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:

• Exclusive games are still the biggest draw of consoles
• EA closes FY26 with "record" performance thanks to Apex Legends and Battlefield 6
• Xbox CEO confirms it's "winding down" Microsoft Copilot on mobile and ending it on console

Hosted by industry experts, Tom Heath and Alex Beech, 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.videogameschronicle.com/news/exclusive-games-are-still-the-top-reason-for-playing-on-console-survey-suggests/
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/ea-closes-fy26-with-record-performance-thanks-to-battlefield-6-and-apex-legends
• https://www.gamesradar.com/platforms/xbox/microsoft-finally-admits-everyone-hates-copilot-xbox-ceo-confirms-its-winding-down-copilot-on-mobile-and-ending-it-on-console/
• https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/assassins-creed-is-being-adapted-for-theatre-by-a-former-cirque-du-soleil-director-offering-two-hours-of-parkour-across-several-eras
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/build-a-rocket-boy-reportedly-hit-with-more-layoffs

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:

• Capcom raises FY25 outlook following Resident Evil: Requiem boost
• Magic: The Gathering Arena developers are unionising
• Nacon’s collapse claims first closure as Greedfall studio confirms it ‘no longer exists’

Hosted by industry experts, Tom Heath and Alex Beech, 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.gamesindustry.biz/capcom-raises-fy25-outlook-following-boost-from-resident-evil-requiem
• https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/magic-the-gathering-arena-devs-seek-to-unionise-to-deliver-genai-and-layoff-protections
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nacons-collapse-claims-first-closure-as-rpg-studio-confirms-it-no-longer-exists/
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/a-japanese-retailer-is-trying-to-stop-pokemon-card-scalpers-by-making-them-take-a-test-first/
• https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/atari-acquires-emulation-studio-implicit-conversions

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:

• Microsoft cuts Game Pass pricing and removes CoD as a day-one title
• Koei Tecmo revises earnings forecast following strong start to 2026
• US hardware sales rose 69% in March, primarily thanks to the Switch 2

Hosted by industry experts, Tom Heath and Alex Beech, 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.eurogamer.net/xbox-drops-game-pass-prices-call-of-duty-exits-day-one
• https://www.eurogamer.net/pokemon-pokopia-nioh-3-performed-so-well-koei-techmo-revised-earnings-forecast
• https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-hardware-sales-rose-69-in-march-2026-following-strong-switch-2-performance-us-monthly-charts
• https://automaton-media.com/en/news/hello-kitty-and-kuromi-company-sanrio-announces-in-house-game-brand-sanrio-games-ten-titles-planned-for-release-in-the-next-3-years/
• https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/capcom-says-pragmata-is-off-to-a-strong-start-with-1-million-sold-in-its-first-two-days/