Daily Briefing, Thursday 19th November 2020

Hello, friends, and welcome to another edition of the Bellular Daily Briefing - your partner in gaming news

Star Wars: Squadrons is getting some new content

Two more free updates are incoming for EA's space flight-sim this holiday season which, along with various performance improvements and bug fixes, will also add a decent bit of new content to the game.

• The first update, releasing November 25th, will bring the much-requested Fostar Haven campaign map to Squadrons' multiplayer modes. The second, schedule for a December release, will add two news ships - a Republic B-Wing bomber and an Empire TIE Defender. Neat.

Far Cry 6 could release in May

The game had previously be slated for a February release before being pushed back to the first half of Ubisoft's next fiscal year, so sometime between April 2021 and the following March.

• But the Microsoft Store, which is quickly becoming our go-to source for leaked release dates, has apparently updated Far Cry 6's store listing with a May 26th release date - so we may not have to wait very long at all.

Yodel aren't accepting the blame for PS5 delivery delays

UK retailer Game issued an email to customers yesterday informing them that they may not receive their PS5 preorders on launch day due to Yodel experiencing last-minute capacity issues - and Game having to enlist additional couriers to spread the load.

• Yodel aren't having any of this, though, claiming that they have been "consistently clear" with Game regarding order volumes, and calling the bizarre blame game "deeply disappointing." PS5 demand is apparently so high that retailers are feeling the pressure, so hopefully every console finds its home as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Embracer Group acquire 13 more companies

A continuation of its recent expansion efforts, Embracer Group this week added 12 new games companies (including Coffee Stain North and Flying Wild Hog) and one PR firm, along with some 1250 new staff, to its talent portfolio.

• As with previous acquisitions, the bulk of these new additions are indie/AA studios - which further emphasises Embracer's ambitions to essentially be a niche powerhouse. Could we see more batch-acquisition announcements going forward?

Ubisoft removes Managing Director of Skull and Bones studio

Hugues Ricour, the Managing Director of Skull and Bones studio Ubisoft Singapore, has been removed from his position following the results of a "leadership audit" which deemed it "impossible for him to continue" in the role.

• Ricour had been accused of sexual harassment by "multiple sources" but will apparently still remain at Ubisoft, just not at the Singapore office. Ubisoft have yet to give any details on why Ricour is being shuffled away as opposed to being dismissed outright.

That's it for today - join us back here tomorrow for another blast of games industry happenings!