Articles by Rob Fahey
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
Unionisation pushes reveal the industry's inequalities | Opinion
The pandemic has lit a spark under unionising drives across the industry -- but years of labour casualisation and abuse of sub-contracting relationships built up the tinder pile
Metaverse concepts should distance themselves from NFTs | Opinion
For all the unrealistic hype, metaverses are a useful way of thinking about the future of digital services - but being increasingly entangled with NFTs risks sinking with them
Subscriptions are the future - but nobody agrees on the details | Opinion
Industry consensus over the growing importance of this model disguises deep disagreements over how it will actually work
The 20-year nostalgia window | Opinion
With 2001's Max Payne the latest classic title to be slated for a full AAA budget remake, are the economics of the industry's remake boom starting to look precarious?
Sony's new service offerings change the PlayStation landscape | Opinion
PS Plus' new tiers reflect Sony's discomfort with subscriptions cannibalising game sales - but this industry shift now feels inevitable
Nintendo retreats to arm's length engagement with mobile | Opinion
The shutdown of Nintendo's only original mobile IP, Dragalia Lost, marks a further retreat from the firm's mobile ambitions - with IP licensing being the most likely way forward
Generation Overlap: The next-gen consoles learn to cohabit | Opinion
Supply and demand issues, coupled with some strategic moves from Microsoft and Nintendo, mean that PS4-era performance will be the industry's baseline for years
Will Steam Deck suffer from Valve's short attention span? | Opinion
Valve is building a track record of great hardware launches - but also tends to lose interest post-launch. Can Steam Deck break the streak?
Tournament licenses are a necessary step in taming eSports' Wild West | Opinion
Backlash to Capcom's community licenses for small tournaments highlights some genuine missteps -- but the general principle is sound
The costs of buggy game launches are mounting | Opinion
Consumers always hated the "launch now, fix later" approach, but the public is increasingly intolerant of low-quality launches
Nintendo's February showcase proves that nostalgia is big business | Opinion
As the generation who embraced PlayStation in their teens hit middle age, new leases of life for the games of the past are a smart strategy
Buying Bungie marks a strategic shift for Sony | Opinion
The $3.6 billon isn't just about competing with Xbox -- it's a sign of how Sony sees itself and the industry evolving
Halo Infinite is a trial balloon for Game Pass' future | Opinion
A strong start for Xbox' most valuable franchise creates an opportunity to experiment in keeping players engaged long-term
Buying Activision Blizzard is the industry's biggest gamble | Opinion
The sheer scale of Microsoft's acquisition shouldn't distract from how risky and difficult it will be - and some major questions won't have answers for years
Unit sales are only one factor in the sequel equation | Opinion
Decision-making over franchises can seem obscure, but there's usually solid logic behind such investment -- and sales are only part of the puzzle
Unionisation is set to be one of the biggest stories in 2022 | Opinion
As employees seek to retain flexible work styles, and endless scandals sink the reputation of management and HR departments, collective bargaining is back on the menu
Sony's VR ambitions go far beyond PlayStation | Opinion
A new prototype headset shown off this week helps to explain Sony's ongoing commitment to PSVR -- as a powerful starting point for the company's wider plans
Shortages amid record sales: Consumers face a frustrating Christmas | Opinion
It's common for consoles to sell out around the holidays, but it's more irritating after a year in which supply never met demand
Game remasters must respect creative history, not just make a fast buck | Opinion
The disastrous launch of GTA Definitive Edition fails to respect the importance of the games, and shows a lack of regard for the value of the IP itself
Kotick's poor decision-making has only deepened Activision Blizzard's crisis | Opinion
The Activision Blizzard boss has prioritised his own survival as CEO over the company's best interests in recent months - a competent board would demand his resignation
Unity's Weta acquisition doesn't need the Metaverse to make sense | Opinion
Zuckerberg's 'metaverse' pivot has likely condemned us to hearing the buzzword a lot, but Unity buying Weta Digital is much more practical than a science fiction dream
Baseless NFT hype hits a crescendo - but play-to-earn is worth watching | Opinion
As top execs pay lip service to blockchain buzzwords, it's the future visions they boost by association that are of real interest
Nintendo draws attention (and ire) to its weak online offering | Opinion
A ham-fisted attempt to entice customers to a higher-priced subscription with poorly emulated retro games reveals just how weak Nintendo's service pillar still is
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