celebrate the occasion (and partake in some wedding festivities on Friday—not mine, your invite wasn’t lost in the post), so I am once again desperately hoping this newsletter isn’t woefully outdated when Friday rolls around. I don’t think I’ve missed any of this week’s hottest conversation starters, but game industry news is like buses, you wait for one and then two plow through a wall right in front of you.
via Gematsu // Vampire Survivors developer Poncle is opening a new studio in Japan that will allow the studio to develop multiple projects simultaneously. The company is also reportedly interesting in establishing a foothold in Italy.
via Game Developer // A potential social media ban in the UK could be extended to some video game platforms. The UK government has pledged to restrict how teenagers interact with social media, but it’s currently unclear whether that will mean a full Australia-style ban or something more nuanced. In any case, UK online safety minister Kanishka Narayan has indicated that any action could impact video game companies operating online platforms.
via Bloomberg // Yacht Club Games previously said the launch of Mina the Hollower would be make or break for the studio, and after selling faster than discounted RAM during its first few days on shelves it appears there will be no breaking for now, at least. But what about baking? Well, a celebratory muffin never goes amiss.
via Nintendo // Japanese console maker Nintendo has confirmed it will comply with an incoming EU regulation that will require hardware sold in the region to include replaceable batteries, suggesting the Switch lineup might soon be getting, well, switched up.
via Game File // Sony has witnessed sales of first-party titles gradually dwindle since 2020, when the company sold almost 60 million copies of titles it had produced internally. Stephen Totilo over at Game File has compiled data that shows how, despite a small rebound last year, Sony has struggled to maintain even pre-pandemic interest in its first-party offerings. Food for thought.
via PlayStation // The biggest conversation starters to emerge from Sony’s lengthy State of Play showcase were Marvel’s Wolverine and God of War Laufey. The former is a kinetic, third-person brawler featuring everybody’s favorite x-person, while the latter is a kinetic, third-person brawler featuring everybody’s favorite gelatinous cube. The key difference? Decadent amounts of arm hair.
via Aftermath // A new lawsuit highlighted by Aftermath is what you might call a twofer. That’s because it’s targeting both Microsoft and Valve for allegedly canoodling over release dates and pricing in order to stifle competition on PC platforms. The lawsuit also claims that Microsoft is taking kickback deals from Valve “as remuneration for agreeing not to compete with Steam.” It’s worth digging into this one.
via Game Developer // Atari continued its steady stream of acquisitions this week by purchasing Australian indie studio Hipster Whale in a deal that could eventually cost almost $40 million. The move will bolster Atari’s expertise and presence within the mobile market.
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#PlayStations #party #downturn #Microsoft #Valve #sued
