Today online communications platform Discord rolled out a new set of features and company strategy showcasing a new (but familiar) direction after a year of pandemic-adjacent growth.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381358/Discord_shows_off_Stages_discoverability_features_push_for_inclusivity.php

The pandemic-era trend of all-remote studios with triple-A alumni forges onward. Today a band of Epic Games & Blizzard Entertainment alumni announced the formation of Lightforge Games, a new all-remote studio dedicated to “changing how RPGs are played”

In a press release, CEO Matt Schrembi states that Lightforge Games has begun development on a cross-platform social video game where players “have the power to create worlds and tell stories with unprecedented freedom.”

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381349/Epic_Blizzard_alums_gather_to_form_allremote_studio_Lightforge_Games.php

Digital game marketplace and community Itch.io has announced its first Creator Day event for May 14, and will forgo its usual cut of game sales on the platform for the entire day as a celebration of its community.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381428/Itchios_first_Creator_Day_gives_devs_100_of_game_revenue_for_24_hours.php

https://itch.io/blog/252069/announcing-the-first-itchio-creator-day

Turkish mobile studio Ace Games has raised $7 million in seed funding to continue making casual and hyper casual titles.

As reported by TechCrunch, the Mix and Drink and Prison Life developer currently operates two studios and is currently working on a new casual 'hybrid puzzle' title that's due to launch globally in 2022.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381113/Turkish_mobile_studio_Ace_Games_raises_7_million_to_develop_new_casual_titles.php

 By Chris Kerr

Wolfire Games founder David Rosen claims they had "no choice" but to take legal action against Valve after the Steam creator allegedly began interfering with pricing on other storefronts.

The Overgrowth developer filed an antitrust lawsuit against Valve in April after taking issue with the "extraordinarily high cut of revenue" it takes from Steam developers. The lawsuit also called out Valve for allegedly using Steam to create an "unassailable" monopoly on PC game distribution.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381110/Wolfire_Games_founder_I_had_no_choice_but_to_file_Steam_antitrust_lawsuit_against_Valve.php

By Chris Kerr

Wolfire Games founder David Rosen claims they had "no choice" but to take legal action against Valve after the Steam creator allegedly began interfering with pricing on other storefronts.

The Overgrowth developer filed an antitrust lawsuit against Valve in April after taking issue with the "extraordinarily high cut of revenue" it takes from Steam developers. The lawsuit also called out Valve for allegedly using Steam to create an "unassailable" monopoly on PC game distribution.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381110/Wolfire_Games_founder_I_had_no_choice_but_to_file_Steam_antitrust_lawsuit_against_Valve.php

By Chris Kerr

The organizers behind this year's virtual E3 have announced a handful of high-profile game makers that'll be in attendance at E3 2021 this June.

Given that E3 was undertaking an uphill battle to maintain its relevance in the eyes of companies like PlayStation before the COVID-19 pandemic, it's curious to see which studios are interested in using the first all-digital version of the once-landmark yearly event as a platform for their own announcements.

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/381052/Square_Enix_Gearbox_Sega_and_more_confirm_E3_2021_presence.php

By Alissa McAloon

Microsoft debated reducing revenue share on consoles as well as PC

Only weeks after chatting with Microsoft about a potential sale, Discord has forged a partnership with Sony and landed a minor investment from the PlayStation company in the process.

 original story By Alissa McAloon

https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/380790/Sony_invests_in_Discord_plans_to_integrate_Discord_into_PSN_next_year.php

Minecraft modders peddling wares through the game's official mod marketplace have made a combined $350 million off of their creations since the Mojang-sanctioned portal went live in 2017.