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domsplaying.bsky.social
DomsPlaying
@domsplaying.bsky.social
Avid Gamer & Pinballer.
Free Agent Games Industry Analyst.
Enthusiast. Reviewer. Researcher.

Formerly ran Working Casual.

DomsPlaying@gmail.com
Pinned
After my recent reflection off social media, I've decided to take a half step away.

I've covered games & related industries, as a hobby, on a nearly daily basis since 2016.

I'll still post at times, Mainly trying a new set up for my relationship with the internet. Thanks all 🫶
While I think this is an exercise in semantics, just change it to "Best Breakout Game" & be done with it.

Use the category to highlight popular "breakout" hits from lesser-known developers or newer teams. Most devs have worked on other games before!

www.gamesindustry.biz/megabonk-wit...
Megabonk withdraws from The Game Awards: "It's an honour but I don't think it qualifies for Debut Indie Game"
Vedinad, the force behind Megabonk, has withdrawn from consideration as Best Debut Indie Game at next month's The Game …
www.gamesindustry.biz
November 21, 2025 at 8:42 PM
What a start for Battlefield 6 in the States.

Could this be the year a game dethrones Call of Duty for best-selling title?

(I wouldn't bet on it. Yet it's certainly a possibility!)

Also, Switch 2 continues its record pace, 3% above PS4 launch-aligned.
October 2025 U.S. Video Game Market Highlights Thread from Circana - Battlefield 6, mobile content and Switch 2 hardware were among the drivers of total projected US spending on video game hardware, content and accessories reaching $4.9B in October 2025, growing 3% vs Oct 2024.
November 21, 2025 at 8:02 PM
Sometimes an earnings delay is just an earnings delay.

Personally, I think a "new" Ubisoft sticks around after this restructuring. At least for a couple years.

I also said from the start that the Vivendi takeover wouldn't happen. Then again, who knows!

www.barrons.com/news/ubisoft...
Ubisoft Shares Surge As Trading Resumes After Results 'Restatement'
Shares in Ubisoft rose sharply as they resumed trading on the Paris stock exchange Friday, a week after the French video game company stunned investors by postponing its results announcement without a...
www.barrons.com
November 21, 2025 at 1:31 PM
How many more times will we see 007 before March? Over/under set at 5.5.

Take the over, just like betting on the number of new Dave the Diver DLCs.

"1st person, deckbuilding, roguelike dungeon crawler" Vampire Crawlers hits all the indie keywords, huh.

news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/1...
Xbox Partner Preview | November 2025: Everything Announced From Our Amazing Partners - Xbox Wire
Xbox Partner Preview returned today, shining a light on our third-party partners with world premieres, new announcements, DLC reveals and much more.
news.xbox.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:07 PM
"AI feels like a production solution, not a creative one. Maybe it’s a creative one if you aren’t creative."

👀 👀 👀

Mic drop moment.

www.videogameschronicle.com/news/develop...
Developer of breakout hit Dispatch calls AI a creative solution for developers ‘who aren’t creative’ | VGC
Dispatch’s developer has come out against the use of AI tools in the creative process…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Now that it's official, I'll say Yotei should be up for GOTY over DK or KC.

The fact that South of Midnight isn't up for the best music award is borderline criminal.

And I really hope Avowed takes home Best RPG, but that category is straight up stacked.

www.videogameschronicle.com/news/clair-o...
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and PlayStation lead The Game Awards 2025 nominations | VGC
Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, and Ghost of Yotei are the most nominated games…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Looks like TGA GOTY nominees have leaked.

(I maintain year-end awards should be done at the end of Dec or, ideally, in January.)

This year looks like a two horse race between Expedition 33 & Silksong.

What really shows is 2025 has a ton of great games.

www.thegamer.com/the-game-awa...
The Game Awards 2025 Nominations Have Been Revealed, And You Can Find Them All Here
The Game of the Year nominees leaked ahead of time, but all of the categories will be revealed today.
www.thegamer.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
"When we set a date, we really do believe in it."

Yet another reminder that executives just be sayin' stuff.

😂
November 7, 2025 at 1:57 PM
This just in:

Grand Theft Auto VI set to be a launch title for Xbox Series PC (MSRP of US$ 1,000).
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 PM
It's not a Rockstar game unless it's delayed at least a few times!

Grand Theft Auto VI is now scheduled to launch on November 19th, 2026.

www.take2games.com/ir/quarterly...
November 6, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Thinking about where Nintendo was even less than a decade ago, what a turnaround for one of gaming's most storied, and wacky, companies.

Now add on two movies for its major franchises & think of the future upside. Any current forecasts might be too low!

www.gamesindustry.biz/switch-2-rea...
Switch 2 reaches highest global sales of any Nintendo platform in first four months of launch
Sales of latest console are "growing at the fastest rate in the history" of Nintendo's hardware, says president
www.gamesindustry.biz
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Nintendo's results were, as expected, excellent.

Switch 2 > 10M, 2x OG.
MK World 9.57M, > MK8D.
DK Bananza: 3.49M.
Rev +110%. Op profit +20%.

Increased FY target to 19M.
(15M was laughable.)
Upping mine to 19.5M - 20M.

Switch at 154M, same as DS.

👀

www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintend...
Nintendo Switch 2’s phenomenal launch continues as it clears 10 million - more than PS4 and PS5 | VGC
The company has raised its forecasts for the business year; Switch 1 set to become Nintendo’s best-selling console ever…
www.videogameschronicle.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Ah. The true definition of FAFO.

I'd say Nintendo's lawyers have a pretty solid track record, and they most certainly did their research.

😂

kotaku.com/nintendo-swi...
YouTuber Who Trolled Nintendo Now Owes $17,500 In Switch Piracy Lawsuit
The player of pirated games like Mario & Luigi: Brothership lost the lawsuit
kotaku.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Might be hard for Microsoft to hit its (lofty) profit margin while Xbox isn't growing.

Its most recent quarterly gaming sales declined 2%, propped up by 3rd party.

Unfortunately, I think there are more layoffs & closures coming if this is the mandate.

www.gamesindustry.biz/xbox-q1-hard...
Xbox Q1 hardware sales down 29% while third-party content experiences "better-than-expected performance"
Overall gaming revenue falls 2%, offset by a 1% growth in Xbox content and services
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
The end of EA as a public company has begun. No more forecasts or earnings calls.

Yes, there can be benefits of privatizing. No quarterly reporting grind offers flexibility.

It also limits transparency. I prefer knowing, & holding execs accountable.

www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-reports-d...
EA reports decreases in sales and revenue during Q2
Firm pauses earnings calls following buyout, will no longer provide forward-looking guidance
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 29, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Xbox Wire asking hard-hitting questions about Halo: Campaign Evolved, I see.

While it would never be asked here, I'd want to say:

Will you be charging full price for only part of the original game?

(Based on Microsoft's profit mandate, I'd bet on it.)

news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/1...
Halo: Campaign Evolved - Answering the Big Questions About This Ambitious Remake - Xbox Wire
Halo Campaign Evolved is a full remake of the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign, coming to Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and PlayStation 5.
news.xbox.com
October 27, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Didn't expect to pass 100+ hours in Ghost of Yotei.

I adore this game, even if Sucker Punch's formula is more comfortable than innovative.

It's one of the most gorgeous games, period. Combat is crunchy, story is engaging & exploration is fantastic.

Moving up my GOTY list!
October 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
And people thought Square Enix had unrealistic expectations.

I don't see how it's feasible for Xbox to achieve a 30% margin with a hardware business & as many studios as it owns.

If this continues, its future is HW partnerships, multi-plats & services.

www.ign.com/articles/mic...
Microsoft Has Reportedly Pushed Xbox Studios to Deliver a 30% Profit Margin, Allegedly Leading to All Those Layoffs, Canceled Projects, Price Rises, and the End of Exclusives - IGN
A new report has shed light on the goings on at Microsoft, which has allegedly pushed Xbox studios to deliver a 30% profit margin — much higher than the industry average.
www.ign.com
October 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
U.S. Games Industry Stats, Sep 2025:

Spend +10% to $4.84B.
Content +11%. HW +24%.
Switch 2 #1.

1. Borderlands 4
2. NBA 2K26
3. EA FC 26
4. Ghost of Yotei
5. Madden 26

6 new games among Top 10.
Best launch in Borderlands series.
Yotei early sales "great," in-line with Tsushima.
September 2025 U.S. Video Game Market Highlights Thread from Circana - Borderlands 4 Led Several Hit New Releases Helping Deliver 10% Growth in September US Video Game Spending
October 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Warner Bros Discovery continues to be all over the place.

When all is said & done, might WB Games be split off & scooped up by a consortium with the help of Saudi-backed money?

While licensing would be messy, nothing would shock me with this company.

ir.wbd.com/news-and-eve...
October 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Ah, that corporate deflection.

"Our partner company made the decision to price it so high. But we love the response. It's selling out everywhere!"

So that means you'll provide real sales numbers, right Xbox? Or Asus? Not just a claim without data.

🫤

variety.com/2025/digital...
Ally Arrives: Xbox President Sarah Bond Explains New Handhelds Steep Price, Prioritizing ‘Windows Experience’ and Next-Gen Console Plans Heading Into 2026
Xbox president Sarah Bond discusses the release of Xbox's Ally handheld device, including the price set by Asus, and progress on next-gen consoles.
variety.com
October 20, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Great launch stats for Ghost of Yotei in covered EU markets.

On a personal level, I'm nearly 50 hours into the game and it's even better than initially anticipated. It's a masterclass in exploration, that classic "let me just find one more thing" appeal.

www.gamesindustry.biz/ghost-of-yot...
Ghost of Yōtei debuts as Sony's biggest first-party title in Europe, says GSD
EA Sports FC 26 takes the top spot, but Ghost of Yōtei ranks in second for both unit sales and revenue
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 16, 2025 at 2:06 PM
There's a new Double Fine game out this week, Keeper, and I'm not hearing much about it.

(Granted, I'm less online these days. Maybe you are hearing more!)

What is your excitement level? Is it a victim of the busy release calendar lately where it's hard to break thru?
October 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Good read with data from GI Biz today on how certain best-selling premium games are faring in 2025, as Battlefield 6 crosses 7M in less than a week.

Other launch estimates include:

EA Sports FC 26: 7.7M
Monster Hunter Wilds: 6.2M
Borderlands 4: 2.3M

www.gamesindustry.biz/battlefield-...
Battlefield 6 sells over 7m units across PC and console in five days
Data shared exclusively with GamesIndustry.biz also reveals Steam leads player count with a 55% share
www.gamesindustry.biz
October 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Looks like Battlefield 6 reached EA's highest Steam concurrents, just under 750K, outpacing Apex Legends.

I might even be underselling the game's upside, and I've been way upbeat!

👀
October 14, 2025 at 2:45 PM