#Publishing

Reigns developer Nerial shuts down after 13 years

Nerial, the developer of the Reigns series, has announced it is shutting down after 13 years. The London studio said in a social media post that it is entering "hibernation mode" after discussing an end to active development with publishing partner Devolver Digital, without giving specific reasons, and that its employees will continue working in game development after a break. Nerial broke out with the 2016 card-based RPG Reigns and went on to release sequels and licensed spin-offs including Reigns: Game of Thrones and Reigns: The Witcher, the latter launching this year as its final release.

Reigns and Card Shark developer Nerial is shutting down and laying off staff

Nerial, the studio behind Reigns and Card Shark, has announced it is shutting down, or entering what it calls hibernation mode, after discussions with parent company Devolver Digital. CEO Tamara Alliot and creative director François Alliot said in a joint letter that they decided with Devolver to end development at the studio after 13 years, and listed affected staff across narrative, art, programming, QA and production. The founders said this is not the end of game development for them, with François Alliot saying he is going back to being pure indie.

IGN Fan Fest Is Back for Fall 2026 With 90 Exclusive Reveals

IGN Fan Fest 2026: Fall Edition returns with 90 exclusive reveals across games, movies, TV, comics, and collectibles, streaming October 14. The event will feature more than 10 brand-new game reveals plus first-looks, news, and giveaways, with additional announcements starting October 12 on IGN.com. The lineup includes Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Where Winds Meet, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, and shows like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 and VisionQuest.

Report: Xbox Is Paying Far Less Than Normal for Kojima's Physint, Possibly Under $200 Million

Xbox's deal with Hideo Kojima for Physint is "substantially below what Xbox would typically spend to develop a premium game," according to The New York Times. Windows Central's Jez Corden said first-hand sources put the real figure far lower than the rumored $400 million Sony budget, and Chris Dring, who originated that rumor, said Xbox may be paying under $200 million. The deal also covers film and TV adaptations, with Bill Skarsgard starring, and the game has no release date or footage yet.

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.

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.

Ace Combat 8 developer apologises for Belkan War pre-order backlash, explains why it happened and vows to explore possible solutions

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.

TheGameBuisness' Christopher Dring: Xbox is possibly spending below $200 million on Physint

TheGameBuisness' Christopher Dring said Xbox is paying far less than the rumored $400 million for Hideo Kojima's Physint, possibly even below $200 million. He clarified that the $400 million figure was just a rumor floating around Tokyo Game Show and not something he would stake his reputation on. He added that regardless of what Xbox spent on the game, it is still investing in big projects rather than just cutting teams.

Galaxies Game Showcase Returns Later This Month, Over 40 Companies Taking Part

The Galaxies game showcase returns on 15th October, hosted by Jane Douglas, with more than 40 developers and publishers set to present their games. Confirmed participants include Square Enix Collective, Krafton, Embark Studios, Focus Entertainment, Saber Interactive, and Team 17. The show will be streamed via Twitch and YouTube.

Gaelco Sports Collection launches October 22

QUByte Interactive announced that Gaelco Sports Collection will launch on October 22 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The collection includes five arcade games, among them World Rally Championship, World Rally 2, and Snowboard Championship, with added Save States, smoother screen scrolling, and a museum gallery.

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.

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.

Kimiiro Patra IF delayed to January 28, 2027 in Japan

Entergram has delayed Kimiiro Patra IF, the romance visual novel starring Virtual YouTuber Patra Suou, from its planned November 26 release date to January 28, 2027 in Japan. The company cited "production circumstances" for the delay. The game will be available for PS5, Switch, and PC.

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.

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.

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.

Newzoo August PC and Console Revenue Charts Led by New Releases

Newzoo's August revenue charts for the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy saw several new releases enter the Top 20. EA Sports Madden NFL 27 debuted at No. 2 on console, while House House's Big Walk ranked No. 3 on PC and Star Wars Zero Company placed No. 6 on PC and No. 20 on console. Pokémon Pokopia climbed from No. 28 to No. 7 on console after its Bubbly Basin DLC released.

Football Manager 27 launches November 10 for PS5, Xbox Series, PC, iOS, and Android

SEGA and developer Sports Interactive announced that Football Manager 27 will launch on November 10. The PC version arrives on Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store, the console version on PS5 and Xbox Series, and the mobile version on iOS and Android via Netflix, with Game Pass availability as well. SEGA said the game reworks interface navigation and personalization and adds tile customization.

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.

5 Xbox Games Releasing In October You Officially Can't Miss

After another round of layoffs and studio departures in September, October has become a crucial month for Xbox. Two major first-party releases plus a slew of Xbox Game Pass additions will need to impress players enough to keep them looking forward to Project Helix.

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.

FWIW this is just a bog standard publishing agreement that renews every few years.

Sony's Helldivers Movie Pushed Back to June 9, 2028

Sony Pictures has delayed the Helldivers movie from its November 10, 2027 release date to June 9, 2028. Alan Ritchson will star as one of the soldiers defending Super Earth, with Justin Lin still attached to direct. Jason Momoa, previously set to star, dropped out earlier this year, and the rest of the cast has yet to be announced.

SEGA Eager to Bring Sakura Wars Games to Modern Consoles

Longtime SEGA producer Akira Nishino said the publisher wants to bring the original Sakura Wars games to modern consoles, but various circumstances make it difficult to move forward easily. The series' most recent entry, New Sakura Wars, released for PS4 in 2020, while the west first got Sakura Wars: So Long, My Love on PS2 in 2010. SEGA says it will celebrate the series' 30th anniversary with pop-up shops and stage shows in Japan, and is "preparing something else big" without clarifying whether it's game-related.

Alan Ritchson Confirmed to Star in Helldivers Movie as Release Date Pushed Back to 2028

Sony Pictures announced on September 30 that Alan Ritchson is confirmed to play one of the Helldivers in the film adaptation, with the release date shifted from November 10, 2027 to June 9, 2028. Justin Lin remains set to direct, with Hutch Parker, PlayStation Productions' Asad Qizilbash, and Lin's Perfect Storm Entertainment producing. Jason Momoa was initially slated to star but left the project this summer for unknown reasons.

Suda 51's Grasshopper Manufacture splits from NetEase

Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda announced that the studio is splitting from NetEase Games and will move forward as an independent developer. Suda said the decision followed the completion of the action adventure game Romeo Is A Dead Man and thorough discussions with NetEase Games. The No More Heroes developer was acquired by NetEase Games in 2021 and had been part of the company for five years.

Ubisoft renames its Creative House 2 label as "Massive Entertainment"

Ubisoft renames Creative House 2 as Massive Entertainment, covering The Division, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell

Ubisoft has renamed its Creative House 2 business unit as Massive Entertainment, adopting the 29-year-old brand of the Swedish studio behind The Division. The unit covers Tom Clancy's The Division, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell plus new original IP including March of Giants, with development teams in Montreal, Paris, Sweden and Toronto operating under the Massive Entertainment brand. Massive Entertainment is led by General Manager Christoph Hartmann, who joined in June from Amazon Game Studios.

Xbox Boss Acknowledges Competition With Sony, But Says Collaboration Can Exist As Well

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said in a New York Times interview that "competition and collaboration can coexist" between Xbox and Sony, and that work with Sony will continue. Asked about Xbox taking over publishing duties for Hideo Kojima's Physint from PlayStation Studios, she laughed off the idea of apologising to Sony and said she was happy Kojima chose to work with Xbox.

Another Three 'Day One' Releases Set For Xbox Game Pass In 2026 & 2027

Three more games have been revealed or reconfirmed for Xbox Game Pass within the past 24 hours. Football Manager 27 arrives November 10 with day-one Game Pass, while A Game About Digging a Hole Together is an expanded multiplayer version of the existing hit with no exact date yet. Grave Seasons has been reannounced for March 9, 2027, and has long been pencilled in as a Game Pass title.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma insists Xbox is not for sale

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma pushed back on speculation that Microsoft could spin off its games division, telling the New York Times that Xbox is not for sale and that the company will look at the right partnerships and operating model. According to the NYT, Xbox now accounts for around 6% of Microsoft's total profits. Sharma took over Xbox in February with no prior video game industry experience; under her, Xbox cut a fifth of its staff this summer, shut down or sold five studios, proposed closing Ninja Theory and cut a further 268 roles last week, while Game Pass subscribers peaked at 34 million before starting to drop. Sharma says Xbox retains 500 million monthly players and wants to expand into Africa, Latin America and South Asia via cloud gaming.

Report: Microsoft's Deal for Hideo Kojima's Physint Is Well Below Xbox's Typical Premium Game Spend

A New York Times profile of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma reported that Microsoft's deal for Hideo Kojima's Physint was substantially below what Xbox would typically spend to develop a premium game, and included film and TV rights. Kojima pitched the project to Sharma after Sony canceled the previously PlayStation-exclusive game. Physint still has no release window and is expected after OD, Kojima's next game for Xbox.

Rumor: Physint's Xbox deal was far below Xbox's usual spend on a premium game

A Reddit user relays a New York Times report saying Kojima's upcoming game Physint was signed with Xbox for substantially less than what Xbox would typically spend to develop a premium game, and that the agreement included film and TV rights. Asha Sharma said she was happy Kojima chose to work with Xbox and that work with Sony would continue, saying competition and collaboration can coexist. The poster notes this does not settle the discussion, though the previously floated $400 million figure may not have been on the table.

Xbox Disc-to-Digital Program Now Available for All Players

Xbox's disc-to-digital program is now live for all Xbox owners after being rolled out to Xbox Insiders. Inserting an eligible Xbox Series X or Xbox One disc grants a digital license tied to that disc, while the original disc still works normally. A support page states that losing, selling, giving away, or no longer possessing a qualifying disc may limit or revoke access to the associated digital license.

Grasshopper Manufacture leaves NetEase to go indie again, Suda51 says it will deliver titles in a wider variety of styles

Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind No More Heroes and Killer7, has split from parent company NetEase and gone indie again, founder Goichi "Suda51" Suda announced. NetEase, which acquired the studio in 2021, has yet to comment on the deal. Suda said the decision followed thorough discussions with NetEase Games and reflects a desire to deliver titles in an even wider variety of styles.

Grasshopper Manufacture becomes independent as it splits from NetEase Games

Grasshopper Manufacture announced it is separating from NetEase Games to become an independent studio again. CEO Goichi 'Suda51' Suda said the release of Romeo is a Dead Man earlier this year led the studio to consider its future direction and to want to deliver titles in a wider variety of styles, with the decision reached after discussions and cooperation with NetEase. NetEase acquired the studio from GungHo Online Entertainment in 2021 for an undisclosed sum; Grasshopper had been part of the GungHo Group since 2013 and was founded by Suda in 1998.

Suda51's Grasshopper Manufacture splits from NetEase to become independent again

Grasshopper Manufacture announced it is splitting from NetEase and returning to independent status. CEO Goichi Suda, known as Suda51, said in a press release that the decision followed thorough discussions with NetEase and came with the company's generous cooperation. The studio was acquired by NetEase in 2021 and released only Romeo is a Dead Man under the publisher, after reports that NetEase planned to divest most of its overseas teams.

Grave Seasons launches March 9, 2027

Publisher Blumhouse Games and developer Perfect Garbage announced that Grave Seasons, a narrative-focused farming simulation horror game, will launch on March 9, 2027 for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam, and will also be available via Game Pass. The game currently has over 750,000 wishlists on Steam. Players farm in the town of Ashenridge while investigating a series of murders, gathering clues, crafting protective items, and identifying the next victim, with relationships and choices affecting how the story unfolds.

Grasshopper Manufacture goes indie again after splitting with NetEase

Grasshopper Manufacture, acquired by NetEase in 2021, is splitting from the Chinese company and returning to independent development. CEO Goichi Suda said on September 30 that the decision followed thorough discussions with NetEase Games and that the two companies still value their relationship. The split comes after the studio released Romeo Is a Dead Man this year, and as NetEase systematically pulls back from the games industry, including halting funding for Nagoshi Studio's Gang of Dragon.