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GDCA 2027 moves away from nominations-based system, publishers and devs can now submit games for consideration

by Ralph on October 20, 2026 0

Qualified games must have been released on PC or console between January 1 and December 31, 2026 Image credit: Game Developers Choice Awards The 2027 Game Developers Choice Awards (GDCA) will be welcoming entries from publishers and developers for the very first time. Games launched on PC or console from January 1 to December 31, 2026, are qualified. Titles must be submitted for evaluation. GDCA 2027 imposes no entry fees, and the deadline for submissions is November 1, 2026. In the past, the GDCA operated using a nomination-based voting framework via the International Choice Awards Network (ICAN), an exclusive panel consisting of over 500 creators, developers, and industry professionals. Additionally, two new award categories have been added: Best Game Launch and Best Gaming Tech. Victors will be revealed at the 2027 GDCA ceremony on Tuesday, March 2 during the GDC Festival of Gaming. Earlier this year, the GDC Festival of Gaming declared further modifications...

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Wizards of the Coast declines to voluntarily recognize D&D and Studio X union drive

by Ralph on October 20, 2026 0

Personnel on the D&D and Studio X groups will now cast their votes in a National Labor Relations Board election Image credit: UWOTC-CWA Wizards of the Coast is denying to provide voluntary acknowledgment to a union initiative by its Dungeons & Dragons and Studio X teams. Personnel will instead participate in a confidential-ballot election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. As reported by Wargamer, the union, United Wizards of the Coast-CWA, declared the decision via Twitter/X on Wednesday, October 14, and a company representative affirmed it. Wargamer accessed an email purportedly sent to Wizards’ US employees, in which the organization states that it is “not impartial on the issue of unionization.” It further mentions that it prefers to communicate with employees directly instead of through unions. The email indicates that eligible workers have the right to make their own choices, and that Wizards will respect the result of the election regardless of how...

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PEGI begins moving existing digital-only games with loot boxes up to a 16 rating

by Ralph on October 20, 2026 0

Games presently rated PEGI 3, 7, or 12 are influenced, with updates being deployed throughout October. Image credit: PEGI Current digital-only games that feature paid random rewards, like loot boxes, are being re-assessed to PEGI 16 if they possess a PEGI 3, 7, or 12 rating at this moment. Connor Hinde, policy manager at the Games Rating Authority, mentioned in a LinkedIn post that the GRA, which oversees PEGI in the UK, initiated the implementation of the revised criteria for a selection of existing digital titles last week. The updated rating is designated PEGI 16 – Paid random rewards. It is applicable regardless of whether a game was originally rated via PEGI’s Classic methodology or the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) framework. The modifications will persist in being rolled out gradually through October. The GRA recognized that numerous ratings will alter in a brief period and advised publishers and developers with inquiries to reach...

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Feature: I’m Playing Samson On Xbox Series X, And Here’s What I Think So Far

by Ralph on October 19, 2026 0

Update : Since this was penned, it’s been reported that Liquid Swords, the developer of Samson, is encountering insolvency. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to all individuals impacted by the situation at the Swedish studio. Original Story: Like numerous other Xbox enthusiasts, I’ve been fascinated by Samson from its initial announcement. The game garnered a rather unfavorable reception upon its PC launch, but the Xbox version released a few weeks ago appeared to generate more favorable feedback. Thus, I had to try it out. I’ve only dedicated a few hours to Samson so far on Xbox Series X, but considering it’s the weekend and we have plenty of hectic events approaching in the upcoming weeks (including GTA 6 and the Xbox 25th anniversary), I thought I’d share my early impressions with you before they fade away! In summary, the narrative centers around an individual indebted to some perilous figures, compelling...

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Xbox Officially Adds Support For A ‘Modern, Powerful And Production Ready Game Engine’

by Ralph on October 19, 2026 0

“Defold is a complimentary, robust, all-in-one game engine.” by Fraser Gilbert Yesterday, 5pm Here’s an interesting little tale we stumbled upon during the week! Xbox now officially backs another game engine known as Defold, which is a completely free engine labeled as “robust”, “streamlined” and “efficient”. “Defold is an up-to-date, robust and production-ready all-in-one game engine suite designed for genuine cross-platform game creation with an extraordinarily minimal engine footprint.” The organization behind Defold states that once a developer has registered to gain approval for Xbox console development through Microsoft, they can “log in to the Xbox middleware page using an associated account, locate Defold, and request access”. Subsequently, Defold will furnish numerous tools and documentation essential for releasing games on Xbox, along with access to Xbox-specific developer assistance. “Xbox support is accessible from Defold 1.14.0, with platform-specific features and documentation offered free of charge to authorized developers.” So, what should we anticipate from developers...

Xbox

Xbox Hiring For Role Involving Physical Games, But What About The Future Of Discs?

by Ralph on October 19, 2026 0

“…manage the initiation of tangible Xbox games…” by Fraser Gilbert 4 hours ago During the weekend, we’ve noticed numerous individuals discussing a new job position that has recently been posted by Microsoft, specifically seeking an “Xbox Games Supply Strategist“. The reason it has garnered significant attention is that this position entails tangible games – the job listing indicates that the Strategist will “manage the initiation of tangible Xbox games across all platforms”. “The Xbox Games Supply Strategist will manage the initiation of tangible Xbox games across all platforms, guide development & supervise implementation of global supply positioning strategies throughout all phases of the product lifecycle, ensure that inventory is organized to meet working capital/cost/service objectives, and supervise the sales & channel execution of those games. You’ll collaborate closely with Product Marketing, Finance & various teams within Supply Chain to establish & oversee the supply and sales plan of record. Every day will present a...

Xbox

Xbox Appears To Be Ditching Security Seals From New Physical Releases

by Ralph on October 19, 2026 0

Signed, not sealed, dispatched by Craig Reid 3 hours earlier If you’ve acquired a physical Xbox title recently, you might have observed that the security sticker has disappeared. It appears this is part of a new packaging strategy, with sources indicating that numerous recent launches have been dispatched without the extra layer of adhesive security. Per VGP Video Games Plus, a private distributor located in North America, the absence of a security seal is merely a fresh ‘packaging initiative’ instead of a deficiency in security.

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Star Wars: Galactic Racer Might Be Getting Xbox Play Anywhere Support

by Ralph on October 19, 2026 0

Hazardous Commando also noticed on the Xbox PC application by Craig Reid 2 hours ago Pay attention, because it seems like Star Wars: Galactic Racer and John Carpenter’s Hazardous Commando may be receiving Xbox Play Anywhere functionality soon. This information originates from Narrow_Leek2452, a fairly trustworthy source recognized for their Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox PC posts on Reddit. Well, they’re back with yet another update, indicating that both titles have surfaced on the Xbox PC app and are likely to gain XPA support. Both Galactic Racer and Hazardous Commando offer disc to digital compatibility on Xbox Series X|S, so it wouldn’t be overly surprising if PC is included as well. However, as with any unverified news, it’s sensible to approach this information with caution. I’d suggest monitoring your Xbox PC app, and kindly inform us if either title becomes available in your XPA-compatible library. Which of these games would you prefer to see...

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