Studios

Today “We’re in the business of making great big hits”, Take-Two CEO says after shuttering good studios and selling good indie publisher Private Division to a mystery buyer

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Remember when it looked like Take-Two was shutting down both Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games and Roll7 – the studio behind Rollerdrome and OlliOlli World only for Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick to then say that it “didn’t shutter” those studios? Well, Take-two’s now confirmed those shutterings, as well as the sale of indie … Read more

Red Barrels partners with Lionsgate Studios for movie adaptation of horror series Outlast xxx

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Outlast is the latest video game franchise to have secured a movie adaptation. Developer Red Barrels has signed a deal with Lionsgate Studios, confirming that It and Strange Darling producer Roy Lee will lead the production. JT Petty – who has been “deeply involved” in the games’ narratives – will be working on the screenplay. … Read more

CWA criticises Sony for shuttering Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi xxx

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The Communication Workers of America (CWA) has criticised Sony for closing Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi. As Game Developer reported, the CWA claimed the shuttering of both developers showcased that “highly-insulated video game CEOs are creating perilous working conditions for workers by eliminating their job security.” The CWA also suggested that Neon Koi’s closure resulted … Read more

Today Concord’s gone, but that’s not really the headline: PlayStation shut down two studios it only recently acquired, reportedly leaving over 200 staff in limbo

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Following the shutdown of Firewalk Studios’ Concord not long after its rocky release, there’d been plenty of chatter about whether it’d get a chance to come back, and more importantly what’d happen to its developers. Well, we now know the answer to both of those questions – Concord’s gone for good, and Firewalk has been … Read more

Sony shuts Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios xxx

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Sony is shuttering Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios. In an update to Sony employees, Hermen Hulst, CEO, Studio Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, said that after “evaluat[ing] our games portfolio and status of our projects to ensure we are meeting near and long-term business priorities,” it was making the “difficult decision” to close Neon Koi … Read more

Today Summer Eternal’s not-quite-Disco Elysium successor needs a focused vision, and the studio’s unique worker-owned set-up is the key to making sure it finds one

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One of the things that made Summer Eternal stand out from the not quite Disco Elysium successor studio crowd when it was announced was the unique way its developers – the majority of whom are ex-ZA/UM – had gone about setting up its structure. Co-op was the word (or two contracted words jammed together) of … Read more

Rare’s Craig Duncan to become head of Xbox Game Studios as Alan Hartman retires xxx

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The head of Xbox Game Studios Alan Hartman will retire from the company at the end of November, with Rare boss Craig Duncan taking over. Hartman is best known for leading and forming Turn 10 in 2005, the studio behind the Forza franchise. He stepped up to lead Xbox Game Studios last year. He’s also … Read more

Tales of Kenzera: Zau dev Surgent Studios puts entire games team on hiatus due to lack of funding xxx

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Surgent Studios has put its entire games division on hiatus as it struggles to secure funding, placing an unknown number of staff at risk of being laid off. The developer, which also operates in TV and film production, announced the news via a statement on social media in which it said it has “unfortunately had … Read more

Hi-Rez Studios shutting down Realm Royale Reforged and Divine Knockout in February xxx

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Hi-Rez Studios has announced that two of its multiplayer games will be shutting down on February 17, 2025: Realm Royale Reforged and Divine Knockout. The closures were announced via almost identical statements posted on each game’s Steam page attributed to their developers, Evil Mojo Games and Red Beard Games respectively – both subsidiaries of Hi-Rez … Read more