The last few days have been tumultuous for the video game community. Numerous Twitch streamers received Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices, and content creators removed countless non-complaint Videos on Demand (VOD). The DMCA violations pertained to background music, which creators typically play during “in real life” (IRL) streams. As the online community scrambled to remove years of content, a
Read moreThe timeless adage is strike while the iron is hot, and few developers are blazing quite like Naughty Dog. Fresh off the resounding success of The Last of Us Part II, the Santa Monica studio will not adopt complacency. Simultaneously, Hollywood’s most prominent superhero actor is also refusing to rest on his laurels. The two worlds collided when Naught Dog
Read moreDespite the economic challenges of the global pandemic, the video game industry remains strong. Global sales will likely surpass $160 billion in 2020, and U.S. sales should reach $50 billion by the end of December. While both statistics represent double-digit percentage increases over last year, not all companies are reaping the benefits. One particular technology giant continues to struggle; however,
Read moreIn business and everyday life, timing is everything. While the video game industry has enjoyed record sales in 2020, publisher 2K Games continues to struggle. Traditional moneymakers, such as NBA and WWE 2K, feel stagnant, and fans responded accordingly by refusing to purchase the games. Despite multiple setbacks, a recent announcement from Gearbox Software could propel 2K Games to success
Read moreAs the year slowly draws to an end, the video game industry remains enthusiastic towards the release of Cyberpunk 2077. CD Projekt Red’s upcoming action-RPG arrives on November 19th and continues to garner criticism and praise. While players flock to preorder their copy, many fans are wondering: what exactly makes a video game have cyberpunk style? Does art direction, gameplay,
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 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 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 moreSingle-player games continue to be a topic of conversation within the video game industry. Although online multiplayer games extend the life of popular franchises, a large segment of the industry still prefers solo experiences. Because most single-player games enjoy the highest percentage of lifetime sales within the first few weeks, the primary concern among the publishing community is the condensed
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