Rumors that Boss Key's employees found out about the company's closure via a tweet do not appear to be correct. Instead, a company meeting was held shortly before the announcement. On May 14th, 2018, Cliff Bleszinski announced via Twitter that Boss Key Productions, Inc., the studio he founded in 2014, would be closing with immediate effect.…
Continue reading ➞ Boss Key Employees Informed of Closure Via a Meeting, Not Via Bleszinski’s Tweet
EA's "live services" revenue represents 40% of its total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2018, with expected growth of 15% in 2019. Most of EA's live services revenue comes from the various "Ultimate Team" modes in its sports games with FIFA Ultimate Team being the most popular and profitable. Outside of Ultimate Team modes, The Sims…
Continue reading ➞ EA Now Makes 40% of its Revenue from “Live Services”
Nintendo's paid online service, Nintendo Switch Online, is coming in September, with free NES games and save data cloud backup. Nintendo announced its online service last year but was light on the details. We now know that Nintendo Switch Online is coming in September 2018 and will cost $3.99 a month, with options to buy in blocks…
Continue reading ➞ Nintendo Switch Online Will Have Free NES Games and Cloud Saves
Microtransactions are returning to Star Wars Battlefront II on April 18 alongside a new Ewok Hunt mode. Star Wars Battlefront 2’s new update, Night on Endor, brings with it the return of Crystals which are purchased with real-world money. Crystals can only be exchanged for cosmetic Appearances, although the Appearances can also be acquired for…
Continue reading ➞ Microtransactions Return to Star Wars Battlefront 2 in Next Update
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Ubisoft's latest financial results provide further proof that major publishers are shifting from selling "traditional" $60 games to selling what Ubisoft refers to as "live service" games i.e. ones with recurring revenue streams. DLC, microtransactions, and loot boxes make money and a lot of it. When I was a wee lad, publishers made money by…
Continue reading ➞ Ubisoft to Create More “Live Service” Games
Square Enix plans to sell IO Interactive, the Danish developer of the Hitman series, and has booked an extraordinary loss of $43 million with respect to the developer it acquired in 2009. In a statement to investors, Square Enix stated that it plans to focus its “resources and energies on key franchises and studios,” which…
Continue reading ➞ Square Enix to Sell Hitman Developer IO Interactive
Nintendo has provided more details on the two expansion packs for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The first pack, called The Master Trials, will be released in the summer, while the as-yet-untitled second pack will be released in the fall. The Master Trials contains two new gameplay modes, plus some additional weapons…
Continue reading ➞ Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLC Details Announced
