Stellar Blade studio Shift Up’s independence at risk due to Tencent ties, investors fear
Tencent not only owns a large stake in Shift Up, but it also publishes their mobile games globally, meaning significant revenue is generated through Tencent.
VERACITY IN GAMING
VERACITY IN GAMING
Amber V
Editor-in-Chief since October 2023.
She grew up playing Duke Nukem and Wolfenstein with her dad, and is now enamored with obscure Japanese video games and internet culture. Currently devoted to growing Automaton West to the size of its Japanese sister-site, while making sure to keep news concise and developer stories deep and stimulating.
Bandai Namco is still working on new in-house game engine, update reveals
Bandai Namco Studios seems to already be training new staff on how to use the new proprietary game engine.
About half of Capcom’s dev staff is in animation-related roles, and they’re still in need of more animators
Amidst Japan's severe post-Covid shortage in animators, Capcom is determined to acquire more talent in the field.
Metal Slug’s dev team made a GPS-based game 15 years before Pokémon Go, but never got to release it
The former Metal Slug dev team, now active as Kohachi Studio, will finally release Yo-Kai Buster: Navinosuke, a lost project from 20 years ago.
Bandai Namco to invest more heavily in game studios through its startup investment fund
Bandai Namco Entertainment plans to invest in both Japanese and international game studios to publish "high-quality" games.
Metal Slug veterans to unveil “phantom game” they made 20 years ago but never announced
Kohachi Studio, an indie development studio that's home to Metal Slug and R-Type creators, is bringing back a lost project.
Konami’s Gradius 5 delisted from PS3 with slim chances of future port or re-release
The 2004 arcade-style shooter Gradius 5 can no longer be purchased on PS3, and Konami says a future re-release could be problematic.
Japanese game developer says 80% of staff uses generative AI in their work
Colopl, developer of White Cat Project and Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter, says 80% of its staff uses generative AI.
Microsoft cancels Gears of War: Reloaded PS5 release in Japan due to regional restrictions
Gears of War: Reloaded will not be launching on PlayStation 5 in Japan due to local platform and rating policies.
Switch 2’s leap in specs allows Pokémon Scarlet and Violet speedrunner to shave off 30 minutes from their world record
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet got a performance boost with their Nintendo Switch 2 update, and speerunners are feeling the change big time.
Silent Hill f actress “felt her own sanity almost slipping” in protagonist’s role
A comment by the actress of Silent Hill f's heroine Hinako Shimizu suggests there's a good dose of psychological horror awaiting players.
Nioh developer Team Ninja has grown big enough to put out a major new title each year, says president
Team Ninja president Fumihiko Yasuda talks about the studio's recent growth and how it has affected their output.