Koch Media
Latest
‘Saints Row’ reboot gets pushed back to August 2022
A six-month delay is vital to ensure the game gets the polish it needs, says Jim Boone.
Retro Games is making a mini version of the Amiga 500
In Europe, where the Amiga 500 was one of the biggest-selling computers of its day, it'll be a very big deal.
Meet the biggest games publisher you’ve never heard of
Embracer, formerly THQ Nordic, has spent billions to acquire the best of the rest game developers in the world.
Prime Matter is a new ‘premium’ game publisher with a lot of new IPs
Prime Matter is a new publishing label that'll play home to games like ‘Payday 3’, a Painkiller sequel and a Crossfire RTS, as well as a bunch of new IPs.
Don't expect Saints Row, Metro, Dead Island or TimeSplitters at E3
Deep Silver says those franchises won't be featured at Summer Game Fest either.
TimeSplitters returns with a new game from the original developers
Free Radical Design has risen from the ashes, thanks to Deep Silver.
Microsoft and Nintendo sign up for a free, all-digital E3
This year's event runs from June 12th to 15th, and Sony probably won't be involved.
EU fines Valve and major game publishers for geo-blocking titles
The EU has fined Valve and five game publishers $9.4 million for geo-blocking titles in some countries.
EU charges Valve and five publishers with geo-blocking games
Two years after the EU began investigating whether Valve uses regional pricing and geo-blocking practices in its Steam store, the European Commission has formally charged the distributor and five game publishers. The Commission released its "preliminary view" that Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax prevented consumers from purchasing videogames cross-border from some Member States. That's considered geo-blocking, and it violates EU competition rules.
THQ Nordic buys developer of 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance'
THQ Nordic, the games publisher that's made a name for itself picking up long-forgotten games studios, has added Warhorse Studios to its fold in a €33.2 million acquisition. The deal comes exactly a year after Warhorse launched controversial title Kingdom Come: Deliverance, which sparked a heated debate about the issue of whitewashing in video games. Despite this narrative, though -- and the fact that the game was born of a Kickstarter project -- the game has since sold some two million units across all platforms. So THQ Nordic has evidently made a smart addition to its motley catalogue of studios.
'F1 2016' gets 22-player support for online multiplayer races
F1 fans, get ready for a whole new kind of race, as F1 2016 will be adding 22-player online racing and a host of new features for this year's iteration of the official Formula One World Championship video game.
Deep Silver unleashes Goat Simulator in NA stores this July
Goat Simulator has been available as a Steam download since April 1, but this is a physical game about physical things getting physically wrecked by a very physical goat; doesn't it deserve a physical release? Deep Silver thinks so, which is why it's acquired North American distribution rights from developer Coffee Stain Studios. You'll be able to pick up a boxed copy of the game at participating retail stores starting in mid-July. Thankfully, while goats are known to eat just about anything, this even-toed ungulate will go easy on your cash. The boxed copy - like its Steam counterpart - will cost $9.99. Of course, the goat-in-a-game-shop news might sound familiar to those living across the pond; it's been available in UK stores since May. [Image: Coffee Stain Studios]
Goat Simulator to rampage across the UK in boxed release
The only thing more fun than a barrel full of monkeys is a box full of goats, and that's exactly what Coffee Stain Studios has planned for the citizens of the UK. Koch Media, Goat Simulator's UK publisher, broke the news this morning, saying that the physical version of the Internet's favorite antisocial livestock simulator will reach retailers on May 23. No additional content is planned for the physical release, but buyers will receive a box emblazoned with the face of Satan's most cuddly terrestrial envoy. Notably lacking from the announcement was any word on what price point might be attached to the physical release. In addition to word of this physical version of Goat Simulator, developer Coffee Stain Studios has detailed the game's upcoming 1.1 patch with a video that is sadly exclusive to Facebook. The highlight, both of this clip and likely of your day, is goat parkour. If those two words didn't immediately send you scrambling for the "Play" button, you're probably dead. Joystiq offers its condolences. [Image: Coffee Stain Studios]
Koch Media acquires mobile developer Fishlabs
Koch Media – meaning Saints Row publisher Deep Silver – now owns mobile developer Fishlabs, the studio behind the Galaxy on Fire series. The entire Fishlabs staff of 52 will transition to Koch Media in an asset deal that should result in zero job losses, Pocket Gamer reports. "The mobile gaming market is strategically important to Koch Media," Koch CEO Klemens Kundratitz said. "These days, games are played anytime and anywhere – both at home and on the go. The know-how and brands which Fishlabs brings along give us the expertise required in order to establish ourselves in this exciting field for the long term." Fishlabs was founded in Hamburg, Germany, in 2004 and is best known for Galaxy on Fire, a series of space flight sims made mainly for mobile devices. The mobile strategy MMO Galaxy on Fire: Alliances recently launched and has nothing to do with the Hunger Games or Alicia Keys. Fishlabs says in a Facebook post that it's happy to be part of the Koch Media family: "We still don't know how and to what extend the replacement of the ownership is going to effect the course our studio will take in the future, but Koch Media ... has already told us that they'll fully support the development and expansion of both Galaxy on Fire: Alliances and the next action-packed installment of the GOF saga. There's exciting times ahead of us."
Volition working with modders, will release official Saints Row tools
Up until now, Saints Row: The Third modders have had to rely on community-created tools to make Volition's game even more lively. Jeff Thompson, Volition's studio director of programming, is currently preparing official engine tools to share with the mod community, prominent modder IdolNinja explains in a blog post. In addition to Saints Row: The Third documentation, Thompson is preparing official Saints Row 2 tools – something IdolNinja explains is a "test run" for Saints Row 4. "In simple terms, the modding community will finally be able to create and offer new clothing, new vehicles, new guns, new NPCs, new missions, and even new world geometry which will greatly extend the life of the series and enhance the Saints Row games in ways we never even dared to dream of," IdolNinja explains. IdolNinja concludes that Thompson is expected to send something along this week, though there's no indication if that'll be the Volition mod tools or just the first steps in making that happen.
Metro: Last Light gets season pass, first DLC in June
Metro: Last Light developer 4A Games is planning to release four different content packs throughout the summer, all bundled together today in a season pass available on Xbox Live, PSN and Steam for 1200 MS Points ($15). The Faction and Chronicle packs are the first listed, each aimed at continuing the single-player story of Metro: Last Light. Faction is due first, in June. The Tower pack will be aimed at Metro veterans, offering "a unique solo challenge." Finally, the Developer pack aims to offer some additional tools aiding in exploration. All season pass purchases will also unlock an exclusive semi-automatic shotgun rifle, while each piece of DLC will be available for individual purchase. Metro: Last Light launched on May 14, with our review placing it in the company of another story-driven shooter, Half-Life. The game was originally set to be published by THQ, but after the studio's fall Deep Silver came in and acquired the game.
Metro: Last Light shines in this week's UK charts
It's another familiar week of UK cha-... oh wait, it isn't. After Dead Island: Riptide sliced through its competition for three weeks, this time it's dethroned by another follow-up in the form of Metro: Last Light. By debuting in top spot, it does what Metro 2033 failed to do when it placed fifth in 2010. Chart-Track says Metro 2033 sold stronger than Last Light in its launch week. Back then, Metro 2033 was fighting March megatons like Final Fantasy 13, God of War 3, and Battlefield Bad Company 2. In contrast, May 2013 has been dead quiet - emphasis on dead. Having said that, this week sees another new release in the top ten via Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity. The spinoff charts fourth this week. We expect the next 3DS Poke-game to do slightly better. In other movers and shakers, Last Light only nudged Riptide into second place, making this week a 1-2 for Deep Silver and Koch Media. Tomb Raider drops out of the top five for the first time in its 11th week, slipping down to sixth. Meanwhile, Injustice: Gods Among Us and The Walking Dead (packaged retail edition) shuffle into eighth and seventh.
Deep Silver confirms acquisition of Saints Row, Metro and Volition
Koch Media/Deep Silver officially announced today it has secured the intellectual property rights for two THQ franchises: Saints Row and Metro. It has also obtained Volition, the Chicago-based development studio responsible for Saints Row."These franchises hold a special place in the hearts and minds of anyone who loves exceptional video games," said Deep Silver COO Geoff Mulligan. "We're thrilled to usher in a new era for these franchises and are proud to welcome the visionaries and talented forces at Volition on board."Although Deep Silver doesn't mention the cost of these acquisitions, the Saints Row IP and Volition Studio sold for $22.3 million, according to documents obtained by Joystiq, while the rights to Metro 2033 and upcoming sequel Metro: Last Light sold for $5.9 million. Deep Silver will elaborate upon future plans for each franchise in the coming months.
THQ bid winners, prices and runners-up
Joystiq has obtained details on the winning auction bids for the various THQ intellectual properties and licenses made available during the company's bankruptcy auction. We've listed the winning bids and runners up below.To clarify, we've noted whether the asset is a studio, intellectual property (IP) or license.Relic (studio) and Company of Heroes (IP)Winning bid: $26.6 million - Sega CorporationBackup bidder: $26.3 million - Zenimax MediaTHQ Montreal (studio), with 1666 (IP) and Underdog (IP)Winning bid: $2.5 million - UbisoftBackup bidder: N/A
Everything's alright about 'Andrew Lloyd Webber: Sing & Dance' game for Wii
Come this fall, we're sure some warm, unspoken secrets will be revealed after playing Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical: Sing & Dance. The Wii game by Tubby Games will include 32 tracks across 13 musicals from the musical master's half-century career.The game includes three modes, allowing players to dance, sing or enter the career mode, which will allow them to perform in the lead. There's also a multiplayer mode with support for up to four people.The game will be out in the UK on September 14, with no mention of an overseas release. Don't cry, Argentina ... or any other country for that matter.
