The Weekly Download
Ready to level up your knowledge of the video game industry? Welcome to The Weekly Download, the definitive weekly podcast on the video games industry, brought to you by Big Games Machine.
Join industry veterans Tom and Alex as they use their expertise and industry knowhow to help you speedrun through the last seven days in gaming. We cover everything: massive mergers, studio shake-ups, indie success stories, and the latest strategic plays from the biggest studios.
If it's shaping the future of gaming, you'll find the lowdown here.
The Weekly Download
Stellar Blade director says AI is essential to compete with bigger developers and studios
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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