In recent years, the explosion of online retailing has not been kind to brick-and-mortar companies. During 2020, several traditional storefronts, such as GNC and JCPenney, have declared bankruptcy, and many others are on the cusp of financial ruin. The iconic video game store GameStop is among those on the verge of economic ruin; however, another industry titan is attempting to
Read moreWhile Minecraft stands atop the pantheon of best-selling video games, the widespread availability of the pixelated adventure on nearly every platform is largely responsible for its success. Although console exclusivity severely limits opportunities for certain franchises, one new 2020 release dares to challenge the paradigm. As sales of Animal Crossing New Horizons continue to skyrocket, the industry begins to wonder:
Read moreIf you are not first, then you are last. While crossing the finish line before the competition is essential in most industries, the global pandemic continues to overturn the paradigm. The entertainment sector is no different, and the uncertain landscape has forced most studios to delay projects. But a highly anticipated film is challenging the status quo by moving its
Read moreGone are the days of intense industry rivalry and competition. After decades of strategy focused on dethroning the closest competitor, global leaders discovered that cooperation yields better results for entire business segments. Although the video game sector is late in adopting the new mindset, multiple industry veterans are partnering to deliver fans unprecedented gaming experiences. The Nintendo and Xbox collaboration
Read moreVideo game developers revel in striking while the iron is hot, and perhaps no company is searing quite like Capcom. From reviving dormant franchises like Mega Man to expounding upon fan favorites, such as Devil May Cry and Monster Hunter, the Japanese-based studio is basking in recent success. But perhaps no Capcom franchise is riding quite as high as Resident
Read moreVideo game fans will always remember the year 2020 for delayed releases and next-generation console launches; however, another narrative is quickly grabbing headlines: consolidation. As the industry continues to process Microsoft’s blockbuster acquisition of Bethesda Game Studios, another technology giant quietly partnered with a Triple-A studio. On Thursday, Amazon announced a special partnership with Ubisoft Entertainment for its new cloud
Read moreFew companies have experienced peaks and valleys quite like Nintendo. From the ground-breaking success of the Wii to the disaster of the Wii U, the iconic video game company was on the brink of financial ruin. But Nintendo quickly regained status among the industry’s titans with the release of the Nintendo Switch. As the hybrid console continues to sell at
Read moreAs the video game world anticipates the release of Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles, the Nintendo Switch remains the most popular platform across the industry. On September 9th, Bloomberg published a report indicating that Nintendo increased its annual target of Switch console sales by 120 percent. While the statistics are impressive, Bloomberg revealed another pivotal detail concerning the Switch: Nintendo
Read moreFor the last decade, the video game industry has touted the “games-as-a-service” model as the future of gaming. While a number of studios, such as Blizzard and Bungie, have discovered success using this model, single-player experiences continue to dominate the industry. Regardless of the gaming category, a constant truth remains: costly hardware is the largest paywall to gaming software. With
Read moreWhile Nintendo has provided occasional updates on Twitter, over a year has passed since the last official Nintendo Direct. As Nintendo remained oddly silent throughout the pandemic, fans grew restless about the future of the hybrid console. Critics also began comparing the lackluster Nintendo Switch 2020 lineup to the Wii U era. But after a series of surprise announcements, the
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