ByteAction - Issue 169

ByteAction is a newsletter for game developers and fans

Hello, and welcome to 169th edition of ByteAction newsletter!

This week I’ve released a new podcast. In this episode I speak with Hanin Fakhriddin - a mobile marketing expert whose journey spans across Gameloft, Ubisoft, and beyond. From pre-smartphone gaming to leading high-impact launches like Hungry Dragon and Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians she shares her insights on how mobile games are brought to market, and what makes them thrive.

You can check the podcast here:

Hanin Fakhriddin: Deep Dive to Mobile Games Marketing

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: Build a Rocket Boy released MindsEye under a cloud of controversy, withholding review codes amid executive departures and allegations of a smear campaign, with early players citing major performance issues and mixed reception on Steam.

In other news, Nordic startup Studio555 raises €4M seed round to develop its gamified interior design app blending creativity and tech.

Lastly, Northern Ireland’s Studio Ulster launches $96.5M virtual production facility in Belfast, calling it the world’s most advanced.

If you have been referred to ByteAction, you’re welcome to subscribe.

Can you help? If you like ByteAction, click on the button below and share it with your network. Who knows, perhaps it might be helpful to someone out there.

If you’d like to contribute to my work & see it continued - you are welcome to purchase a monthly or yearly subscription below:

The Byte

1. Gaming VCs adapt to shifting landscape as early-stage slowdown meets rising bets on ad tech.

The Action

2. Microsoft and AMD have partnered to co-develop silicon for next-gen Xbox consoles, promising better visuals, AI features, and full game library compatibility.

Retro Byte

3. Former GTA technical director Obbe Vermeij revealed Rockstar aimed to introduce online play as early as GTA 3 in 2001, long before perfecting it with GTA 5.

Studio Byte

4. Private Division is a developer-focused publisher that partners with top creative talent to support the development of passionate, high-quality games. Known for publishing titles like Kerbal Space Program, The Outer Worlds, OlliOlli World, and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, the label also collaborates with studios like Moon Studios, Evening Star, and Yellow Brick Games on upcoming projects.

Legal Stuff

5. U.S. actors union pauses year-long video game strike after reaching "tentative agreement" on AI issues.

6. Playdead co-founder Dino Patti faces a potential lawsuit over a deleted post about Limbo and a photo of co-founder Arnt JensenAcquisitions/Investments.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Cyprus-based Nice Plans Studio secures $3M to expand its multiplayer shooter portfolio with a distributed development team.

8. Bigger Games secures $25 million in funding to accelerate growth and expansion in its mobile gaming business.

New Game Corner

9. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game - July 29th, 2025

   Settle into the peaceful charm of the Shire and enjoy the simple pleasures of Hobbit life. In Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, you’ll explore lush landscapes, decorate your cozy dwelling, and build lasting friendships with fellow Hobbits and familiar faces from Middle-earth. Discover, share, and relax in this heartwarming adventure crafted for comfort and community.

Resource Byte

10. Coda.

    Notion alternative.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior VFX Artist - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Character Artist - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Lead Community Manager - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Product - Zeptolab - Remote

Brand Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Producer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Senior Engine Programmer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Alex Karpazis

    “The big thing–first, we wanted to make sure that all of our community could still enjoy the game, which is why we decided to do a massive evolution that answers a lot of what they’ve been asking for. Changes to movement, changes to the audio system, which we completely revamped to make it more natural and much more accurate. We also wanted to make sure that even though the game is insanely tough – it’s a challenging game – new players can check it out and download it for free with their friends. We’ve revamped the onboarding experience so they can see what makes Siege so satisfying.”

    Alex Karpazis

Events

12. Develop: Brighton - 8-10 July, 2025

    Develop:Brighton is Europe’s leading game developer conference, held annually in July in Brighton, UK. It brings together industry professionals—from major studios to indie developers—for three days of talks, workshops, networking, an expo, and an Indie Showcase. With over 100 sessions across disciplines like art, code, design, and business, the event offers practical insights, career growth, and community-building in a relaxed seaside setting.