Christ on a bike. It’s over. It’s finally over. I put the finishing touches on this article about three separate times yesterday only to be immediately GAZUMPED by another breaking news story.
Maybe there’s something about those so-close-to-the-weekend Thursday evenings that make people lost their collective minds, but the entire industry went on a mad one yesterday and chose to pump out a deluge of news just as I was clocking off.
I’d barely inched out of the metaphorical office door when Unity revealed it has formed something called an AI Council, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser announced his retirement, and Microsoft confirmed it is now blocking an Israeli military unit from leveraging its AI and cloud tech. The latter comes after the company was accused of enabling a genocide in Palestine by a number of current and former employees, including some within its video game division.
It was a hectic end to a stacked week, so (in what some of you might consider an act of mercy) let’s skip my usual ramblings and dive straight into the headlines.
via Microsoft // Following repeated calls from internal employees (including some within its video game division) and external pressure campaigns, Microsoft has blocked a unit within the Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) from using its cloud and AI services. The decision comes after The Guardian repotted that an Israeli military group was using its tech to surveil civilians in Gaza. Now, after investigating the matter, Microsoft president Brad Smith said it has found evidence that supports “elements” of The Guardian’s reporting and stated the company’s review into the matter is ongoing.
via Game Developer // We’re all about to become NPCs in Hideo Kojima’s corporeal strand-like. The veteran Japanese auteur has partnered with Niantic Spatial to develop a concept that will apparently “push the boundaries” of what’s possible in interactive, real-world storytelling. It’s unclear what shape the project will actually take at this stage—a brief trailer shows a bloke wandering around a pretty sparse landscape looking for digital relics—but it’s Kojima we’re talking about so I guarantee it’ll be weird.
via Nintendo // Choosing which Nintendo merch to haul back from Japan was a nightmare I became all too familiar with last year—and one I suspect many of you will have flirted with on your travels. If you’re based in the UK, that nightmare is about to (briefly) end. Nintendo has announced plans to open its first-ever UK pop-up store in London from October 22 to November 16, 2025. Just like the company’s emporiums in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, the pop-up will stock a range of exclusive merch that’ll have you bellowing it’s-a-mine!
via Game Developer // This week, Krafton hurled out more court filings to restate its case in its high-profile legal battle against Unknown Worlds’ former leadership team. The feud, which began after Krafton delayed Subnautica 2 and ousted three Unknown Worlds execs for allegedly abandoning their posts, continues to plod forward. In its latest filings, Krafton claimed all three execs pilfered reams of confidential information that amounts to a ‘blueprint’ for the Subnautica series. The publisher said it is now attempting to reclaim that stolen property, which it suggests was smuggled away in a “downloading frenzy” that took place just before all three Unknown Worlds’ leaders were fired.
via Game Developer // A number of former ProbablyMonsters developers have accused the studio of mismanagement, surveilling employees, and misrepresenting its production processes when discussing the development of its debut title, Storm Lancers. In this extensive report, those sources outline in detail how a studio led by a CEO who claimed to prioritize sustainability became a hotbed of upheaval and chaos.
via PlayStation Blog // What if unlocking in-game achievements resulted in real-world loot? Thats the premise behind Sony’s new Franchise Rewards program, which will grant players who earn certain Gold and Platinum trophies in Ghost of Tsushima by December 31, 2025, access to a selection of limited-edition merchandise—including a commemorative pin that will only be offered to players who Platinum the title. A similar opportunity will be afforded to Ghost of Yotei players later this year. Sony hasn’t explained when the program will expand beyond the Ghost franchise, but here’s hoping Astro Bot is next.
via X (formerly Twitter) // In today’s edition of ‘they… they just tweeted it out,’ Gearbox announced Borderlands 4 is being delayed indefinitely on Switch 2 just over a week before that version of the title was slated to launch on October 3. The publisher explained the decision was taken to ensure it delivers the “best possible experience” and said it will provide an updated release schedule when it has fully adjusted its plans. The last-minute pivot resulted in all digital pre-orders being cancelled in accordance with Nintendo’s policy.
via GamesIndustry.biz // Gears Tactics developer Splash Damage is no longer under the ownership of Chinese conglomerate Tencent. The UK studio, which also co-developed titles like Gears 5 and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, has reportedly been acquired by private-equity investors. The studio confirmed the news when approached by GamesIndustry.biz but neglected to comment further.
via Game Developer // Doug Bowser, a man whose name meant he was destined to work for Nintendo, is retiring as president and COO of Nintendo of America (NOA) after six years at the helm. Bowser will be succeeded by industry veteran Devon Pritchard, who has been a long-standing member of NOA’s leadership team. Nintendo praised Bowser for overseeing the Nintendo Switch 2 launch in the Americas and for “delivering on the promise’ of the original Switch in those markets.
via Game Developer // Unity has established an AI Council to drive its efforts in that sector. It’s an interesting move from a company that was forced to embark upon an apology tour after ostracizing what felt like the entire game industry in 2023 with the launch of a hugely controversial Runtime Fee—which has since been scrapped. Last year, Unity CEO Matt Bromberg said killing the Runtime Fee was part of Unity’s bid to become a “fundamentally different company” and regain the trust of developers. I wonder whether this announcement will help or hinder those efforts…
