In The News
Square Enix Europe and America COO Mike Sherlock passed away “unexpectedly,” VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi reports.
Carbine Studios is shutting down, PC Gamer’s Andy Chalk reports. Wildstar, its MMO, is also shutting down and in-game purchases made after July 1 will be refunded.
GameStop sales can’t get off the slip-n-slide. “The retailer posted sagging sales and a net loss for the quarter ended August 4,” GI.biz’s Brendan Sinclair writes.
Acquisition News:
THQ Nordic acquired “the rights to Kingdoms of Amalur, which was the property created by Curt Schilling’s now-defunct 38 Studios,” Game Informer’s Matthew Kato reports.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a Los Angeles billionaire, “is acquiring a controlling interest in a new joint venture with Daybreak Game Company, the maker of Everquest and H1Z1,” Gamasutra’s Bryant Francis reports.
Xbox Insiders can test out using Alexa and Cortana to control their Xbox One. “You can turn on (or turn off) your console, navigate to Xbox interface areas, control media playback, capture game media and toggle Mixer broadcasts,” Engadget’s Jon Fingas writes.
Overwolf and Intel are partnering “on a $7 million fund for apps, extensions and overlays for popular games,” GI.biz’s Matthew Handrahan writes.
DICE is going to start handing over control of its Twitter to various developers.
Interviews: Xbox marketing boss Aaron Greenberg (GI.biz) and Insomniac’s Mike Fitzgerald (PlayStation Blog).
Extra Esports News:
Valve’s updating the Dota 2 Pro Circuit point system, detailing in the FAQ.
Ubisoft and ESL UK are partnering for “the continuation of the ESL Premiership for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege,” Esports Insider’s Lydia Mitrevski writes.
OUT: FaZe Clan’s Tommy “ZooMaa” Paparratto has been “indefinitely suspended” on Twitch. He originally thought it was a 7-day suspension.
Interviews: Team Liquid’s Steve Arhancet (CNBC) and Nielsen’s Nicole Pike (TEO).
Happy birthday Kim “Impact” Joon Hyuk!