A16Z Games offering $750k investments and mentorship through Speedrun accelerator

A16Z Games has opened applications for the fourth iteration of its 'Speedrun' accelerator (SR004).The 12-week program offers tech and video game startups the chance to secure a $750,000 investment and mentorship from industry leaders.Josh Lu, investing partner at A16Z Games, said the accelerator aims to empower entrepreneurs to "start building their dream companies" and provides support in the form of cash, top-tier resources, and mentorship.Applications for SR004 are now open and will close on September 30, 2024. The program will commence on January 6, 2025, and conclude with a demo day at Game Developers Conference 2025 in March.

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Nintendo ends New 3DS repair support after draining parts supply

Nintendo has said it will no longer provide repairs for its New Nintendo 3DS systems, effective immediately. In a translated social media post, it explained it had "run out of parts necessary for repairs."In mid-February, the publisher said it would continue to repair the New 3DS and its XL and 2DS offshoots until its parts stock had dwindled. According to its website at time of writing, the 2DS' XL successor can still be repaired.

Nintendo repairs drying up for older systems

This past July, Nintendo also stopped repairing the Nintendo WiiU after also running out of parts. The New 3DS had a more staggered rollout compared to th…

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Survey reveals devs consider genAI double-edged sword in game development

A new survey from the Game Developer Collective shows developers remain at an impasse when it comes to generative AI.Of those asked, 30 percent believe the technology will reduce development costs in the next 12 months. Conversely, 8 percent are certain it'll lead to rising costs, while 35 percent are skeptical and 20 percent think its impact will be insubstantial.GenAI is controversial both in and out of games, and the survey shows it'll remain divisive for some time. The main arguments against it include its environmental harm and reduced quality compared to using human artists.Read more

Black Myth: Wukong has sold 10 million copies worldwide

Black Myth: Wukong has sold 10 million copies in under a week. Developer Game Science broke the news on X and said the action-RPG also reached 3 million concurrent players across all platforms.Earlier this week, SteamDB estimates suggested the title had sold well on PC after it amassed around 2.2 million concurrent players. As highlighted by GameDiscoverCo founder Simon Carless, the bulk of those players were located in China–the home of developer Game Science.Black Myth: Wukong is rooted in Chinese mythology and has become something of a standard bearer for development in the region.The project launched on August 20, 2024, for PC and PlayStation 5. The Xbox version has been delayed due to optimization issues and hasn't been given a firm release date."PC and PS5 users can enjoy…

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Keywords acquires work-for-hire studio Wushu to expand Create division

Game service provider Keywords has acquired Wushu Studios to bolster its production capabilities.Based in Liverpool, Wushu was established in 2017 to create original franchises but eventually transitioned to a work-for-hire model.The company has worked on a range of high-profile projects including Fall Guys, State of Decay, Forza Horizon 5, and Baldur's Gate 3. Keywords said Wushu has grown well despite "market turbulence" and noted the company expects to deliver adjusted revenues of £12.5 million ($16 million) during the fiscal year ending August 31, 2024.Wushu founder and majority owner Alan McDermott and the current management team will remain at the helm post-acquisition. Keywords said the studio currently has a "strong pipeline of high-quality projects" in de…

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The Epic Games Store debuts on AltStore, Android, and iOS devices

Fortnite, Fall Guys, and Rocket League Sideswipe have dropped back onto iOS and Android handsets via The Epic Games Store. As promised earlier this year, Epic will use its marketplace to relaunch key titles on mobile platforms following a protracted legal battle with Apple and Google.The Epic Game Store is currently available for download on iPhone within the European Union, where the recently introduced Digital Markets Act prohibits Apple from blocking third-party platforms. It will also be accessible on Android devices worldwide and independent mobile stores including AltStore PAL.In a blog post announcing the launch, Epic praised the Digital Markets Act for allowing it to relaunch across EU territories, but claimed Apple is still blocking access elsewhere. It also described the processe…

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Digital Sun’s Cataclismo surpasses 120K Early Access sales in two weeks

Cataclismo launched in Early Access in late July, and it's already sold 120,000 copies.Tim Bender, CEO of the game's publisher Hooded Horse, bragged about the RTS' success, also highlighting its high 93 percent rating on Steam. "We're honored to serve as publisher for the amazing devs at Digital Sun," he wrote.Meanwhile, the studio separately called it the fastest-selling game of its history to surpass 100,000 copies. It's also its highest-rated Steam game ever, surpassing the League of Legends spinoff Mageseeker (84 percent) and Moonlighter (82 percent)."Thanks for the support, Hogardians!" it concluded.

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Former Epic Games exec Alain Tascan is the new president of Netflix Games

Epic Games former EVP of game development, Alain Tascan, has been named president of Netflix Games.Prior to joining Epic, Tascan served as CEO of Umi Mobile, vice chairman at Funcom, VP and general manager at EA Montreal, and VP of production at Ubisoft.Variety broke the news and explained Tascan will report directly to Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters."Alain brings over 30 years of experience in global video game development, production, licensing and building studios," said Peters, discussing the appointment. "He has a passion for making great games and a proven track record of taking bold creative bets. We’re thrilled to have him leading Netflix Games."Tascan said he intends to build on the "remarkable foundation" the Netflix Games team has laid, and claimed th…

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Xbox hardware revenue is in decline, but Microsoft says subscriptions and content define success

Microsoft has fired out its fiscal report for the full-year ended June 30, 2024, and the tech maker has reported another downturn in Xbox hardware revenue.Xbox hardware revenue decreased by 42 percent year-over-year during Q4. As noted in a separate 10-K filing, that resulted in full-year Xbox hardware revenue tumbling by 13 percent year-over-year, "driven by lower volume of [Xbox] consoles sold."That trend looks set to continue into the current fiscal year, with Microsoft CFO Amy Hood stating "hardware revenue will again decline year-over-year" during an earnings call.Xbox content and services revenue provided some balance, increasing by 61 percent year-over-year in Q4–driven by 58 points of net impact from Microsoft's seismic Activision Blizzard acquisition.Rev…

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Keywords launches AI-powered FAQ translation tool it says will reduce costs by 100 percent

Keywords is rolling out a new AI-driven FAQ translation tool it claims will "reduce translation costs by 100 percent" while ensuring "consistent quality and brand voice across all languages."The tool has been bundled into Keywords' customer support platform Helpshift and is capable of translating commonly asked questions into 74 languages with a single click. Keywords says the tool will streamline customer support on a global scale."Language AI FAQ Translation meets the pressing need for businesses to connect with global audiences efficiently and cost-effectively. In today's interconnected world, seamless engagement across diverse languages is crucial," reads a press release."As businesses expand globally, the demand for effortless multilingual …

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