Game World Observer

The Apple Corporation has once again updated the policy of the European version of its app store, prompted by proceedings with the European Commission regarding its “gatekeeper” status in the EU. The changes mainly concern the App Store commission. Here’s what will change: The standard commission for apps using the App Store’s payment system will be reduced to 26%; The commission for purchases through third-party payment systems will be 20%.

Renowned game designer Warren Spector will no longer be making games. He announced his retirement after 44 years in the industry. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided Spector shared this decision on LinkedIn. He emphasized that he is proud of his projects but feels it’s time to stop. Even though he has ideas for three more games (one very large, one very small, and one “frighteningly” complicated to create), he believes he has accomplished everything he wanted.

It is allegedly going to be acquired by the investment firm Trustar Capital. Three Kingdoms Tactics Rumors that the Chinese corporation Alibaba plans to sell its gaming brand Lingxi Games emerged a month ago. At the time, local media reported that Alibaba was in talks with several companies, but a final decision had not yet been reached. As Reuters has now discovered, the sale is indeed going to happen.

Another twist in the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games. Recently, Apple filed a statement in court, requesting to overturn one of the prohibitions imposed on it. This pertains to the commission for in-app purchases on iOS in the United States. In the document, the corporation reminded the court that in 2024, due to a court ruling, it was required to allow developers to redirect American users for payments outside the App Store.

There is just over a month left until the WN Conference session in Cyprus takes place. It will be held on September 17-18 in Limassol. We discuss what to expect from the event program in our article. The WN Conference Cyprus’26 will primarily focus on networking. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in various round tables and group work sessions. However, they will also have the chance to listen to traditional lectures.

Gothic 1 Remake has been a box office success for the studio Alkimia Interactive and the publisher THQ Nordic. As reported in a recent financial report by their parent company Embracer Group, the game is approaching break-even and is expected to become profitable soon. Gothic 1 Remake Embracer Group did not disclose the budget or the current revenue of the Gothic 1 Remake. They only mentioned that during its debut week, the game sold over 500,000 copies.

In February 2025, the Dutch consumer rights organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument filed a class action lawsuit against Sony’s gaming division. A year and a half later, the authors of Stop Killing Games — an initiative for the preservation of games — agreed to join the case. To recall, the plaintiffs accused Sony of artificially inflating the prices of products in the PlayStation Store.

Epic Games has unexpectedly divested two assets: the artist platform ArtStation and the 3D model publishing platform Sketchfab. They have been acquired by the company KitBash. The terms and amount of the deal have not been disclosed. As explained by Epic Games in a press release, the company decided to sell ArtStation and Sketchfab because it now wants to focus on its core business.

The first half of 2026 turned out to be quite favorable for Paradox Interactive. In its financial report, the Swedish company reported a growth in its revenue. Compared to the first half of 2025, Paradox Interactive’s revenue increased by 4%, reaching SEK 955 million ($100.6 million). The company continued to grow its revenue from console games, now accounting for 12.25% compared to 9.44% the previous year. This equates to SEK 117 million ($12.3 million).

Take-Two Interactive reported its earnings for the first fiscal quarter of 2027, which lasted from April 1 to June 30, 2026. We have selected the main points from the document. GTA VI The company’s quarterly revenue was $1.53 billion, which is 2% higher than the previous year. Initially, Take-Two had forecasted a decline, but ultimately managed to slightly increase its revenue. The size of Take-Two’s net bookings (deferred revenue) decreased by 3% to $1.39 billion.