Opinion (Page 3)

Opinion

The "live service" model is all played out | Opinion

Players are voting with their wallets – like any other industry trend or fad, live service games have seen their moment pass; companies able to pivot away should do so fast

Feb. 9, 2024 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Genshin Impact's protesting players aren't just "entitled gamers" | Opinion

Protests against underwhelming in-game rewards should be treated as valuable feedback on a monetisation strategy gone awry, not as ingratitude or entitlement

Jan. 26, 2024 Rob Fahey

Opinion

2025 could very well be the best year in video games sales to date | Opinion

SJN Insights' Sam Naji expects the market to be boosted by GTA 6, potential PS5 and Xbox mid-gen refreshes, and the first full year of sales for Switch 2

Jan. 24, 2024 Sam Naji

Opinion

Not everyone bows to the inevitability of subscription models | Opinion

Larian boss Swen Vincke is the latest industry figure to push back against subscription models; the growing mess in TV and movies makes clear why that perspective is important

Jan. 19, 2024 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Cyberpunk’s redemption took both hard work and uncanny luck | Opinion

The three-year path from one of the industry's most catastrophic launches to widespread acclaim is the story of a miracle, not a case study to be emulated

Jan. 12, 2024 Rob Fahey

Opinion

AI, online platform regulation and loot boxes: Legal trends to watch in 2024

Dr Andreas Lober reflects on his 2023 predictions and looks at the year ahead to discuss how legislation could impact games companies

Jan. 11, 2024 Dr Andreas Lober

Opinion

Legal hacks to eliminate cheating in games

Andrew Velzen and Jake Lee of intellectual property law firm MBHB explore potential defences against hacks that unbalance multiplayer titles

Jan. 10, 2024 Andrew Velzen & Jake Lee

Opinion

How can Nintendo Switch 2 surpass its predecessor? | Opinion

We look at how the platform holder can buck the trend and deliver a sequel console that goes bigger

Jan. 9, 2024 Christopher Dring

Opinion

2023's great games were a backdrop for industry failure | Opinion

A constant tolling bell of industry layoffs defined 2023 – with job losses for thousands being in stark contrast to a stellar release schedule and record-beating acquisition numbers

Dec. 15, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Baldur's Gate 3 | Games of the Year 2023

Marie Dealessandri says Larian's latest represents the triumphant culmination to a story 25 years in the making

Dec. 14, 2023 Marie Dealessandri

Opinion

GTA 6 trailer leak spoiled the biggest video game moment in a decade | Opinion

It was a disappointing start to a significant week for the video games business

Dec. 5, 2023 Christopher Dring

Opinion

You shall not (Game) Pass | Opinion

Microsoft's CFO reiterates a vision for Game Pass on rival consoles – but the obstacles make it a near-impossibility, and go far deeper than questions of revenue sharing

Dec. 1, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Regional pricing in games distribution is still necessary – here is why | Opinion

VaultN's Julian Migura says Steam switching off local currency in certain markets is "a poor attempt at curing symptoms, not the root cause"

Nov. 30, 2023 Julian Migura

Opinion

Steam stumbles on regional pricing | Opinion

Valve's new policy of using USD denominations in countries with unstable currencies will hurt consumers there – but the real target is region-spoofing consumers elsewhere

Nov. 24, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

A case for building your own tech | Opinion

Oxide Games' co-founder Dan Baker on why game studios should consider creating custom technology

Nov. 22, 2023 Dan Baker

Opinion

Strauss Zelnick didn't say games should be priced per hour, but is he right about their value? | Opinion

The GTA 6 publisher repeats the view that premium video games offer good value for money

Nov. 17, 2023 Christopher Dring

Opinion

Embracing disaster | Opinion

In the absence of the low-interest economic climate that created it, the recklessness and unsustainability of Embracer Group’s aggressive acquisition strategy is laid bare

Nov. 17, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Blizzard’s Overwatch League was ambitious and doomed | Opinion

One of the most interesting experiments in esports history comes to an expensive close – with the game itself struggling, the writing was on the wall for the league

Nov. 10, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Let's fake a deal | This Week in Business

Console user agreements represent a poor excuse for consent

Nov. 3, 2023 Brendan Sinclair

Opinion

Does Sony have a long-term software strategy? | Opinion

PlayStation's studio system is world-class today – but with reports of cost-cutting and cracks showing in the expensively-acquired Bungie, there are concerns about tomorrow

Nov. 3, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Microsoft joins the publishing top table | Opinion

By adding Activision Blizzard to its existing studios, Microsoft has created a publishing behemoth – and in its financials this week, it was keen to underscore the commitment this represents to gaming

Oct. 27, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

What did Microsoft want from Starfield? | Opinion

Bethesda's latest is a bona fide hit, topping US sales charts – but for Microsoft's plan to use exclusives to drive Game Pass subscriptions, that success is a double-edged sword

Oct. 20, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Unity's crisis is much bigger than John Riccitiello | Opinion

What Unity's customers need isn't a sacrificial scalp, it's a clear plan for how the company they rely on is going to achieve financial stability

Oct. 13, 2023 Rob Fahey

Opinion

Finally, the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard acquisition saga is over. Now the work begins | Opinion

How will this deal shape the future of the games industry?

Oct. 13, 2023 Christopher Dring

Opinion

Resident Evil Village on iOS makes cases both for and against cloud streaming | Opinion

Capcom's impressive port shows once again that cloud streaming isn't required for high-end mobile gaming – but it might be the only path to commercial success

Oct. 6, 2023 Rob Fahey