French video game publishing giant Ubisoft reported its first-quarter earnings this week, revealing lower than expected net bookings (282 million in euros) which the company attributes to weak performance for “Rainbow Six Siege” and in part due to “an unfavorable foreign exchange impact.”
On a more positive note, the company says March release “Assassin’s Creed Shadows” has now crossed 5 million players.
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During a call with analysts, Ubisoft co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot expanded on changes to internal structure at Ubisoft, following the recent appointment of senior leadership at the company’s new subsidiary: “We also continued to make meaningful progress on Ubisoft’s transformation by outlining a new operating model built around business units, called Creative Houses. These units will reflect our diverse types of gaming experiences and will allow for enhanced quality, focus, autonomy and accountability. Over time, each of these Creative Houses will boost creative vision and business performance.”
See more gaming news from this week in the roundup below.
FIRST-LOOK TRAILERS
The first trailer for “Battlefield 6” was released by Electronic Arts (EA) and Battlefield Studios Thursday.
Per EA, the footage offers a “first look at Pax Armata, a Private Military Corporation bankrolled by former NATO states whose agenda threatens to throw the world into global conflict. This sets the scene for what players can expect on the battlefield – both in multiplayer and the return of the series’ single player campaign.”
EA will host a multiplayer reveal event on July 31 at 2:30 p.m. ET/11:30 a.m. PT with the developers from Battlefield Studios, which will offer more details about “Battlefield 6.”
NEWLY ANNOUNCED GAMES
A video game based on Clive Barker’s “Hellraiser” franchise is in development from Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games.
Titled “Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival,” the single-player, survival horror action game marks the first-ever video game based on the horror series. The game will “put players face-to-face against the legendary Pinhead, with actor Doug Bradley returning to the role for the first time in nearly two decades.”
The “Hellraiser” game will launch across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam.
“Working on the first true ‘Hellraiser’ game has been a venture deep into the recesses of my darkest imaginings,” Barker said. “The dedication that Saber and Boss Team Games have shown is nothing short of remarkable. They’ve immersed themselves in the ‘Hellraiser’ universe, capturing its essence—the seductive pull of suffering, the beauty within the grotesque—and forged a narrative that invites players to step beyond the threshold. I’m eager for both the curious and the damned to experience this new chapter in the ‘Hellraiser’ mythos, where every moment balances on the brink of nightmare and revelation.”
Saber Interactive CEO and co-founder Matthew Karch added: “‘Hellraiser’ is the quintessential horror franchise, and lends itself perfectly to a video game. Saber has had success with horror IPs in the past, and working alongside Clive to create tense gameplay and a new story that delves into the twisted depths of pain and pleasure has been a real treat. We look forward to opening up the gates of hell.”
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Netflix has partnered with Spotify ahead of Friday’s launch of “Happy Gilmore 2” for an interactive, golf-inspired gaming experience on Spotify. Per Spotify, the “Happy Gilmore 2 Tournament” “lets users swing through film-inspired golf challenges, complete with iconic easter eggs, audio clips, and a personalized playlist of ‘Happy’ tracks to soundtrack their next round and celebrate the film’s upcoming release.”
“This campaign is a perfect example of how Spotify can transform everyday listening into something playful, immersive, and unforgettable,” Spotify head of North America sales Ann Piper said. “By blending interactivity with personalization, we created a fan-first experience that not only brought the spirit of ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ to life, but also showed how brands can show up in culture in ways that feel meaningful and fun.”
LEGAL
“Fortnite” maker Epic Games released a statement Wednesday in response to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)’s new roadmaps assessing regulation for Apple’s App Store and Google’s Google Play Store.
“We can’t bring the Epic Games Store to iOS in the UK this year (if ever), and Fortnite’s return to iOS in the UK is now uncertain,” Epic said Wednesday. “The CMA, the UK competition regulator, is choosing not to prioritize opening the mobile ecosystem to alternative app stores this year in the roadmaps for Apple and Google that were released today. This is a missed opportunity to introduce competition into a currently-monopolized market and unlock economic growth and consumer choice. Four years after concluding that the App Store and Google Play Store are parallel monopolies the CMA has done nothing to allow competing stores.”
Per Epic, “A free market requires multiple stores competing to offer consumers the best prices and services. If you don’t have competing stores, the one store that is a state-sanctioned monopoly will use its control to extract all the value from the market at the expense of all creators who cannot compete, and consumers who can’t choose the best deal among competing stores.”
SALES
GameSquare has acquired NFT CryptoPunk #5577 (a.k.a. “the iconic Cowboy Ape”) from Robert Leshner, the founder of Compound and CEO of Superstate.
Per the gaming company, “Leshner received $5.15 million in GameSquare preferred stock, convertible into common shares at $1.50 per share” as part of the transaction.
“This isn’t just our first grail NFT, it’s a signal of how we’re thinking differently and expanding our existing footprint in digital culture by building a next-generation media company with crypto in its DNA,” GameSquare CEO Justin Kenna said. “We believe in DeFi pioneers like Robert Leshner, one of crypto’s most respectable investors. We’re proud to have him on the cap table, and even prouder to have the Cowboy Ape in the family.”
PARTNERSHIPS
Atari has teamed up with Bandai Namco Entertainment America to launch a new Atari x PAC-MAN line of merchandise.
Per the companies, “the collection celebrates the long history of collaboration between the two iconic brands and fittingly comes as PAC-MAN marks its 45th anniversary since debuting in arcades.” Products will include “colorful Ghost Joysticks, a vibrant yellow Atari 2600+ console, an all-new PAC-MAN game and much more.”
“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Bandai Namco once again; they are an iconic partner with a shared passion for gaming history,” Atari vice president of strategic operations Matt Burnett said. “The Atari x PAC-MAN Collection is a celebration for fans of classic games, unique hardware and the timeless appeal of the PAC-MAN franchise. This collaboration honors our legacy together, bringing something truly special and rare to fans and collectors alike.”
DELAYS
“Splitgate” studio 1047 Games announced its free first-person-shooter game “Splitgate 2” will be returning to beta and, as a result, the studio will undergo a new round of layoffs.
“Rebuilding the core experience isn’t a quick fix; it’s a long-term commitment,” the studio said in a statement posted to X Thursday. “To give ourselves the time to build the Splitgate you deserve, we’ve made the incredibly difficult decision to reduce certain roles and shift our resources to focus on this rework. This is heartbreaking. These are our teammates and our friends, and they helped build what we have today. They’re receiving severance and job placement support, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to help them through this transition. We hope to bring them back when we can.”
NEW RELEASES
Psychological horror game “Luto” has launched from Broken Bird Games and SelectaPlay.
“You’re trapped. But is it your home, your mind, or something much worse?” reads the description for the game. “‘Luto’ blurs the lines between reality and nightmare as you search for a way out. Every step draws you deeper into a maze of sorrow, memory, and madness. This is more than a horror game. This is a story about death…and what comes after.”
The game is available now across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
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Developer and publisher Tripwire Interactive released horror game “Killing Floor 3” on PC (via Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, and the Xbox Series X and S console systems Thursday. The game is available digitally on all platforms for $39.99 for the Standard Edition, $59.99 for the Deluxe Edition and $79.99 for the Elite Nightfall Edition, and is available physically on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S as a Standard Edition with a MSRP of $39.99 from select retailers.
Per the game’s description, “The battle for survival against Horzine and their Zed army begins today, join Nightfall to protect the future of humanity and make every Zed dead.”
UPDATES/DLC
“Game of Thrones: Legends” is celebrating its one-year anniversary with the launch of an update featuring new characters and player rewards. Published by Take-Two Interactive’s Zynga, the game will offer Legendary Champion shards for Jon Snow (King in the North), Splendid Summon Tokens, Gold, and more as part of the first anniversary.
“Game of Thrones: Legends gives our players an immersive experience, and as we celebrate our first anniversary, we love seeing the incredible houses that are being built and the ongoing engagement from our community,” Zynga executive vice president of mobile games Yaron Leyvand sai. “Our team strives to match the enthusiasm and dedication of our players as we work to enhance the gaming experience, and we can’t wait to share what is next up for the Legends fans.”
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“Call of Duty: Mobile” will launch its Season 7 update, “Phantom Current,” on July 30 at 5 p.m. PT.
The DLC will include a new RC-XD Car Racing Mode, Mythic Operator Dark Shepherd, and an escape from the Gulag.
Per the Activision-produced game, “A high-seas themed Battle Pass brings the MG 82 LMG, the Drill Charge Reskin C4, and a new Bomb Drone Scorestreak, as well as a variety of nautical-themed Weapon Blueprints, Operator Skins, Bundles, and more.”
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Electronic Arts (EA) launched a gameplay deep dive video showcasing new in-game updates for “EA Sports FC 26” that will launch Sept. 26. “Players can look forward to a truly dynamic and overhauled gameplay experience this fall, powered by feedback from the FC Community!” EA said.
DEMOS
The first public demo has been set for high-speed vehicular arena combat game “Rivals Hover League.”
From “Subnautica 2” maker Krafton and Madrid-based developer EF Games, the game’s demo will be available on Steam from July 25 at 12:00 a.m. PT until July 27 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
“Players can try three competitive multiplayer modes: Rivals Mode, Core Battle, and Team Deathmatch across a curated set of arena maps,” per the demo description. “Seven distinct hover vehicles will also be available for players to test out, each designed for specific combat roles and equipped with unique abilities and ultimates. Participation will also grant access to exclusive rewards that become available upon full release.”
DATA
Tencent was revealed to be the video game publisher with the most live-streamed titles during the second half of the year with 1.67 billion hours watched, per a new report released by Streams Charts.
Runner up was Riot Games (which produces “League of Legends” in collaboration with Tencent) with 1.63 billion hours, followed by “Grand Theft Auto” maker Rockstar Games at 1.32 billion hours.
See the full chart below and the data report here.
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