American game developer and publisher led by Tim Sweeney; a focus on Fortnite, Unreal Engine, and acquisitions
Epic Games is pivoting to AI-accelerated development, moving developers to AI-generated assets and code. A faster Epic Games Launcher is being rolled out, with a modest feature set, while Disney collaboration with Marvel and Star Wars remains delayed indefinitely as the shift unfolds.
Electronic Arts has been taken private in a $55 billion deal led by Saudi Arabia's PIF, with Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The move delists EA from Nasdaq and adds $20 billion in debt. Analysts expect a focus on core franchises and potential cost-cutting. Regulators approved the deal, and governance implications are under scrutiny.
Aptoide has become the first third-party app store available in Google Play in the US after a court order tied to the Epic Games case. Google now certifies third-party stores, granting access to its app catalog while keeping storefronts independent. The move follows Epic’s 2023 victory and later legal developments.
The Justice Department has reached a $400m settlement with TikTok and related entities over alleged violations of the Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act. TikTok will pay $300m immediately and another $100m after a court vacates a 2019 consent decree tied to Musical.ly. The deal resolves a 2024 DOJ suit and includes stronger youth safeguards, the department says.
Lego has reported a 21% rise in revenue for the first half of 2026, reaching 41.9 billion Danish kroner, with profits up and a broad product line expanding among adults and kids. The company is investing in sustainability, renewable energy, and packaging changes while expanding in the U.S. with new facilities.
A federal judge has declined to force Google to sell its AdX ad marketplace, instead ordering ongoing behavioural remedies to restore competition. The decision follows previous rulings finding illegal monopolies in Google’s ad tech stack, while outcomes on other cases remain unresolved. The court will publish specifics after redactions.
Apple's Phil Schiller has stepped down from heading the App Store and will become an Apple Fellow, while day-to-day operations shift to Carson Oliver under Eddy Cue. Bloomberg and other outlets report a push by new CEO John Ternus and Cue to improve margins and recurring revenue, a move Schiller privately opposed.