Behaviour Interactive Cuts Mobile and External Dev Teams After Dead by Daylight's 10th Anniversary

The asymmetrical horror studio behind Dead by Daylight has laid off an undisclosed number of employees from its mobile and external development teams. The timing is particularly awkward, coming right after the game's milestone anniversary celebrations.

gamingbolt.com →

Meta Axes 8,000 Jobs as AI Spending Soars, Gaming Teams Hit Hard

Meta's latest 10% workforce reduction targets efficiency and AI investment, with gaming and metaverse teams among those affected. The cuts come as the company warns investors that 2026 expenses will balloon to $169 billion, largely due to AI infrastructure and talent acquisition costs.

bbc.com →

96,000 Tech Workers Laid Off in 2026 as Gaming Industry Bloodbath Continues

The broader tech layoff crisis has claimed over 96,000 jobs across Oracle, Amazon, Disney, Snap and others, with gaming studios bearing a disproportionate share of the pain. The cuts reflect a permanent market adjustment rather than temporary belt-tightening, according to industry observers.

tech.yahoo.com →

Q1 2026 Gaming M&A Hits $100 Billion Despite Industry Turmoil

Major acquisitions continue to reshape the industry with Nazara securing Bluetile Games, Mattel buying out NetEase's share in Mattel163, and NCSoft purchasing JustPlay for $202M. The consolidation wave suggests bigger players are using the downturn to acquire distressed assets.

respawn.outlookindia.com →

Atari Acquires Classic Game Developer Behind PlayStation 5 Retro Titles

Atari has snapped up the studio responsible for bringing classic games to PlayStation 5, marking a strategic play for the retro gaming preservation market. The acquisition highlights the ongoing consolidation of studios specializing in legacy software for next-gen consoles.

ingamenews.com →

Take-Two Quietly Lays Off Head of AI and Multiple Team Members

Despite public support for generative AI tools and claims they're "actively embracing" the technology, Take-Two has cut its AI leadership and an unknown number of team members. The move suggests even AI advocates are tightening belts amid industry uncertainty.

gamedeveloper.com →

Microsoft GDK Adds Native ARM64 Preview for Xbox PC Game Builds

Microsoft's April 2026 Game Development Kit update introduces native ARM64 build libraries, letting developers create fully native ARM64 game builds for Xbox PC. This represents a significant step toward ARM-based gaming on Windows, potentially opening new performance and efficiency opportunities.

videocardz.com →

Roblox AI Assistant Gains Agentic Tools for Game Planning and Testing

Roblox's AI assistant now includes Planning Mode and Procedural Generation tools that can autonomously plan, build, and test games. The platform positions its AI as a "multi-step, collaborative development partner" that accelerates the creation process for user-generated content.

techcrunch.com →

AI Dungeon Creator Launches Voyage Platform for AI-Powered RPGs

Latitude, the team behind AI Dungeon, has unveiled Voyage—a platform specifically designed for creating AI-powered role-playing games with dynamic NPC interactions and procedurally generated content. The tool represents a major step toward fully AI-native game development workflows.

techcrunch.com →

GDevelop Positions No-Code Engine as AI-Assisted Game Creation Solution

The lightweight, browser-based game engine now emphasizes its AI tutor features and visual development approach as barriers to traditional programming disappear. GDevelop's positioning reflects the broader shift toward AI-assisted development workflows across the industry.

gdevelop.io →

ID@Xbox Spring Showcase Delivers 10 Game Pass Day-One Titles

Xbox's indie showcase exceeded expectations with major announcements including RV There Yet?, Mistfall Hunter, and Screenbound hitting Game Pass on day one. The event proved that despite industry turmoil, the indie scene remains creatively vibrant and commercially viable.

news.xbox.com →

inKONBINI: One Store, Many Stories Launches Day One on Game Pass April 30

The quirky convenience store management game hits Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox consoles, PC, and Mac simultaneously while joining Game Pass from day one. The multi-platform strategy reflects the indie market's need to maximize reach in an increasingly competitive landscape.

gamespress.com →

Microsoft Ditches 'Microsoft Gaming' Brand, Returns Focus to Xbox

Microsoft is abandoning the 'Microsoft Gaming' rebrand adopted in 2022, returning to Xbox as the primary identity for its gaming division. The move suggests a renewed focus on Xbox's core gaming audience after years of broader market positioning attempts.

thegamer.com →

Peter Molyneux Announces Masters of Albion as His 'Very Last Game'

The legendary designer behind Fable and Black & White claims Masters of Albion will be his final project, promising the return of his signature god-game magic. Given Molyneux's track record of grand promises, the gaming community remains cautiously optimistic.

global-esports.news →

6 New GeForce NOW Games Added Including 4 Brand New Releases

NVIDIA's cloud gaming service continues expanding its library with six new additions, four of which are day-one releases. The consistent content cadence shows cloud gaming platforms are becoming essential launch partners for developers.

clouddosage.com →

Google Exec: 90% of Studios Use AI Tools But Won't Admit It Publicly

Google Cloud's gaming chief Jack Buser claims that roughly nine out of ten developers confirmed using AI tools like Gemini and Nano Banana Pro in a Gamescom survey, but many keep quiet due to AI's divisive reputation. The revelation suggests the industry has already embraced generative AI far more than public discourse indicates.

videogameschronicle.com →

Morgan Stanley: AI Could Unlock $22 Billion in Gaming Profits by Halving Dev Costs

Wall Street analysts predict advanced AI tools could cut AAA game development costs nearly in half, creating a massive $22 billion annual profit opportunity for the industry. However, the same technology will lower barriers to entry, potentially intensifying competition from new developers.

cnbc.com →

Capcom Draws Hard Line: 'No Generative AI Assets' in Our Games

While most studios quietly embrace AI development tools, Capcom has publicly committed to avoiding generative AI assets in its game content. The stance positions the Street Fighter publisher as taking a principled approach amid industry-wide AI adoption.

gamesindustry.biz →

Ubisoft Cancels Animal Crossing Competitor 'Alterra' After 3 Years

The French publisher has reportedly scrapped its life simulation game Alterra after three years in development, adding another casualty to the industry's project cancellation spree. The move reflects the harsh reality of tightening budgets and shifting market priorities.

pushsquare.com →

NVIDIA Faces Gamer Backlash Over AI Focus as DLSS 5 Controversy Grows

The graphics giant is dealing with community pushback from gamers who feel abandoned as the company pivots toward AI markets. CEO Jensen Huang's claims that AI will "revolutionize computer graphics" haven't calmed concerns about homogeneous visual outputs from DLSS 5.

cnbc.com →

Owlcat Games Using AI to 'Iterate Faster' on The Expanse RPG

The Pathfinder studio admits to using generative AI for "vision coordination" and "inspiration" while insisting everything will be "100 percent human-made." The careful positioning reflects the industry's struggle to balance AI adoption with community expectations.

gamedeveloper.com →

Gaming and Leisure Properties Reports Record Q1 Revenue of $420M

The real estate investment trust focused on gaming properties delivered record first-quarter results and raised its 2026 outlook, including the $700M Bally's Lincoln acquisition. The strong performance suggests the physical gaming infrastructure market remains robust despite digital trends.

globenewswire.com →