Top Stories

How a surge in memory prices will affect the game industry (8 min read)

Rising memory prices are increasing hardware costs for console and PC development. The surge affects development budgets and may influence hardware specifications for upcoming platforms, creating cost pressures for studios planning next-generation projects. (Game Developer)

Evo announces new tournament destinations coming in 2027, including Saudi Arabia (6 min read)

Evo announced five new tournament locations launching in 2027—Singapore, Brazil, Morocco, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and China—following Saudi company RTS's acquisition of the fighting game championship. The FGC has expressed concern that expansion may dilute the prestige of an Evo championship. The organization plans a new qualifying format for a Fighting Game World Championship across events throughout the year. (Esports Insider)

Weeks after Nioh 3's release, developer Team Ninja is being split into 3 as Koei Tecmo confirms major restructure (5 min read)

Koei Tecmo is restructuring Team Ninja, transferring Division 1 to Gust as its new Division 2 under Yasunori Sakuda. Team Ninja's remaining Division 2 splits into two new divisions, with Nioh producer Kohei Shibata leading the new Division 1. The move comes weeks after Nioh 3's launch and ahead of a new Dead or Alive announcement. (GamesRadar)

Studios & People

Yves Guillemot: "Changes of this scale naturally raise questions and create tension" (3 min read)

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot acknowledged "legitimate concerns" from staff following the company's €200 million cost-cutting plan and restructuring. Over 1,200 employees struck earlier this month, with the union demanding transparency, remote work protections, and pay raises. Guillemot said the company will prioritize voluntary departures while carefully controlling new hires, and emphasized the need for "open dialogue" during major changes. (Gamesindustry)

Nexon appoints Patrick Söderlund as new executive chairman to "accelerate global strategy, transform creative direction, and lead the next phase" (2 min read)

Nexon appointed Patrick Söderlund (Embark Studios CEO, formerly EA/DICE) as executive chairman to lead "company-wide strategic transformation" in portfolio strategy, M&A, and organizational development. Söderlund retains his Embark CEO role and joins existing board member status. Nexon reported record-breaking 2025 revenue, driven by Dungeon & Fighter, MapleStory, and Arc Raiders (14M+ copies sold). (Gamesindustry)

The Simpsons Hit and Run studio resurfaces, and it's taken no time at all for fans to demand a remaster or sequel to the beloved GTA-style spin on Springfield (5 min read)

Radical Entertainment has relaunched as New Radical Games after merging with defunct studio Hothead Games. The new venture, led by former Radical co-founder Ian Wilkinson and ex-Hothead COO Tim Bennison, focuses on licensed game development and studio support services. The relaunch immediately sparked fan campaigns for a Simpsons Hit and Run remaster or sequel. (GamesRadar)

Games & Releases

Yet Another Live-Service Game Is Shutting Down And Refunding Players (4 min read)

Amazon-published co-op game King of Meat is shutting down April 9, 2026, just six months after launching in October 2025. The game peaked at 400 concurrent players on Steam despite aiming for 100,000 and received expensive promotional support from MrBeast and Geoff Keighley. All players who purchased the $30 game will receive full refunds. The closure reflects a broader industry pattern of live-service failures. (Kotaku)

How Rainbow Six Siege lasted ten years and brought in 100m players (9 min read)

Rainbow Six Siege reached 100 million players in February 2026, ten years after launch. Ubisoft's VP credits consistent content updates, regular three-month release cadence, and esports support for the game's longevity. The shift to free-to-play with Siege X in 2025 introduced onboarding challenges but opened the game to new regions and younger players. Balancing new player acquisition against retention—particularly the critical "Day 28" retention window—remains central to the strategy. (Gamesindustry)

Battlefield 6's meta progression needed 'a little bit of a rework,' says producer (6 min read)

Battlefield 6's producer acknowledged the game's meta progression system needed refinement, describing changes as "a little bit of a rework." The adjustment addresses balance and progression pacing concerns identified during development and post-launch feedback. (Game Developer)

Rainbow Six Mobile is officially live worldwide (3 min read)

Ubisoft officially launched Rainbow Six Mobile worldwide on Android and iOS after nearly four years of closed beta testing. The tactical shooter exits its soft-launch phase with Operation Sand Wraith season now live. (Esports Insider)

AI/Tech & Tools

Krafton names chief AI officer to 'advance AI-driven game innovation' (5 min read)

Krafton appointed a chief AI officer to spearhead AI-driven game innovation across the company. The new role signals Krafton's commitment to integrating AI into game development pipelines and production processes. (Game Developer)

Policy & Labor

UK Government opens consultation on banning unlicensed gambling sponsors (3 min read)

The UK government opened a consultation on potentially banning unlicensed gambling companies from sponsoring sports teams, including esports organizations. The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport aims to reduce risks from the illegal gambling market. This could reshape sponsorship funding for esports teams and events in the UK. (Esports Insider)

Culture & Community

Fans, Creators, And Developers Explain What Makes Pokémon So Special (52 min read)

As Pokémon marks 30 years since its Game Boy debut, Kotaku gathered stories from developers, journalists, and creators about how the franchise shaped their lives and careers. Contributors describe Pokémon as a connector through childhood friendships, a comfort during health struggles, a gateway into gaming journalism, and a lens for understanding non-traditional audiences. The responses highlight how the series' themes of camaraderie and community extend beyond players to the professionals building games today. (Kotaku)

A new Evangelion series is coming from Studio Khara and Yoko Taro, creator of NieR (2 min read)

Studio Khara and Cloverworks are producing a new Neon Genesis Evangelion anime series, with Yoko Taro (creator of NieR) writing scripts and Kazuya Tsurumaki directing. Composer Keiichi Okabe from the NieR franchise is scoring. Plot details remain undisclosed, though Taro's involvement suggests the series could take unexpected narrative directions. (Engadget)

gg! see you in game!

-james