The Iterative Digest #75
Call for Bobby Kotick's exit, IndieBI, Ed Sheeran in Pokemon GO and more!
Hello everyone!
It’s issue #75 of the Digest! This week we’ll go through Blizzard’s disastrous week, fun cross-brand collaborations happening across various titles, and Rockstar’s response regarding GTA Definitive Edition’s catastrophic launch.
We’re bringing back Today I Learned with a fresh one this week - TIL Sonic smells like citrus fruit. I guess when life gives you lemon, you just gotta go fast.
So without further ado, sit back, relax, have fun shopping on Black Friday, and enjoy this week’s latest - curated by yours truly! If you like what you see, don’t forget to share and subscribe, your support means a lot to us.
☄️ Yet another disastrous week for Activision Blizzard: It all started with a Wall Street Journal’s report on CEO Bobby Kotick, whose lack of response over the sexual misconduct allegations sparked outrage within the company as well as the industry at large. A group of Activision Blizzard shareholders, as well as many staff members, have called for his exit; industry players such as Microsoft and Sony as well as organizations such as Girls Who Code are now reevaluating their relationship with the company due to the lack of confidence in leadership.
📊 A platform to provide game sales data for developers is always welcome with open arms, and IndieBI is achieving just that - the analytics company just raised $3M in an angel funding round, including support from big players such as Humble Bundle and Innersloth. We sure look forward to the platform becoming the AppAnnie for PC, console, and VR titles.
🎉 We love to see brands and personalities joining in the fun when it comes to game collaborations: As part of Pokémon’s ongoing 25th-anniversary celebration, Ed Sheeran is making a special appearance in Pokémon GO with a concert featuring six hit songs. Radiohead is also promoting their two reissued albums, Kid A and Amnesiac, with a digital exhibition powered by Epic Games. Special costumes are also available in Rocket League, Fall Guys, and Fortnite. Nike has launched Nikeland, a Roblox game set in the company headquarters with plenty of mini-games.
🚗 In this week’s episode of “catastrophic launches”, GTA remaster continues to take the spotlight as Rockstar Games finally broke the silence by promising updates for the technical issues plaguing the game as well as re-releasing the classic Windows PC versions of the trilogy.
⏳ More delays to be expected: Halo Infinite is not having their Campaign Co-op until May next year, pushing back Forge Mode further along the line. The next Saints Row title is also being delayed for another 6 months with an August release date instead.
22nd November
Farming Simulator 22 (PS 4+5, Xbox One + Series X|S, Switch, Stadia) marks the return of the ultimate farming experience, featuring new seasonal cycles, extensive farming operations, and even more freedom to build the farm you love - solo or with your friends.
23rd November
Tunnel of Doom (PC) is a roguelite combining fast-paced combat with tower defense mechanics. Navigate the depths of the mines as Angel, a brave adventurer on her quest to find her husband and rescue the other survivors.
24th November
Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back (PC) is the next big expansion for Paradox’s beloved grand strategy wargame with a focus on Eastern European nations, unique Soviet politics mechanics, and military improvements.
26th November
Deiland: Pocket Planet (PC) is a wholesome farming sim set on a tiny planet. Grow crops, take care of animals, and fight off monsters to improve the quality of life and reveal the secrets hidden at the heart of the planet.
Len’s Island (PC Early Access) is another farming sim following the story of an explorer making his mark on a beautiful island. Whether you’re a fan of dungeon crawling, house building, or just want to kick back and water some plants - the game’s got you covered.
Like what you’ve been reading so far?
Do subscribe and/or forward this to your friends if you like what you see! Feel free to let us know how we can improve at contact@theiterative.co - Suggestions welcome!
We are The Iterative Collective - an indie games incubator & publisher! Each week, we shed light on the latest gaming trends for all folks interested in the scene by going through a summary of the latest news from the industry as well as promising upcoming game releases! Click to learn more about us below!