Arkane Lyon reportedly faces closure unless it finds a buyer by November, while GameMaker will remove GMRT's commercial licence requirement in January.
Game industry8 items
PEAK passed 23 million sales, and Dispatch announced a mobile expansion after reaching more than five million players.
Arkane Lyon reportedly faces November deadline to find buyer or close
Arkane Lyon reportedly has until November to find a buyer or face closure. The studio behind Dishonored and Deathloop had announced Blade in 2023.
Why it matters: The reported deadline puts another established Xbox studio's future at risk and makes a sale an immediate priority.
GameMaker makes GMRT free for commercial use from January 2027
GameMaker will make its next-generation runtime, GMRT, free for commercial use from January 1, 2027. Developers will be able to create and sell games without buying a Professional licence.
Why it matters: Removing the licence requirement lowers the cost of commercial development with GameMaker.
PEAK exceeds 23 million sales as Xbox Series X|S version launches
Landfall CBO Rebecca Lautner said PEAK has sold more than 23 million units, although the developer is keen to move on to something else. The co-op climbing game also launched on Xbox Series X|S.
Why it matters: The Xbox release expands an already substantial audience, while Landfall's stated priorities suggest its next project may take precedence.
Phantom Blade Zero reportedly sells 500,000 Steam copies before release
Phantom Blade Zero has reportedly sold half a million copies on Steam with days remaining before release.
Why it matters: The reported advance sales indicate substantial demand before launch and establish an early commercial benchmark.
Stillfront appoints former King executive Marcus Jacobs as CEO
Stillfront named Marcus Jacobs president and Group CEO, effective November 1, 2026. The former King executive has more than 25 years of industry experience and served on Stillfront's board from 2022 to 2026.
Why it matters: The appointment puts a former board member with extensive games experience in charge of the group's next phase.
Dispatch heads to mobile December 9 after reaching five million players
AdHoc Studio will release Dispatch on iOS and Android on December 9, 2026, with touch controls and vertical play. After reaching more than five million players, it will offer four episodes free and the full eight-episode game for $19.99.
Why it matters: The mobile release opens another distribution channel, using free episodes to encourage purchases of the full game.
Xbox–Netflix adaptation talks reportedly failed over $500 million versus $800 million
Netflix reportedly offered $500 million for a broader Xbox film and TV deal, while Xbox sought $800 million for seven years of rights to major characters. Talks reportedly fell through, and Xbox is said to be pursuing smaller deals.
Why it matters: Smaller agreements could replace a broad licensing partnership as Xbox seeks to expand its franchises into film and television.
Invokyr sells approximately 250,000 copies
The GameDiscoverCo newsletter reports that Invokyr has sold approximately 250,000 copies.
Why it matters: The milestone provides a useful commercial benchmark for developers assessing the market for horror games.