460°

IGN Entertainment acquires Eurogamer, GI, VG247, Rock Paper Shotgun and more

IGN Entertainment has acquired the Gamer Network family of digital brands for an undisclosed sum. As a result of the acquisition, some redundancies have been made across the UK-based organisation.

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gamesindustry.biz
darthv72124d ago

Well this can only mean one thing... more job layoffs even in the publication industry.

Jin_Sakai124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

“Layoffs occuring“

Yep. IGN now has a monopoly in the gaming media.

“As a result of the acquisition, some redundancies have been made across the UK-based organisation.”

“Gamer Network's publications are GamesIndustry.biz, Eurogamer (including six local language editions), Rock Paper Shotgun, VG247 and Dicebreaker. The business also holds shares in Outside Xbox, Digital Foundry and Hookshot (which operates Nintendolife, PushSquare, PureXbox and Time Extension).”

“IGN Entertainment is the division of Ziff Davis that includes IGN, MapGenie, HowLongToBeat, and Humble Bundle. It has acquired the websites from PAX and New York Comic-Con organiser ReedPop, which initially bought the Gamer Network business in 2018.“

Jingsing124d ago

When say IGN you mean Microsoft's chief propagandist.

VenomUK124d ago

Surprising news, also a little sad as the magazine era is over and the website era is slowly coming to an end. But it must be said that many of the bastards who work at these places have operated as a mafia to control opinion on not only what can be said about games, but who can be allowed to talk about them, and what can be allowed to feature in them or not. As said above, redundancies are coming, Eurogamer pays the highest salaries for a team of staff who for some their output is minimal. Eurogamer also campaigned against Hogwarts Legacy and refused to review it -, the site took a hit. PAX has probably thought to cut its losses. Some job layoffs? I know of some of these people and they took pride in excluding - I will shed no tears.

S2Killinit124d ago

This is good news for Microsoft. IGN is like their advertisement arm.

Abear21123d ago

This is exactly what Microsoft needs to better their image, control over the narrative by having the same message come from different colors umbrellas that are all really made by the same company.

Simon_the_sorcerer123d ago

You're right about every single thing that you said...

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 123d ago
-Foxtrot124d ago

All this means is a collective hive mind when reporting the news

They’ll discuss with each other how to handle topics and what kind of headlines to go with so they can fire round after round of whatever point they want to make

And the sad thing is over the many years even to the old GameGate days they love making gamers look bad as a collective. Anything for a hit piece.

victorMaje124d ago

Narrative control. I don’t like this at all.
Independent reviewers will be more important than ever.

JEECE124d ago

"They’ll discuss with each other how to handle topics and what kind of headlines to go with so they can fire round after round of whatever point they want to make."

You say this like it will be a new thing that they didn't already do.

OtterX124d ago

Yea, I had actually just seen today on Linkedin that a GamesIndustry.biz guy was talking about being laid off. I didn't read all of his post, but I bet it's because of this. That's a shame to hear. :\

MestreRothN4G123d ago

All praise the late stage capitalism God, the only real One
\o/

Babadook7123d ago

Hopefully the IGNorant journalists get the boot and not EG.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 123d ago
Petebloodyonion124d ago

Probably Microsoft's fault!
They surely gave IGN the idea.
What's next IGN Pass?

But joke aside let's hope that this makes the news better compared to some of IGN branches

Jingsing124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

Microsoft and IGN work quite closely so it isn't a stretch to say this is a move to control the gaming press to get everyone singing from the Microsoft hymn sheet. Not a good look at all. It is transparent stuff like this which is backfiring in Microsoft's face. First they want control of all the games now the media.

crazyCoconuts124d ago

While there's obviously a desire to preserve add revenue and early access to review copies, I doubt there's the level of conspiracy here that you imply. I mean there's no direct link between MS and IGN right?

Petebloodyonion124d ago

You're probably right!!!!
Here's MS evil plan
1) Make sure that Hellblade 2 receives inflated reviews.
2) Fire all the ppl across UK who gave Starfield the justified 6/10 reviews
3) Make sure that Game industry.biz stops giving Sony's president a tribute to spew their lies and have them talk to Sarah Bonds and Todd Howard only.
4) Control the majority of players for the GOTY award so MS wins from now on.

PPL needs to know about this!

Jingsing124d ago

@crazyCoconuts The world has moved on from "direct links" as companies were easily caught doing that. These days corporations can merely operate as a cartel through shared mutual interest which is not strictly kosher either but is also more difficult to prove. It's the fundamental flaw with big corporations in the US economy today and no one in power is addressing it.

Lightning77124d ago

Is there proof to anything you're saying?

I've never heard of anything like this or is this N4G once again make believing stuff outta thin air again?

crazyCoconuts124d ago

@jing if you have proof then I stand corrected.
Otherwise it seems like more conspiratorial thinking to explain what could otherwise be explained by natural forces of market economies.
Don't get me wrong, I believe there is bias all over and unsavory influences. I just don't think it's all centrally planned by evil villains in a smoke-filled room

S2Killinit124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

I don't think anyone has proof but my personal experience corroborates what he is saying about IGN being in MS’s corner for whatever reason.

Granted, Last time I visited IGN regularly was years ago, I literally stopped once I realized the huge bias they showed in favor of xbox. Their pages for the two consoles were fundamentally different. When they would invite xbox president he was treated completely different than when Shuhei Yoshida was invited. The xbox pres was treated as one of their own. There was just too many examples, it wasn’t even much of a secret.

Jingsing124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

@Lighting77 The proof is in the pudding, "Partnerships for Events: Microsoft and IGN partner for specific events or showcases." "Sponsored Segments: Microsoft has sponsored segments within IGN's showcases." "Industry Relationships: Microsoft and IGN, as major players in the gaming industry, simply have good working relationships. This leads to collaborations on shows & joint announcements without any ownership involved." They just had an event together recently. The crux of it is money is being exchanged for favors, when that happens editorial independence goes out the window.

There was controversy about Microsoft having involvement with Polygon in the past and it proved to be real and effected their editorial bias. "Investment in Web3 Startup: Microsoft's venture capital arm, M12, participated in a $20 million funding round for Space and Time, a Web3 data warehousing platform, alongside Polygon (amongst other investors) "

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 124d ago
shinoff2183124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

I mean news did come out the same day hellblade did.

Jk

Petebloodyonion124d ago

The embargo was to make sure IGN had time to finalize the deal and make sure Eurogamer gave this game a 5 stars instead of a 3.

Man, how devious and low can Microsoft go just to promote Gamepass
I heard that it costs a ton of money to MS and they will raise the price of Gamepass by a lot of money just to compensate
true story

Christopher124d ago

Oh boy! If we've learned one thing about recent news, corporate shrinkage of an industry via buyouts from those at top only leads to good things for employees and consumers!

Aloymetal124d ago

100%!!
IGN and Eurogamer...A match made in heaven!!

thesoftware730124d ago

Aloy!
Yes, good credible websites, I agree, it is a good match.

IGN is one of the most trusted gaming sites, weather you like it or not, but I know because they don't fit the N4G goofiness bubble, they can't be good.

shinoff2183124d ago

I left ign years ago. Used to be on the ign forums all the time. I left there and found here. Not sure if you remember but this place used to be pretty bad for Sony fans. 360 was king for a few years. Anyone I don't quite remember but ign changed. Whatever the fk it was it seemed for the worse.

VenomUK124d ago

You’re right Christopher, just look at how N4G has improved since the buyout. .

Huey_My_D_Long123d ago (Edited 123d ago )

I think the consolidation is an issue. the whole conspiracy angle n4g guys are playing at by saying MS gave IGN money for this is annoying, but overall the Consolidation is not a good move.

Christopher123d ago

I'm not on the bribing for reviews thing. Scores themselves should be ignored entirely as far as I'm concerned. But, consolidation is not helping anyone but to solidify IGN even more than ever before. Less competition at the top.

Lexreborn2124d ago

Ummmm not sure that’s a good thing that all these review sites are under the same umbrella. There’s no guarantee that they will maintain a non-bias opinion not paid for by the highest bidder.

MrNinosan124d ago

They haven't been non-bias since GamePass was crowned "best service in gaming".

Amplitude124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

You can go much farther back than that. Never forget the Kane and Lynch 2 review drama

Edit: wait that was GameSpot. Still though - don't trust these websites for anything. Find YouTubers like who's opinions you agree with and watch them instead. GaminylGames, Minimme, Digital Foundry, GMan, whatever. All better than these ad-filled "reviews" from people who are forced to play games and score with an arbitrary number

MrNinosan124d ago

@Amplitude
Digital Foundry has lost my trust ever since they got that MS money, but other than that, I'm with you.

If I'm on the fence of a game, I wait till the reviewers that share my taste has given their opinion.

Cockney123d ago (Edited 123d ago )

@MrNinosan
I didn't blame Microsoft for inviting digital foundry to expressly launch their new hardware, I mean good move by them getting a non bias technology focused influencer to gush about the series x, my issue is they took them up on their offer, taking a blatant sweetener like that really irks me, ever since I view their content with a pinch of salt

Charal124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

Ouch, that does not sounds good for Eurogamer.
With so much of the industry media that will more or less follow the same editorial line, it will be harder and harder to distinguish PR from actual journalism in a couple of years.

Thinking about it, may it explain their review score for Hellblade 2?

Christopher124d ago

***harder and harder to distinguish PR from actual journalism in a couple of years. ***

The age of gaming advertorials.

Petebloodyonion124d ago

You're right all of this is just to promote Hellblade 2 and inflate the score.
Also the why cuts are indeed coming to Eurogamer and other UK branches because they only gave Starfield an average score.

Jingsing124d ago

Shed the non US assets that are not favorable to Xbox keep the US assets that are. Microsoft are going to deliver crap and they are going to tell you their crap is good and you are going to buy it. That seems to be the strategy. At this point I just want them out of gaming as they are operating like cancer.

VenomUK124d ago

YouTubers ursurped the games media years ago.

victorMaje124d ago

Exactly right. No more journalists. Just 1 take regurgitated & paraphrased down the chain. Smh.

Abear21123d ago

Their marketing budget is nonexistent. Instead they will publish articles for you to click on this site to get information (biased propaganda) about their games and ad dollars from you here and on their website too.

This is the new marketing strategy

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 123d ago
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350°

Microsoft Reportedly Spends $1 Billion Annually To Get Third-Party Games On Game Pass

Uncover the spending behind Xbox's Game Pass subscription. Discover how Microsoft invests a billion dollars annually in securing third-party games for the service.

Read Full Story >>
gamersocialclub.ca
Obscure_Observer2d ago

Good.

Now that you´re releasing games and making big money from every gaming platform, you should double that amount and give us even more day one third party games!

Jin_Sakai2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

You’re delusional beyond belief. Businesses wise it doesn’t make sense and sooner or later they’ll be raising prices again to cover that billion they’re blowing every year.

outsider16242d ago

Lucky for xbox that papa microsoft is rich.

purple1012d ago (Edited 2d ago )

As someone else said earlier today, they are past the growth stage, it’s been stagnent for last 3 years, they are now in the money making stage, prepare to be goosed for as many dollars as possible for the least amount of content. It may not be bad now, (actually it is) but it will be soon (even worse) this year you got hellblade and starfirld and a load of other games that could be bought in bargain bins for about $5-30 and for that you pay them monthly

To add I honestly don’t know how you put up with the barrage of Xbox negativity (which is deserved). I put it down to:

A) you are being paid
B) you may have a problem thinking clearly
C) prefer rooting for the underdog, that’s a legit thing too. English people do it by default

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Yeah Aussies also love an underdog as long as that underdog isn't Xbox as they were too of the game with the 360 then lost their minds

Chevalier2d ago

3 straight years of missing Gamepass targets. Some people are just blinded by their own idiocy. Will be interesting to see if COD does anything this fall

CosmicTurtle2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

He is a troll. Designed to stoke people up on here. We know this.

It’s quite funny.

Popsicle2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Yet people still allow the troll to derail an entire topic. I don’t understand how moderation allows it.

I literally just skip the comment. This may be the best comment obscure ever made. I don’t know because I didn’t read it. I have read to many thread derailing post from this person to ever devote any time to reading another.

I wish everyone would ignore the trolls so we can have a genuine discussion. Stop feeding it and it will go away. Even just hitting the disagree button feeds it. Thats what it wants. This is the last post I will ever post about obscure because I am feeding them now.

Legit question to Mods. After such a long history of being a troll, how has this poster not been banned?

Profchaos1d 18h ago

Is he though or does he just blindly love Xbox in the same way Sega fans loved the Dreamcast even though it was clearly dead they thought it could be redeemed

Ok yeah he's saracstic and does troll but I enjoy seeing what he comes out with it would be boring here if we never had conflicting opinions

Sonic18812d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Are you insane? You want them to double the amount when the Xbox is already struggling and losing money 🤔

Hofstaderman2d ago

Correction....XBOX is already dead.

Obscure_Observer2d ago

"Are you insane? You want them to double the amount when the Xbox is already struggling and losing money"

As long we get the games I couldn´t care less about a trillion dollar company losing money. That´s their business to worry about. I only care about the games.

And "struggling and losing money"? Really?

"Microsoft reports Xbox’s revenue is up 61% in Q4 FY24 thanks to Activision"

https://venturebeat.com/gam...

61% more revenue and BO6 is not even out yet.

MS will make a sh!t ton of money with that game alone in all platforms. So 2 Billion yearly invested in their *core* business is nothing!

So yeah, I want them to double the investments on Gamepass. Period.

Sonic18812d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"So yeah, I want them to double the investments on Gamepass. Period."

That ain't going to happen. Just because you want it 😂

fr0sty2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

They'll do that, after creating 4 more higher-priced tiers and making the one that currently includes everything only contain games that have been on the market for 4 years.

"Gamepass Ultra to the MAX: Now only $299 per year!"

MrNinosan15h ago

Already $240/year, so we're there within a year, without new tiers.

jznrpg8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

It will be 29.99$ a month eventually 360 a year

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

They are trying to get a return on abk and Bethesda they won't double day one we're lucky we are still getting them now that day one has been removed from base tiers

They want to make money not give it away

OlderGamer172d ago

Sorry O_O, I tought you where loosing it, but i now come to the conclusion that you realy lost it.
The coping from you is not on a stellarr level....

Flakegriffin1d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

Homie got 77 dislike and his brain rot will still help him think that he’s right.

1d 15h ago
+ Show (7) more repliesLast reply 8h ago
MrDead2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

I like how they twist cannibalising game sales into "invests".

No lifetime sales with MS, they'll F-up gaming the same as streaming services have done to the movie industry and it's workforce.

Fishy Fingers2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Out of interest do you think those 3rd parties signing the deal are unhappy with the severence and have a gun to their head?

Bro probably has a PS+ sub and has library full of Epic launcher free games.

TheNamelessOne2d ago

lol

Pretty much. There's a lot of hate on this site for Gamepass, but put games on the different tiers of the PS subscription, and whenever they get that free day one release, it's an entirely different tune. No talk about how this choice is killing devs.

DarXyde2d ago

Do we think they're unhappy?

Umm...YES...?

They literally need to be paid up front to put games on the service. It's become a way to gain a foothold on the platform.

Do you think Atlus would launch on Game Pass otherwise?

MrDead1d 21h ago

"Out of interest do you think those 3rd parties signing the deal are unhappy with the severence and have a gun to their head?"

I think you mean severance... and I've noticed you don't know what it means either, MS aren't firing the third-parties they're purchasing from.

"Bro probably has a PS+ sub and has library full of Epic launcher free games."

I'm not a console gamer, but yes I do have Epic with a library full of free games... but guess what Epic rotating free games every week doesn't do. It doesn't destroy lifetime sales and cut workers out of residuals. Then you bring up PS+ a service that also doesn't destroy lifetime sales as their model allows for new releases to earn.

DivineHand1252d ago

There are pros and cons to everything. Streaming services like Netflix is no different than cable tv except it is on demand. Services like Netflix has made it so that more studios can get a share in the profit where they can reach more consumers worldwide compared to the old days where the masses will only watch a few new titles per month.

The only negative about streaming services is that it no longer makes any sense to sell DVDs and Blu-rays though it can be argued that those persons may have moved on to building digital libraries for the sake of convenience.

The reason Xbox is doing so poorly is because they are not doing enough to be competitive. Their output of AA and AAA exclusive titles are extremely low compared to the competition and they haven't had a game of the year nominee in years.

Releasing their games the same date on PC is also hurting their console and it would have been more strategic for them to delay those releases by a year similar to what Sony does to maximize profits.

Gamepass alone is not to blame for Xbox's current position because it can be argued that if the service didn't exist and they had the same gaming output as they have now, they would be in an even worst spot.

MrDead1d 22h ago

"Streaming services like Netflix is no different than cable tv except it is on demand."

It's nothing like cable. My comment isn't a guess lifetime sale of films has shrunk to a point it's almost gone and so has the revenue it generated, that is money from competing TV networks, cable/satellite and physical media sales.

Lack of revenue transparency with streaming has meant workers job security and pay has massively diminished, earnings from residuals is almost gone for example the writer for Squid Games because of streaming gets no royalties despite series earning $900 million for Netflix, before streaming he would have royalties form lifetime sales.
Or another example Willow the series was pulled and is no longer watchable here's why: “Willow” was one of nearly 50 titles that Disney+ pulled from its streaming library in May. Other titles included the series “The Mysterious Benedict Society” and the feature film “The One and Only Ivan.” Disney CFO Christine McCarthy explained that Disney was expecting to take a write-down in the June quarter of $1.5 billion-$1.8 billion by removing content from its streaming platforms. By writing down the value of the content assets, Disney can remove that from its balance sheet and reduce its tax bill." Also when you pull a show you no longer need to pay residuals to the workers.

Have you also noticed the drop in quality on sfx or thought some older films look so much better then they do now? This is because the industry now relies on cheap labour for sfx outsourcing abroad, more green screen instead of location shooting and a lot less real extras bring life to a scene.

Streaming in gaming is going to be far worse as we've seen with MS consolidating a massive part of the industry to try and make the service sustainable, lifetime sales being cannibalised by gamespass and a work force that has no unions like SAG is already paying the price.

All streaming does is remove income transparency, cuts the workers from the money and sets flat rates and removes consumer ownership... but CEO's and shareholders will still be ok as they benefit from the industry consolidation.

Huey_My_D_Long1d 18h ago

MrDead is absolutely on fire with the post.

Nothing else I have to add other than that.

DivineHand1251d 18h ago

@MrDead like I said pros and cons. Some of those issues can alleviated with alleviated with regulatory intervention to give more transparency to the industry but unlikely anytime soon with all the lobbying going on.

The issue with the squid game's writer can be attributed to the terms and conditions he agreed to. It happens often in business as no one really knows how popular something will be until you catch that lightning in a bottle. I remember reading about how Nintendo hardly made anything off Pokemon Go dispite Niantic making Billions.

I don't blame streaming services for studios finding was to reduce the cost of making films. That stuff would have happened regardless because of the greed of these corporations. We see that same cost reduction happening in every industry from food to Aerospace.

shadowT2d ago ShowReplies(2)
CrimsonGuardVII2d ago

@badz148 its not, it just straight lied.

gold_drake2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

we know this, we have known this since last year.

this is not new or news.

Show all comments (73)
100°

The Epic Games Store Wants You to Take a Stand with one of their Free Weekly Games

The Epic Games Store has two new freebies for you this week, and one is an apocalyptic nightmare

Read Full Story >>
terminalgamer.com
2d ago
140°

PSN Store "PS Plus Exclusive Discounts" Sale Starts Today; Helldivers 2 the "Deal of the Week"

Sony has launched the PlayStation Plus Exclusive Discounts sale, and for the first time, Helldivers 2 is on sale as the Deal of the Week!