If there’s one truth in the videogame world, it’s this: Never 
bet against the sales success of a new “Halo” or “Grand Theft Auto”. But as Microsoft prepares to launch “Halo: Reach” this fall, early evidence indicates people may not be betting heavily enough.
For the past three weeks, Microsoft has given fans of the game a taste of what the series’ next installment will be like. It turns out that player appetites were even more voracious than expected.
Four years after buying a company dedicated to
in-game advertising,Microsoft is finally starting to see some real results.
Stalled by the recession and companies who were initially hesitant to sink part of their advertising budgets into an untested medium, in-game advertising is coming of age—and it could finally live up to its potential as a significant revenue generator.
Sales of video game software and hardware plummeted in April, shocking industry observers who were expecting the numbers to be slightly positive or, worst case, down just slightly. That could mean a rough Friday for video game stocks.
(AP)
On the whole, sales were off 26 percent to $766 million, with software sales (the most closely followed of the numbers) plunging 22 percent to $398.5 million, according to NPD Group, which tracks video game sales. Because April 2009 had relatively light sales (and thus, an easy comparable) industry insiders and investors were hoping to at least tow the line.
When privately held Valve Software 
launched its Steam digital distribution platform in 2004, basically selling computer games over the Internet, it was an enormous bet for the company.
Expensive and untested, the service was something new in the gaming world and served a dual function.
In the video game world, there is no more direct line 
to the enthusiast audience than GameStop.
The retailer, which has more than 6,200 stores nationwide, is a gathering spot for players, who flock there when big games are released. It has withstood numerous attempts by big box stores to encroach on the most profitable parts of its business model.
Bungie Studios, the development house behind 
one of the most successful franchises in video games, has found a new home—and Activision may be on the verge of having its third billion-dollar franchise.
Bungie and Activision Blizzard on Thursday announced a 10-year exclusive partnership that will bring the next franchise from the creators of “Halo” to the company behind “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft.”
The fight that kicked off when Activision fired the two heads of the studio behind last year’s best selling video game is getting uglier—on multiple fronts.
Thirty-eight current and former employees of Infinity Ward, the wholly owned subsidiary that was responsible for “Modern Warfare 2,” are suing the publisher for alleged unpaid royalties on the game.
For the first time, the US Supreme Court plans to take a closer look at the constitutional protection of video games.
The Court agreed Monday to review a California law prohibiting the sale or rental of violent video games to minors that a lower body had ruled unconstitutional.
Major League Baseball is coming to the PlayStation3,
but it has nothing to do with videogames. Sony and MLB Advanced Media have announced a deal that will see live games streamed live over the console effective today, Thursday.
The service is a strategic expansion for both parties. MLB hopes to dramatically grow the number of subscribers to its online service, while Sony continues to grow the PS3 beyond its gaming roots.
Every industry has its rivals: Two big companies duking it out for customer loyalty and king of the hill status.
In the cell phone world, it’s AT&T vs. Verizon. In the computer world, it’s Apple vs. Microsoft. Among video game companies, it’s Electronic Arts (ERTS) vs. Activision Blizzard (ATVI) – and it’s about as ugly a fight as you’ve ever seen.
Chris Morris: Journalist 