All articles tagged with #industry analysis
Forbes reports that Crimson Desert shows stronger early player retention than Elden Ring, based on available engagement data; it’s an early snapshot and the metrics could shift as both titles continue to evolve.
A roundup of major announced games that have stretched for years without release, highlighting ongoing development challenges, leadership changes, restructurings, and uncertain release windows for titles like Beyond Good & Evil 2, The Wolf Among Us 2, State of Decay 3, BioShock 4, Star Wars: Eclipse, Knights of the Old Republic Remake, Iron Man, Marvel's Blade, Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra, Ark 2, Splinter Cell remake, Little Devil Inside, Gang of Dragon, Project Awakening, Plan 8, Dokev, Fairgame$, Mass Effect 5, Assassin's Creed Codename Hexe, and The Elder Scrolls 6, illustrating a broader industry trend of prolonged development cycles with only sporadic updates.
A WhatCulture feature profiles 20 recently released video games that failed commercially, blaming misjudged markets, lackluster marketing, and overambitious development. Highlighted are cases like Highguard from Wildlight Entertainment, where initial hype waned after launch, player counts collapsed, Tencent pulled funding, and layoffs followed, underscoring how even promising titles can end in shutdown.
The Verge argues that live-service games, while highly lucrative, are a volatile and costly model prone to rapid cancellations, layoffs, and publisher pullbacks; Fortnite remains the standout success, while others struggle to gain lasting momentum as publishers rethink the approach.
Embark Studios CEO Patrick Söderlund argues that AAA-quality results can be achieved with far fewer people and a smaller budget by modernizing pipelines, using photogrammetry and procedural generation, and treating AI as a production tool rather than a replacement for actors; Arc Raiders is positioned to make a niche extraction shooter more accessible, with plans for multiple titles without a dramatic headcount increase.
VR game developers say 2025 marks a shift away from new headset launches toward diversifying across Quest, PlayStation, and Steam to reach players, with cross‑platform releases proving beneficial but funding tightening. While some studios report solid holiday sales and ongoing content drops, others like Cloudhead Games have cut staff, and overall investment remains tight as Horizon OS is shelved and reliance on subscription revenue grows, prompting questions about sustainable indie VR growth in the near term.
The article promotes various subscription plans for the Financial Times, emphasizing the importance of digital access to quality financial journalism and analysis, with special offers for new subscribers.
FX Chairman John Landgraf predicts that a major merger between Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, or another large studio consolidation, is inevitable due to industry pressures to scale up and compete globally with streaming giants like Netflix and Apple, despite concerns about reduced creative diversity.
American Airlines reported record third-quarter revenue, but the increase was minimal and largely driven by non-passenger sources, while passenger revenue actually declined. The airline's efforts to revive business travel by increasing sales efforts and incentives have not resulted in significant growth, raising questions about the effectiveness of their strategy. The overall business travel market remains subdued, and American's focus on managed business travel may not deliver the expected benefits, prompting a reassessment of their approach.
The article discusses a more thoughtful and strategic approach to AI regulation, emphasizing the importance of balanced policies that foster innovation while ensuring safety and ethical standards. It highlights the need for collaboration between industry leaders and regulators to develop effective frameworks for AI governance.
Kraft Heinz is considering a potential breakup as part of its strategic review, aiming to explore options to enhance shareholder value and streamline operations.
Sony is heavily committed to expanding its live service game portfolio, but despite public confidence, many of its upcoming titles face significant challenges, with some projects showing signs of failure or uncertainty, indicating a potentially troubled future for its live service ambitions.
Despite the hype surrounding the release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, industry analysts suggest that the game is underperforming in terms of sales compared to its predecessor, Remake. With no official sales figures released by Square Enix, analysts estimate that Rebirth has sold around 2 million copies in over a month, significantly less than Remake's 3.5 million in three days. Factors such as platform release, pandemic influence, and budgetary differences may impact the game's success according to industry experts.
The Great Resignation may have subsided overall, but certain industries such as personal care services and trucking continue to experience high turnover as workers seek better-paying opportunities. This trend has led to wage increases in these sectors, posing a challenge for the Federal Reserve in managing inflation. Meanwhile, industries like retail and professional services have seen a decrease in quitting as wage hikes have moderated. The overall job market is cooling, and many workers have already found positions that match their skills and salary requirements during the Great Resignation.
Industry analyst Mat Piscatella suggests that the games industry is facing uncertainty and a lack of major releases in 2024, with overall spending expected to decline. He emphasizes the importance of upcoming game releases and highlights Grand Theft Auto 6 as a crucial and highly anticipated title that could significantly impact the industry, expressing optimism for its potential to generate renewed interest and drive sales.