PopCap Buys Xbox Live Arcade Developer Gastronaut

By Geoff Duncan February 24, 2009

PopCap Buys Xbox Live Arcade Developer Gastronaut

Casual game maker PopCap Games has announced it is acquiring game development firm Gastronaut Studios for an undisclosed sum. Gastronaut is perhaps best-known for its Xbox Live Arcade title Small Arms, although it has pumped out several other Xbox Live titles and worked with PopCap to bring Peggle and Feeding Frenzy 2 to XBLA.

"The Gastronaut Studios acquisition signals PopCap’s continued commitment to internal development of top quality games for a range of platforms," said PopCap CEO David Roberts, in a statement. "Given the success of Gastronaut’s top-selling Small Arms franchise in particular, there’s little doubt that PopCap has significantly increased its development capabilities and creative firepower."

Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but PopCap gets the company’s assets and employees, including Gastronaut’s in-house tools and technologies. The Gastronaut team will get to work on several "undisclosed" projects for PopCap, although—in an interesting move—Gastronaut founders will keep full rights to Gastronaut’s original properties, including Small Arms and the upcoming action puzzle game Gel.

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Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Gaming

Your Xbox Live Gold subscription will turn into Xbox Game Pass Core this September

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An Xbox Live subscription tied to online play has existed in some form since Xbox Live launched in 2002, but Xbox Live Gold as we now know it truly came into form in July 2013 when Microsoft started the Games with Gold program that gave subscribers free games each month in addition to that online access. Although Microsoft rolled back some online restrictions in 2021, Games with Gold continues to this day. That will all end when Game Pass Core launches.

Gaming

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Key art for Meta Quest+

The Meta Quest family of headsets is getting their own version of PlayStation Plus Essential or Xbox Live Gold. Called Meta Quest+, this monthly subscription will give its subscribers two VR games to play every month.
Introducing Meta Quest+ | VR Title Subscription
Meta Quest+ will cost $8 a month or $60 a year, although Meta is running a launch promotion where those who subscribe before July 31 will get their first month for $1. With that subscription, you'll get two games each month, which will stay in your library as long as you're subscribed to Meta Quest+. We've already learned which games will be coming to the service in July and August.
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Meta Quest 2 and Quest Pro users can now subscribe to Meta Quest+; the Quest 3 will also support it when the headset launches later this year.

Gaming

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The four hero characters in Redfall dragging a vampire, who's reaching towards the camera with clawed hands.

Microsoft has confirmed rumors that it will be holding a game showcase later this month. Called a Developer_Direct, this livestream will take place later today and feature updates on Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda games launching over the next few months, like Redfall. Xbox doesn't typically do that many games showcases outside of events like E3, so this Developer_Direct seems like Microsoft's own take on the Nintendo Direct or State of Play formula.
That said, it's being a bit more transparent that it will be a bit slower-paced than Nintendo or PlayStation's shows typically are. For those planning to watch the show live today, this is how to watch Xbox's Developer_Direct Showcase as well as what you can expect from games like Redfall, Forza Motorsport, Minecraft Legends, and The Elder Scrolls Online at the event.
When is Xbox and Bethesda's Developer_Direct?
Xbox Game Studios and Bethesda's first-ever Developer_Direct will air live and for free later today, January 25, at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT.

How to watch Xbox and Bethesda's Developer_Direct
The Developer_Direct showcase will be officially livestreamed by Bethesda and Microsoft in the following four places: