Atari-owned publishing label Infogrames has acquired the Surgeon Simulator franchise from Tinybuild.Surgeon Simulator is over a decade old, having debuted with the release of the original title in 2013. Since then, the franchise has expanded with a VR spin-off called Surgeon Simulator VR: Meet the Medic. It also ventured onto Switch in the form of Surgeon Simulator CPR, before a full-blown sequel, Surgeon Simulator 2: Access All Areas, was released in 2020.Infogrames hopes to expand distribution, potentially develop new titles or content, and explore brand and merchandising collaborations as part of a long-term plan to "preserve and expand" the series. The company didn't disclose how much it paid for the franchise.
Epic Games is bringing its storefront and Fortnite to Japan in 2025.Epic revealed the news on Twitter, attributing its arrival to a new law recently passed by Japanese parliament. Per Apple Insider, it's similar to the recently enacted European Union law, a ruling that established the right of third-party app stores to exist on Apple Japan's App Store.The bill was proposed in June 2023, but won't take effect until late 2025. Both Apple and Google will be required to let users download third-party app stores and alternate payment systems.Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic, called both bills part of a "new free world, from the point of view of app developers and users."
A new survey from the Game Developer Collective shows concerns over video games' monetization methods, particularly as it pertains to live-service games.600 developers were interviewed between February and March 2024. The live service label, according to a respective 67 percent and 53 percent of devs, are defined by their frequent updates and in-app purchases.39 percent of participants had mild worries over current live-service business models. 31 percent were "very" concerned, while a combined 29 percent either had no fears or were unsure.![]()
Epic Games is bringing its storefront and Fortnite to Japan in 2025.Epic revealed the news on Twitter, attributing its arrival to a new law recently passed by Japanese parliament. Per Apple Insider, it's similar to the recently enacted European Union law, a ruling that established the right of third-party app stores to exist on Apple Japan's App Store.The bill was proposed in June 2023, but won't take effect until late 2025. Both Apple and Google will be required to let users download third-party app stores and alternate payment systems.Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic, called both bills part of a "new free world, from the point of view of app developers and users."
A new survey from the Game Developer Collective shows concerns over video games' monetization methods, particularly as it pertains to live-service games.600 developers were interviewed between February and March 2024. The live service label, according to a respective 67 percent and 53 percent of devs, are defined by their frequent updates and in-app purchases.39 percent of participants had mild worries over current live-service business models. 31 percent were "very" concerned, while a combined 29 percent either had no fears or were unsure.![]()
A new survey from the Game Developer Collective shows concerns over video games' monetization methods, particularly as it pertains to live-service games.600 developers were interviewed between February and March 2024. The live service label, according to a respective 67 percent and 53 percent of devs, are defined by their frequent updates and in-app purchases.39 percent of participants had mild worries over current live-service business models. 31 percent were "very" concerned, while a combined 29 percent either had no fears or were unsure.