Feature
Halo Infinite is a trial balloon for Game Pass' future | Opinion
A strong start for Xbox' most valuable franchise creates an opportunity to experiment in keeping players engaged long-term
Rob Fahey (Page 6)
Feature
Buying Activision Blizzard is the industry's biggest gamble | Opinion
The sheer scale of Microsoft's acquisition shouldn't distract from how risky and difficult it will be - and some major questions won't have answers for years
Feature
Unit sales are only one factor in the sequel equation | Opinion
Decision-making over franchises can seem obscure, but there's usually solid logic behind such investment -- and sales are only part of the puzzle
Opinion
Unionisation is set to be one of the biggest stories in 2022 | Opinion
As employees seek to retain flexible work styles, and endless scandals sink the reputation of management and HR departments, collective bargaining is back on the menu
News
Sony's VR ambitions go far beyond PlayStation | Opinion
A new prototype headset shown off this week helps to explain Sony's ongoing commitment to PSVR -- as a powerful starting point for the company's wider plans
Feature
Shortages amid record sales: Consumers face a frustrating Christmas | Opinion
It's common for consoles to sell out around the holidays, but it's more irritating after a year in which supply never met demand
Feature
Game remasters must respect creative history, not just make a fast buck | Opinion
The disastrous launch of GTA Definitive Edition fails to respect the importance of the games, and shows a lack of regard for the value of the IP itself
Feature
Kotick's poor decision-making has only deepened Activision Blizzard's crisis | Opinion
The Activision Blizzard boss has prioritised his own survival as CEO over the company's best interests in recent months - a competent board would demand his resignation
Feature
Unity's Weta acquisition doesn't need the Metaverse to make sense | Opinion
Zuckerberg's 'metaverse' pivot has likely condemned us to hearing the buzzword a lot, but Unity buying Weta Digital is much more practical than a science fiction dream
Feature
Baseless NFT hype hits a crescendo - but play-to-earn is worth watching | Opinion
As top execs pay lip service to blockchain buzzwords, it's the future visions they boost by association that are of real interest
Feature
Nintendo draws attention (and ire) to its weak online offering | Opinion
A ham-fisted attempt to entice customers to a higher-priced subscription with poorly emulated retro games reveals just how weak Nintendo's service pillar still is
Feature
A missed target reveals Game Pass' growing pains | Opinion
The subscription service may be beloved for its back catalogue - but even more so than Xbox itself, it desperately needs high-profile new software to drive growth
Feature
Fantasy and Destiny: Designing for returning players | Opinion
Choice of business model impacts game design in far-reaching ways, as seen in the very different experiences of returning to Destiny 2 and Final Fantasy 14
Feature
Amazon could be Valve's only serious challenger | Opinion
With Twitch as its springboard, leaked Steam competitor Vapor could be the biggest disruption to the PC market in decades
Feature
Can Marvel's Avengers find long-tail success on Game Pass? | Opinion
Square Enix' game met a lukewarm reception despite its world-class IP -- now its arrival on Game Pass highlights the opportunity for games to outlive disappointing launches
Feature
The Epic vs Apple judgement leaves much undecided | Opinion
Apple must allow app developers to point consumers at alternative payment methods - but there will be many more legal wrangles before the impact on mobile games is clear
Opinion
Cross-gen software is still Sony's Achilles' Heel | Opinion
With supply problems still frustrating many consumers, Sony slapping a fee on software upgrades feels tone-deaf at best
Feature
South Korea's App Store law is a grand experiment | Opinion
With legislation regulating app stores considered by many regions, South Korea's typically early-mover approach will be watched carefully
Feature
The industry should follow EA in using patents to defend accessibility | Opinion
Software patents are a controversial topic but employed defensively, they can help to protect essential accessibility features from the chilling effects of a flawed system
Feature
Lopsided contracts remain a fact of life for developers | Opinion
Innovation in funding, distribution and market access has changed the industry's power dynamics - but many devs still find themselves signing contracts that are far from ideal
Feature
FFXIV shows a toxic community isn't an inevitability | Opinion
A bust-up over World of Warcraft's unwelcoming community highlights FFXIV's success: properly enforcing sensible rules
Feature
“Spiritual Opium”: China's stroke-of-pen risks continue to grow | Opinion
A blink-and-you'll-miss-it incident highlights the authorities' increasingly negative attitude to games and tech - and should trouble investors or companies over-exposed to this market
News
Activision Blizzard's nasty frat-boy culture is an industry-wide ailment | Opinion
The roots of a culture enabling harassment and discrimination are found across the industry - and only structural change will dig them out
Feature
Netflix's games won't be the Netflix of Games | Opinion
Those expecting the streaming giant to take a Stadia-like approach to games will be disappointed - but what Netflix is doing instead could be more creative and interesting.
Feature
Nintendo's Switch strategy is increasingly handheld-focused | Opinion
The OLED Switch may not be the new hardware some consumers hoped for - but it's a good signal of Nintendo's strategy and the new markets it hopes to win over