In The News
Starbreeze laid off roughly 60 employees — “a quarter of its staff” — in a continued effort to minimize costs. “While the changes are not detailed, the publisher says they will help it ‘operate an efficient and profitable business long-term’. All organisational changes centre around its Stockholm office,” GI.biz’s James Batchelor reports.
Discover Inc launched “Discovery Game Studios, its own licensing and distribution studio for games based on its properties,” GI.biz’s Rebekah Valentine writes. “Discovery Game Studios debuts with 12 games already released, and about as many planned for release in the near future. These games are based on various TV series from Discovery’s properties such as Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, HGTV, and TLC.”
Stillfront intends to acquire Kixeye “for $90 million, or up to $120 million depending on the results of the current financial year,” Gamasutra’s Alissa McAloon writes. “The acquisition sees Stillfront picking up Kixeye’s entire portfolio, including its four current live games.”
IKEA and UNYQ are partnering “to release a line of gaming accessibility products,” Georgina Torbet at Engadget reports. “The prototype products were presented at the company’s annual design conference in Sweden, along with an app which measures biometric information.”
Magic: The Gathering is getting an animated Netflix series, Eurogamer’s Matt Wales reports. “The new series comes from animation studio Bardel Entertainment (known for the likes of Rick and Morty, and Teen Titans Go!), with Avengers: Infinity Wars and Endgame directors Anthony and Joe Russo serving as executive producers.”
PlayStation Plus prices are going up in Asia and Europe, VG247’s Stephany Nunneley reports. “According to various notices sent to subscribers by Sony, the price increase for PlayStation Plus will vary by sub choice and location.”
Interviews: 343 Industries’ Kiki Wolfkill (GI.biz), Coherence’s Dino Patti (GI.biz), Croteam’s Nika Dvoravic (GI.biz).
Extra Esports News:
The Twitch Rivals x Rainbow Six Siege Celebrity Showdown with Ubisoft includes some big names like “team captains in Lil Yachty and T-Pain. The match will take place during the Ubisoft E3 post-show Monday, June 10,” Dot Esports’ Colton Deck writes.
ESL and Techniker Krankenkasse are partnering. “As the official health partner for this year’s ESL One Hamburg, TK will host various local activations, while also supporting the German ESL Championship,” TEO’s Graham Ashton writes.
Ferrari is participating in “the F1 New Balance Esports Series after sitting out the 2018 season. Last season, all nine other official F1 teams established esports rosters to compete in the league,” TEO’s Andrew Hayward reports.
OUT: Richard Lewis is leaving WSOE “after over a year of work,” he tweeted. “It was a wrench to go, especially with the plans we had on the horizon, but esports is at a critical time and I need to get back in the trenches and do what I do best. More news to follow.”
Rainbow Six player David “sTiZze” de Castro retired.
Interviews: Combo Breaker 2019’s Rick Thiher (TEO), Arlington Esports Stadium’s Jonathon Oudthone (Esports Insider).
Happy birthday Aaron “Professor Pro” Thomas and Nicolai “Maestro” Bang!