Let me write a gaming industry newsletter based on these news items.
Elden Ring Nightreign Sets May Launch with $40 Price Tag #
FromSoftware's co-op spinoff hits stores May 30th across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
Network test starts February 14th with five 3-hour sessions through February 17th. Eight unique characters await in Limveld's ever-shifting realm.
Key Features:
- 3-player co-op gameplay
- Dynamic day-night cycle affecting map size
- 8 distinct character classes with unique abilities
- Session-based progression system
- Price: $40
Dev Insight: This isn't just Elden Ring with friends. FromSoft's designed a roguelike that turns those nail-biting dungeon crawls into high-octane team speedruns.
Crytek Cuts 60 Jobs, Goes All-in on Hunt: Showdown 1896 #
The Crysis developer is laying off 15% of its 400-person workforce. Next Crysis game remains on hold as the studio focuses on Hunt: Showdown 1896.
By the Numbers:
- 60 employees affected
- Hunt: Showdown peak players: 60,000+
- Development teams and shared services impacted
Hunt: Showdown's 1896 update brought record numbers, but apparently not enough to prevent restructuring. Looks like Crysis will have to wait while Crytek hunts for stability.
EA's $70 Billion Oopsie: The Games That Got Away #
Former EA CCO Bing Gordon dropped a bombshell: EA passed on buying Call of Duty, Guitar Hero, AND Blizzard before Activision scooped them up.
The Missed Opportunities:
- Call of Duty (Now gaming's #1 franchise for 25 years)
- Guitar Hero (Dormant since 2015)
- Blizzard (Recently valued at $69 billion in Microsoft deal)
Talk about an expensive game of "what if?" At least EA still has... checks notes... Madden?
Bobby Kotick Roasts Warcraft Movie: "One of the Worst Ever" #
Former Activision Blizzard CEO didn't hold back about the 2016 Warcraft film:
- Called it a "huge distraction" from game development
- WoW updates and patches were delayed
- Burned out key developer Chris Metzen
- Planned trilogy canceled after US box office flop
Turns out not everything from Azeroth is box office gold. Who knew that turning a 100-hour gaming experience into a 2-hour movie would be challenging? (Everyone. Everyone knew.)
Bonus: This guy spent 13 years building this amazing island #
P.S. Watch out for those Night's Tide in Elden Ring Nightreign. I hear it's more dangerous than a Minecraft creeper at your diamond storage.