Year: 2022

The London-based mobile publisher Product Madness has opened applications for a new incubator program that aims to find the next free-to-play hit.

The company, best known for popular games such as Heart of Vegas and Cashman Casino, has slots open for up to ten teams in the program’s initial year, and tells GamesIndustry.biz it wants the incubator to be “a game-changer in the industry.”

The program, called Madness Ventures, will provide funding in three stages: one for prototyping and testing, one for a full prototype, and then for full development and global release. Developers that take part will retain creative independence, as well as full ownership of their IP.

“We want to foster innovation not only internally but also externally because we believe that great ideas exist among talented game entrepreneurs,” vice president of business development and strategy Zvika Pakula told GamesIndustry.biz.

“This incubator platform

Sony just added a bunch of great games to its two higher-tier PlayStation Plus plans today. While the basic PS Plus Essential tier includes three free games each month, subscribing to PS Plus Extra or Premium will get you even more.

At the Extra level, you’ll get new PS4 and PS5 games each month. If you spring for the most expensive plan, PS Plus Premium, you’ll get new PS1, PS2 and PS3 games (though these don’t necessarily release every month).

The new games headed to PS Plus Premium include classics like Sly Cooper, while Extra subscribers will get the sprawling Assassin’s Creed Origins, Arkane’s excellent roguelite shooter death loop (also out on Xbox Game Pass today) and the charming, poignant Spiritfarer: Farewell Edition which includes several content updates from the base version of the game.

Here’s everything new on

A fan has just finished a colossal project inside Super Mario Maker 2 – spending seven years (across both Mario Maker games) creating an entire Mario game, which they’ve dubbed Super Mario Bros. 5.

On Twitter (below), Metroid Mike 64 wrote, “I’ve finally finished creating my Super World in Mario Maker 2 and have unofficially named it Super Mario Bros 5. I’ve been working towards this moment since 2015, trying to create a classic Mario game that plays as if Nintendo created it themselves.”

I’ve finally finished creating my Super World in Mario Maker 2 and have unofficially named it Super Mario Bros 5. I’ve been working towards this moment since 2015, trying to create a classic Mario game that plays as if Nintendo created it themselves. pic.twitter.com/eUNvHQysVq

— Metroid Mike 64 (@MetroidMike64) September 25, 2022

If those dates don’t quite add up for you, it’s because Metroid Mike 64

Today, Warner Bros. Discovery and Rocksteady Studios have teamed up together to launch an inaugural Games Academy in the UK. This program is focused on giving under-represented and eager game creators insight into the games industry, and offering formal training to up-and-coming developmental talent.

If you need a reminder of Rocksteady Studios’ endeavors, catch this trailer for Batman: Arkham City from 2011.The program is being launched in partnership with NextGen Skills Academy, who is ‘a leader in delivering skills-based vocational training for the creative industries.’ Its aim is to help participants to build their confidence and to equip them with up-to-date technical skills that’ll aid with their careers in games. Ergo: it’ll help make the UK a destination for video game development talent.

The program itself will run for 12 weeks, providing a hybrid training model that teaches participants about art, audio, quality assurance testing, and games design. Up to