Atlantas game

Play EVE Online for freeLast week we broke the story that EVE Online developer CCP Games is backing out of the virtual reality games market, closing its Altanta office and selling its VR-focused Newcastle studio. The long-held Atlanta office was acquired in the merger with White Wolf in 2006 and has been hit with several rounds of layoffs over the years, with a major hit in 2011 after the Monoclegate disaster and another 2014 when the World of Darkness MMO was cancelled. The Newcastle studio was the development house responsible for CCP’s VR dogfighter EVE: Valkyrie, and both Valkyrie and CCP’s new VR game Sparc will now be maintained by the London office. Around 100 staff were laid off in the restructuring, roughly 30 of whom worked in CCP’s headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland. Though we were informed at the time that these changes would not impact the development of EVE Online, it since became apparent that more than a few non-development staff were cut. In … [Read more...] about EVE Evolved: EVE Online’s CCP Games is gambling with the livelihoods of employees

Icelandic business website mbl.is has just reported that EVE Online developer CCP Games is planning to close two of its offices and cease all VR game development. The move affects over 100 staff worldwide, with the Atlanta office in the United States being closed and the Newcastle studio being sold off. The Newcastle office was the development house responsible for the VR dogfighter EVE: Valkyrie, which released as a bundled launch title for the Oculus Rift and has since been released on PlayStation VR and as a non-VR PC title. The move will see CCP pull out of the VR market for the time being, focusing instead on PC and mobile development. The studio secured a $30 million US investment specifically for VR games back in 2015, and CEO Hilmar Pétursson revealed back in March of this year that the company had only recently broken even on that investment. Despite having some success with Valkyrie, Gunjack, and its recently released VR sports title Sparc, CCP acknowledged the limited … [Read more...] about CCP Games ceases VR development, closes two studios – no negative impact on EVE Online

Blizzard has announced that the Summer Games will be making a return to Overwatch starting August 9th. "You'll get a kick out of this! Team up with your friends for the Summer Games on August 9th!" the Overwatch Twitter reads. You may remember that the first summer games was themed around the Olympics. Last year, the event took on a more generalized "summer" theme with bathing suits and even Soldier 76's barbeque dad skin (complete with socks & sandals!). The Summer Games this year are said to possibly include a new map, Busan Stadium, and the pretty fun event game, Lucio Ball. The Summer Games will run from August 9-30. In other Overwatch news, the League has confirmed that two new teams will be added ahead of Season 2: One in Atlanta, Georgia and the other in Guangzhou, China. At this point, we don't know the team names, but that more information should be coming soon. “We know Atlanta and Guangzhou have deeply engaged fan communities and we can’t wait to unveil … [Read more...] about Summer Games Event Coming Back on August 9 + Two New OWL Teams

The Summer Games are back in Overwatch starting next week on August 9th and running through the 30th, according to a teaser tweet Blizzard shot out last night. It looks like Lucioball is returning too, given that the teaser is… literally just Lucio kicking a ball. Right on the nose with the teasers, eh Blizz? It’s a good bet that the event will bring a host of new skins for all the toons as it did the previous two years; Reddit is excited over the new Busan arena map rumored to be coming with the event too. Meanwhile, hot on the heels of the Overwatch League’s big showdown, Blizzard announced this week that it’s signed on two new teams: an Atlanta, Georgia, team operated by Cox Enterprises and a Guangzhou, China, team backed by Nenking Group (which also owns a major Chinese basketball team). Source: Twitter, press releaseSHARE THIS ARTICLE … [Read more...] about Overwatch is bringing back another round of Summer Games in August

You’ve heard of Simon Says? At Hi-Rez Expo I played Stew Says, but in this game I try to get Stew Chisam, President of Hi-Rez Studios, to do what I say instead! In regards to answering questions, this worked like a charm. However, when it came to getting back lost games, it was much less successful. Sorry Global Agenda and Tribes: Ascend, I tried. SMITE Rivals and Bot Smashers, you stay on the shelf for now, too. Hand of the Gods, enjoy life in maintenance mode. Games aside, there was plenty to discuss with the head of Hi-Rez. We’ve all had questions about the big studio split, and now there’s the change in expo venue to discuss. What does the future of the company and its games look like? Switch has made the cut, but can another mobile fit in? After all, Paladins Strike is doing well though and plans to release on the PC this next year. Will esports for Paladins and SMITE flourish with the big changes or dwindle? And last but not least, while I was touring the … [Read more...] about Hi-Rez Expo 2018: Stewart Chisam makes sense of the studio split, hints at new game