The Weekly Download

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine bye is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Anthropic updates Claude to stop it from recreating existing video games Ubisoft reportedly seeking to acquire Arkane Lyon Indie game website itch.io expands AI disclosure filter as 'AI slop' continues to overwhelm storefro...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Rockstar Staff to Vote on Union Recognition in November Xbox staff among up to 60,000 Microsoft employees offered voluntary exit Valve has ‘a significant number’ working on Steam’s visibility dilemma but says it won’t gatekeep games made...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speed run through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Report claims next Xbox could cost between $1,200 and $1,800 PEGI begins raising age limit of loot box games to 16 EA shuts down BioWare after over three decades Hosted by industry experts, Tom and John, we break down the most intriguin...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Epic's Disney project reportedly shifts to 'AI-First' development Ubisoft to reduce workforce across Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Mainz as part of "proposed voluntary departure plan" Ubisoft is also closing Trials dev...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Paramount and Warner Bros combine gaming divisions following merger Some of Star Wars Zero Company’s devs have been un-furloughed Unity unveils a web-based AI game creation platform RuneScape studio pulls trailer and says partner broke i...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: PC and Console premium revenue in H1 26 grows 5%, hitting $30B for first time Hosted by industry experts, Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed. Prefer your news...

T he Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Xbox lays off 260+ jobs amid major restructuring of studio portfolio PC and PlayStation unit sales in Japan rose 13% during H1 2026 Messy Roblox lawsuit includes salaries paid in Robux and ownership disputes Steam has already generated...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: New IGN layoffs hit multiple departments and long-time hosts Apple is reportedly developing iPhone game controllers Mindseye developer Build a Rocket Boy faces new layoffs and potential closure Sega and Netflix announce partnership to de...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Blizzard union workers ratify historic contract covering 1900 employees European game developers are more concerned that AI will pressure them to work faster rather than take their job Capcom says it will focus on reviving dormant IPs af...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Sony faces lawsuits over PlayStation Store disclosures and establishing a digital game monopoly Bit Reactor furloughed "many of its workers" ahead of Star Wars Zero Company’s launch  CD Projekt Red sees profit climb 37% in H1 2...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Xbox to let players convert physical discs into digital games Ubisoft debuts Player Council platform to expand early development feedback Global games market predicted to generate $213.9bn in 2026, up 6.1% YoY Hosted by industry experts,...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Bain & Co: Research shows only one in five players seek out new titles Launching PS6 and Xbox Helix at $1,000 could lead to a nearly 40% drop in sales over five years, analyst warns Hosted by industry experts, Tom and Yaz, we break d...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week's story: Rockstar puts GTA VI extended look trailer behind Netflix paywall Supermassive Games is laying off up to 75 staff to ensure sustainability Square Enix Q1 profit soars following FF7: Rebirth launch on Switch 2 and Xbox Saber Interactive d...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. Hosted by industry experts, Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed. Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of weekly ind...

This week's story: Layoffs will affect 14,259 people by the end of 2026 Subnautica and PUBG drive Krafton Q2 revenue up 94.9% EA boss awarded $38.6M after a year of franchise success, studio layoffs, and GenAI adoption Bethesda Union accuses Fallout developer of violating Canadian labour laws Hosted by industry experts, Tom and John, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital devel...

This week's story: Nintendo says it has no legal duty to pass tariff refunds on to consumers June 2026 spending in the US slumps following Switch 2's record launch Disco Elysium and Zero Parades studio ZA/UM to lay off staff Only seven PS5 games have sold 100K+ disc copies in the US this year Hosted by industry experts, Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's story: Sony announces it will end physical disc production by January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles Microsoft confirms 3200 layoffs alongside four studio divestments in major shakeup for Xbox Hosted by industry experts,...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's story: Compulsion Games, Double Fine and Ninja Theory are all at risk of closure  EA launches new advertising platform for brands Tribunal rules against Rockstar's request to amend ongoing legal dispute Hosted by industry experts, Tom and...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's story: Switch 2 sales drop in Japan following big surge ahead of cost revisions Xbox is reportedly planning major layoffs for the fourth year in a row Ubisoft conducts more layoffs + closes Winnipeg and Belgrade studios Hosted by industry expe...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's headlines: HoYoverse to invest up to $14.6bn in AI for in-house tools Microsoft to pay $250M to Activision Blizzard shareholders Payment for some TheGamer staff is now tied to per-article sessions Hosted by industry experts, Tom and Yaz, we br...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry. This week’s headlines: Sony won't be bringing any more single-player games to PC Nintendo denied touchscreen-specific patent in Pocketpair fight Wizards of the Coast ends partnership with Giant Skull Hosted by industry experts, Alex Beech and Yaz Brookes,...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's headlines: Psychonauts and Kiln studio Double Fine votes to unionise Shift Up breaks from Sony to self-publish Stellar Blade 2 Capcom just sold more games than in any year in its history Hosted by industry experts, Tom Heath and Alex Beech, we...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's headlines: Exclusive games are still the biggest draw of consoles EA closes FY26 with "record" performance thanks to Apex Legends and Battlefield 6   Xbox CEO confirms it's "winding down" Microsoft Copilot on mobile an...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's headlines: Capcom raises FY25 outlook following Resident Evil: Requiem boost  Magic: The Gathering Arena developers are unionising Nacon’s collapse claims first closure as Greedfall studio confirms it ‘no longer exists’ Hosted by industry expe...

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.  This week's headlines: Microsoft cuts Game Pass pricing and removes CoD as a day-one title Koei Tecmo revises earnings forecast following strong start to 2026 US hardware sales rose 69% in March, primarily thanks to the Switch 2 Hosted by industry experts...