Before there was Balatro, developer LocalThunk was hard at work on the card game known then as Joker Poker.On Twitter, the creator behind 2024's breakout card game released a series of early prototype videos. The first dates back to December 2021, just weeks after he began working on the project.Much of the differences in the initial version are UI-based more than mechanics: the "Play Hand" option is on the right-hand side rather than the left, and there's no readout for antes, money, or information on the current run.The second video from August 2022 (which was eight months into development) looks more like Balatro in its final shape. Along with additional UI, it opens with players selecting card packs from an in-game shop and a blind to go up against.Also, the main me…
When Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 releases on Xbox Game Pass, it's coming to the subscription service with no strings attached.Before its actual reveal, many wondered if the shooter would be used to launch a new, pricier tier. In a statement to Eurogamer, Microsoft explained that isn't the case, and it'll be fully playable on Xbox and PC for all three of the current tiers.It's been previously reported that Microsoft was looking to increase Game Pass Ultimate's price after previously doing so last July. If there were any game to test that with, it'd arguably be the newest installment in the best-selling, money making shooter franchise.While Black Ops 6 isn't the kickoff point for a new Game Pass tier or price hike, that doesn't mean either are off the ta…
Panic has recovered a bunch of stolen Playdates worth $400,000 after the purloined consoles were hastily dumped near a random restaurant."Did you hear the story about how $400k worth of Playdates were misdelivered by FedEx to a construction site near our warehouse? And then someone just… stole them? Seriously. Well, guess what got hastily dumped at a random restaurant this morning? Welcome back stolen Playdates!" tweeted Panic."More details—and likely a very good Playdate Podcast episode—in the future. For now, this was our best possible outcome, the result of lots of time and detective work. (Which, ok fine, we enjoyed.) The real question is, can we sell these as a limited edition? Playdate Hot™."
The closures of Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games and OlliOlli World maker Roll7 are imminent, according to a report from IGN. The publication also states that Take-Two intends to either sell or shut down indie publishing label Private Division, which houses those studios.Multiple anonymous sources have told IGN that Intercept will shut down on June 28, 2024. Those same sources claim Roll7 is also closing, although it's unclear when exactly the UK studio will be officially laid to rest.Earlier this year it was reported that parent company Take-Two Interactive was making layoffs at both studios with a view to potential closures. A WARN notice filed in Washington revealed Take-Two intended to lay off 70 workers in Seattle–where Intercept is located–as part of a "…
The closures of Kerbal Space Program 2 developer Intercept Games and OlliOlli World maker Roll7 are imminent, according to a report from IGN. The publication also states that Take-Two intends to either sell or shut down indie publishing label Private Division, which houses those studios.Multiple anonymous sources have told IGN that Intercept will shut down on June 28, 2024. Those same sources claim Roll7 is also closing, although it's unclear when exactly the UK studio will be officially laid to rest.Earlier this year it was reported that parent company Take-Two Interactive was making layoffs at both studios with a view to potential closures. A WARN notice filed in Washington revealed Take-Two intended to lay off 70 workers in Seattle–where Intercept is located–as part of a "…
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…