I woke up this morning to news online and substack that’s been a long time coming: PlayStation will stop producing physical discs for new games by January 2028.

The internet reacted immediately. The original PlayStation announcement racked up 74 million views and 53,900 replies on X. A separate blog post on the topic pulled 6,000 comments. Even Domino’s Pizza UK couldn’t resist:

Domino’s Response

Game File

Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028

New games sold for PlayStation consoles will only be available digitally and won’t be sold on discs effective January 2028, Sony has announced…

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a month ago · 49 likes · 21 comments · Stephen Totilo

The Numbers Don’t Lie

If you’re wondering why Sony made this call, the data makes it painfully clear. Derek Strickland broke it down:

“Sony shipped 70 million game discs in FY25 but made less than $1 billion from sales. Sony sold 248 million digital games in FY25 and made nearly $7 billion.”
— @DeekeTweak

That’s 7x the revenue from digital vs physical. This was never really a question of if—only when.

Am I Surprised? No. Am I Sad? Yes.

This was always a business decision in the making. But that doesn’t make it sting less.

Former Xbox executive Mike Ybarra captured the sentiment well:

“Sad to see this happening across the entire gaming industry. I guess it was going to happen at some point, but I didn’t think it would be this soon... What I personally don’t like is the Christmas mornings...”
— @Qwik

That last part hits. There’s something irreplaceable about the tactile experience of physical media—the box art, the manual, the feeling of owning something. I always wished game discs came with more guidebooks and inserts inside the casing. That era is fading fast.

Kojima Already Saw This Coming

Perhaps the most striking reaction came from fans resurfacing a 2021 Hideo Kojima prediction:

“In 2021, Hideo Kojima predicted that a future built entirely around digital media could leave people without access to the content they thought they owned if companies or external events changed how that content was distributed.”
— @Pirat_Nation (176K views)

Kojima being cryptically right about the future again shouldn’t surprise anyone. But it raises the real question nobody wants to answer directly:

What does digital ownership actually mean?

You Don’t Own What You Stream

The uncomfortable truth is that we’re moving from an ownership economy to a rental economy—at least in gaming. When your games live on a server and a company decides to pull the plug (or change pricing, or go bankrupt), you lose access. There’s no disc to fall back on.

I think this transition aligns with what executives believe about Gen Z and Gen Alpha—a generation raised on Spotify, Netflix, and cloud-first everything. Subscription models and digital access feel natural to them.

But here’s the interesting counter-trend: Gen Z is quietly starting to collect physical things again. Vinyl records, film cameras, physical books, retro games. There’s a growing fatigue with the subscription economy and intangible ownership. Whether that trend grows large enough to matter commercially? The data will tell.

What About Nintendo?

Nintendo is the last major holdout, sort of. Their physical cartridges still work as genuine game cards. But even that’s changing. Nintendo has been quietly introducing Game Key Cards—physical boxes that just contain a download code.

Lately they have been lowering digital prices to make physical copies less attractive. So even Nintendo is pushing users slowly to a digital only future for their games.

As one Reddit thread put it bluntly:

“The only gaming device where you can still play with a card. Enjoy it while it lasts.”

That feels about right.

Enjoy it while it lasts!

Every era of change deserves to be enjoyed while it’s still here. Console pricing is already climbing. An all-digital future is arriving faster than anyone expected. Physical gaming as we knew it is entering its final chapter.

So if you’re a collector—keep collecting. If you love the ritual of buying a physical game—keep buying. If you want to preserve your library against corporate decisions—hold onto those discs.

Or, as the internet eloquently suggested: join Jack Sparrow.

Link 🔗

https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles/

https://www.reddit.com/r/nintendogrifting/comments/1ulciwl/the_only_one_left/

Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Lots of news on xbox lately but sometimes I wonder would anything change besides the name to XBOX.

I also feel the Activision Blizzard Deal was dragging Microsoft and Xbox down. But can’t go back because they tried game pass and multi platform and it did not work out.

🎮 Game News - XBOX Reset, Microsoft Possible Spinoff and Layoff

🎮 Game News - Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games Double Fine possible to close

🎮 Game News – XBOX Hardware in Trouble Laura Fryer

📱 Social Post – Spyro Game Makes Bank

📱 Social Post - Metro 2039 Shift to Single Player hits 1 Million Wishlist

🔎 Interesting Finds – EA Ads in your game

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

XBOXS Reset Possible Spinoff

About a Week ago Asha Shared about xbox resetting and wrote here memo on the next 100 days, which does not sound good but it’s a reality check. Microsoft is already behind in the games and entertainment business. There is talk to spin off Xbox into its own company like LinkedIn and GitHub. Maybe it might be a good thing.

Reported on Bloomberg.

🔗 Link:

XBOX next-100-days-xbox-reset

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-10/xbox-plans-significant-layoffs-as-it-transforms-under-new-ceo-asha-sharma

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/microsofts-xbox-plans-major-layoffs-next-month-bloomberg-news-reports-6175246

https://www.purexbox.com/news/2026/06/its-going-to-be-pretty-brutal-jason-schreier-reveals-more-on-upcoming-xbox-layoffs

XBOX in Trouble Laura Fryer

Laura gave a good rundown on the things happening at XBOX with some lessons from the 360 Era. Mostly discussing about hardware and the gamble on building an Xbox.

She does think that Microsoft won’t spin off Xbox and rebuild their ecosystem.

🔗 Link:

Laura Youtube Channel

Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games Double Fine possible to close

Right now Xbox is planning to close Ninja Theory, Compulsion Games and Double Fine.

Despite a good showing of Hellblade at the Game Showcase the studios unfortunately did not make bank for Xbox and game pass.

A lot is discussed on this online but I feel sad for these studios to close I did play double fine games but things look uncertain.

🔗 Link:

IGN: Ninja Theory Closed

📱Social Post

Spyro Game Makes bank

Tome good news Toys for Bob after leaving Activision got to make the next spyro and did well. Hope they get to make more games.

Metro 2039 Shift to Single Player hits 1 Million Wishlist

@wilfratgamingAnyone else kinda done with open world games? #gaming #gamestoplay #metrogame #horrortok

Tiktok failed to load.

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A little late to this one found out on Tiktok, Looks like Metro Series is shifting from Open World to a Single Player tight story and horror game.

Also the main Character is a stranger not the previous one Artyom and now is called The Stranger and is fully voiced

As of 1 May they announced they Hit 1 Million Wishlist

🔗 Link:

Wishlist on Steam

🔎 Interesting Finds

EA Ads in your game

Not sure what to think of this but maybe this time it might work for EA for their sports games. They were recetnly sold to the saudi PIF fund, not sure if the deal is done so they probably have to make money back on the investment.

🔗Links:

EA Advertising

That’s it thanks for reading this far!

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Been a while but lots happen with the PS Showcase last week.

Is Mixtape even a game? Sony New Laufey is getting attention for all the wrong things. Also found out the old Concord Concept Art it was so different from the actual one published. And lastly if you like Tanks checkout the indie game Tank Rat.

🎮 Game News - God of War Laufey the Mom of War

🎮 Game News - What is a Game Mixtape?

📱 Social Post – What Concord could have Been

🔎 Interesting Finds – Tank Rat via Youtube

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

God of War Laufey (Mom of War)

Sony Stanta Monica Studio is up in controversy online on X and Youtube after they announced their new God of War Game Laufey.

Don’t want to get into the controversy around the woke memes but it’s not looking good when dominos gets in

My thoughts

I Don’t mind see what happened to Faye (Kraros Wife) but this is 2026 and from what I gather this was written 6 years ago sometime in 2019? Some of the story and design decisions might not have aged well.

The game dialogue feels 2019 like Marvel Movie.

I would like to play the game maybe not full price.

🔗 Link:

https://kotaku.com/new-god-of-war-talking-cube-phranque-laufey-faye-2000701723

Mix Tape, What is a Game?

Mix tape had different reactions online some for the nostalgia and feelings of those early 90s era music but is it really a game?

I like the concept and animation style its has the Spiderverse stop motion frame animation and real camera moves, but it does not much as a game, its more of an interactive movie you watch. I do like the vibes and the music.

🔗 Link:

📱Social Post

Concord Concept Art What could have been

Something interesting Concord art work from Concept Artist Derek Jones, it was an interesting blue sky exploration I do like the initial concept art makes me feel like its really a mobieus inspired world.

Sadly the actual game did not translate well to the actual product.

🔗 Link:

CG BOSS Blog post What Concord could have been: [ Link ]

🔎 Interesting Finds

Tank Rat

Found this via the feed and it immediately captured my imagination of a Tank with scrappy parts being put together. Reminds me a lot of World of tanks but in Post Apocalytic Settings.

🔗Links:

[ Wishlist Steam ] Steam Link

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Looks like nitendo dropped a big one all about the little fox and his crew.

🎮 Game News - Starfox is back (Nintendo Shadow Drop)

📱 Social Post – Star Fox Design Causing Debate

🔎 Interesting Finds – How Starfox was inspired (apprarently at a shrine)

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Star Fox is back

Saw a post on Substack, that starfox direct was starting my thoughts is this is probably planned with the Mario Galaxy movie in mind.

🔗 Link:

The Morning Gamer Starfox is back with Fox McCloud: [ Link ]

Nintendo Star Fox Direct https://www.nintendo.com/us/nintendo-direct/5-6-2026/?srsltid=AfmBOoq2B1Z6gOz1Nej81FiGoYyogzr3TSK4A9G9xV7bb-MRYZy3DXpp

📱Social Post

New Starfox design causing debate?

I actually like the new designs but it is causing some debate online among nintendo fans. I did like Sungrand Studio explanation of the new designs which were Animal Heads on Human bodies rathar than having animals trying to walk like humans. Some fans miss the Starfox puppet design or the older Starfox Zero One.

Anyway the orignal character Designer Takaya Imamura says he likes the Movie version but still thinks the Game Characters are cool.

What you think of the new character looks?

🔗Links:

X : X link Starfox Designs

🔎 Interesting Finds

How starfox was inspired?

Well Shigeru Miyamoto was walking around japan and drawing little space animal characters when she saw a Shrine and decided that for nintendo Sci Fi epic to compete they would use animal characters instead of Giant Robots or Lightsabers.

Shigeru Miyamoto said Star Fox was inspired by the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Kyoto! (via 2011 Iwata Asks)

“I had been drawing animal characters for a long time, so I suggested animal characters to Imamura-san. He was surprised. (laughs)”

“We were like, ‘But animal characters in a shooting game?’ and then ‘That’s precisely why it would have impact!’ and started thinking about which animals to use.”

“Star Fox has a lot of scenes in which the fighter goes through arches, which reminds one of the gates at Shinto shrines called torii. And torii made me think of the thousands of such gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha. In a prototype, there were lots of scenes like going through there. And when you think of Fushimi Inari, you think of foxes.”

🔗Links:

[ X ] X Link

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

🎮 Game News - Sony is just PlayStation Business

🎮 Game News – Shift Up Acquires Shiji Mikami Studio Unbound

📱 Social Post – PlayStation Family Matters Sitcom

🔎 Interesting Finds – Mirrors Edge Reborn as Indie Game “Panline” a Ripoff?

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Sony is Just Playststion CEO of Sony in rare Bloomberg Interview

It sounds like Hiroki Totoki is retreating the Sony Business to Content and Services and Playstation is the main driver for growth going forward.

This can mean opportunity to make games for the platform going forward.

🔗 Link:

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/04/we-were-forced-to-change-sony-ceo-outlines-shift-to-entertainment-and-says-ps5-must-be-the-best-place-to-play?fbclid=IwdGRleARJSgVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeyOBkIWCI44DsplDjM61V1X9UYQYyp8goYAQoxpEkSO2wqjy7IwEanTWHPr0_aem_DMLae9VAO0scfAnTUbuS-Q

Bloomberg:

(Paid) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-21/sony-says-diverse-capital-sources-key-for-asset-acquisition?embedded-checkout=true

(Video) https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-02-21/sony-says-diverse-capital-sources-key-for-acquisition-video

Shift Up acquires Shinji Mikami Studio

Found out the Stellar Blade studio has bought Unbound, Shinji Mikami Studio, I do hope this partnership will result in more titles published from Shinji Mikami, he was out for a while after Tango Gameworks was dissolved from microsoft. So looking forward to see what he comes up next.

🔗 Link:

https://shiftup.co.kr/eng/news/news.php?ptype=view&idx=416&code=news_eng&page=1

https://www.gematsu.com/2026/03/shift-up-acquires-shinji-mikami-led-studio-unbound

📱Social Post

PlayStation Family Matters

Discovered this cute and funny fan made AI video of PlayStation mascot characters. While its AI Generated I feel that it captures all the best franchies of the platform.

🔗Links:

📱: Youtube Channel

🔎 Interesting Finds

Mirrors Edge Reborn as Indie Game “Panline”

Mirror’s Edge is back as an indie Game RIP off Panline, not sure if EA will sue but I would like some revist to this genre of FPS Gaming free running style.

The game even follows the same artsyle of the clean city and running across rooftops and dystopian vibes.

Game is coming soon to early accesss

🔗Links:

X :

🎮 Steam Store Page

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Thank you Readers on Substack Gaming, have crossed 100 💯 subscribers to this newsletter as I was writing in this post. I guess the substack network and gaming fans are slowly finding this blog.

I will like to thank these subscribers for interacting with this substack blog.

, , , , (For giving me the first email sub)

Drumroll the 100th subscriber is writing on Game Design and Philosphy, please go give his substack a Sub!

Captain Glizzy

Game design philosophy

Onwards with 3 Things this week in gaming!

🎮 Game News - Naugthy Dog Cancelled Live service Last of Us

🎮 Game News – KCD2 Director Daniel Vavra defends DLSS 5

📱 Social Post – Pakour Game Tachyon Flow

🔎 Interesting Finds – Disney to buy Epic Games?

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Naughty Dog Live Service Last of Us cancelled 80% done

It sounds good on paper a Live Service multiplayer game set in the Last of Us

They probably dodged a bullet remember concord? I also feel a lot of these single player studios at playstation were not setup for multiplayer.

There is a lengthy interview with the Multiplayer Last of Us Director Vinit Agarwal on the game who was doing it for 7 years. Which is a lot of time sink into a career and not see anything ship. Maybe it was the best choice.

Vinit Agarwal, the director on the project who has since left Naughty Dog and moved to Japan to found a new studio, sat down for a lengthy interview with Lance E. Lee to talk about his life and career. When the topic of The Last of Us Online came up, Agarwal revealed that the game was around “80 percent” complete before it was canceled.

🔗 Link:

https://kotaku.com/last-of-us-online-naughty-dog-canceled-vinit-agarwal-2000684224

KCD2 Director Daniel Vavra defends DLSS 5

KCD2 Director Daniel Vavra on his own X discuss that the future of Game dev will use this tech but this is just the beginning of uncanny valley.

My question is it worth the pice to buy the hardware to run this with RAM and GPU going through the roof not sure when it will stabilise.

"I can imagine in the future devs will be able to train this tech for [a] particular art style or specific people faces, and it might replace expensive raytracing etc. This is just a little uncanny beginning. No way haters will stop this. It's way more than a soap opera effect every TV has when you turn motion smoothing on."

🔗 Link:

PC Gamer : https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/kingdom-come-deliverance-2-director-defends-dlss-5-no-way-haters-will-stop-this/

📱Social Post

Pakour Game Tachyon Flow

🔗Links:

X : https://x.com/jankyanims

🎮 Steam Store Page

🔎 Interesting Finds

Disney interested to buy Epic Games

Is Disney going to buy Epic Games? I thought this would be interesting Rumor but I wonder what will happen to Unreal Engine. Epic games recently had a massive layoff maybe due to Fortnite fatigue among audience, this is a move to make the company looking profitable and ready for acquisition.

Disney has a new CEO so there is porbably going to be changes at the company and company acqusitions might happen.

I already am looking at other game engines that is open source like Godot and O3DE to remain open in the future as a just in case thing. I am not sure if Epic will go through with this and it will make me pause to continue to use unreal engine if Disney to takes unreal engine private I am not sure if Disney wants to get into the game engine business, they are there for Fortnite audience and the UE Tech for their shows.

Why an Acquisition Might Be Good

• Unified Ecosystem: Disney could fully integrate its massive IP portfolio—including Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar—directly into a dedicated gaming platform.

• Technological Synergy: Disney already uses Epic’s Unreal Engine for theme park rides and TV productions like The Mandalorian. Owning the technology could reduce long-term production costs.

• New Revenue Stream: It would provide Disney with a robust live-service platform and a direct line to younger demographics (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) who spend as much time in games as they do watching TV.

Why an Acquisition Might Be Bad

• Loss of Independence: Epic’s CEO Tim Sweeney is a vocal advocate for an open internet and has fought against corporate “walled gardens”. A Disney takeover could end Epic’s role as a neutral third-party engine provider for other studios.

• Internal Division: Reports suggest Disney leadership is split; some executives view a full buyout as high-risk given Disney’s mixed history with internal game development (e.g., the closures of LucasArts and Disney Interactive).

• Control Issues: Because Tim Sweeney maintains full voting control of Epic, any acquisition is impossible unless he chooses to sell.

🔗Links:

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Looks like besides oil price increase PS5 will have another price increase. This is probably inline with RAM shortages. Xbox had an interesting Partner preview looking forward to Stranger than Heaven and Super Mario Galaxy on track to make millions.

🎮 Game News - PS5 Price Increase

🎮 Game News – Xbox Patner Preview - Stranger than Heaven

📱 Social Post – Super Mario Galaxy on track to make millions

🔎 Interesting Finds – Deliver Us Home / The One Astronaut

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Playstation Price Increase South East Asia

While this sounds like bad news I am not surprsed with the RAM Shortages and Such. I do feel that going into PS6 or XBOX Helix its trending to be in the $1000 range meaning I might just get a PC Upgrade instead of a console.

Lets see what Gabe Cube (Steam Machines) have to offer…

🔗 Link:

IGN SEA: https://sea.ign.com/playstation-5-3/240599/news/sony-announces-price-rises-for-ps5-ps5-pro-and-playstation-portal-blames-continued-pressures-in-the

Playstation Blog post

Xbox Patner Preview - Stranger than Heaven

I really enjoyed the Stranger than Heaven really give me the vibes of the 1915 Jazz Club era of that time period.

Xbox Partner Preview just brought us a new look at Stranger Than Heaven, the upcoming new title from Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio. Even more excitingly, it was also revealed that Xbox and RGG Studio are teaming up to dedicate an entirely new broadcast to the game on May 6: stay tuned for “Xbox Presents: A Special Look at Stranger Than Heaven”.

We caught up with RGG Studio Representative & Executive Producer, Masayoshi Yokoyama to ask a few questions about what was revealed today, and what’s coming in the next broadcast: “We have so much to show and I promise it will be worth your time,” he explained. “Today was just a taste of what’s to come.”

🔗 Link:

Rest of the Xbox partner Preview:

🔗 Link:

Xbox Wire Partner Preview March 2026 Recap

Xbox Youtube Partner Preview 2026 Link

📱Social Post

Super Mario Galaxy on track to make millions

Saw this on my linkedin and realised that the new Super Mario Galaxy Movie is dropping where I live. On the US SIde it looks like it is already making millions over the Easter Sunday Weekend.

🔗Links: Youtube

🔎 Interesting Finds

The One Astronaut Deliver Us Home

Saw this post on IndieGameJoe about the creators of this Space game on their hard journey to make this game. While it cannot

Rejection is real making a game and its hard.

The Game is still In Progress

🔗Links:

🔗 Creator X : Koen Deetman / TheOneAstronaut

🎮 Wishlist on Steam Store Page

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Been away on a short holiday so there was no Newsletter but reading the news There were some things from GDC and of course Nvidia DLSS 5 Memes. I do think DLSS 5 can be a game changer but I am skeptical about it until I see it myself. But it does changes the whole workflow of Game Dev if it can be done easily.

🎮 Game News - DLSS 5 Memes and Backlash

🎮 Game News – Project Helix Next Xbox Ecosystem play

🎮 Game News – Clair Obscur uses unreal Blueprints for systems

📱 Social Post – Ex Oculus Palmer Lucky Comments on Games Industry lacks innovation

🔎 Interesting Finds – Tiny Shop A Cozy Shop Game

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

DLSS 5 Memes and Backlash

NVIDIA DLSS 5 Announced and Gamers are Memeing (Mezha, Pcgamer) and not happy about it

My personal take is that Nvidia is probably going to build AI Models based on this though its conspiracy. But I feel its a wait and see when its ready AI is probably here for next gen consoles too.

But interestingly some tweet and rumors that Capcom had no idea about this new tech being unveiled with Resident Evil.

🔗 Link: https://sea.ign.com/resident-evil-9-1/240041/feature/nvidias-dlss-5-is-a-slap-in-the-face-to-the-art-of-video-game-design

https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/the-dlss-5-memes-are-in-full-swing-so-here-are-the-ones-that-tickled-me-the-most/

Next Xbox Project Helix GDC Ecosystem

The Project Helix from Xbox was announced at this year GDC and it looks like they are going for an ecosystem play while Sony retreats from PC.

But me thinks Steam already is doing this well and beat Microsoft to it. Now if Xbox had exclusives to their ecosystem I wonder how it might play out.

🔗 Link:

X Link

Claire Obscura Uses Blueprint

Did not have time to read all the GDC news but thought this was interesting that Clair OBscur used Unreal Blueprints instead of C++. Which can be a timesaver.

🔗 Link:

https://www.gamedeveloper.com/programming/clair-obscur-expedition-33-was-built-95-percent-with-unreal-blueprints

📱Social Post

Palmer Lucky talks about the games industry now is cooked and worse than before. Right now everyone is trying to extract more dollars than innovate.

““The gaming industry, like many industries, figured out what actually worked a long time ago. They figured out how to make fun games. They figured out how to make things that make people keep coming back. But it’s moved from innovation to extraction.”

🔗Links: Instagram Reel Link

🔎 Interesting Finds

Tiny Shop

With all the news I managed to find a new cozy shop simulator game Tiny Shop. Check it on on their steam page lots of cozy vibes

🔗Links:

🔗 Threads Link

🎮 Steam Store Page

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Its all about Xbox in this post since the departure of Phil Spencer and Asha Sharma steps in we might see new things coming.

🎮 Game News – Project Helix Next Xbox Codename plays PC and Xbox,

🎮 Game News – XBOX Welcomes new CEO on Campus,

🎮 Game News - XBOX CEO Interview with Windows Central

📱 Social Post – XBOX at GDC

🔎 Interesting Finds – Seamus Blackley Xbox will be sunset ?

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Next Xbox Project Helix

Well looks like the next Xbox is going back to its roots and its noted that it will be more PC Like. Running both PC and Xbox titles.

Now pricing wise online its going to be premium PC prices not the ususal console like price. Targeting a release window in 2027. Perhaps more at GDC and down the year.

I do hope Xbox will invest more in Asia as we have a big PC presence here and I would like to get an Xbox again.

🔗 Link:

https://x.com/xonebros/status/2029681527198781456

https://x.com/klobrille/status/2030057390935007491

https://x.com/asha_shar/status/2029645713962156149?s=20

https://x.com/tomwarren/status/2029841199377293407

https://playday.one/2026/03/05/project-helix-is-the-next-gen-xbox-hardware-will-play-your-xbox-and-pc-games/

Xbox CEO Welcome on Campus, Interview with Jez Windows Central

A couple of days back Xbox welcome the new CEO Asha Sharma to the campus and Windows Central has a nice interview with Asha on her new role and direction of Xbox for the next 25 years

Key takeaways: Xbox is doubling down on Game Pass as the core strategy, expanding beyond traditional console boundaries to reach players wherever they are (PC, cloud, mobile). Sharma emphasized player choice and accessibility, while Booty highlighted their commitment to first-party studios and quality over rushed releases. They acknowledge the gaming landscape is shifting—Xbox isn't just competing with PlayStation anymore, but with every platform vying for players' time. The message is clear: Xbox is playing the long game, prioritizing ecosystem growth over hardware sales wars.

Even “Major Nelson” got to take some photo ops with the new CEO not sure if he will be heading back there as a consultant and build community.

Not sure if Larry “Major Nelson” will get a job soon with Xbox he was intrumental in bridging the community to the team.

🔗 Link: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/exclusive-talking-to-new-xbox-ceo-asha-sharma-and-cco-matt-booty

🔗 Link:

📱Social Post

XBOX at GDC

Microsoft is hosting a series of talks at GDC some to talk about ML and Character designs of Diablo but the one to watch probably is this talk on the next plans of the xbox business from Game Pass to hardware possibly.

Developers will learn:
- How Xbox’s 25-year evolution—from console to cloud—shapes its future platform vision
- How innovations like Game Pass, Cloud Gaming, and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally enable play across devices
- How Xbox is empowering creators with a more flexible, connected ecosystem.

Building for the Future with Xbox (Presented by Microsoft Xbox)

https://x.com/MSFTGameDev/status/2029238115618177129

🔗Links:

https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/building-for-the-future-with-xbox-presented-by-microsoft-xbox/917994

Microsoft at GDC: Build for What's Next

🔎 Interesting Finds

Ex XBOX Founder Seamus Blackley will be sunsetted

My thoughs Seamus Blackley is spot on on some things espicially how challenging it is to run a games busienss, but I still feel its a wait and see.

Some of his quotes from Gamesbeat Article

Seamus Blackley: “Xbox (…) is being sunsetted”

Adding fuel to the debate, Seamus Blackley, one of the original designers behind the Xbox, has publicly described the leadership change as a transition towards the end.

Blackley stated, “Xbox, like a lot of businesses that aren’t the core AI business, is being sunsetted. They don’t say that, but that’s what’s happening. I expect that the new CEO, Asha Sharma, her job is going to be as a palliative care doctor who slides Xbox gently into the night.”

He continued, “Imagine asking somebody if it made sense to put a major motion picture studio into the hands of somebody who didn’t like movies, or a major record label into the hands of somebody who’d never seen a live show. Why would you do that? You only do that if you’re looking at the problem in a more abstract way.

The natural consequence of the focus on AI is that AI abstracts every problem from the minds of the executives who believe in it. We’re abstracting the problem of games as well. There’s a core belief–and you can see it in what Satya said–that AI will subsume games like it will subsume everything.”

🔗Links:

🔗 GamesBeat: https://gamesbeat.com/what-an-xbox-founder-thinks-of-the-new-xbox-ceo-seamus-blackley-interview/

🔗 https://www.gosugamers.net/entertainment/news/78028-xbox-creator-seamus-blackley-suggests-the-company-is-sunsetting-after-major-management-changes

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Waking Up to surprising Xbox News

Woke up on Saturday Morning to a bomshell news on X / Twitter and Substack that Phil Spencer of Xbox is retiring and Sarah Bond is Leaving Microsoft early.

This really feels like the close of a defining chapter for Xbox. After years of Phil being the steady, approachable face of the brand, this shake-up lands heavy for longtime players.

It’s an end to an era. Xbox Series is transitioning in a tumultuous time of industry shifts and AI trends. As a gamer xbox fan I am both feeling uncertainty to invest in the platform but I am also waiting to see what is going to change.

Why Phil Spencer Mattered to the Gamer

Phil Spencer stood out as one of the most accessible gaming leaders out there, with the longest run steering a major platform like Xbox. From the Xbox One struggles to the turnaround with Game Pass and Acquisition of studios like Bethesda and Activision, his time shaped what Xbox became for a generation of fans for better or worse.

I really enjoy playing my Xbox from Xbox 1 in 2000 Xbox 360 and Xbox One, like Halo Gears and Forza Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden and some indie and JRPGs yes even those found their way from japan.

During Lockdown days turned Xbox into a real lifeline—powering through classics on Xbox One, then losing hours in Game Pass and titles like Final Fantasy XV and Metal Gear Solid V. And Xbox had Mixer a Twitch alternative that got me streaming online, something Xbox was able to pull off tech wise. Despite negatives about the platform Those experiences showed how much the platform could carry people when everything else felt uncertain.

The best moment was watching Xbox during the last E3 2019 announcing Keanu Reeves as a character Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077

(YouTube link)

I really enjoy playing my Xbox from Xbox 1 in 2000 Xbox 360 and Xbox One, like Halo Gears and Forza Dead or Alive, Ninja Gaiden and some indie and JRPGs yes even those found their way from japan.

During Lockdown days turned Xbox into a real lifeline—powering through classics on Xbox One, then losing hours in Game Pass and titles like Final Fantasy XV and Metal Gear Solid V. And Xbox had Mixer a Twitch alternative that got me streaming online, something Xbox was able to pull off tech wise. Despite negatives about the platform Those experiences showed how much the platform could carry people when everything else felt uncertain.

The best moment was watching Xbox during the last E3 2019 announcing Keanu Reeves as a character Johnny Silverhand in Cyberpunk 2077

(YouTube link)

Then there was the promise of Backwards compatability. I sold my xbox 360 off…maybe it was a mistake. I am glad there was some form of way to play the old games and relive the nostalgia.

Phil Spencer really had a hard time of taking over the ailing Xbox one turning it around. Despite the challenged he did push Xbox and the industry forward in some form for better some for worth.

At the heart Phil was a gamer and it showed but I guess it was not enough to make it work at Microsoft.

3 Generations of Xbox CEOS from IGN 201 : Podcast Unlocked

Link to Episode : https://sea.ign.com/xbox-series-x/239004/news/phil-spencer-retiring-sarah-bond-out-matt-booty-promoted-as-microsoft-ai-exec-asha-sharma-named-new

Sarah Bond Departs – The Unexpected Twist

I am guess the successor revealed was not expected. Sarah Bond has been following in Phil Spencer steps working operations and the Xbox business while some did not like her interviews it seem she was being prepped to take over.

We see her in photos on trip to Japan like the recent photo with Phil and FFVII director Naoki Hamaguchi at Square they have been building a lot of relationship with Japan a Sony dominated stronghold.

Sarah Bond seemed like the clear next step even though you might disagree with some of her plans but there was continuity in the multi platform and PC hardware merging with Xbox.

These things are going to be uncertain now and the developers relationships forged I am not so sure now.

New CEO Incoming: Asha Sharma Steps In

Now Asha Sharma steps in as CEO of Microsoft Gaming, coming from the CoreAI side rather than deep gaming roots.

Matt Booty moves up to Chief Content Officer to support the games side. On paper it doesn’t seem like a good fit she does not have that experience in gaming which is a different beast of scaling e-commerce and AI products.

I can only think the board selected her due to her growth success of Instacart which maybe can translate to help grow Game Pass further, weaving in AI where it makes sense, and driving fresh innovation.

As a gamer this does not make sense to me but I want to see what happens I feel that it is now that Microsoft just taking what Phil Spencer did in the past and just replace all the existing plans.

The official letters seem too vague at this point and she will have to convince the core Xbox gamer their future of play or return of Xbox is worth it.

I am also sensing the belt will be tightened and cost checks on Game Pass.

What I’m Grateful For FFVII: Those Japan Ties and One-Console Reality

One bright spot from the Phil/Sarah era that I’m really grateful for: those strong relationships with Japanese developers. Remember the photos of Phil and Sarah in Japan with the Final Fantasy VII team and director Naoki Hamaguchi?

Xbox has been trying to chip away at Sony's stronghold there, and as someone who can really only afford one console in this era of rising prices, getting Final Fantasy VII (and hopefully more JRPGs and big titles) on Xbox means a lot. Though I am not sure going forward they will still look at the Asia Market. Even though PC Xbox app has gained some ground over there.

As a dev I have been to an Xbox briefing in Asia for their plans for pc and Xbox, which was what Sarah Bond and Phil Spencer were doing for next Gen but not I am not so sure if they will follow through and it’s yet to be seen.

My Hopes and Worries Moving Forward

I really hope the games keep flowing to Xbox. Will third-party devs (and especially Japanese studios) still prioritize or support the platform? I hope so.

Looking ahead, I’m cautiously optimistic but also a bit nervous. My biggest hopes for the Asha Sharma era boil down to two things:

1. Great games — Strong first-party titles, continued support for exclusives (or at least timed ones), and keeping that pipeline healthy so Xbox feels exciting again.

2. Xbox hardware — Commitment to consoles, not just cloud/PC. A solid next-gen Xbox that feels like a priority for core players.

What Do You Think?

Is this the start of something fresh for Xbox, or the end of Xbox?

The Original Post was written on CG BOSS Blog: https://cg-boss.com/2026/02/23/waking-up-to-xboxs-new-chapter-goodbye-phil-spencer-sarah-bond-hello-asha-sharma/

Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Been a while as I been some interesting things I came across this week 3 things.

🎮 Game News – 2XKO Layoffs and Horizon criticism

📱 Social Post – State of play MGS4, Silent Hill, God of War

🔎 Interesting Finds – Bonfire announcement PvP Arkheron

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Riot Games 2XKO Layoffs and Horizon Hunters Gathering Monster hunter Live Service

So over at and Riot games is reportedly laying off some of the staff after the game launch to a lackluster response despite a passionate fanbase.

I do like Fighting games but the genre is too niche already within gaming and not as mainstream like FPS Call of Duty or Valorant.

What do you feel about fighting games?

Gamedev Relay

🎮 Riot Fighting Game Is Not Doing Well, Xbox Plans For Next Gen and Nexon Allegedly Working On StarCraft Shooter...

Read more

6 months ago · 13 likes · 5 comments · Alex Stasenko

🔗 Link: riot-games-downsizes-2xko-team-about-80-employees-affected

🔗 Link: Official RIOT Blog Post: https://www.riotgames.com/en/news/an-update-on-2xko

🔗 Reddit riot_lays_off_2xko_developers_less_than_three weeks after lauch ‘Overall momentum hasn’t reached the level needed to support a team of this size’

Horizon Hunters Gathering

Came across some critic of The new Horizon Hunters Gathering my take is it’s nice but the game might not be for the core Horizon fan audience.

I do like the designs and you can watch Sungrand Studio Breakdown about it but as someone liking the original Horizon designs the Tencent Cooy might not be so bad.

🔗Link: CG BOSS Blog : Horizon Hunters Gathering: A Deep Dive into Character Design 🎨🎮

📱Social Post

State of play Metal Gear, Silent Hill God of War and More

I was excited to watch MGS4 is getting a remaster, been a long time since I played it on the PS3.

Some of titles annoucned that I am interested are: Dead or Alive, John Wick and Star Wars Galctic Racer.

Other interesting ones: Resident Evil Requiem, and more Silent Hill and a God of War 2D Side scroller.

Which one was a favorite? Watch the State of Play Replay.

0:00 Welcome to the February 2026 State of Play!
0:12 Kena: Scars of Kosmora
4:09 Ghost of Yotei Legends
5:29 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach PC
6:30 4:LOOP
9:48 Pragmata
11:26 Resident Evil Requiem
14:02 Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered
15:19 Brigandine Abyss
16:20 Dead or Alive 6 Last Round
17:42 Dead or Alive 30th Anniversary Project Announcement
18:34 Control Resonant
21:51 Crimson Moon
23:24 Beast of Reincarnation
25:20 Rayman: 30th Anniversary Edition
26:22 Mina the Hollower
27:00 Neva: Prologue
27:44 Yakoh Shinobi Ops
29:21 Project Windless
32:11 Star Wars: Galactic Racer
33:45 007 First Light
36:35 Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol.2
41:02 Darwin’s Paradox
42:34 Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
45:21 Silent Hill: Townfall
47:48 Rev. NOiR
51:00 Untitled John Wick Game
52:58 Marathon
56:46 Coming Soon to PlayStation Plus
58:53 Saros
01:02:28 Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls
01:06:09 God of War Trilogy Remake
01:08:51 God of War Sons of Sparta
01:10:37 Thanks for Watching!

🔗Links:

https://blog.playstation.com/2026/02/12/state-of-play-february-2026-all-announcements-trailers/

🔎 Interesting Finds

Bonfire announcement PvP Arkheron

Bonfire Games finally came out of stealth mode and announced their new PvP Diablo like game. The lead or FOunder of Bonfire games Rob Pardo (2016) long ago came out of Blizzard to start his own studio but remainded quiet till now.

I hope that they find success and it looks like Diablo x Tower Climbing Game from PS3 I can’t remember… but its fast paced. Looking at the video weapons and skills play an important role in the gameplay.

In this fast-paced, dynamic PvP action game, teams of three battle to ascend a mysterious Tower where items are the heroes - all imbued with powerful abilities that shape your strategy. Loot, build, and adapt your playstyle on the fly. Every choice you make redefines how you fight and who you can become.

🔗Links:

🔗 Official Site https://arkheron.com/

🔗 Steam Page https://store.steampowered.com/app/3333850/Arkheron/

🔗 Gamespot: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/everything-to-know-about-arkheron/1100-6534802/

That’s it thanks for reading this far!

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Been a while as I been some interesting things I came across this week 3 things.

🎮 Game News – Google Genie Tanks Gaming Stocks

📱 Social Post – Highguard Player count is down its not Apex Marketing

🔎 Interesting Finds – FF7 Part 3 will use Unreal Engine 4

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Google Genie Tanks Gaming Stocks

OK over a couple of days back found this on X / Twitter about Google Genie was released and it showed that that they are able to generate a video game.

Well I look at it’s still video with some controls using the frame serving method of diffusion models, but it is not context aware about the world and position of things. But still impressive.

I am not sure how useful it can be but I feel its more of a helper tool and not full game dev factory. Not sure what the investors are thinking pulling out of game stocks.

🔗 Link: Google Genie from Google Labs

📱Social Post

High Guard Marketing Its not Apex Legends

Does the Apex Marketing style work? I am not so sure while Highguard is doing its best to listen to the community and they have updated it with 5v5 I am not sure if it will last long. The marketing this time I am not sure if they do do the same thing like Apex as they had EA helping them. This round was just TGA and Jeff which may have blown it out.

The Highguard Devs were interviewed on The Game Business show to showcase and disccus their game and the new gameplay of a Raid Shooter, but I am not sure if what was discussed on the show can help with the criticism.

I am hoping for a comeback story, the game looks interesting less so for design choices and I hope it won’t go like the Concord.

The Game Business

The Highguard developers on dealing with the hostile reception to its ambitious shooter

Listen now on Apple, Spotify or YouTube…

Listen now

7 months ago · 18 likes · 1 comment · Christopher Dring

🔗Links:

https://www.thegamer.com/highguard-failure-flop-live-service-dead-game-why/

Why Highuard Launch Failure Might work

Why is everybody confused by the Marketing strategy of Highguard ?

🔎 Interesting Finds

Final Fantasy 7 to keep using Unreal 4

Best to stick with what you know? I feel like its a case of it it an’t broke don’t fix it. I feel Unreal 5 still has bugs at the larger level and might take a while to stabilise.

🔗Links:

🔗 Officia Site https://ffvii.square-enix-games.com/en-us/games/remake

🔗 Steam Page https://store.steampowered.com/app/2909400/FINAL_FANTASY_VII_REBIRTH/

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

On with this week 3 things.

🎮 Game News – Ubisoft New Restructure HQ and Game Cancellations

📱 Social Post – Xbox Dev Direct Its Good 25 Years of Xbox

🔎 Interesting Finds – Dead Lock updates 6 New characters and Game Modes

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Ubisoft New Restructure and Game Cancellations

Ubisoft just announced a major reorganization affecting 17,000 employees, with six games cancelled—including the Prince of Persia Remake. The company is consolidating into new "creative houses" while keeping four unannounced IPs in development. Their goal? Profitability within three years.

My Take: I am not sure if the reset will transform to growth in the next few years I do hope they can stabilise. Where I live in Asia there is a Ubisoft Studio, I am not sure if they will close or just restructure.

Here is the breakdown of the new creative houses via games beat

🔗 Link: Games Beat Article: Ubisoft Reorganises with Cancellation of 6 Games

📱Social Post

Xbox Dev Direct Everything Announced

Everyone is discussing fable but did you see Game Freak’s new game Beast of Reincarnation? I find that when the devs break out of pokemon they can do something incredible.

I did read that they had to get outside help for the title so as not to interupt their pokemon dev cycle. But its good to see them doing something else other than pokemon.

I feel Xbox is getting better publishing interesting titles for their platform.

Announced Games:

• Fable - The long-awaited return

• Forza - Racing continues

• Beast of Reincarnation - Game Freak’s bold departure from Pokémon

• Klin - New IP worth watching

Recap:

Full Dev Direct from Xbox

🔗Links:

Fable Details Xbox Wire

Game Freak Beast of Reincarnation

🔎 Interesting Finds

Deadlock’s six new heroes: Silver, REM, Graves, Apollo, Venator, and Celeste

It has been a while since I checked out Deadlock as Valve is still I shared in a post about the lore and like the setting of Noir Fantasy and magic.

However the game is still in early development and no release date. Here are the updates of the new Game Mode and Characters

The all-new 4v4 game mode Street Brawl

For those looking for a shorter Deadlock experience, look no further. Valve has finally added a new 4v4 game mode to Deadlock entitled Street Brawl, allowing players to finally engage in faster-paced battles using the game’s existing roster. This mode comes with a few changes to Deadlock’s regular gameplay loop.

First off, the mode will allow players to battle it out in a best-of-five match, with each round taking only a couple of minutes to complete. With this faster pace, Valve has opted to also streamline the shopping system. Now, players will choose from a random set of items, adding three items to their inventory per round.

Each round will see players begin with equal resources at their disposal, discouraging farming. Enhanced or Legendary items may also appear during the match.

Completely redesigned Patrons

Deadlock’s final objectives, the Patrons, are getting a complete makeover. Each of the two Patrons now boasts an incredibly compelling visual design, a new moniker, and some lore to go with the redesign. On one end of the map, players will find the Hidden King, described as such:

“The stretching shadow of a skyscraper... a boarded-up apartment in Hell’s Kitchen... The Hidden King exists in the cracks of the city, waiting for his followers to usher him into the light.”

On the other end, players will find the Archmother, described as such:

“Glass, steel and stone... Order and power where once there was none… The Archmother has always guided the founders’ hands, and now it is time for them to welcome her home.”

More changes in Deadlock’s new update

This update goes well beyond a few new heroes and Patron redesigns. Other changes include UI improvements for the HUD, in-game chat, and overall visibility, along with a revamped postgame with an MVP scoring system and match summary. The settings have also been reworked, with an FOV slider and more reticle options.

🔗Links:

🔗

🔗 Officia Site https://www.playdeadlock.com/oldgods

🔗 Steam Page https://store.steampowered.com/app/1422450/Deadlock/

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/deadlock-just-received-a-huge-update-with-6-new-heroes-overhauled-patrons-and-a-new-game-mode-and-it-was-all-predicted-with-dominos-pizza/

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Happy New year,

On with this week 3 things.

🎮 Game News – Xbox Dev Direct 26 In a few days,

Layoffs, Ubisoft, Meta, Major Nelson at Unity.

📱 Social Post – Rumor StarCraft Ghost Shooter Might return

🔎 Interesting Finds – Shift Up using AI to Compete

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

XBOX Dev Direct ‘26

Xbox Dev Direct is happening next week and its going to kick of with these confirmed games

Confirmed Games

• Forza

• Fable

• Beast of Reincarnation

Rumored Games

• Gears of War: E-Day — Update or teaser, leveraging Unreal Engine 5.

• State of Decay 3 — New survival gameplay footage.

• Less likely mentions: Clockwork Revolution, a new Halo project from Certain Affinity, or other first-party updates.

Link:

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/01/08/xbox-developer-direct-2026/

More Layoffs

Wrote on the blog some notes of the latest round of Layoffs. Sad to see another round this year at the start of 2026.

The gaming and tech industries kicked off 2026 with more tough news on the layoffs front. Longtime Xbox icon Larry Hryb (Major Nelson) was laid off from Unity after just 18 months, where he rebuilt their community and advocacy efforts—he shared the update gracefully, expressing pride in his team’s achievements and excitement for what’s next. Ubisoft announced another round of cuts, eliminating around 55 roles at Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft Stockholm amid ongoing cost reductions, even as work continues on The Division franchise. Meanwhile, Meta is slashing roughly 1,500 positions (about 10% of its Reality Labs division), closing studios like Twisted Pixel, Sanzaru, and Armature, as it pivots away from heavy metaverse focus toward AI and wearables. These changes highlight the persistent challenges in gaming and immersive tech—heartfelt sympathy to everyone impacted; here’s hoping for brighter, more stable days ahead in the year.

🔗 Links:

Blog: https://wp.me/pjAJM-3Cg

📱Social Post

Starcraft Ghost Shooter

Ryan Ward over at Linkedin discuss in a post that this year Blizzcon Might see a Starcraft Ghost Reveal. If that is true Its about time they try it again. Previously When Blizzard Was under Activision Executives were afraid it might compete internally with Call of Duty thus Shelved. Now Microsoft owns BLizzard so maybe this time they might ry again?

🔗Links:

Ryan Ward Linkedin

🔎 Interesting Finds

Shift Up using AI to compete with China 🇨🇳 vast manpower

Stellar Blade director and Shift Up CEO Hyung-tae Kim says AI is essential to combat SK’s manpower crunch and rival China’s 1,000-2,000 devs per game (vs. their 150), ensuring quality/volume competitiveness—especially with 80% revenue overseas and birth rates shrinking future talent. At a gov’t economic conference, he noted AI lets “1 person do the work of 100.”

🔗Links:

🔗 ign

🔗 https://automaton-media.com/en/news/stellar-blade-director-says-using-ai-will-be-essential-for-competing-with-overwhelming-manpower-of-china-and-us-developers/

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Happy New year,

On with this week 3 things.

Game News some predictions by Deconstructor of Fun I do thing some are interesting for the year ahead.

AI in Game Dev but reactions of it are varied. Level 5 CEO already came out discussing use of the technology in games. Time Saver maybe Artistic Creativity and Innovation? Yet to be seen. Cygames started an AI Studio and Hooded Horse CEO hates AI.

🎮 Game News – 12 predictions 2026

📱 Social Post – No Ai from Hooded Horse Publisher, Level 5 CEO defends AI, CyGames AI studio backlash

🔎 Interesting Finds – kingdom Hearts Like Fan Game ‘Luminous Nights’

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Deconstructor of Fun prefictions

I do think the trends of inide Rising and Mayybe the AI Bubble Pop might be plausible? Steam Machines might be a dud but it could be due to high ram prices its a neat concept but price trends might not make it as successful. GTA6 eveyone is waiting for that game it sure will be phenomenal and super succesful when it launches.

Here are the 12 Predictions just for fun from Deconstructor of Fun.

1. The AI Bubble Pops and Resets Everything

2. VCs Are Out, Publishers Are In

3. PC Indie Accelerates as Mobile Funding Dries Up

4. Business-Minded Developers Flee to Apps

5. Chinese Developers Eat Turkish Puzzle’s Lunch

6. Mobile Growth Stalls at 2-4% as Maturity Sets In

7. UA Finance Gets Commoditized: Winners Emerge

8. First $100M+ Roblox Studio Acquisition

9. (First) Steam Machine Launches with a Thud

10. Xbox Announces Another Major Restructuring

11. Sony Unveils a Handheld and Continues Dominating

12. GTA 6 Drives Console Double-Digit Growth

🔗 Links:

https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2025/12/31/12-gaming-predictions-for-2026

📱Social Post

Hooded Horse CEO Hates AI

Well looks like someone disliked AI in games. I do think the issue with AI is that its currently trained on copyrighted material.

I am not sure if there are existing contracts can enforce the Ban for their games affected but going forward this AI is already a divisive issue in development.

Tim Bender, the CEO of Manor Lords publisher Hooded Horse, says generative AI is "cancerous" and he doesn't want to deal with it.

🔗Links:

https://kotaku.com/hooded-horse-gen-ai-art-ban-4x-strategy-steam-2000658179

Level 5 CEO defends AI and ask to stop demonizing AI

AI is being used by game companies just we don’t know. Based on Level 5 CEO Quote Game companies will be inclined to use AI this year in their development.

On December 26, Hino posted a lengthy response to the online “commotion surrounding AI” and the spreading of a past interview on social media that followed in the wake of Clair Obscur losing an award over its usage of the tech. According to Hino, “many game companies” are using AI these days, but not all of them are making it public. He also dismissed the claims that Level-5 is using genAI to write 80 percent or more of the code in the company’s games.

🔗Links:

https://kotaku.com/professor-layton-boss-wants-people-to-stop-demonizing-generative-ai-2000655721

https://cg-boss.com/2026/01/11/level-5-and-ai-usage-in-game-development/

CyGames AI Studio

Another compnay starts using Gen AI for thie Anime Style Games. Already on the Manga side an AI Manga has won some awards. But fans already are questioning if AI and Creativity can go together.

Cygames announced Cygames AI Studio on January 9, 2026, a Tokyo-based subsidiary launched in December 2025 to develop safe AI tools that enhance creators' work using the company's game expertise. Fans reacted with anger, fearing job losses for artists and soulless art from stolen data training, especially after a rival producer criticized low-quality AI output. While some defend it as supportive tools rather than replacements, the uproar highlights tensions in a community that prizes human-crafted visuals.

🔗Links: https://x.com/i/trending/2009501888060748153?s=20

https://cygames.ai/en/

🔎 Interesting Finds

Kingdom Hearts Like Game Luminous Nights

Saw this on X after seeing a technical video on how the PS2 renders the Kingdom hearts graphics there is something about the shading and style of the PS2 Era that makes these cartoon like games fun to watch.

The creator YahyaDanboos has been making a Kingdom Hearts Inspired Game for 3 yeras and it captures the feel of the games of that era.

🔗Links:

🔗 Wishlist on Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/1949610/Luminous_Nights/

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@YahyaDanboos/videos

X: https://x.com/YahyaDanboos/

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

Christmas Holiday Break soon and Happy Holidays, On with this week 3 Things newsletter that I came across .

The Game Awards gets D based on Geoff Polls. I did not watch the awards just read through the announcements.

Some interesting games did show up like Star Wars FATES and a Street Fighter Movie.

On with this week 3 things.

🎮 Game News – The Game Awards gets a D

📱 Social Post – Street Fighter Movie and Star Wars Fates in 2030?

🔎 Interesting Finds – Is your Game Idea Good?

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

The Game Awards gets a D

Geoff Keighly did a poll for the game awards and the results show it was a D and Below. Not sure what happened but is it the muppets or the Concord like game High Guard? What do you think was it too long or just too many filler content?

Personally I wait to see the clips and announcements. I know Geoff has to pay off the stage used but still I wonder if they could make it 2.5 Hours?

What do you think of this year game awards?

🔗 Links:

https://80.lv/articles/the-game-awards-2025-leaves-a-bad-taste-in-viewers-mouths

📱Social Post

Star Wars Fates and Street Fighter Movie

Street Fighter Movie (Kick Sound)

Not sure it looks worse than the Van Damme one But I am liking the corniess of the movie. Its decent I guess for live action but I am not sure if they can do as well as Sonic or Mario oh well we will see. Not expecting it to win awards and its most likely something for the fans of Fighting Games to celebrate.

X Link to Trailer and Comments:

https://x.com/Street_Fighter/status/1999301174953144813

🔗Links: IGN: https://www.ign.com/videos/street-fighter-official-sneak-peek-2026-movie-the-game-awards-2025

Star Wars FATE of the Old Republic

So a new star wars game was announced at the game awards but here’s the thing its not really in development full on and will according to online speculation come out in 2030. Hoefully.

I remembered playing KOTOR on the old orginal Xbox but I can’t remember much of the story or world I do look forward to something other than the skywalker saga.

I am hoping that it can be done before 2030 that I am not getting any younger and it will probably be on the PS6 or Xbox *Whaterver* if they MS gets to make another console.

🔗Links:

• https://www.fanthatracks.com/news/gaming/star-wars-fate-of-the-old-republic-will-arrive-before-2030-hopefully/

🔎 Interesting Finds

How to know your game idea works

Thought this video was a good reminder that Idea do matter. But the truth is even with marketing data on what works you can’t really know.

Some ideas mention were to use social media to test game ideas maybe make some mock trailers to see responses?

The video is from Codecks a JIRA Trello like software for game project management and tracking projects.

Return to Game Frameworks

🔗Links:

🔗 Codecks Website

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

On with this week 3 Things newsletter that I came across .

I have relaunched old gaming blog and plan to share via substack, since substack is going the social media route, thought better have some exit strategy in case it changes too much. I am still going to be here for now.

I still am waiting for the video games catergory to be added to

On with this week 3 things.

🎮 Game News – Steam Machines is back valve can count to 3 new hardware announcements and won.

📱 Social Post – Cuff Busted the 100K Wishlist Wasted

🔎 Interesting Finds – Will Follow the Light A Realistic Sailing Game

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Valve counted to 3 and won with the Steam Machine, Steam Frame and Steam Controller

Gabecube wins.

A lot has been said on substack and else where about the steam machine and hardware announcement.

One thing that has me excited and intrigued is for develoeprs that means you could build your game app once and deploy to Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame (If you have a VR mode). Publish once and play anywhere.

Read more at the blog:

https://cg-boss.com/2025/11/18/rise-of-steam-machines-why-devs-should-take-notice/

🔗 Links:

Wishlist Steam Hardware

📱Social Post

Cuff Busted the 100K Wishlist

I came across the report from CodeMoney about CUFFBUST a game made by Choo Choo Charles Create did not do so well despite having 100K Wishlist. I guess its a cautionary tale of having enough content to launch.

Here is a very interesting story, a cautionary tale, of a game that had everything going for it but ended up being a massive flop.

This is the story of CUFFBUST, a game that got a very valuable free slot during Summer Game Fest, it gathered 100k wishlists before release, it had a lot of hype with tons of streamers dying to play it, it’s by the same developer that did the massively successful Choo Choo Charles ($7 million). And last week it came out to Very Negative reviews.

…

With 100k wishlists you have basically guaranteed success, but look at this game for a cautionary tale to remember how you still need to deliver and not to let the hype get to your head and become overly greedy with pricing and DLC. This game had everything going for it to make millions and millions of dollars, and perhaps it will still find success but it makes me wonder what could have been.

The excellent Jonas Tyroller has an interview with the dev behind Cuffbust that was published a few months ago. It’s a very interesting video and even more interesting now in hindsight. What he mentions at 1:05:00 might explain everything that happened with this launch.

via GameDev Report

🔗 Links:

Game Dev Report How to Waste 100K wishlist

https://gamedevreport.beehiiv.com/p/how-to-waste-100k-wishlists-and-billions-wiped-out-by-steam

🔎 Interesting Finds

Will Follow the Light

This came up in X Ads, Got to be the most realistic sailing game made for Steam. I like the realism presented of this “Walking Simulator x Sailing” with Story Driven elements and Adventure Puzzles by Tomorrow Head Studios.

Game Description:

WILL: Follow The Light is a story-driven, first-person adventure puzzle game about a perilous personal journey through the harsh northern latitudes. To find peace and reunite with his family, Will must sail across endless waters, face numerous challenges, and ultimately discover himself.

X

🔗Links:

🔗 Wishlist on Steam

🔗X Official

[ https://x.com/WILL_TheGame ]

All Link Developer

That’s it thanks for reading this far!

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Got this info through Facebook of all places and there was a cryptic messaged from the Creator. Tomonbu Itagaki passed away at age 58.

The elegaic Facebook post was written by Itagaki to be shared in the event of his death. An English translation was later shared by his compatriot and rival Katsuhiro Harada:

Words I Leave Behind

The flame of my life is finally about to go out.

If this message has been posted, it means that the time has come. I am no longer in this world.

(This final post has been entrusted to someone dear to me.)

My life was a series of battles. And I kept on winning.

I know I caused trouble for many along the way.

But I followed my convictions and fought to the very end.

I have no regrets.

Only one thing weighs on me — I’m deeply sorry to all my fans that I couldn’t bring you a new work. I truly am.

That’s just how it is.

So it goes.

Banobu Itagaki

I am sad to see him go had a lot of fun playing his games on Xbox. I read he was trying to restart development on another game with his new company Itagaki Games but that was shut down. He is sorry to his fans that he could not publish another work.

Remembering DOA and Ninja Gaiden

I remembered playing Dead or Alive Ultimate on my Xbox (The Duke) and later Ninja Gaiden. It was such an action ride Itagaki san brought us on. I felt that his games were hard and it made me want to try and beat it. He never made it easy but he believed the player can.

While he is controversial and has very strong views on action games I appreciate the gameplay and hard difficulty. He also managed to port the same difficulty of Ninja Gaiden to the Ninja Gaiden DS Game.

The Games he made

I remembered Ninja Gaiden you need to coordinate and time the attacks on the enemies, plus the eenemies in NG2 were not stagnant they attacked you even after being severed..

Dead or Alive was great to easy to get in but hard to master. I know he had some arguments with then Tekken Game Design and Characters. But somehow DOA had a strong following when he helmed the series.

Unfortunately I did not play Devil’s Third his Wii U Game which has been taken down.

He was also the one of the few Japanese that supported an American Company during Xbox and XBOX 360 Era. Which is unusual give how popular SONY Playstation was at that time.

I am not sure if these old games can still be played or bought

Final Farewell

He is probably up there in Valhalla right now enjoying a drink and smoke. I bid him farewell and thank you for those good memories through your games.

Here are the series of trailers from his games:

Ninja Gaiden 2 Xbox 360 and 2002 E3 Trailer

Dead or Alive

Funny Times

IGN: https://sea.ign.com/dead-or-alive-6/234215/news/dead-or-alive-and-ninja-gaiden-2004-creator-tomonobu-itagaki-dies-aged-58-fans-react-to-final-messag

Itagaki Games shutdown

https://medium.com/@gameeelsofficial/itagaki-games-shut-down-43a1345a479e

Games Industry:

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/legendary-developer-tomonobu-itagaki-creator-of-dead-or-alive-and-ninja-gaiden-2004-has-died

Gematsu

https://www.gematsu.com/2025/10/tomonobu-itagaki-dies-at-age-58

Hi There Gamers and Devs,

On with this week 3 Things newsletter that I came across . I am also in the process of restarting my old gaming blog to share via substack.

🎮 Game News – EA Goes Private for $55 Billion with Investors

📱 Social Post – Nintendo patent Game Dev lose rights to make monster catching games?

🔎 Interesting Finds – Prey 2 Demo Leaks

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

EA SOLD

EA gets sold for 55 Billion while less than the Activision x Blizzard Deal (~$69 Billion). My hope is through change it might result in better game design since it’s going private and not reporting to shareholders.

There is a lot of professional analysts talking about this deal but one 1️⃣ thing they miss is how EA went from software artists to factory 🏭 makers of software.

I do recommend Joseph Kim podcast and Substack that delves into the game making part of the deal and how it’s affected.

I like his analysis of both the buyer and seller side of things and one important thing he mentioned is that gaming today is one of the big mediums in the attention economy (VOD, Social Media, Games). So for Saudi their option left is to get into gaming to transform their economy from oil, as a viable medium for culture.

Key Takeaways via Bloomberg

• Electronic Arts Inc. has agreed to sell itself to a group of investors that includes a firm managed by Jared Kushner and Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in the largest leveraged buyout on record.

• The deal values the video-game company at about $55 billion, with the investors agreeing to pay $210 per share in cash, a 25% premium to where EA traded before the talks leaked.

• The sale will be funded with cash from the consortium partners, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF will roll over its existing 9.9% stake in the company, bringing the total equity investment of about $36 billion.

Other Analysts on this

The Game Business

About that EA deal…

Listen now on Apple, Spotify or YouTube…

Listen now

10 months ago · 14 likes · Christopher Dring

Deconstructor of Fun #351

Youtubers:

EA Buyout explained

Bloomberg

🔗 Links:

Reddit EA Goes Private

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/ea-goes-private-in-55b-megadeal-6627476/

Jason Schrier Article

Bloomberg Article

📱Social Post

Nintendo Patent Law on Monster Catching Games

The internet was a buzz last week with the Nintendo patent, on the kinds of games you can make based on popular Pokemon Catching Games and Riding Games.

I do believe this is a response to Palworld Lawsuit to keep things in Nintendo land.

I am not an expert but I tried to find on YT what other analyst think.

My own thought is just make the game but not make it too close to Nintendo style.

🔗Links:

• MinnMax New Show + WB Games Patent

🔎 Interesting Finds

Prey 2 Demo leak again Oh What it could have been

Via Game Dev Relay

I saw that Prey 2 the orignal game idea by Human head and not Arkane got another set of leaks. This time with some of the first game play levels of the Space Bounty Hunter game

I do think its an interesting concept to continue the story but some of the design and gameplay choices were dated back to 2013. So it might not work with this era style of modern gameplay.

Wish it came out.

Gamedev Relay

🎮 Cancelled Prey 2 Gameplay, Ubisoft On The Future of Rayman and Call of Duty Movie is Now Official...

Hello friends…

Read more

a year ago · 24 likes · 10 comments · Alex Stasenko

Old Game Demos

Links:

🔗 PC Gamer Article

[ https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/leaked-prey-2-development-footage-shows-scifi-bounty-hunter-gameplay-that-our-cold-and-uncaring-universe-continues-to-deny-us/ ]

🔗 Reddit

[ https://www.reddit.com/r/GamingLeaksAndRumours/comments/1n6zcc8/prey_2_development_videos_leaked/ ]

That’s it thanks for reading this far!

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Hi There Gamers and Devs,

On with this week 3 Things newsletter that I came across

🎮 Game News – LEGO Batman, Halo ODST in Helldivers 2

📱 Social Post – 10 Habits Making Better Games (Andrew Chambers Design)

🔎 Interesting Finds – Spielberg Call of duty

Lets Go!

🎮Game News

Some interesting gaming news from games com I see online the LEGO Batman has been popular online and its an open world adventure game taking cues from Rocksteady Batman Arkham games. Quite strange that a game set in LEGO theme is popular these days. I do enjoy playing LEGO Games it has such a fun appeal,

Halo is having a collab with Helldivers this is one cross over that needs to happen long ago with Xbox version selling well too I see it as a way to promote future halo games.

LEGO Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight Trailer (Gamescom)

Halo ODST x Helldivers 2

The Shortcut

Halo is finally coming to PS5 – but not how you think

Read more

a year ago · 4 likes · Reece Bithrey

🔗 Links:

🕹️ Steam

• LEGO Batman https://store.steampowered.com/app/2215200/LEGO_Batman_Legacy_of_the_Dark_Knight/

📱Social Post

10 Easy Habits to Be A Better Game Developer

Andrew Chambers Design came with another video this time on some tips to make better games. I do like np. 2 to chop down the biggest feature first.

When videos have a list of topics, I always want a list of the timecodes. So I made one!

0:50 1. Know why you're doing it

1:58 2. Chop down the biggest tree first

3:52 3. Take intentional breaks

4:46 4. Identify your core mechanic

5:55 5. Dedicate focused time

6:48 6. Make it modular

8:24 7. Don't stop prototyping

9:31 8. Spreadsheets rule

10:41 9. Steal ideas (really)

12:02 10. Keep daily lists

🔗Links:

• [ https://www.youtube.com/@AndrewChambersDesign ]

🔎 Interesting Finds

A Spielberg Call of Duty?

Sounds like a missed opportunity but maybe its all about who gets creative control. Looks like Activision gave a pass to Spielberg to direct a Call of Duty Movie and going with the studio that made the Halo Movie

"Imagine turning down the guy who made Saving Private Ryan to go with the studio responsible for the Halo show," reads the top comment on the CoD subreddit's post about the decision. That's probably a little unfair on Paramount, not least because Spielberg is credited as an executive producer on the Halo show.

https://x.com/culturecrave/status/1963853344101085411?s=46

🔗Links:

🕹️

[ https://www.pcgamer.com/movies-tv/steven-spielberg-reportedly-wanted-to-direct-the-call-of-duty-movie-but-activision-didnt-want-to-give-up-creative-control-imagine-turning-down-the-guy-who-made-saving-private-ryan/ ]

[ https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/steven-spielberg-call-of-duty-film-report ]

That’s it thanks for reading this far!

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