Industry News Report - Level 2
115 stories
Xbox Physical Disc Support Uncertain After Microsoft Business Reset
Microsoft's approach to physical game discs on future Xbox hardware is now unclear, following reports that disc support was previously prioritised for backward compatibility but may be reconsidered after a recent business overhaul
Telltale Announces Choices Matter Festival for Narrative Games on Steam
Telltale has revealed the Choices Matter Festival, a Steam event running 10-17 August 2026, focused on narrative-driven games with branching storylines, playable demos, discounts and exclusive content
Rockstar Axed Midnight Club 5 After Internal Dispute and GTA Focus
A former Rockstar Games designer has revealed that Midnight Club 5 was cancelled during early development, citing internal studio tensions and the franchise's lower profile compared to Grand Theft Auto
Spider-Man: Brand New Day Drives Insomniac's Games Up Steam Charts
Insomniac's Spider-Man 2 and the original Spider-Man have surged into Steam's top ten following the box office success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, with discounts and new in-game content also playing a role
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation's job system limits each character to four classes
Square Enix has detailed the FITS job system for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, confirming each party member can equip four distinct classes, as director Naoki Hamaguchi explains the technical and creative constraints behind this design
Assassin's Creed Black Flag's Seamless Sailing Faced Major Development Hurdles
Ubisoft developers have revealed the technical and design challenges behind Assassin's Creed Black Flag's seamless naval gameplay, explaining why the transition from mission-based sailing in Assassin's Creed 3 was far from straightforward
Xbox Series X and S Prices Surge Across Europe and UK
Microsoft has officially raised the price of Xbox Series X and S consoles in the UK and mainland Europe, with some models now costing nearly 50% more than their original launch price. The move comes amid ongoing hardware cost pressures and industry-wide component shortages
Sony Stands Firm on Ending PlayStation Disc Production in 2028
Sony has reaffirmed its plan to discontinue physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028, despite ongoing criticism from players and industry groups concerned about game preservation and consumer choice
Palworld TCG Launch Triggers Price Surge and Scalping on eBay
The official release of Palworld TCG has led to a rapid spike in card prices, with scalpers reselling rare cards and cases for far above retail as Pocketpair's new trading card game enters the market
Sony Maintains PlayStation Disc Discontinuation Will Not Harm Business
Sony has reiterated that ending PlayStation disc production from 2028 will not negatively affect its business, despite ongoing criticism from players and industry groups concerned about digital-only access and game preservation
Sony Confirms PS5 Memory Supply Secured Ahead of GTA 6 Launch
Sony has stated it has secured enough memory to meet PlayStation 5 sales targets for the current financial year, as Grand Theft Auto 6's November release is expected to drive a surge in demand
Xbox Targets 500 Million Daily Players by 2030 Amid Restructuring
Xbox boss Asha Sharma has set a new milestone for Microsoft's gaming division, aiming to reach 500 million daily players by 2030 as part of a wider strategy to recover from recent financial setbacks and major staff cuts
Stellar Blade: Blood Rain AI Music Video Faces Strong Player Backlash
Shift Up has released a fully AI-generated K-pop music video for Stellar Blade: Blood Rain, featuring protagonist Evie, but the move has triggered widespread negative reaction from players and industry observers
Vampire: The Masquerade 6th Edition enters open alpha with major system changes
White Wolf has officially announced Vampire: The Masquerade 6th Edition, now in active development with a free open alpha playtest on Demiplane, offering players a chance to influence the next evolution of the iconic tabletop RPG
Dungeons & Dragons Reveals Mature-Rated Dark Sun Expansion for 2027
Wizards of the Coast has announced a mature-rated Dark Sun expansion for Dungeons & Dragons, set for 2027, with shrink-wrapped packaging and content warnings for violence, bloodshed, nudity and sexuality. Here's what's confirmed so far
Bethesda Reveals New Logo for 40th Anniversary with Classic Inspiration
Bethesda has introduced a new logo to mark its 40th anniversary, drawing inspiration from its early days and classic titles. The studio's history with The Terminator games is referenced, but no new projects in that series are planned
Cyberpunk 2077's The Hunt Quest Drew Inspiration from True Detective
CD Projekt has revealed new details about the creation of The Hunt, a standout side quest in Cyberpunk 2077, highlighting its psychological approach and the disturbing elements that set it apart from typical action missions
Assassin's Creed Odyssey Player Numbers Surge After The Odyssey Film Release
Assassin's Creed Odyssey has seen a sharp rise in active players following the debut of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, with Ubisoft leveraging the renewed interest through subscription services and social campaigns
Battlefield 6 Drives EA CEO's £38m Payday After Record Sales
EA's CEO has received a substantial pay rise following Battlefield 6's record-breaking launch, but the developers behind the game were laid off just months after release, raising questions about industry priorities
The Ascent Marks Fifth Anniversary With Major Update and Sequel Hints
The Ascent will receive a significant update in November 2026, promising improvements for solo and co-op play. Publisher Krafton and developer Neon Giant have also suggested that a sequel and new platform versions are in development
Unreleased Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt NES Carts Found in Wisconsin
A rare cache of 97 unopened Super Mario Bros. Duck Hunt NES cartridges, previously unknown to collectors, has been authenticated after being discovered in a Wisconsin warehouse. The find has drawn attention from grading experts and the retro gaming community
BioWare Veteran Explains Why a Dragon Age Trilogy Remaster Is Unlikely
A former Dragon Age lead has revealed why a Mass Effect-style remaster of the original trilogy is highly improbable, citing technical and organisational barriers at BioWare that make such a project far more complex than fans might expect
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Sequel Announced as Original Creator Returns
A sequel to Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is officially in development, led by original creative director Xia Siyuan at a new studio, following earlier reports of the team's disbandment and a transfer of franchise rights to 505 Games
Capcom Suggests Pragmata Sequel Likely After Strong Launch Sales
Capcom has indicated that a sequel to Pragmata is now highly probable, following robust early sales for the sci-fi action-adventure. The publisher's latest financial results highlight the game's rapid commercial momentum and growing franchise potential
Capcom Reports 93% of Game Sales Are Now Digital in 2026
Capcom's latest financial report reveals that digital sales now account for over 93% of its game sales, raising new questions about the future of physical discs as the industry shifts towards digital-first distribution
Lightspeed LA Restructures Last Sentinel, Staff Impacted by Creative Shift
Lightspeed LA has announced a major change in the creative direction of Last Sentinel, resulting in staff layoffs and a renewed focus on meeting player expectations for the upcoming open-world action game
GTA Online Casino Gambling Disabled for Australian Players
Rockstar has blocked access to all in-game gambling features in GTA Online for Australian users, removing casino mini-games after years of availability. The move follows regulatory changes but leaves key questions about timing and enforcement
Resident Evil 2 Remake Overtakes Resident Evil 5 as Series' Top Seller
Capcom has confirmed that Resident Evil 2 remake has surpassed Resident Evil 5 to become the best-selling entry in the franchise, highlighting the ongoing strength of the series' back catalogue and shifting sales landscape
Games Workshop Wins Tariff Refund but Faces New Supply Chain Risks
Games Workshop has reclaimed £7.8 million in US tariff refunds after a Supreme Court ruling, but new global tariffs and ongoing conflicts now threaten the Warhammer maker's supply chain and input costs
Square Enix Suggests FF6, FF8 and FF9 Remakes Would Be Multi-Part Projects
Square Enix developers have indicated that remakes of Final Fantasy 6, Final Fantasy 8, or Final Fantasy 9 would likely require four or five separate releases, raising questions about the feasibility of such projects
Level 2 of 4