🍪 Independence, Layoffs, Lawsuits, and Year-Long Heroes

Hello there, independent grinders and Friday lovers — today’s lineup is all about breaking free, holding on, and fighting back. From Digital Foundry taking the indie plunge, to Marvel heroes that take a year to be born, to lawsuits, layoffs, and long-term plays.

Let’s dig in.

Digital Foundry Breaks Free From IGN

Digital foundry has officially split from IGN Entertainment, buying back the shares held by its former parent and going fully independent. Founder Richard Leadbetter and Eurogamer founder Rupert Loman-West led the buyout, securing total control of the brand and funding operations through Patreon.

“From now on, all aspects of Digital Foundry are decided upon by Digital Foundry.” — Richard Leadbetter

Our Take: Independence often means less financial stability, but it also means full editorial freedom — something that fits DF’s niche audience and deep-dive content perfectly. This could strengthen their community bonds, but expect them to lean heavily on Patreon support to stay sustainable.

Marvel Rivals: A Year to Make a Hero

NetEase Games revealed it takes nearly 12 months to design, build, test, and balance a single Marvel Rivals character. Even with a roster that’s already impressed players since beta, the process remains meticulous. Recent seasons have introduced the Fantastic Four, Phoenix, Blade, and even Knull — all balanced to fit into the competitive shooter’s chaotic ecosystem.

“These characters aren’t just modeled and animated… they’re designed, storied, and tested repeatedly before release.” — NetEase

Our Take: This is the kind of slow-cooked content that keeps a live-service title fresh without breaking balance. The question is whether NetEase can keep player engagement steady with such long dev cycles — or if the hype will cool between major drops.

Take-Two’s Zelnick: ‘We’re Running Scared’

Despite gearing up for GTA6’s May 2026 launch, CEO Strauss Zelnick says Take-Two Interactive doesn’t take success for granted. The company is planning for the next 5–20 years, aiming to be “the most creative, innovative, and efficient” in the industry.

“Arrogance is the enemy of continued success.” — Strauss Zelnick

Our Take: It’s rare to hear a CEO admit fear as a motivator. But with console sales stagnating and new formats emerging, Take-Two’s wide-platform strategy could be its real insurance policy — not just big tentpole releases.

️ Turn 10 Speaks After Layoffs

Following reports that 50% of Forza Motorsport developer Turn 10 Studios’s staff were laid off, the studio reassured fans that Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5 will continue receiving updates. August and September will see returning event tours, with all classic Tours planned to be reinstated over time.

“We will continue to support Forza Motorsport and Forza Horizon 5.” — Turn 10 Studios

Our Take: The message is reassuring — but losing half your team makes “continued support” a much steeper hill to climb. The future of Forza might hinge on Microsoft ’s multiplatform push and whether Forza Motorsport eventually follows Horizon to PS5.

Microsoft’s Layoffs Hit Publishing

Fresh reports reveal that Microsoft’s job cuts also gutted its Xbox publishing division, including its leader Peter Wyse. Several unannounced projects were scrapped — among them, Romero Games Ltd.’ in-progress title, which CEO Brenda Romero says met all milestones before funding was abruptly pulled.

“We hit every milestone on time… This absolutely isn’t a reflection of our team’s work.” — Brenda Romero

Our Take: Microsoft’s internal shake-up is starting to look like a scorched-earth reset. The cancellations may trim costs now, but they also erase years of creative investment — and that’s harder to replace than headcount.

⚖️ Sony Sues Tencent Over Horizon Clone

Tencent Games’s Light of Motiram has scrubbed its Valve corporation Steam page of artwork and features after Sony filed a lawsuit claiming it blatantly copied Horizon. The new art swaps out Aloy-like headgear for mechanical animals, but similarities remain. Sony is seeking $150K in damages and the destruction of all game materials.

“Tencent’s copying of Horizon is so blatant that the public has described it as ‘crazy’, ‘insane’, and ‘shameless’.” — Sony legal filing

Our Take: Cosmetic changes won’t erase the perception of cloning — but here at Game Cookies, we’ve long defended the idea that mechanics, art styles, or general concepts shouldn’t be monopolized when they inspire competition. Just as we stood by Pocketpair, Inc. Palworld against Nintendo, we support games that bring similar ideas — because they push quality, fun, and price in the gamer’s favor. Of course, that support ends when there’s a clear violation of actual legal rights or IP ownership.

Stay creative in how you fund and grow your projects — independence has a price, but so does compromise. Keep your future in mind, even when the present feels secure — industries shift faster than comfort allows. Remember that copying may be the sincerest form of flattery, but in gaming, it can also be the quickest path to court.

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