An Introduction to E³ Part 1: EMPOWER

Modern entertainment has a problem.

Demand is exploding, but production cannot keep up.

Games take longer to make. Updates are expected faster. Communities move on quicker. Meanwhile, the biggest IP holders are no longer competing against one game or one show, they are competing against entire ecosystems.

If you want an IP to survive long-term, you need more than output. You need momentum. And the most scalable form of momentum is not produced internally.

It is created by the community. Continue reading An Introduction to E³ Part 1: EMPOWER

How User-Generated Content Validated Age of Empires II, And Why UGC Is the Future of Gaming

User-generated content (UGC) is often framed as a nice-to-have or a community perk in gaming. But the story of Age of Empires II shows that UGC can be a de facto market test, incubator of talent, and essential signal of long-term value even convincing a major publisher to revive a dormant franchise. Continue reading How User-Generated Content Validated Age of Empires II, And Why UGC Is the Future of Gaming

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

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

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

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

Saying Goodbye to Gawr Gura – The Face of a Generation

On May 1st, 2025, Gawr Gura will graduate from Hololive, words that have shaken not only the Hololive community, but the wider VTubing world as well.

Since her debut in September 2020, Gura has been the face of VTubing, a symbol of its explosive global rise and mainstream recognition. But now, the time has come for her to leave this chapter behind and, as she herself might put it, return to the ocean. Continue reading Saying Goodbye to Gawr Gura – The Face of a Generation