Tag: gaming

Hololive, Indie Vtubing, Nijisanji, Vtubing

VTubing in 2026: From Live IPs to Industry Consolidation

2025 was one of the most important periods in VTubing’s history not because of any single breakout star or controversy, but because it forced the industry to confront uncomfortable structural truths. Community sentiment, particularly on platforms like X, has increasingly framed VTubing as a space where corporations are losing relevance and indies are “winning.” That narrative is loud, emotionally charged, and largely misleading. Continue reading VTubing in 2026: From Live IPs to Industry Consolidation

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Video games

The Game Awards: Gaming’s biggest show and its growing identity crisis

After the somewhat controversial streamer awards earlier in the week, The Game Awards delivered few surprises as Expedition 33 dominated the night and claimed a record nine awards. Even so, the ceremony was not without its own share of debate, alongside several announcements that ranged from exciting to fairly routine for the video game industry. In this article we will break down this year’s show and consider whether The Game Awards remains a positive force for the medium or whether it is beginning to feel like it is chasing the prestige of the Oscars. Continue reading The Game Awards: Gaming’s biggest show and its growing identity crisis

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Video games

No, EA Probably Won’t Make Battlefront 3

Star Wars Battlefront II had a rough launch in 2017. The game was heavily criticised for tying core gameplay progression to loot boxes and quickly became the industry’s tipping point for backlash against microtransactions.

Developer DICE eventually overhauled the progression system, making everything unlockable through gameplay. But the damage was done. EA’s reputation took a massive hit, and for many players, trust was broken.

It wasn’t until 2020 that Battlefront II ended its live service run not with a whimper, but with a final update that was widely praised by its community. In 2021, the game saw a surprising resurgence in players. Even more impressively, it broke its own peak player count twice in 2025.

So that begs the question: has EA earned back the goodwill and is it finally time for a Battlefront III?
Continue reading No, EA Probably Won’t Make Battlefront 3

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Video games

Why the “Iron Triangle” Doesn’t Work for Video Games

If you’ve ever played a game that looked great on paper but just didn’t hit right, you’re not alone. Behind the scenes, game development teams use project management tools to plan and deliver games. One of the oldest and most common is the Iron Triangle a model that balances Time, Cost, and Scope (or sometimes Quality, depending on who you ask). Continue reading Why the “Iron Triangle” Doesn’t Work for Video Games

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Reviews, Video games

Age of Empires 2: The Three Kingdoms, First Impressions

Age of Empires II has been a cornerstone of my gaming life.

It was a crucial part of my childhood and remains a title I keep coming back to, even decades later. Since the release of the Definitive Edition in 2019, we’ve seen several expansions breathe new life into this classic but the recent release of The Three Kingdoms promises to be the biggest update since The Conquerors, which came out over twenty five years ago.

As someone who plays Age of Empires II regularly and follows the game’s evolution closely, I wanted to share my thoughts on this new expansion, how it compares to those that came before, and whether it’s worth the £15 price tag. Continue reading Age of Empires 2: The Three Kingdoms, First Impressions

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Video games

The Cost of Overexpansion: How Bungie and Hi-Rez Mismanaged Their Success

The article discusses the challenges faced by game studios Bungie and Hi-Rez as they expand into multiple projects. While trying to balance their main hits with new ventures, both companies have suffered from quality issues and resource mismanagement. The need for focused development and sustained player engagement is emphasized to avoid failure. Continue reading The Cost of Overexpansion: How Bungie and Hi-Rez Mismanaged Their Success

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Video games

Corporate Influence in Game Design: The Forgotten Age of Empires 2 Story

It’s quite a common criticism of the video game industry that corporate and other external stakeholders hold too much influence over the design team and that this culture is the result of many of the troubles in the industry. In recent years we’ve seen games pushed for early released such as Cyberpunk 2077 even though the project wasn’t ready, we’ve seen games like Overwatch 2 … Continue reading Corporate Influence in Game Design: The Forgotten Age of Empires 2 Story

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