Games Industry Executive Summary

In this episode, we cover Nintendo’s confirmation of backward compatibility for the upcoming Switch 2, Alan Wake 2’s financial update, and Faker leading T1 to a new League of Legends title. We’ll also dive into Pokémon TCG Pocket’s $12 million debut, Atari’s Transport Tycoon acquisition, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered’s disappointing launch. Plus, Valorant gains ground in anti-cheat efforts, and we look at the latest rumors of a Fortnite x Super Mario crossover.

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In this episode, we cover the closure of Sony's Concord studio and The Sims 4’s remarkable milestone of gaining 15 million new players over the past year. We discuss Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 setting Game Pass subscription records, Ubisoft’s first blockchain game with pricey NFTs, and Nintendo’s new music streaming app. Also on the agenda: Germany’s gaming start-up grant, an Oregon Trail movie adaptation, and a new Outlast film. Plus, we unpack PS5 sales trends, indie boxing game Undisputed hitting 1 million copies, and the latest in political gaming outreach, including Tim Walz’s Crazy Taxi Twitch stream and Kamala Harris in Fortnite.

Learn more about the Mighty Diamonds at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mighty.Diamonds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to the Games Industry Executive Summary at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mightydiamonds.substack.com

In this episode, we dive into Netflix's shutdown of its AAA “Team Blue” SoCal gaming studio and the surprising resurgence of DayZ and Factorio on Steam’s top charts. We also explore the latest gaming innovations, like playing Teardown in third person and Remedy Entertainment’s first multiplayer game, FBC Firebreak, set for a 2025 release. We'll discuss Arma 4’s 2027 arrival, Tencent's Delta Force: Hawk Ops launching in beta this December, and the cancellation of early access for Assassin's Creed Shadows. Tune in for industry trends, including concerns over a "collapse of creativity" and updates from Epic’s new Fab marketplace. Plus, we’ll cover rumors of a potential MMO on Switch Online and Crow Country's indie success.

In this episode, we dive into the news of ReFantazio hitting 1 million copies sold in under a day, while Silent Hill 2 Remake and Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero also break records. We explore Destiny: Rising, the latest mobile RPG shooter set in Bungie’s iconic universe, and look ahead to EA’s plans for open-world gameplay in future EA FC titles. Plus, Oblivion's controversial horse armor DLC reflects on past missteps, Bandai Namco faces cuts, and whispers of a Game Freak hack are circulating. Finally, we celebrate big wins for Resident Evil 4 and It Takes Two, with sales figures that solidify their places in gaming history.

In this episode, we explore 343 Industries’ rebranding as Halo Studios and its move to Unreal Engine, along with Epic’s court victory forcing Google to open up Android to third-party stores. We also cover the long-awaited Alien Isolation sequel, Tetris and Clue coming to Fortnite, and the upcoming PC release of Red Dead Redemption. Plus, we dive into trends like Sega’s Shinobi movie announcement and the surprise success of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. Tune in for rumors of an Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake and insights into Detroit: Become Human’s 10 million sales milestone.

In this episode, Ubisoft’s CEO addresses the challenge of meeting players' high expectations following Star Wars Outlaws, while Epic’s Tim Sweeney discusses the generational shift in gaming. We also cover Epic lowering Unreal Engine royalty fees, Krafton’s new Palworld mobile game, and the continued dominance of GTA 5 in the charts. Plus, we dive into Disney’s Fortnite deal, Devolver Digital's work on licensed games, and the latest gaming trends. Tune in for rumors about Horizon Online and a breakdown of the numbers behind Football Manager 24’s record-breaking success.

In this episode, the guys dive into the delayed release of Assassin’s Creed Shadows, they also get to discuss the controversial decision to require PSN login for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered PC, and the highly anticipated announcement of Ghost of Tsushima’s sequel.

Other major news includes the remastered release of Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, and NBA 2K25’s removal of VC packs in South Korea due to new regulations. DON’T NOD is reassessing its future after underwhelming sales of Jusant and Banishers.

The guys go on a rant discussing towers in open worlds games and Listeners will also hear about Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive’s new partnership with the creators of Darkest Dungeon, the identity crisis facing the Final Fantasy franchise, and mixed Steam reviews for God of War Ragnarök due to its PSN login requirement.

In this episode, the guys explore the latest in gaming news, beginning with Palworld's success as a potential model for indie developers, despite the developer facing a lawsuit from Nintendo for patent infringement. They also cover Grand Theft Auto V's new anti-cheat system that has disrupted online play on Steam Deck, and EA's decision to update the Sims franchise with multiplayer, ending speculation about Sims 5.

The discussion continues with Skate set to launch in early access in 2025, Unity dropping its unpopular per-install fee, and Sony reportedly choosing AMD over Intel for the PS6.

The episode wraps up with rumors of Red Dead Redemption 1 finally arriving on PC, and analysis of Xbox Series X/S sales falling short of the PS5, as experts predict strong sales for the upcoming PS5 Pro.

The gang is back and in this episode Casey, Manu and Dave get to discuss Astro Bot finally being PlayStation's mascot, exploring its potential influence on the video game industry. They also break down the internet’s reaction to the PS5 Pro’s hefty $700 price tag.

They dive into Roblox’s new AI tool for generating 3D game worlds from text and its plan to allow developers to sell premium titles. Plus, they cover the latest Call of Duty and Destiny 2 updates, including Destiny's shift towards Metroidvania and roguelike elements. The team also discusses Ubisoft's decision to add offline modes to The Crew following an EU consumer rights campaign.

Some insights on Ubisoft’s investor pressure to go private, shifting AMD strategies, and reactions to the first Minecraft Movie trailer. Lastly, layoffs at Xbox and Embracer Group, and rumors swirling around a potential GTA 6 delay.

This week, Casey and Manu delve into Sony’s decision to take Concord offline, ceasing sales and issuing refunds. They also explore reports that Tencent and NetEase are scaling back investments in Japanese game studios.

The discussion continues with a look at Ubisoft’s muted reception for Star Wars Outlaws, challenges faced by Dune: Awakening on Xbox Series S, and the indefinite delay of the Enotria on Xbox. Additionally, Hideo Kojima reflects on the 9th anniversary of Metal Gear Solid 5, and Capcom’s mobile Resident Evil games take another hit.

The guys also analyze Roblox's crazy size, the rise of non-English languages on Steam, and the potential for game price hikes with the upcoming GTA 6.

Learn more about the Mighty Diamonds at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mighty.Diamonds⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to the Games Industry Executive Summary at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mightydiamonds.substack.com