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Oct 1Thu
  1. GameSpot38

    Ubisoft's Creative House 2 Rebranded as Massive Entertainment, Sharing Name With Its Own Studio

    Ubisoft has rebranded Creative House 2 as Massive Entertainment, the branch responsible for nearly all Tom Clancy-branded games, with teams in Montreal, Paris, Sweden, and Toronto now operating under that brand. The Massive Entertainment studio will still exist within the Creative House and continues work on projects like The Division 3. The move follows Creative House 1's rebranding as Vantage Studios, with Ubisoft now operating five Creative Houses and one Creative Network.

  2. Kotaku62

    Reigns and Card Shark developer Nerial is shutting down as its leads go independent again

    Nerial, the studio behind Reigns and Card Shark, is shutting down after nearly 13 years and 11 games, with creative director and founder François Alliot calling it a mutual decision with publisher Devolver Digital. Devolver keeps the rights to Nerial's existing catalog, Alliot and his wife Tamara will keep making games together, and seven other staff are being let go. Alliot said he still wants to make games, citing industry layoffs, tighter investment and AI copying original concepts within a day as reasons to step back.

  4. Kotaku62

    Ubisoft Unites Splinter Cell, The Division and Ghost Recon Teams Under Star Wars Outlaws Studio Massive Entertainment

    Ubisoft is renaming Creative House 2 as Massive Entertainment and placing its Paris, Montreal and Toronto studios along with Massive itself under that brand. The group will handle most Tom Clancy titles including The Division, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, plus the MOBA March of Giants bought from Amazon and unannounced new original IP, but not Rainbow Six. Ubisoft's remaining games are spread across five other creative houses, including the Ubisoft-Tencent joint venture Vantage Studios.

  5. IGN58

    GTA 6 Lights Up Miami's Kaseya Center

    Rockstar lit up the top of Miami's Kaseya Center with a sign reading Welcome to Vice City and the Roman numerals VI to promote GTA 6. The building appears in the game as the Sahara Arena, located in the same area of Miami and flanked by the same ferris wheel. The stunt reportedly cost close to $1 million, and local commissioners voted 4-3 to approve the marketing takeover after months of negotiations with Miami-Dade County officials. GTA 6 releases for PS5 and Xbox Series consoles on November 19.

  6. GamesIndustry.biz44

    Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union petition to "preserve hybrid work" secures over 300 signatures

    The Ubisoft Workers of Montreal Union has launched a petition to "preserve hybrid work," which has gathered more than 300 signatures. The campaign began on September 30, with most signatures collected in person, and the United Videogame Workers Union voiced its support. Earlier this year, Ubisoft implemented a return-to-office mandate as part of its restructuring into Creative Houses, requiring all staff in the office five days a week with an annual allowance of work-from-home days.

  7. Gematsu62

    Reigns developer Nerial shuts down after 13 years

    Nerial, the studio behind the Reigns series and Card Shark, announced it is shutting down after 13 years of operation. Acquired by Devolver Digital in 2021, it most recently released Reigns: The Witcher with CD Projekt RED on February 25. Founders Francois and Tamara Alliot said the decision to end development was made together with Devolver, and that while the studio's 11 published games come to an end, they personally plan to return to game development after a break.

  11. Polygon62

    Krafton halts development of extraction shooter PUBG: Black Budget

    Krafton has ended development of PUBG: Black Budget about a year after the extraction shooter was announced. Developer PUBG Studios said in a Steam post that after reviewing the project's development status and future direction, it concluded the current direction would not deliver an experience players could enjoy over the long term. The game held Closed Alpha tests in December and the following June and can still be wishlisted on Steam.

  12. Eurogamer62

    Krafton ends development of PUBG: Black Budget less than a year after reveal

    Krafton announced on PUBG: Black Budget's Steam page that it is ending development of the extraction shooter spin-off, saying an internal review concluded its current direction would not deliver an experience players could enjoy over the long term. First revealed in November 2025, the PvEvP first-person shooter held its most recent and largest closed test in June. It is the second PUBG spin-off to be publicly cancelled, after PUBG: Blindspot was cancelled in March following two months in early access.

  13. IGN69

    Report: Gears of War: E-Day Developers Expect Layoffs After Crunching Through Final Months

    According to a Eurogamer report, staff at The Coalition, Microsoft's Gears of War team, are bracing for layoffs after months of overtime finishing Gears of War: E-Day. Sources described a mood of not celebrating until three months after launch and expecting another wave of cuts or a reorganization under Activision later this year. The report also notes that E-Day story director Juan Vaca was laid off two weeks before release, which staff called very demoralizing; Microsoft declined to comment to Eurogamer but acknowledged the extra out-of-hours work will be repaid as additional holiday.

  14. Pure Xbox32

    Take-Two Signs New Long-Term Xbox Publishing Agreement, But Debate Swirls Over How Important It Really Is

    Take-Two and Microsoft have signed a new long-term Xbox Publisher License Agreement, effective September 17, 2026, replacing all of Take-Two's existing Xbox publisher license agreements. The deal lets Take-Two develop, publish, market, distribute and sell Xbox-compatible products across all Xbox devices, with Microsoft paying wholesale price or an agreed revenue share on digitally delivered content. The Verge editor Tom Warren argues it is not just a standard renewal, believing it is meant to cover the Xbox Project Helix era.

  15. Gematsu56

    Kena: Scars of Kosmora delayed to 2027

    Ember Lab announced on the PlayStation Blog that Kena: Scars of Kosmora has been pushed to 2027 to polish a larger game experience. The studio said it remains a character-focused linear adventure but with a broader and deeper scope than 2021's Bridge of Spirits, with the island of Kosmora's living cultures and a crystalline canine companion that serves as a mount and aids in combat and Alchemystic puzzles.

  17. Kotaku62

    Report: Gears of War: E-Day Developers Fear Layoffs and Lost Bonuses After Launch

    Eurogamer reports that developers at The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War: E-Day, fear layoffs once the game launches on October 6. Story director Juan Vaca left two weeks ago, and Kotaku reported on September 22 that fewer than a handful of staff were cut. Staff also worry they could miss a Metacritic-based bonus if they are let go before the payout expected near the end of October.

  18. Reddit · Gaming Leaks and Rumours52

    Eurogamer: Gears of War: E-Day Developers Fear Post-Launch Layoffs and Activision Reorganisation

    Eurogamer reports that multiple sources at The Coalition say staff increasingly fear another round of layoffs after Gears of War: E-Day, with some worried the studio could eventually be reorganised under Activision. The concerns grew after the recent departure of E-Day story director Juan Vaca and reports of other developers being quietly let go in recent weeks. Developers are also worried about timing, since E-Day's Metacritic bonus is expected to be paid around the end of October and eligibility requires employees to still be full-time at payment. Microsoft declined to comment on Eurogamer's report.

  20. Gematsu35

    Sound System Early Access delayed to November 4

    Echo Foundry Interactive has delayed the Early Access release of Sound System from October 16 to November 4. The rhythm game will launch in Early Access on PC via Steam, with a full release to follow on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC. Early Access is planned to last about six months, adding music uploads, while online multiplayer for up to three players comes with the full release.

  21. Rock Paper Shotgun62

    Massive becomes the global brand in charge of Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon, plus a new Ubisoft dieselpunk MOBA

    Ubisoft announced that The Division studio Massive Entertainment is now the global brand for series including Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, taking over the subsidiary previously known as creative house 2, with former Amazon and 2K executive Christoph Hartmann as general manager. Development teams for these franchises in Montreal, Paris, Sweden and Toronto will operate under the Massive Entertainment brand, though Ubisoft did not say what this means for developers on affected teams. The move continues Ubisoft's reorganisation into creative houses after Tencent's March 2025 investment, a restructuring that has brought layoffs, closures and cancellations.

  22. Rock Paper Shotgun62

    Xbox CEO Asha Sharma says Xbox is not for sale as layoffs and studio restructuring continue

    Xbox CEO Asha Sharma denied that Microsoft plans to sell its gaming division, saying Xbox is not for sale. The division has laid off 268 staff in the second of multiple rounds of cuts this financial year and has consolidated studios under a small number of arms led by bosses from Activision and Bethesda. Xbox said it is now roughly three-quarters of the way through the cuts and studio divestitures.

  23. VGC62

    Report: Gears of War: E-Day staff fear layoffs after launch and missing bonuses

    Eurogamer reports that staff at The Coalition, the studio behind Gears of War: E-Day, fear being laid off right after the game's release. Sources said Xbox's layoff of story director Juan Vaca last week was demoralising, and that employees now expect another wave of cuts or a reorganisation under Activision later this year. Some staff worry they could miss a contracted bonus tied to Metacritic scores if they are laid off before the payout expected near the end of October, though the report says recently laid-off staff should still receive it if targets are met. Microsoft declined to comment.

  24. GamesIndustry.biz12

    Jobs roundup: October | Code Wizards Group appoints Catherine Bygrave as head of commercial

    Code Wizards Group has appointed Catherine Bygrave as head of commercial; she previously served as business development director at Sumo Games and spent a decade at Activision working on Call of Duty and Destiny. Michał Platkow-Gilewski has been promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red. Other moves include Daniel Smith joining Playground Games as executive producer, Gero Micciché becoming lead producer at 2K and Hangar 13 Games, and Bloober Team appointing Tymon Smektala as executive producer of Broken Mirror Games.

  25. Eurogamer71

    Massive Entertainment takes over Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon, reveals new IP March of Giants

    Ubisoft announced this week that it is expanding Massive Entertainment's remit, folding its Creative House 2 studios into the brand so Massive now oversees the Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell franchises and multiple studios worldwide. Ubisoft also revealed that Massive is working on an original game called March of Giants, with no further details beyond its name. The move makes Massive a second multi-franchise subsidiary alongside Vantage Studios, which was formed after a €1.16bn Tencent investment to oversee Assassin's Creed, Far Cry and Rainbow Six, and follows several rounds of layoffs during Ubisoft's restructuring.

  26. Eurogamer62

    Amid Xbox layoffs, Gears of War: E-Day studio The Coalition fears cuts right after launch and before Metacritic bonuses

    Eurogamer spoke to multiple anonymous staff at Gears of War: E-Day developer The Coalition who fear being laid off shortly after the game's release and missing out on Metacritic-linked bonuses. The bonus requires employees to be full-time at the payout date, which studio leadership said should be near the end of October; it remains unclear whether current staff laid off right after launch would receive it. The report follows Microsoft's 3,200 gaming job cuts and a further round of at least 268 roles, and Xbox declined to comment.

  29. GamesIndustry.biz22

    Jobs roundup: October | Playstack CEO Harvey Elliott voted chair of UKIE

    Playstack CEO and founder Harvey Elliott has been appointed chair of UKIE, succeeding Ustwo Games CEO Maria Sayans, who held the role since 2024. Steel City Interactive named Murray Pannell as head of publishing, where he will lead publishing efforts for Undisputed 2. Michał Platkow-Gilewski was promoted to VP of global communications and marketing at CD Projekt Red.

  32. VGC12

    Sony Is Selling the Lego Astro Bot Separately, No Need to Buy the Lego PlayStation

    Sony is now selling the Lego Astro Bot set as a standalone purchase on the PlayStation Direct store for $24.99 / £17.99 plus shipping, with PlayStation Plus subscribers getting 5% off. The 276-piece set stands around 8 inches high on its included stand, with movable head and arms and eyes that swap between round and half-moon shapes. Previously the Lego Astro Bot was only available as a gift-with-purchase promotion for spending over $150 / £135 on the Lego website.

  33. Nintendo Life62

    Mario Kart Tour shuts down with an estimated $268.5 million in lifetime revenue

    Nintendo officially shut down its free-to-play mobile game Mario Kart Tour this week. According to market intelligence platform AppMagic, the title launched on 25th September 2019 and is estimated to have been downloaded over 276 million times and earned around $268.5 million, with US players accounting for 39% of lifetime in-app purchase revenue. Nintendo said in an official FAQ that there are no plans for an offline version.

  34. 机核62

    Grasshopper Manufacture announces split from NetEase Games and return to independence

    Grasshopper Manufacture announced it is parting ways with NetEase Games and returning to independence. NetEase had acquired the studio from GungHo Online Entertainment in 2021, and CEO Goichi Suda said the decision followed full discussions and cooperation with NetEase. The studio released Romeo Is a Dead Man in February and marked its 28th anniversary in March, saying it will continue as an independent developer.

  35. 机核62

    3i Plan October showcase lineup revealed, livestream set for 00:00 October 9 on Bilibili

    The 3i Plan October showcase has revealed a lineup of 32 games, including released titles such as Dave the Diver, Chained Together, Brotato and Risk of Rain 2, plus upcoming games like Among Us Story: On Guard, Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, The Talos Principle 3 and Stronghold 4. The showcase will also debut 8 brand-new games from independent studios including Amanita Design (Machinarium) and Strange Scaffold (I Am Your Beast). It will stream globally and simultaneously on Bilibili at 24:00 on October 8, i.e. midnight on October 9.

  38. Kotaku62

    CESA survey finds over 85 percent of Japanese game developers use generative AI

    A preliminary summary from Japan's Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA) says 85.8 percent of Japanese game developers are actively using generative AI in their work, up from 51 percent in last year's report. The survey drew 1,349 developer responses at CEDEC, covering asset generation and general admin tools such as ChatGPT and Copilot, with 63 percent of users reporting daily use. In CESA's survey of member companies, 74 percent said they have policies on generative AI use, and only 12 companies used it for visual assets; the full report is due in December.

  39. IGN74

    European Commission Calls Out Riot, Activision, Mojang and More Over In-Game Currency and Transactions

    The European Commission and the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network named nine game companies, including Activision Blizzard UK, Mojang AB, Riot Games Limited, Supercell Oy and Ubisoft EMEA SAS, in a joint statement on September 30, 2026, asking them to align their in-game currency and transaction systems with the Key Principles released in March 2025. The principles require games to show the real-world price of items bought with virtual currency, avoid obscuring costs through multiple currencies or exchanges, and let players withdraw from contracts within two weeks, including for unused virtual currency. Commissioner Michael McGrath said roughly half of Europeans play video games and the industry must ensure its games do not expose players, especially children, to harmful or unfair practices.