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
Why has Highguard faced so much backlash from gamers?
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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:
- 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/