Microsoft has revealed it has paid developers in its ID@Xbox program more than $5 billion since it launched in 2013. In a blog post, ID@Xbox director Guy Richards shared that ID@Xbox saw more than 1,000 games launch in 2024 including Balatro, Stalker 2: Heart of Chernobyl, and Phasmophobia. Richards also spoke with GameRant, revealing that … Read more
Sporty Group has opened a new games development hub in the UK led by former Tower Studios CEO and creative director Jon Hare. Hare is leading a team of 17 employees who have been working on the Sociable Soccer franchise, which was acquired by Sporty Games last July. The team is currently developing an unannounced … Read more
Ubisoft has reportedly implemented an “anti-harassment plan” for developers that worked on Assassin’s Creed Shadows. As reported by PCGamesN, an anonymous Ubisoft employee told French news network BFMTV that the plan was allegedly being implemented to discourage employees from sharing their involvement with the game on social media. The employee also claimed that Ubisoft has … Read more
Squad-based arena shooter Star Wars: Hunters is being shut down less than a year after launch. Developed by Zynga and its subsidiary NaturalMotion, the free-to-play title’s servers will be taken offline on October 1, 2025. The game will remain in stores and available to download until this date. “We understand this news may be disappointing … Read more
Split Fiction reaches 2m sales in one week | News-in-brief
The Outlast Trials clocks up 3 million players since launch | News-in-brief
Uthana has secured $4.3m to “revolutionize” 3D character animation with generative AI. The $4.3 million funding round was led by IA Ventures, with participation from A16Z Speedrun, Acequia Capital, Cursor Capital, HustleFund, MetaVision, and JonesTrauber. To mark the feat, Uthana is launching an open beta of its “groundbreaking platform for 3D character animation, designed to … Read more
Pokémon Go developer Niantic has agreed to be acquired by Savvy Games Group subsidiary Scopely. The deal, valued at $3.5 billion, matches the details that leaked last month. It includes Niantic’s entire game development team as well as its the games Pokémon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Monster Hunter Now. The deal also includes companion apps … Read more
Moon Studios' Ori series tops 15m sales | News-in-brief
Spectre Divide developer Mountaintop Studios is shuttering just six months after launch. In a blog post, CEO Nate Mitchell told players the free-to-play shooter “hasn’t achieved the level of success [it] needed to sustain the game and keep Mountaintop afloat.” It’s unclear how many people have been impacted by the closure, but LinkedIn states the … Read more