WaperSupercell completed its acquisition of Metacore, while reported GTA 6 preorders exceeded 5.75 million.
Game industry8 items
Activision QA workers authorised a possible strike, and Nintendo confirmed a Zelda anniversary Switch 2 restock after underestimating demand.
New7
Supercell completes acquisition of Merge Mansion developer Metacore
Supercell has taken 100% ownership of Metacore. The acquired games team will continue working on Merge Mansion with support from Supercell colleagues, aiming to return the game to the top of the charts.
Why it matters: The deal brings an established casual-game team fully into Supercell and makes Merge Mansion's turnaround a shared priority.
GTA 6 preorders reportedly exceed 5.75 million
Sensor Tower tracking cited by Chu le puts GTA 6 preorders above 5.75 million, with most buyers choosing the $100 Ultimate Edition. The firm estimates revenue already exceeds $560 million, more than a month before release.
Why it matters: The estimates indicate exceptional advance demand and reinforce the competitive pressure on publishers scheduling nearby releases.
Activision QA union authorises potential strike amid first-contract negotiations
Activision Quality Assurance United-CWA members voted to authorise a strike if necessary. The union alleges Activision has failed to bargain in good faith over key issues in negotiations for its first contract.
Why it matters: The authorisation raises the risk of a QA work stoppage, though no strike has been announced.
Clash of Critters surpasses $50 million in player spending
Lilith Games' Clash of Critters exceeded $50 million in gross player spending across Google Play and the App Store, according to AppMagic. It reached the milestone in just under five months after its May 21 Western launch.
Why it matters: The milestone provides a substantial early monetisation benchmark for the creature-collector market.
Nintendo confirms Zelda anniversary Switch 2 restock after underestimating demand
Nintendo confirmed a restock of the Zelda 40th Anniversary Switch 2 following sellouts. The company said it underestimated demand for the anniversary console.
Why it matters: Additional supply addresses shortages of a special-edition console whose demand exceeded Nintendo's expectations.
Revised Switch 2 reportedly adds user-replaceable battery but retains LCD
Reports describe a revised Switch 2 model with a user-replaceable battery. A teardown indicates that it retains the same LCD screen as the original model.
Why it matters: The reported revision improves battery serviceability without introducing a display upgrade.
Arc Raiders reaches six-month player high after update and free weekend
Arc Raiders' player numbers reached a six-month high following the Frozen Trails update. Embark Studios timed the update to coincide with a free weekend.
Why it matters: The result shows renewed engagement from combining a substantial content update with a free access period.
Follow-ups1
Liquid Swords files for bankruptcy; staff reportedly unpaid for two months
Samson developer Liquid Swords has filed for bankruptcy. Employees reportedly went unpaid for two months, adding a staff-pay disclosure to earlier reports of the studio's collapse.
Why it matters: The unpaid-wage report reveals the direct employee impact of the studio's financial failure.