Tag: Bloomberg

Naughty Dog is back at it: they are already crunching for their next game

Naughty Dog, the renowned video game developer, has been forcing its employees to work at least eight extra hours a week since October to complete an internal demo of its upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. This game, which combines action elements with a narrative centered on faith and religion, was revealed at The Game Awards 2024, capturing the attention of fans for its visual style reminiscent of a mix of Uncharted and Ready Player One. However, after the release of this trailer, the silence about the project has been notable. They promised not […]

Naughty Dog, the renowned video game developer, has been forcing its employees to work at least eight extra hours per week since October to complete an internal demo of its upcoming title, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. This game, which combines action elements with a narrative centered on faith and religion, was revealed at The Game Awards 2024, capturing the attention of fans for its visual style reminiscent of a mix between Uncharted and Ready Player One. However, since the release of this trailer, the silence surrounding the project has been notable.

They promised never to do crunch again

According to a Bloomberg report, Naughty Dog workers have faced significant pressure to meet internal deadlines, as the developer has repeatedly failed to close important milestones in the game’s development. To try to make up for lost time, working hours over 60 per week were prohibited, and a return to the office five days a week was mandated, instead of the three that were previously allowed. Although this measure seems to have ended for most staff, many employees remain concerned about a possible increase in crunch as the game’s release date, scheduled for 2027, approaches.

Naughty Dog has a recognized history of crunch, with a 2020 Kotaku report describing brutal labor practices at the studio, despite it being considered a top-tier creative environment. Edwin Goss, quality lead, admitted in 2024 that Naughty Dog’s reputation regarding crunch is difficult to change in the long term, although he committed to eradicating these practices. However, the studio’s recent past suggests that such commitments are complicated to maintain, especially in an industry where excessive work has been normalized.

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The CEO of Larian Studios, creators of Baldur's Gate 3, promises you that you shouldn't care that they are using AI

Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios, has shared his perspective on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in video game development, noting that his company uses it to facilitate certain processes, but not to replace human talent in content creation. In a recent talk with Bloomberg, Vincke explained that generative AI is used to explore ideas, develop presentations, and draft placeholder texts, stating that “everyone is a human actor” in the creative process. They are using AI, but little, really Despite his defense of the use of AI, the statements […]

Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios, has shared his perspective on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in video game development, noting that his company uses it to facilitate certain processes, but not to replace human talent in content creation. In a recent talk with Bloomberg, Vincke explained that generative AI is used to explore ideas, develop presentations, and draft placeholder texts, stating that “everyone is a human actor” in the creative process.

They are using AI, but very little, really

Despite his defense of the use of AI, Vincke’s statements have received negative responses from some employees, such as artist Selena Tobin, who has expressed her discontent on social media. Tobin, credited as a junior environmental artist on Baldur’s Gate 3, expressed her disappointment by commenting that she enjoyed working at Larian “until AI came along,” urging the company’s management to “show respect to their employees,” who, according to her, do not need the help of AI to generate innovative ideas.

Vincke has defended the use of AI as a tool that accelerates workflows and improves productivity, but he has insisted that the art and voices in his games, including future releases, are products of human work. In response to the criticism, the founder of Larian Studios intends to clarify his position in an upcoming interview with Gamespot, where the implementations of AI in the company for 2025 will be detailed.

With the growing use of AI in the video game industry, the debate about its role in the creative process intensifies, generating different opinions on the balance between technology and human talent in the creation of artistic and entertainment works.

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Team Cherry is already thinking about their next game after Silksong, but it might not be Hollow Knight 3

After seven years of waiting, Hollow Knight fans have finally been able to explore the realm of Telalejana in Silksong. This release has sparked speculation about the upcoming projects of Team Cherry, the Australian studio behind the franchise. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, co-founders William Pellen and Ari Gibson shared their thoughts on the game’s development and what the future holds for them. They do not rule out working on something new. With the conclusion of Silksong on the horizon, Team Cherry is considering the possibility of creating additional content for the game, as well as the option of […]

After seven years of waiting, Hollow Knight fans have finally been able to explore the realm of Telalejana in Silksong. This release has sparked speculation about the upcoming projects of Team Cherry, the Australian studio behind the franchise. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, co-founders William Pellen and Ari Gibson shared their thoughts on the game’s development and what the future holds for them.

They do not rule out working on something new

With the conclusion of Silksong on the horizon, Team Cherry is considering the possibility of creating additional content for the game, as well as the option of developing Hollow Knight 3 or even a completely new title. However, both developers expressed their concern about the time that each project demands and the impact this has on their personal lives. As Gibson notes, “the only temporal concern is death,” highlighting the tension between the desire to keep creating and the reality of limited time.

Despite this concern, Pellen and Gibson are not eager to leave the Hollow Knight cosmos. According to them, the desire to explore new themes and genres remains, although they will keep certain familiar elements in their future titles. Pellen mentions that they are in a constant search for ideas that could expand the narrative without abandoning its distinctive essence.

Team Cherry’s statement suggests that they may continue to experiment within their already known universe, but they are also willing to explore other creative territories. Gibson concludes that “it would be interesting to explore the same things we are interested in, but perhaps in a slightly different genre.” This has led to speculation that the team may be on the path to diversifying their repertoire while continuing to captivate fans with their unique narrative style.

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Bloomberg reveals Nintendo's plan for Switch 2 in Japan… and Nintendo denies it

A few days before the highly anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, a report from Bloomberg has sparked intense debate about Nintendo’s business strategy in Japan. According to the publication, the Japanese company planned to allow retailers to earn an unusually high profit margin of 5% on each console sold, exceeding the unofficial industry standard, which hovers around 2%. This strategy aims to incentivize local distributors and ensure a strong presence of the Switch 2 in Japanese physical stores. Nintendo seems to disagree with what is being said about it […]

Just days before the highly anticipated launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, a report from Bloomberg has sparked intense debate about Nintendo’s business strategy in Japan. Saccording to the publication, the Japanese company planned to allow retailers to earn an unusually high profit margin of 5% on each console sold, exceeding the unofficial industry standard, which hovers around 2%. This strategy aims to incentivize local distributors and ensure a strong presence of the Switch 2 in Japanese physical stores.

Nintendo seems to disagree with what is being said about it

However, Nintendo has rushed to deny these claims through a statement on its official Twitter account, where it stated: “This text is false. Nintendo does not disclose any information about the business conditions with its distribution and retail partners.” Despite this clarification, the company’s shares fell by 2.2% on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, highlighting the market’s sensitivity to news related to the Big N.

The measure of higher margins seeks to alleviate the growing pressure on retailers in an increasingly digital sales environment, where downloads surpass physical copies and accessories are marketed online. This paradigm shift has led physical stores to seek ways to remain relevant in the transition to a more digital business model.

Despite the controversy, the conversation about Nintendo’s business strategy persists. The company anticipates selling 15 million units of the Switch 2 before March 2026, although projections could exceed 20 million if production conditions allow. In this context, both players and analysts will be watching closely how the initial commercial steps of a console that has already generated significant interest even before its launch unfold.

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Warner Bros. Games has canceled everything related to Hogwarts Legacy

A new report from Bloomberg has revealed that Warner Bros. Games has canceled a planned expansion for Hogwarts Legacy, as well as a Definitive Edition that would include both the base game and this new content. The cancellation comes amid a significant restructuring within Warner’s video game division, which has suffered losses of $300 million due to failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Multiversus. A game that will not receive new content Despite the fact that the expansion was never formally announced, it is speculated that the Definitive Edition could have been […]

A new report from Bloomberg has revealed that Warner Bros. Games has canceled a planned expansion for Hogwarts Legacy, as well as a Definitive Edition that would include both the base game and this new content. The cancellation comes amid a significant restructuring within Warner’s video game division, which has suffered losses of $300 million due to failures such as Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and Multiversus.

A game that will not receive new content

Although the expansion was never formally announced, it is speculated that the Definitive Edition could have been a director’s cut that was first reported in 2024. According to sources, the decision to cancel the additional content was based on the fact that production costs were not justified in relation to the amount of expected content.

The cancellation is especially surprising given that Hogwarts Legacy was a resounding success in 2023 and is considered one of the four “key franchises” for Warner, alongside Game of Thrones, Mortal Kombat, and DC. Just last month, the company reaffirmed its commitment to projects related to Harry Potter, emphasizing its importance in the future of the company’s video game business.

However, in the midst of the restructuring, several development studios were also closed, including Monolith and Player First Games, and other ongoing projects were canceled, such as the video game based on Wonder Woman. Despite the bad news, Warner has confirmed that a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy is still in development and remains one of its top priorities.

It can be anticipated that, given the success of the original title, the cancellation of an expansion and a Definitive Edition could have a negative impact on the franchise’s short-term revenue potential, raising questions about the business strategy to be followed by Warner in the video game industry.

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The Sony portable is a reality: Digital Foundry confirms the rumors

PlayStation Vita lives. In our hearts. Sony’s handheld didn’t sell much, but it was a great console. Those of us who had it can vouch for it. Even today, it remains one of the best handheld consoles that have ever existed. And it’s no surprise that later Nintendo and Valve took notes from it to make their own handheld consoles. Nor is it surprising that Sony has decided it’s a good idea to return to the handheld console market. According to several reliable sources. Bloomberg mentioned last November that Sony was developing a new handheld console. Still only in […]

PlayStation Vita lives. In our hearts. Sony’s handheld didn’t sell much, but it was a great console—those of us who had it can attest to that. Even today, it remains one of the best handheld consoles that has ever existed. It’s no surprise that Nintendo and Valve later took notes from it to make their own handheld consoles. Nor that Sony has decided it’s a good idea to return to the handheld console market, according to several reliable sources that have already confirmed it.

Bloomberg commented last November that Sony was developing a new portable console, after realizing that there was a market for portable devices. Still only in the prototyping stage, this was due to the success of PlayStation Portal. It seems they are not the only ones who have heard that information, as other media outlets are joining in to confirm the news.

Last Monday, in their podcast DF Direct Weekly #191, Digital Foundry confirmed that they had heard the rumors that Sony was working on a portable console weeks ago. If they hadn’t commented on it, according to John Linneman, it’s because “we’re not in the business of leaking things.” He also mentioned that “it’s interesting that the news has finally started circulating, because it confirms what we had already heard.”

Sony is not the only one interested in portable consoles

Although they have not been able to provide many more details, it seems that there may already be a prototype of the console, or at least, a concept of what they are looking for. Considering that Sony has already made two handhelds in the past, the PSP and the PS Vita, not counting the Portal device, it would not be surprising if they have made more progress than we imagined.

For now, all we know is that they are interested and their idea is for it to be a console capable of running PlayStation 5 games. This also coincides with Microsoft’s interest in making a portable console, undoubtedly due to the success of Valve, Rog, and Nintendo, with their portable consoles. It seems they are experiencing a second life that is not close to ending.

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