Articles by Rob Fahey - Page 2
Rob Fahey, Contributing Editor
Rob Fahey is a former editor of GamesIndustry.biz who spent several years living in Japan and probably still has a mint condition Dreamcast Samba de Amigo set.
Recent articles by Rob Fahey
A missed target reveals Game Pass' growing pains | Opinion
The subscription service may be beloved for its back catalogue - but even more so than Xbox itself, it desperately needs high-profile new software to drive growth
Fantasy and Destiny: Designing for returning players | Opinion
Choice of business model impacts game design in far-reaching ways, as seen in the very different experiences of returning to Destiny 2 and Final Fantasy 14
Amazon could be Valve's only serious challenger | Opinion
With Twitch as its springboard, leaked Steam competitor Vapor could be the biggest disruption to the PC market in decades
Can Marvel's Avengers find long-tail success on Game Pass? | Opinion
Square Enix' game met a lukewarm reception despite its world-class IP -- now its arrival on Game Pass highlights the opportunity for games to outlive disappointing launches
The Epic vs Apple judgement leaves much undecided | Opinion
Apple must allow app developers to point consumers at alternative payment methods - but there will be many more legal wrangles before the impact on mobile games is clear
Cross-gen software is still Sony's Achilles' Heel | Opinion
With supply problems still frustrating many consumers, Sony slapping a fee on software upgrades feels tone-deaf at best
South Korea's App Store law is a grand experiment | Opinion
With legislation regulating app stores considered by many regions, South Korea's typically early-mover approach will be watched carefully
The industry should follow EA in using patents to defend accessibility | Opinion
Software patents are a controversial topic but employed defensively, they can help to protect essential accessibility features from the chilling effects of a flawed system
Lopsided contracts remain a fact of life for developers | Opinion
Innovation in funding, distribution and market access has changed the industry's power dynamics - but many devs still find themselves signing contracts that are far from ideal
FFXIV shows a toxic community isn't an inevitability | Opinion
A bust-up over World of Warcraft's unwelcoming community highlights FFXIV's success: properly enforcing sensible rules
“Spiritual Opium”: China's stroke-of-pen risks continue to grow | Opinion
A blink-and-you'll-miss-it incident highlights the authorities' increasingly negative attitude to games and tech - and should trouble investors or companies over-exposed to this market
Activision Blizzard's nasty frat-boy culture is an industry-wide ailment | Opinion
The roots of a culture enabling harassment and discrimination are found across the industry - and only structural change will dig them out
Netflix's games won't be the Netflix of Games | Opinion
Those expecting the streaming giant to take a Stadia-like approach to games will be disappointed - but what Netflix is doing instead could be more creative and interesting.
Nintendo's Switch strategy is increasingly handheld-focused | Opinion
The OLED Switch may not be the new hardware some consumers hoped for - but it's a good signal of Nintendo's strategy and the new markets it hopes to win over
Sony's PS Plus missteps risk the PS5's consumer image | Opinion
Publishers locking subscribers out of PS5 updates is a minor issue on paper - but in a critical year, the missteps may stack up
Virtual reality still needs to find its business model | Opinion
Facebook's trial for ads in VR games attracted criticism but the medium still needs to wrestle with how it will make money
E3 is no longer a clear lens on the industry | Opinion
This year's show did a good job of focusing on participants - but underlying changes mean its central role is a thing of the past
E3 2021: Xbox has everything to prove | Opinion
Microsoft has done almost everything right with the Series X so far; now it's time to show off the fruits of its software investments, and there's little margin for error
Console IP remains a bad fit on mobile | Opinion
Sony plans mobile titles based on PlayStation IPs - but putting major console titles on smartphones is not an easy win
Game Pass on Switch: could it happen? | Opinion
A deposition suggests Xbox approached Nintendo about xCloud, showing how fluid this unusual console war can be
Ubisoft's free-to-play turn could be the new normal for big franchises | Opinion
Ending failed attempts to mix free-to-play systems into premium games, and instead making separate, high-quality titles for major IP, is a winning strategy
Sony's cross-play deal seems a smart solution to a complex problem | Opinion
The royalty Sony and Epic agreed to open up cross-play on PlayStation has caused anger - but it's a nuanced response to the growing complexity of the industry's revenue models
Sony's plan to compete with Xbox: Stay the course | Opinion
Increasing its investment in first-party studios is Sony's first clear response to the Zenimax acquisition, significantly doubling down on its own IP and its first-party exclusives
Online E3 has a hell of a lot to prove | Opinion
After last year's cancellation, the industry's former tentpole event is back in online-only format - and the tough questions about its value and relevance aren't getting any easier
Tim Sweeney is right - Epic losses on its Game Store are a good investment | Opinion
The company's crusade against Apple may look increasingly quixotic, but its spending on creating a serious competitor to Steam is rational and justified