Disney buys into OpenAI and The Recreation Awards trailer prices uncovered

Howdy! Please forgive my reasonably flustered disposition. I am penning this week’s Patch Notes—which might be our final of 2025 as a result of I am about to interrupt for the vacations—from LAX. In contrast to each different journalist within the online game business, I am truly flying out of Hollywood tonight as a substitute of schlepping all the way down to Geoff Keighley’s promoting bonanza. 

Ahem, I imply award present.

Our senior editor Bryant Francis might be downtown reporting from the fringes, however I am about to hop on a 15 hour flight again to Manchester. Meaning I solely have time to want you all an exquisite vacation season, nevertheless you have fun, earlier than I completely insist on diving into this week’s greatest headlines. Away we go! 

by way of Recreation Developer // No less than one in every of Sq. Enix’s core shareholders is not proud of the returns being delivered by present management. In a scathing press launch during which the phrase ‘sluggish’ includes a mind-boggling variety of occasions, 3D Funding Companions Pte. Ltd claimed the administration crew that took cost of the Remaining Fantasy maker in 2022 has allowed it to be overtaken by its opponents. It’s now encouraging different stakeholders to share their “frank views” to help administration in enhancing the corporate’s company worth. 

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by way of The New York Occasions // Disney has penned a cope with generative AI magnate OpenAI that may carry its characters to the corporate’s short-form video platform, Sora. Though the deal is not immediately associated to the online game business, it is fascinating to see a titan just like the Home of Mouse—whose characters continuously enterprise into our medium (The Simmons in Fortnite, anybody?)—shack up with the divisive content material machine.

by way of SAG-AFTRA // Shot meet chaser. Shortly after Disney introduced its cope with OpenAI, voice performer union SAG-AFTRA issued a reasonably forbidding assertion to elucidate might be intently monitoring the deal. That’s, after all, the identical SAG-AFTRA that voted to strike earlier this 12 months to safe AI protections and higher working situations for performers within the online game business.

by way of Kotaku // How a lot do you reckon it prices to briefly shimmy into the highlight at The Recreation Awards? In response to a brand new report from Kotaku, it ain’t low cost. A number of sources instructed the outlet that nabbing a 60-second trailer on the 2025 ceremony prices as much as $450,000. A 3 minute trailer? Which may set you again over $1 million. You may be capable to develop and ship successful recreation for much less. 

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by way of Misplaced Boys Interactive // Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands developer Misplaced Boys Interactive has mutually uncoupled from Embracer Group to turn into an unbiased studio. The corporate, which had confronted layoffs beneath its now-former proprietor, has beforehand been retained by Embracer after it divested Gearbox Interactive. In a publish on LinkedIn, nevertheless, Misplaced Boys confirmed it’s now free to chart its personal path. 

by way of Recreation Developer // In a uncommon win for Kier Starmer, the UK Prime Minister stated his authorities will look into allegations of union-busting at Rockstar Video games. Over 30 staff declare they have been fired by the Grand Theft Auto maker for participating in union exercise. Rockstar stated it jettisoned these staffers for discussing confidential data, however Starmer (who was Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013) described the case as “deeply regarding.”