Landfall Games revealed Content Warning has hit a pair of new milestones. In the two months since it launched, the co-op horror game has garnered 8.8 million players and sold 2.2 million copies.According to the publisher, the player count makes Content Warning one of its most successful titles. Also in the running are 2017's Stick Fight: The Game and potentially Tabs from 2021.The two milestones go somewhat hand-in-hand since at launch, Content Warning opened as a free-to-keep game for a full day. In turn, 6.2 million players picked it up, and it started at nearly 205,000 concurrent players.Two weeks later, it would go on to actually sell 1 million copies. Being only $8 and having word of mouth from its free opening day paid off.At the time of launch, the developers called it a "…

A new interview featuring the late Satoru Iwata has been uncovered, and is freely available for all to watch. His comments in the video feel important in the years since his passing and downright prescient amid current industry turmoil.Dating back to E3 2004, the interview from Kikizo has been fully remastered with Japanese and English subtitles. At the time, Iwata had only been global president of Nintendo for two years.In the interview, Iwata was asked about the then-upcoming Nintendo DS. To him, the handheld needed to feel like something audiences had never experienced before."The DS can tell you how serious we are about changing the way games are played," said Iwata. "If we said we beefed up the technology of the Game Boy Advance, and the processing power and graphic cap…

The UK-based Gamer Network of game journalism sites like Eurogamer and GamesIndustry has been acquired by IGN Entertainment.For an undisclosed sum, IGN purchased that entire family of websites, which further includes Rock Paper Shotgun, VG247, and Dicebreaker. Previously, the Ziff Davis subsidiary purchased HowLongtoBeat and Humble Bundle.UK events like EGX and MCM weren't included in the sale. Similarly, the entertainment site Popverse will remain with ReedPop.Alongside the acquisition, IGN laid off several employees within the Gamer Network. These cuts appear to be editorial focused, as GamesIndustry's managing editor Brendan Sinclair and RPS' deputy editor Alice Bell have both been let go."I've been laid off and need a new job," wrote Sinclair. "Maybe …

It's official: Relic Entertainment has become an independent developer again. For the first time since it was acquired by THQ in 2004, it's in charge of its own fate.The Vancouver studio split from Sega Europe in late March and has now secured funding to stay indie for the foreseeable future. It's entered a partnership with investment firm Emona Capital that will let it "return to its roots."CEO Justin Dowdeswell said Emona will invest in the studio's current property portfolio, which includes the Company of Heroes and Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War series. The firm will also support Relic teaming with other publishers and IP owners."We see a huge opportunity to unleash Relic’s creative potential as an independent studio," he said. "The talent, te…

Embracer CFO and deputy CEO Johan Ekstrom is stepping down after five years, and the company already has his replacements lined up.Deputy CFO Muge Bouillon will be appointed CFO on September 1, 2024. Crystal Dynamics CEO Phil Rogers, who was recently named leader of Embracer's newly-formed Middle-earth Enterprises and Friends business, will take on the role of deputy CEO of Embracer on June 1, 2024. Both Bouillon and Rogers will serve as members of the executive management team.Ekstrom will officially depart on March 31, 2025. After assisting with the leadership transition he will focus on helping Embracer realize its plan to separate into three companies.

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The executive team at Lightspeed Studios has gained a new hire in Michael Pattison. Per the press release, he's been brought on as the vice president of its publishing division for PC and console games.Pattison previously worked at Sony Interactive Entertainment, THQ, and Capcom. Under the former, he lead the team for worldwide third-party relations, along with global marketing and brand management.More recently, he operated as Team17's CEO until late 2023. His hiring comes months after the alleged underperformance of Lightspeed's zombie survival game Undawn, which was said to be a big financial blow to parent company Tencent.Lightspeed VP Steve C. Martin called Pattison's hiring "invaluable as we continue to innovate and create exceptional game experiences for our…

The ESA's made a small shakeup to its executive team, adding Sue Madden to its ranks. As executive director of the ESA Foundation, she'll lead the organization's titular, education-focused arm.Madden has worked as the foundation's interim ED since 2023. She's previously led her own philanthropic consulting firm for nearly 15 years, and worked at the Gannett Foundation and BAE Systems.The ESA Foundation provides grants and scholarships to aspiring developers, along with financial support to schools and nonprofits. Madden will oversee fundraising efforts toward a "diverse pipeline" for the "next generation of industry innovators and leaders."

Australian studio Mighty Kingdom laying off 28 percent of staff

James Anderson September 23, 2024 0

Australian studio Mighty Kingdom is laying off 28 percent of its workforce.Mighty Kingdom CEO David Yin shared the news in a statement posted on X and claimed the studio needs to pursue a "strategic rightsizing to streamline our operations and prioritize core business to align with our vision of the future."The Adelaide-based company currently employs 160 people, according to its website. That means around 45 workers are likely to be impacted by the cuts.

Mighty Kingdom's history in games

Mighty Kingdom was formed in 2010 and has built game experiences with notable partners including Lego, Disney, Mattel, Sony, Funcom, and Moose Toys…