The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.

This week's headlines:

• Valve faces legal action in the UK over Steam prices
• Highguard’s controversial launch raises many questions
• Ubisoft announces redundancy programme as unions commit to strikes

Hosted by industry experts Tom and James, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2g1md0l23o
• https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-highguard-is-facing-so-much-backlash-from-players/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ubisoft-launches-voluntary-redundancy-process-to-cut-200-jobs-from-paris-head-office
• https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-it-s-time-for-real-accountability-ubisoft-unions-call-international-strike?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky
• https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2026/01/larian-ceo-swen-vincke-sticks-his-foot-in-it-again-thinks-game-reviewers-should-also-be-reviewed
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/indie-dev-who-turned-to-social-media-to-lengthen-their-games-credits-ended-up-taking-300-hours-to-add-60000-names/

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.

This week's headlines:

• Niko Partners’ 10 major trends to watch out for in 2026
• Nintendo dominated Japan in 2025
• Ubisoft’s latest restructuring with studio closures and project cancellations

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://nikopartners.com/niko-partners-2026-predictions/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-switch-2-sells-37m-units-in-japan-in-2025-accounting-for-over-half-of-home-console-sales
• https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisofts-troubled-prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-is-dead-as-publisher-kills-multiple-projects-closes-studios-and-orders-staff-back-to-the-office
• https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/it-is-out-of-the-question-to-let-a-boss-run-rampant-ubisoft-workers-strike-against-disastrous-cutbacks

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.

This week's headlines:

• Saudi Arabia's PIF to transfer $12bn in shares to Savvy Games Group
• Merger and acquisition activity dropped to $500m in Q4 2025
• Stellar Blade director says AI is “essential” to compete with bigger studios as Games Workshop prohibits AI use in its products

Hosted by industry experts Tom and Alex, we break down the most intriguing, complex, and vital developments of the week to keep you informed.

Prefer your news in written form? Subscribe to our free newsletter for a concise, easy-to-digest summary of daily industry developments, delivered fresh to your inbox: https://bit.ly/big-games-machine-the-daily-download

Links to today’s talking points:

• https://www.pocketgamer.biz/saudi-arabias-pif-to-transfer-12bn-in-gaming-shares-to-savvy-games-group/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/aream-co-ma-activity-dropped-to-500m-in-q4-2025
• https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/games-workshop-says-its-senior-managers-arent-excited-about-ai-prohibits-its-use-and-laments-that-its-included-on-our-phones-or-laptops-whether-we-like-it-or-not/
• https://automaton-media.com/en/news/stellar-blade-director-says-using-ai-will-be-essential-for-competing-with-overwhelming-manpower-of-china-and-us-developers/
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/the-first-lego-pokemon-sets-have-been-revealed-including-a-650-charizard-blastoise-and-venusaur-statue/
• https://www.eurogamer.net/forza-horizon-5-ps5-port-tops-5-million-sales-securing-300m-in-additional-sales-for-xbox