Double Fine’s decision to lay off 23 employees only weeks after regaining its independence from Xbox should surprise no one who has been paying attention to the state of the games industry. When Microsoft began spinning studios out instead of simply closing them, many observers celebrated the move as a compassionate alternative. I argued atContinue reading “The Hard Truth About Microsoft’s Studio Spin-Off Strategy”
Tag Archives: video-games
The Xbox & PlayStation Outage Didn’t Prove Physical Media Is Better – Your Digital Identity and Entitlements Follow You Regardless
Microsoft has responded to reports that some Xbox players were unable to launch even physical disc-based games during a recent Xbox Live outage, acknowledging that this behavior was unintended. According to the company, consoles should have relied on locally cached licensing entitlements instead of requiring an online validation check, and Xbox says it is investigatingContinue reading “The Xbox & PlayStation Outage Didn’t Prove Physical Media Is Better – Your Digital Identity and Entitlements Follow You Regardless”
Xbox Is Responsible for Xbox
I bought the first Xbox on Day 1. My first run of the Halo campaign was in co-op with a buddy of mine who was out on the West Coast over Thanksgiving. Bought the 360 right before moving and took it on the road with me. Bought a little 20″ Polaroid 1080i TV so IContinue reading “Xbox Is Responsible for Xbox”
You’re Not the Authority on Fun
If there is one thing that is true about internet gamers, it’s that they have a hard time minding their own business. There is way too much commentary on not understanding how or why other gamers game the way that they do. It doesn’t matter if someone likes revisiting the same 5 games that areContinue reading “You’re Not the Authority on Fun”
Starting Fresh in New Eden: What Exordium Means for New EVE OnLine Players
Seal-clubbing is a time honored tradition. It is the online digital gaming equivalent of hazing; of putting newbs on the frat pledge line and putting them through the ringer. In truth, it is much less “congenial” than that, if I can use that term even in reference to frat hazing (which tells you just howContinue reading “Starting Fresh in New Eden: What Exordium Means for New EVE OnLine Players”
Another Studio, Same Market: Why New Game Companies Keep Missing Reality
Nope. This doesn’t make any sense. And it is exactly what I am talking about is part of the industry problem. What am I on about? Today, GameRant reported that Jason Blundell opened a new studio, Magic Fractal. This is the third studio he has opened in 5 years. None of which have shipped aContinue reading “Another Studio, Same Market: Why New Game Companies Keep Missing Reality”
Welcome to the Suck: Console Players Meet the PC Market Reality
“To be successful, games need to be on every platform.” “The most successful games are multiplatform” => They are also the ones that tend to be cross-generational. If you’ve been playing the games that supposedly “everyone plays” while they “ignore exclusives” and believe “exclusives don’t matter”, then a persistent cross-generational state of affairs in aContinue reading “Welcome to the Suck: Console Players Meet the PC Market Reality”
How Project Helix Could Wind Up Being a Very Anti-Consumer Convergence Device
If the console function is just for BC, then Xbox is asking you to pay a premium for the reward of buying a digital replacement for the Xbox Series X you already own, and then charging you an addl tax b/c they say you also need a PC to go along with it, b/c theyContinue reading “How Project Helix Could Wind Up Being a Very Anti-Consumer Convergence Device”
A Delayed Bond, a Patient Industry: What 007 First Light Says About 2026
From the WccfTech article by David Carcasole: IO Interactive had one final holiday surprise for players ahead of the release of its next game, 007 First Light: a delay. The studio announced that the game has been delayed by two months and will no longer release on its previously announced release date of March 27, 2026.Continue reading “A Delayed Bond, a Patient Industry: What 007 First Light Says About 2026”
Of Saturated Inventories and Too Little Demand (A Proof Scribbled in the Margin) – Games Don’t Need to be on Every Platform
If Steam gamer’s only spent 14% of their time in new games in 2025… Then assume that 14% = 0.14 the demand signal for new games on Steam… Steam MAU is 132mn… Give 264mn for consideration of the monetized PC gaming market to account for people playing Fortnite, Riot games, etc…anything untracked… So for anyContinue reading “Of Saturated Inventories and Too Little Demand (A Proof Scribbled in the Margin) – Games Don’t Need to be on Every Platform”
Rounding Off Infinity 