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Disturbance in the Force: FishLabs (Embracer) (Nov 2023) More details of the layoffs, project cancellations and studio closures are coming out. And Embracer is seeming sketchier and sketchier. Here's the thing, Embracer had Volition, creator of both Saints Row and Red faction. You don't as a game publisher, give one studio's IP to another studio without that first studio being extremely busy and then with the first and second studio coordinating. The second studio needs guidance to understand the soul of the IP. Unless of course the game publisher is incompetent and utterly indifferent to eventual quality of product. It is not a question of territorial possessiveness. It is a process of explaining IP, worldbuilding, gameplay, and audience in a proper handoff with steady continued coordination. this article is describing Embracer doing none of that. ----- GameDeveloper: "Red Faction game from Chorus dev Fishlabs among cancelled Embracer projects. Under Fishlabs' direction, the Red Faction series would've returned with a goal of evoking the cult classic, Red Faction: Guerrilla." (June 21, 2024) German developer Fishlabs was developing a new Red Faction game—at least until parent company Embracer canceled the project. According to a new report from RockPaperShotgun, the Chorus studio was looking to revive the destructive open-world franchise. It was one of two projects Fishlabs was making, with the first being an original sci-fi game canceled months prior. This new Red Faction game was apparently in the works in the same proximity as Embracer shutting down series creator Volition last year. Sources called this a "ghoulish" move to the outlet, but Fishlabs reportedly had a genuine interest in its sci-fi setting. Staff from the scrapped original game ("Project Black") moved over to Red Faction, then-codenamed "Project White" and dubbed a "side hustle" since its team was tasked with pitching games based on Embracer IP. Ultimately, Fishlabs wanted to make a "safe sequel" in line with 2009's Red Faction: Guerrilla. Despite this, it's also claimed the team looked at incorporating immersive sim elements like open-ended play styles and pitched the game to Embracer label Plaion via fake in-world trailers and cosplay. Fishlabs' Red Faction project shattered the studio Morale on "Project White" was said to be fairly good, and Plaion liked the pitches presented. But a 50/50 internal vote led to the project being canceled immediately, and it's claimed Fishlabs leadership was told to lay off "almost everyone" not working on a project actively in development. The following weekend, 50 Fishlabs staffers were fired, with Embracer CEO Lars Wingefors attributing the move to a "lack of approval and financing." GameDeveloper: https://lnkd.in/ghwpj2Ys ----- "New victims of Embracer’s restructuring: 50 Fishlabs employees to be laid off, Free Radical Design might be closed" GameWorldObserver: https://lnkd.in/gWvnsfHH #gameindustry #embracer #gamelayoffs

TradeUp Integrates with PriceCharting to Expand Access to Verified Pricing and More Collectibles Categories We’re excited to announce our integration with PriceCharting, the leading price aggregation platform for video games and collectibles. We're now visible across 100,000+ highly ranked listing pages through the PriceCharting network! We’re making it easier to exchange what you have for what you want. As a member of TradeUp, you can now easily list and trade a broader range of collectibles, from classic video games to unique Lego sets, and benefit from the most accurate pricing information. Check out the new update! https://tradeup.exchange/ #collectibles #marketplace #TradeUp #Startup Kalvin Kazemi Emma Coleman Igor Campos Vilas Boas Gerald Low TradeUp

New Release! https://lnkd.in/d7-XjvmX Destiny and Destiny 2 are online first-person shooter video games developed by Bungie Studios. The Destiny franchise has provided a live-service experience for nearly a decade, reflective of its quality gameplay and narrative, critical acclaim, and passionate playerbase. In this volume of The Psychgeist of Pop Culture, we will explore psychological concepts relating to the lore, game design, and culture of Destiny, with a focus on understanding and showcasing why it is one of the most influential and best-selling first-person shooters of all time. "The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: Destiny is an immersive journey through the wild and ongoing history of one of the biggest shared-world shooters to ever exist. This collection of player perspectives brings together fascinating stories from every corner of the Destiny community. Each chapter offered me a unique point of view - not just about the game itself, but in how the franchise impacted a wide variety of players in ways I’d never considered before. As someone who never could’ve imagined their life being so significantly changed by a videogame, this book captures an engaging insight into the transformative ways the Destiny franchise resonates with its passionate (& quirky) playerbase." -Fallout Plays, YouTuber & Twitch Streamer 

🎮 Building Games for the Future: The GDEV Inc. ($GDEV) Vision At GDEV Inc. ($GDEV), we’ve set a bold strategy for the next 15 years: to create long-lasting, ambitious games that stand the test of time. When we start developing a new game, one question guides us – "Will people still be playing this in years to come?" 🌟 We believe in eternal game franchises – products that aren’t just a momentary trend, but franchises that players can enjoy for decades. That’s why we don’t just aim to create games; we aim to create experiences that last. One way I personally measure this potential is by asking myself: "Can I imagine seeing a hero from this game on store shelves as a figurine?" If the answer is no, the project probably won’t reach the heights we’re aiming for. If the answer is yes, we pass the first filter – though success, of course, isn’t guaranteed. 🎯 At the end of the day, we strive to invest our time and energy only in what’s big and ambitious. Because when you chase something grand, you have the chance to create something truly timeless. 🎮 #GameDev 🚀 #InnovativeStrategy 💡#EternalFranchises 🎯#AmbitiousGoals 🏆#LongTermSuccess

You know, building out the WAGMI Games franchise has not been easy over the last 3 years. ESPECIALLY as a fully bootstrapped company. 👀 Even the most fully funded gaming studios have only focused on ONE THING... the game. So why take the risk to build out an entire universe complete with an ANIME, Comics & Collectables? Well, because with BIG RISKS come BIG REWARDS. As a kid it was the games with rich story telling and original IP that always caught my eye and THAT is the key to a franchise lasting the test of time. Our team is more dedicated to the success of #WAGMIGAMES than any other team building in the web3 space right now. Maybe we're hungrier as founders because we're NOT VC backed. We've never had the luxury of taking it easy and have had to make every dollar & cent count. You want to bet on a winning team? Bet on us. 🔥 (Video credit to our Ambassador @richeyrizz on X)

Are most of the games being released today uninteresting to the average player? Was it better before? It’s common for fans of major franchises, like Star Wars or Assassin's Creed, to feel disappointed when new releases fail to meet their expectations. While it’s tempting to express your frustration on the internet, actually in such cases you have two choices: remain in a cycle of regret, playing games that no longer bring joy, or explore new franchises and genres. Exploring new universes not only offers enjoyment but also broadens your horizons. Dive into genres you’ve never considered before, from strategy to role-playing games. By discovering new, you increase the likelihood that somesthing will one day resonate deeply with you upon new release. Imagine, for example, a kind of strategic game, where you run out of resources in one place and go to collect them in another place. This is a kind of bet on winning, in which case you will have more things you really love. If you find that Warcraft isn’t what it used to be, consider seeking fresh experiences in other universes. For instance, while Warhammer may differ, it shares dark fantasy elements, intriguing characters, epic battles, and rich lore. Ultimately, we’re not searching for a duplicate of Warcraft or Skyrim; we’re looking for the same emotions we once felt. This year, for example, I discovered the STALKER franchise (yes, not everyone played it in their childhood....). Just think of the anticipation and pleasure I’ll experience with the upcoming release of STALKER 2, even if it’s filled with bugs, as is often the case. If I expand this advice beyond video games, consider exploring various interests in general. You’ll have more to talk about, expand your network, and meet new people - essentially, you’re investing in your future dopamine, happiness and well-being. Avoid dismissing things with thoughts like, “It's a crap,” “It’s not for me,” or “I’m too good for that.” Sure, you can wail about a franchise that has long lost its spark, complaining to anyone who will listen. But remember, there’s always another path. Try something new! Play different games! Don’t just replay Mass Effect or The Witcher 3 (nothing personal) to reach the same good ending you’ve experienced five times. Please try another game - I promise, there are plenty of great titles out there :)

Why sequels generally work better for games than for movies or books, the interesting challenges that presents for narrative design, and how to make it work.

This time of the year is usually packed with big game franchise releases. My favorite time of year as a gamer. But let's also celebrate the less formulaic and mainstream games. Some of these games expose us to topics that are not escapism, instead they are raw and force reflection, hopefully also action. I just finished "Bad Parenting 1: Mr. Red Face" by 2002 & VN and "Mouthwash" by Wrong Organ. These two titles are incredible in their narrative structures, unconventional in the gameplay mechanics, and hit hard emotionally when experiencing them, which to me is the purpose of great art. A huge shout-out to all game studios and individuals who use the interactive medium to not only delight and entertain, but to tell important stories that are truly human, even when it hurts to both make them and play them. I'm sharing a quote by user Thunder from his Steam Review of Bad Parenting: "Play this game, have others play it, and raise awareness among people."

Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 Remake has sold over 2 million copies within 3 months. It surpassed 1 million in 4 days, while only being available on PS5 & Steam. Great game, deserved to sell more. SH2 Remake is well on its way to becoming the best selling game in the series. The only Silent Hill game to surpass 2 million sales in the past was the original PS1 game. After selling over 1 million in its first week, SH2 Remake boosted Konami's stock. This success contributed to record profits in its digital entertainment sector. By year-end, Konami's stock had surged over 90%, driven by the game's success, investor confidence in Japanese gaming, and a strong release pipeline. The remake reinforced Konami’s strategy of revitalizing classic franchises, bolstering optimism for upcoming titles like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and future Silent Hill entries.

The Games Industry Needs Half-Life 3 To Survive The industry feels like its in freefall and it’s all our fault. We didnt pay attention to the warning signs - reduction in new IP, exploding budgets, fast follow methodology of genres and modes, predatory and addictive monetization methods, and we stopped having fun as an industry. We stopped creating and being original, and fans got bored and more demanding. Originality does’nt have to be huge leaps forward, it can be creative surprises. While Im bullish on AI and UGC platforms - story and new game mechanics are most important. But right now we need a big surprise to win back the gamer generation that’s grown tired of the same stuff different year. Yes, I know Half-Life 3 is a mirage but its also a mythical franchise that can infuse the entire industry with energy and set a new bar for story and technical achievement. It’s the kind of game that inspires other developers to reach further and publishers to take bigger risks. Its also the type of game that doesnt feel like a rinse and repeat franchise, so it leaves the player wanting and searching for more originality. It’s the kind of game that will sell millions of indie games, AA publisher games (if they are priced well) and it will pull players away from their phones and back into the world’s we all dream of creating. Please Valve corporation we are counting on you.