Industry News Report - Level 2
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Layoffs End Reported Halo First Strike Game Before Production
Halo Studios reportedly considered a five-mission First Strike game with Firefight for 2027, but layoffs stopped the project during early planning. Xbox has confirmed that Activision's new team will make the next Halo game.
Good Smile Company reveals IGNISPHERE and 2028 action RPG
Monochrome Corp. and Good Smile Company have announced IGNISPHERE, a new cross-media universe led by Takafumi Noma. Its first game, the action RPG DAWNGAZER, is planned for 2028.
Halo Reboot Reportedly Opens a New Chapter Under Activision
On September 22, 2026, Activision confirmed plans for a new Halo project built by a dedicated team. An insider claims the game will start a new chapter instead of continuing the established story, but neither Activision nor Xbox has confirmed that direction.
TMNT Sewer Hockey Turns Rod Hockey Into a Home Arcade
Wonderland Amusements has opened preorders for TMNT Sewer Hockey, a two-player home arcade table with LCD displays, sound, animation and a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme.
Serbian Games Week Brings More Than 200 Games to Steam
Serbian Games Week runs on Steam from 21 to 28 September 2026, with discounts on selected titles and upcoming projects linked to DevGAMM FTW! in Belgrade.
Xerdeck Turns Treadmill Walks Into Open-World Game Sessions
Adelaide developer Lava Software plans to launch Xerdeck on Kickstarter on 29 September 2026. The controller turns movement on a treadmill or indoor bike into travel through supported game worlds.
PUBG MOBILE Asian Games finals set for Aichi-Nagoya
The PUBG MOBILE Asian Games Version finals will bring 12 national teams to Aichi-Nagoya on 28 and 29 September. Pakistan led eight qualifiers through the final route to Japan.
FORTBLOX Launches Worldwide With Modular Mobile Fortress Battles
HYPERRISE released FORTBLOX: Mobile Fortress GO! worldwide on September 21, 2026. The free-to-play mobile game combines custom fortress building, strategic auto-battles, dungeon and arena modes, and more than 1,000 free summons.
Stronger Together Brings Indie Demos to One Steam Showcase
Ivy Juice has opened the second Stronger Together Demo Showcase on Steam. The event features 29 studios and six launches, and runs from 21 to 28 September 2026.
Why Crimson Desert Chose Its Own Engine Over Unreal Engine 5
Pearl Abyss says its proprietary Blackspace Engine gave Crimson Desert more control over release timing and updates. The studio also sees it as a way to move beyond the limits of the Black Desert MMO engine.
Bruce Straley apologises after God of War Laufey criticism
Former Naughty Dog director Bruce Straley named God of War Laufey while criticising repetitive AAA design. He later apologised to Sony Santa Monica and said his comments had been taken out of context.
Kojima Says Sony Should Have Warned Him Before Dropping Physint
Hideo Kojima says Sony ended its Physint funding during an unexpected Zoom call, despite their 30-year relationship. Xbox now supports the project, which has Bill Skarsgård attached as its lead actor.
Kojima Says Sony Should Have Warned Him Earlier About Physint
Hideo Kojima says Sony Interactive Entertainment gave him no warning before ending its funding for Physint. Sony has not contacted him since, while Xbox now backs the project.
Bruce Straley apologises after God of War Laufey criticism
Bruce Straley cited God of War Laufey while criticising repetitive triple-A design, then apologised to Sony Santa Monica. He said the unreleased game was an example in a wider industry argument, not his target.
Kojima Productions shifts Physint to Xbox as Bill Skarsgård joins cast
Hideo Kojima has confirmed Bill Skarsgård as the lead in Physint and shared new details on OD at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show, following PlayStation's withdrawal from Physint's publishing plans
The Witcher 4 engine switch signals CD Projekt Red's new creative focus
CD Projekt Red has confirmed The Witcher 4 will use Unreal Engine 5, not due to technical limits of REDengine but to prioritise storytelling and streamline development. The move marks a major shift in the studio's identity and future output
Order 13 physical edition brings psychological horror to PlayStation 5
JanduSoft and Tesura Games have confirmed that Order 13 will launch as a physical edition for PlayStation 5 on 27 November, offering players a boxed version of the psychological warehouse thriller with pre-orders now open
Taiwanese Indie Games Target Global Stage at Tokyo Game Show 2026
The Taipei Computer Association will lead six Taiwanese indie teams to Tokyo Game Show 2026, aiming to boost international recognition and business opportunities for Taiwan's independent game developers
Umamusume Pretty Derby becomes official MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix partner
Cygames has confirmed Umamusume Pretty Derby as the first video game to partner officially with the MotoGP Japanese Grand Prix in 2026, bringing a 155-metre display and in-person event appearances to Mobility Resort Motegi
PlayStation drops Physint as Xbox secures Kojima's next stealth project
Kojima Productions' upcoming stealth-action game Physint will now launch on Xbox and PC after PlayStation withdrew support due to budget overruns and concerns about timed exclusivity
Nintendo funds major sale using tariff refunds while denying player payback
Nintendo's Customer Appreciation Sale offers 30 percent off Switch games and accessories but is partly funded by tariff refunds the company is fighting in court to keep from players
gamescom pledges security overhaul after indie developer thefts spark backlash
gamescom organisers have issued a public apology and committed to new security reviews after multiple indie developers reported stolen equipment at the event, with industry support and criticism forcing a change in approach
Hideki Kamiya Signals Scalebound Revival if Xbox Leadership Commits
Hideki Kamiya has publicly invited Xbox CEO Asha Sharma to revive Scalebound, the long-cancelled action RPG, stating his readiness to return if Xbox is willing to restart development under new leadership
Hideki Kamiya urges publishers to protect games for future players
Hideki Kamiya has called on publishers to take responsibility for game preservation as PlayStation prepares to end physical disc production in 2028 and the industry shifts towards digital-only releases
Tetris Company rejects White House Build the Wall clone game
The Tetris Company has issued a public response after the Trump administration launched a government-hosted clone game called Build the Wall, distancing itself from the project and warning of copyright concerns
Frontier Developments to Build Disney Park Creator Game in New Deal
Frontier Developments, known for Planet Coaster and Jurassic World Evolution, has signed an agreement with Disney to develop a new creative management simulation game. Details remain limited, but the project could bring players closer to building their own Disney parks
Sony Refuses to Refund PS5 Players After $500 Million Tariff Windfall
Sony has confirmed it will keep around $500 million in US tariff refunds, despite having previously raised PlayStation 5 prices for consumers. The company has dismissed calls for player compensation and defended its pricing decisions
TimTheTatman Rejects Six-Figure Arc Raiders Deal Over Gameplay Frustration
Streamer TimTheTatman has publicly refused a lucrative Arc Raiders sponsorship, citing his negative experience with the game-even as the live-service shooter faces declining player interest and delayed updates
CD Projekt Red Expands Team for Secret Project Hadar as Witcher 4 Takes Priority
CD Projekt Red is actively recruiting for its unannounced Project Hadar, aiming to grow the team to 50 developers by year-end, while The Witcher 4 and a new Witcher 3 expansion remain the studio's main focus
Zoud and Global Game Jam Offer $140K for Financial Literacy Game Jam
Zoud and Global Game Jam have announced Zoud GameLab, a month-long virtual event challenging developers worldwide to create games focused on financial literacy, with up to $140,000 in prizes and development support on offer
REANIMAL Receives Royal Swedish Design Award for Narrative Innovation
Tarsier Studios' co-op horror game REANIMAL has been awarded the Utmärkt Svensk Form by Prince Carl Philip, recognising its environmental storytelling and interactive design across multiple platforms
Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remaster Confirmed, More Possible
Pipeworks has officially confirmed Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee Remastered for release in November 2026, but further remasters in the series remain unannounced as discussions with Atari continue
Bit Reactor Furloughs Most Staff Days Before Star Wars Zero Company Launch
Bit Reactor, developer of Star Wars Zero Company, placed the majority of its team on unpaid leave just ahead of the game's successful launch, raising questions about the studio's future and ongoing support for the title
Double Fine Targets Brütal Legend 2 if Kickstarter Hits $100 Million
Double Fine has launched a new Kickstarter for Amnesia Fortnight 2026 after parting ways with Xbox, promising to develop Brütal Legend 2 only if the campaign reaches an extraordinary $100 million stretch goal
Naughty Dog Completes Performance Capture for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet
Naughty Dog has announced that performance capture for Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is now complete, signalling a major milestone for the studio's next game and raising expectations for a possible 2027 release window
Stellar Blade: Complete Edition Announced for Switch 2 with New Features
Stellar Blade: Complete Edition is officially heading to Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, bringing all previously released content and new platform-specific features. Over five minutes of gameplay footage has been shown at gamescom 2026
Pokémon World Championships 2026 Reveals New Movie, Game Updates and More
The 2026 Pokémon World Championships delivered a series of major announcements, including a new animated film, competitive updates for Pokémon Champions and Pokémon GO, and fresh content for Pokémon UNITE and the Trading Card Game
Steam Leak Exposes 12TB of Game Builds and Prototypes from 2003-2013
A vast 12TB archive of Steam game files, including both finished and prototype builds from 2003 to 2013, has surfaced online. The leak reportedly covers first- and third-party titles, raising questions about data security and preservation
The Witcher 4 Physical Edition Will Ship Without a Disc After 2028
CD Projekt Red has confirmed The Witcher 4 will still offer a physical collector's box, even after Sony ends PlayStation disc support in 2028. The studio says it will include tangible extras, but a disc may not be possible on PlayStation
Rockstar Chose Netflix for GTA 6 Extended Look, Not the Other Way Round
Rockstar Games has clarified it was their decision to debut Grand Theft Auto 6: Extended Look exclusively on Netflix for a limited period, challenging assumptions about the streaming partnership and raising new questions about future marketing plans
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