Gaming in Sweden. Reviews, Walkthroughs, News

It can be difficult keeping track of the various comings and goings in the games industry, which is why we compile them in semi-regular round-ups.

Stellan Skarsgard is pretty sure he'll be dead by the time Mamma Mia 3 comes around.

Yesterday (Tuesday, September 12), it was announced that the game engine Unity will soon begin charging developers a monthly fee based on the number of installs their games have, in a move that has left many indie studios upset and frustrated.

Borderlands developer Gearbox is reportedly up for sale by parent company Embracer Group. As per Reuters, the Swedish conglomerate is looking to restructure following a $2 billion (about Rs. 16,586 crore) deal with Saudi Arabia government-funded Savvy Games Group that fell through, earlier this year. The fallout resulted in the former cutting down on spending, in addition to closing down studios and laying off its employees. Having been acquired merely two-and-a-half years ago, Gearbox is now the latest victim, with some alleged third-party publishers expressing interest in acquiring the developer. No names were mentioned, though they were described as “international gaming groups.”

Embracer is reportedly considering the sale of Borderlands developer Gearbox Entertainment just over two years after it  purchased the company for $1.38 billion.

Rainbow Studios is apparently the latest studio in the firing line of Embracer's restructuring efforts.

Gearbox Entertainment, the developer of the Borderlands franchise, is reportedly being put up for sale by parent company Embracer Group.

Embracer Group's ongoing restructuring efforts have seemingly resulted in layoffs at MX vs ATV Legends developer Rainbow Studios.

Following a botched $2 billion deal, Swedish gaming conglomerate Embracer Group has been offloading studios — like Saints Row developer Volition — in an effort restructure the company. Its next target? Borderlands developer and publisher Gearbox Entertainment, Reuters reported on Monday.

Sweden's Embracer Group is reportedly considering what to do with Gearbox Entertainment.

Embracer Group completed its acquisition of Borderlands developer Gearbox Entertainment in April 2021 in a deal worth up to $1.4 billion, though it seems the Swedish firm is already considering reversing course. In a report published by Reuters, it’s been claimed that the Embracer Group is considering several options for Gearbox Entertainment, with a full sale being one among them.

Embracer Group is considering selling off Gearbox Software, according to a new report.

We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of «Playing the Edge.» Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!

We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of «Playing the Edge.» Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!

We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of «Playing the Edge.» Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!

Take a moment to imagine where you might have a better quality of life. Did France spring to mind? It does have universal healthcare, affordable childcare, a high level of civic and social engagement, good work-life balance, and of course it’s home to beautiful countryside and arguably the most desirable city on earth, so that would be a natural place to think of.

Paradox Interactive has announced that its upcoming Star Trek RTS, Star Trek: Infinite, will be releasing for PC and MacOS on October 12. 

Bethesda’s Todd Howard has seemingly teased plans to reveal its Indiana Jones game in 2024.

Criminal gangs behind a surge of bombings and shootings in Sweden in recent years are using fake Spotify streams to launder money, a Swedish newspaper reported Tuesday.

We’ve been hearing about EA Sports’ officially licensed World Rally Championship title for what feels like an eternity, but Dealabs’ ever-reliable billbil-kun has now broken the first details. The racing simulation – launching on PS5 alongside other modern consoles – is targeting a 3rd November launch date, with three-day early access available with the Champions Edition. A 10-hour trial will also be available to EA Play members from 31st October.

THQ Nordic has delayed its Alone in the Dark reboot until next year.

Row, Black Desert – Traveler Edition and Generation Zero will be available to PlayStation Plus members on Tuesday, September 5 until Monday, October 2. 

Volition Games, the studio behind franchises such as Saints Row and Red Faction, has been shut down effectively immediately. 

Saints Row and Red Faction developer Volition is no more. The studio’s owner, Embracer Group, has closed Volition “effective immediately,” according to a statement posted on Volition’s LinkedIn profile. The closure of the Champaign, Illinois-based company comes shortly after the studio celebrated its 30th anniversary in June.

Greetings readers. I’m Mårten, the Game Design Director at Hadoque, a collective of creatives in Sweden. I co-created the core concept of the game and oversee the game design. We’ve been working on Ultros – our first game together – for the past few years, and today, we’re thrilled to show you the core gameplay and a new boss.

Today, leaker billbil-kun revealed that EA Sports WRC, the first official rally game to be developed by Codemasters since EA Sports acquired the license, will be released on November 3rd.

As part of a mostly standard blog post revealing the latest trio of free games that will be available for PlayStation Plus subscribers at any tier starting next week, Sony also shared some less exciting news in the form of a price increase for annual subscriptions to their online service.

It’s another month, so we have another batch of “free” games for Playstation Plus Subscribers.

September's PS Plus games include open-world crime, fantasy, and sci-fi adventures.

Sony has officially confirmed the line-up of monthly games that PlayStation Plus subscribers will be able to download and keep as part of their subscription in September 2023. Active subscribers will be able to claim Saints Row (2023), Black Desert -Traveler Edition and Generation Zero.

It’s a new month, with a new lineup of PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for September. The Monthly Games lineup of Saints Row, Black Desert – Traveler Edition and Generation Zero will be available to PlayStation Plus members on Tuesday, September 5 until Monday, October 2. 

PlayStation Plus Essential subscribers’ free games for September 2023 are Saints Row, Black Desert: Traveler Edition, and Generation Zero, Sony announced on Wednesday. Players may download the trio of PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 games beginning Tuesday, Sept. 5.

Silicon Valley's favourite philosophy, longtermism, has helped to frame the debate on artificial intelligence around the idea of human extinction.

The Dark Pictures anthology studio Supermassive Games is developing Little Nightmare 3 for release in 2024 on PC, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch. It'll be playable solo, with an AI-controlled second character, or with a friend in online co-op.

Developer Cardboard Computer sporadically released their poetic adventure game, Kentucky Route Zero, in acts spread across multiple years. It was a teasing release schedule that only aided the game’s surreal mystery, so it’s no surprise that the studio have dropped the game’s first major update three years after the fifth and final chapter wrapped things up. The aptly named Postmodern Update overhauls the game’s user interface with a new Modern mode, alongside a host of bug fixes and more language options.

Swedish games firm Embracer Group has said it is moving on from the collapsed $2 billion partnership it announced at back in May.

11.6 million console and PC games were sold in July across Europe, up 34% over the same period in 2022.

The Sun has been displaying its might over the last few months, and its activity is expected to increase as we move towards the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which is likely to be in 2025. During its 11-year cycle, the Sun unleashes CMEs, solar flares, solar storms, and other high energy particles which can damage electric infra on Earth. Although scientists now have the technology to predict most of these events, this cycle's activity has already exceeded the maximum threshold which was predicted earlier.

Embracer Group is currently undergoing major internal reorganisation after apparently overextending, with hard-working employees bearing the cost in the ensuing layoffs and closures. This restructuring has already begun, but a new report has shed some further light on how the situation all came about.

Saudi Arabia's Savvy Games Studios is having a rebrand and becoming Steer Studios.

Sweden's Embracer Group saw a 47 per cent increase in net sales for the first quarter of its financial year.

Swedish gaming company Embracer Group has credited the franchise with playing a large part in the company’s improved fiscal first-quarter financials.

We’re spreading the joy (and chaotically good fun) to more countries as Warcraft Rumble™ enters soft launch. Along with players in the Philippines—players in Canada, Australia, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway can now experience this triumph of gnomish engineering.

Embracer CEO confident amid ongoing challenges and restructuring.

If you say the name Portal to most people in the games industry, what will jump to mind is Valve's classic first-person puzzle series.

It’s been confirmed that Amazon Prime Gaming is hosting a number of giveaways in celebration of the Valorant Champions 2023 tournament, which kicked off earlier this month.

Earlier this year, Swedish company Embracer Group saw a deal fall through to the tune of $2 billion USD, something that caused its stock to plummet back in May. Now, thanks to a new Axios report, we know more about exactly who that deal was supposed to be with a Saudi Arabia-backed investment group.

Earlier this month, I took a look at HIFIMAN’s new flagship in-ear monitors, the Svanar, are loved them. Rightfully so — at $1,999, they were targeting dedicated audiophiles well on their sonic journey. But what if you want next-level sound and are ready to cut the cord? That’s where the Svanar Wireless comes in. At 1/4th the price of the wired Svanar, these true wireless earbuds promise exceptional sound quality with high-resolution audio codecs, active noise cancellation, superior build quality, and solid battery life. But as one of the most expensive true wireless earbuds on the market today, they certainly have something to prove. 

By Wes Davis, a weekend editor who covers the latest in tech and entertainment. He has written news, reviews, and more as a tech journalist since 2020.

Saudi government-funded Savvy Games Group was reportedly the mystery party that pulled out of a $2 billion partnership with Embracer Group.

As the Sun moves towards the solar maximum gradually, scientists are worrying about a once in a century solar storm that can impact Earth, and humanity, severely. We are now experiencing the most active sun so far and it is generating massive solar storms frequently. The peak of solar activities happens every 11 years when the sun reaches the solar maximum. Normally, these solar storms do not severely impact the Earth, but, occasionally, they get so intense that they can generate strong geomagnetic storms that affect all the electrical infrastructure that humanity has created including the power grid and the satellites. NASA believes that if such a solar storm occurs, it could put the safety and livelihoods of people at risk. Now, it is being feared that such a massive solar storm can happen over the next few years.

Bramble The Mountain King is, for my money, one of 2023’s most gorgeous and striking indie games. This atmospheric action platformer inspired by dark Nordic fables comes from Sweden-based Dimfrost Studio, and it’s quite the achievement for just the team’s second outing. Scored by a fantastic soundtrack that ranges from the haunting to the bombastic, Bramble The Mountain King has stuck vividly in my memory – and now thanks to a Steam sale you can grab it at a huge discount, so move fast.

The new FIFA 23 patch updates the in-game model for Morocco defender Nouhaïla Benzina with a hijab, marking the first time that the Islamic headscarf has ever been included in the football game series. It comes following Benzina’s performance during the Women’s World Cup, where the international star has been playing while wearing the hijab, including during a recent match against France. Now, her appearance has been updated in FIFA 23 itself.

The trailer for previews Netflix’s thriller movie, which is directed by Fares Fares, who also stars as a police officer that goes on a tense road trip.

Amazon's Prime "Day" is now officially a bi-annual event. The company today confirmed that it will host a second day of deals for Prime members this fall.

Blizzard's upcoming free-to-play mobile game, Warcraft Rumble, is expanding to new regional testing locations on iOS and Android devices! With new quest systems, increased unit variety, and a Heroic Campaign mode, focus is being put on adding long term challenge and interest for months and years to come! The game has undergone a few changes since its formal announcement last year and closed beta this past June, notably dropping «Arclight» from its name to be simply known as Warcraft Rumble. In an interview with Gamespot, Game Director Tom Chilton and Executive Producer Vik Saraf discussed what they'd learned, from improving rudimentary quest systems to the introduction of new Arclight Surge mechanics with rotating modifiers.

Today was a big day for businesses that are either working heavily with artificial intelligence or are looking to get into this space. Walt Disney has created a new task force that will study AI and find out all the different ways it can be used in its businesses in the entertainment industry. In other news. Spotify is finally expanding its experimental feature of an AI DJ to 50 different countries, after keeping it in limited access for almost three months. This and more in today's AI roundup. Let us take a closer look.

Free League Publishing won big in this year’s Ennie Awards, Gen Con’s biggest awards program. The Swedish publisher pulled in Gold awards for three of its marquee tabletop role-playing game lines, including Vaesen, Blade Runner, and Ruins of Symbaroum. Meanwhile the Ennies also showered praise on journalist Linda Codega for their work in covering Dungeons & Dragons’s OGL fiasco in January. The Gold award for best game went to Fabula Ultima — Core Rulebook.

A large, rigorous study in Sweden of artificial intelligence in breast cancer screenings suggests AI can help doctors detect cancers more efficiently. We need more such studies to determine when the technology has real value — and when it might have risks. And although the findings are incredibly promising, because Europe uses different processes and technologies for cancer screening, the US needs to commit to running its own similar studies to guide doctors here.

Artificial intelligence could help almost halve the workload of radiologists when it comes to searching routine scans for signs of breast cancer, a large Swedish study suggested on Wednesday.

THQ Nordic has announced a collector’s edition for its upcoming Alone in the Dark reboot.

Final Fantasy 14 isn't a typical game to watch people speedrun—while certain parts of the game do have a speedrunning history, and there is a dedicated community running the game, completing it in record time still typically takes hours. These cutscene-skipping blitzes are impressive, sure, but they don't exactly make for great viewing unless you're really into the nuts and bolts of the game.

Before its anticipated release date, a Payday 3 closed beta is set to go live soon on Xbox Series X/S and PC (via Steam). If you’re keen to play the game before its launch, this represents your first chance to do so.

Payday fans are waiting on the next major installment to hit the marketplace, and we know that the developers are hoping to make a bigger and better experience. We’re nearing the release, with the game slated to come out this September. But would you be interested in getting flown out to Sweden to check the game out at the studio? The developers are looking to bring on some guests and are asking you to sign up for a chance to play this title ahead of the launch. 

Spotify Technology SA, the Swedish audio streaming platform, beat analyst expectations in its second-quarter results with its total active users rising 27% to 551 million.

By Ash Parrish, a reporter who has covered the business, culture, and communities of video games for seven years. Previously, she worked at Kotaku.

Spotify Technology SA is planning a $1-a-month increase in the price of its premium subscription, the ad-free version of its music and podcast streaming service.

The chief executive of Nokia Oyj signaled that a near-term decline in operator demand for 5G gear in a worsening economy will turn out to be a passing phenomenon given a “substantial need” to invest in those networks globally.