The Weekly Download

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• Highguard will shut down after less than 2 months
• Metacritic pulls an AI-generated Resident Evil: Requiem review 
• Sony retreats from PC publishing 

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Megan, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/3-months-after-closing-the-game-awards-highguard-is-officially-shutting-down/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-fewer-than-20-staff-remain-at-highguard-dev-wildlight-entertainment
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/metacritic-pulls-resident-evil-requiem-review-after-reports-it-was-generated-by-ai-and-attributed-to-a-writer-that-doesnt-exist
• https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/02/sony-quietly-decided-to-scale-back-pc-ports-last-year-insider-claims
• https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/03/resident-evil-requiem-has-already-sold-over-5-million-copies
• https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/more-than-800-gamers-took-an-exam-to-prove-they-could-complete-an-80s-adventure-game-without-peeking-at-a-walkthrough-and-only-2-passed/

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond are leaving Xbox
• Xbox faces "no pressure from Microsoft" to use AI, says new leadership
• Why Xbox’s corporate shake-up matters for everyone who plays games

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/report-phil-spencer-and-samantha-bond-leaving-xbox
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/xbox-faces-no-pressure-from-microsoft-to-use-ai-says-new-leadership
• https://www.theguardian.com/games/2026/feb/25/all-change-at-the-head-of-xbox-what-will-this-mean-for-the-future-of-its-games
• https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/02/resident-evil-requiem-leakers-deserve-a-thousand-deaths-says-hideki-kamiya
• https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/02/rumour-sony-apparently-has-gran-turismo-running-on-switch-2-just-dont-expect-to-see-it

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• EA Sports FC commentator gives permission for AI voice to record lines
• ByteDance reportedly in talks to sell Moonton Technology to Savvy Games
• Highguard developer was secretly backed by Tencent

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ea-sports-fc-commentator-lets-ea-use-an-ai-version-of-his-voice-to-record-some-lines-its-revealed/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/bytedance-reportedly-in-advanced-talks-to-sell-mobile-legends-dev-moonton-technology-to-savvy-games-for-over-6bn
• https://thisweekinvideogames.com/news/highguard-developer-was-secretly-backed-by-tencent-report/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/devcat-opens-publishing-arm-to-support-cozy-and-wholesome-projects
• https://automaton-media.com/en/interviews/final-fantasy-7-remakes-nintendo-switch-2-release-was-from-a-technical-standpoint-only-possible-with-game-key-cards-director-naoki-hamaguchi-explains-why/
• https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/videogames-are-losing-in-the-war-for-attention-analyst-says-many-of-the-industrys-biggest-markets-are-spending-less-time-on-gaming/

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• Ubisoft workers strike in response to recent restructuring
• Wildlight Entertainment has laid off "most" of its development team just two weeks after the launch of their hero shooter Highuard. 
• Discord announces age verification will be required for all users from March

Hosted by industry experts James and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/at-least-1200-ubisoft-workers-strike-in-response-to-recent-restructuring
• https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/02/most-of-highguards-dev-team-laid-off-just-two-weeks-after-live-service-shooters-launch
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/discord-announces-age-verification-will-be-required-for-all-users-from-march
• https://www.gamespot.com/articles/uwe-boll-is-making-his-own-new-house-of-the-dead-movie-and-wants-you-to-pay-for-it/1100-6538061/
• https://www.gamespot.com/articles/millions-more-watched-the-game-awards-2025-than-super-bowl-60-apparently/1100-6538099/
• https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mewgenics-makes-back-its-budget-in-just-180-minutes/1100-6538080/?mc_cid=6654fac1de&mc_eid=UNIQID

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• Google unveils AI game engine called Project Genie
• Valve delays the Steam Machine, citing rising RAM/SSD costs and global shortages
• PS5 and Switch 2 both suffer decline in holiday sales despite positive outlook

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/google-rolls-out-prototype-of-project-genie-an-ai-tool-which-generates-playable-worlds/
• https://www.eurogamer.net/game-companies-see-share-prices-plummet-following-the-launch-of-googles-very-limited-virtual-world-generator-project-genie
• https://www.theverge.com/games/873777/roblox-ai-world-models-real-time-dreaming-4d-creation-tools
• https://www.eurogamer.net/valve-admits-its-steam-machine-and-steam-frame-will-be-delayed-due-to-ram-and-storage-price-surges
• https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japans-nintendo-maintains-annual-operating-profit-forecast-2026-02-03/
• https://thisweekinvideogames.com/news/playstation-5-consoles-sales-hit-92-1-million-though-holiday-sales-decreased-in-2025/
• https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/indie-publisher-pixel-doors-launches-with-a-recoup-first-mindset
• https://insider-gaming.com/console-sports-games-cant-escape-pc-growth/
• https://www.polygon.com/iron-lungs-movie-markiplier-box-office-delisted/

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• Valve faces legal action in the UK over Steam prices 
• Highguard’s controversial launch raises many questions
• Ubisoft announces redundancy programme as unions commit to strikes

Hosted by industry experts Tom and James, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g1md0l23o
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-highguard-is-facing-so-much-backlash-from-players/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-launches-voluntary-redundancy-process-to-cut-200-jobs-from-paris-head-office
• https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-it-s-time-for-real-accountability-ubisoft-unions-call-international-strike?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky
• https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/01/larian-ceo-swen-vincke-sticks-his-foot-in-it-again-thinks-game-reviewers-should-also-be-reviewed
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indie-dev-who-turned-to-social-media-to-lengthen-their-games-credits-ended-up-taking-300-hours-to-add-60000-names/

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

This week's headlines:

• Niko Partners’ 10 major trends to watch out for in 2026 
• Nintendo dominated Japan in 2025
• Ubisoft’s latest restructuring with studio closures and project cancellations

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://nikopartners.com/niko-partners-2026-predictions/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-switch-2-sells-37m-units-in-japan-in-2025-accounting-for-over-half-of-home-console-sales
• https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisofts-troubled-prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-is-dead-as-publisher-kills-multiple-projects-closes-studios-and-orders-staff-back-to-the-office
• https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/it-is-out-of-the-question-to-let-a-boss-run-rampant-ubisoft-workers-strike-against-disastrous-cutbacks

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.
 
This week's headlines:

• Saudi Arabia's PIF to transfer $12bn in shares to Savvy Games Group
• Merger and acquisition activity dropped to $500m in Q4 2025
• Stellar Blade director says AI is “essential” to compete with bigger studios as Games Workshop prohibits AI use in its products

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/saudi-arabias-pif-to-transfer-12bn-in-gaming-shares-to-savvy-games-group/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/aream-co-ma-activity-dropped-to-500m-in-q4-2025
• https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/games-workshop-says-its-senior-managers-arent-excited-about-ai-prohibits-its-use-and-laments-that-its-included-on-our-phones-or-laptops-whether-we-like-it-or-not/
• 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/
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-first-lego-pokemon-sets-have-been-revealed-including-a-650-charizard-blastoise-and-venusaur-statue/
• https://www.eurogamer.net/forza-horizon-5-ps5-port-tops-5-million-sales-securing-300m-in-additional-sales-for-xbox

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.

In the first episode of 2026, we’ll be taking a look at some of the stories that could shape the industry across the next 12 months!

This week's headlines:

• Xbox suffers "worst year on record" for console sales in the UK
• Sony AI patent will see games play themselves if players are stuck
• UK games revenue rose 7.4% to hit £5.4bn in 2025

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox. 

Links to this week's stories:

• https://www.eurogamer.net/xbox-suffers-worst-year-on-record-for-console-sales-in-the-uk
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-ai-patent-will-see-playstation-games-play-themselves-when-players-are-stuck/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/era-uk-games-revenue-rose-74-to-hit-54bn-in-2025
• https://www.timeextension.com/news/2026/01/beyond-incredibly-dumb-the-internet-doesnt-like-people-sealing-up-graded-3ds-consoles
• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmlnmnwzk2o

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. 

To mark the final episode of 2025, we wanted to take a look back at the year that was and tackle the year’s biggest stories, from the rise of generative AI to the explosion in UGC content and the troubles facing AAA studios.

This Year’s Headlines:

• The rise of generative AI and the industry’s response
• Another year of layoffs, mergers, and major acquisitions
• Triple A faltered as indies, and UGC exploded in popularity

Hosted by industry experts Jack and Megan, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the year to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download