‘The Sims' Turns 25
The Sims , which has sold nearly 200 million copies, celebrates its 25th anniversary this February. In honor of the video game franchise, The Onion looks back at its key milestones.
1977: Will Wright gets a great idea for a video game while watching a family burn to death in their home.
1989: SimCity , the game's city-building precursor, debuts as a popular alternative to constructing a large metropolis in real life.
2000: Mom doesn't get it.
2003: Console debut introduces The Sims to gamers not allowed to play Grand Theft Auto.
2011: The U.N. condemns Iran after evidence emerges proving they are developing their own version of The Sims .
2015: Night of sleep lost creating a family that looks kind of like the Ninja Turtles.
2020: Yearning for pandemic escapism, millions turn to The Sims to recall what it's like to walk in circles in a different-looking house.
2023: The Sims 4 reaches over 70 million active losers.
2025: New patch removes pesky 'sentience' bug.
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Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Climate activist Thunberg joins aid ship sailing to Gaza aimed at breaking Israel's blockade
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
TTWO Q1 Earnings Call: Revenue Misses Expectations, Guidance Highlights Mobile and Franchise Momentum
Video game publisher Take Two (NASDAQ:TTWO) fell short of the market's revenue expectations in Q1 CY2025, but sales rose 13.1% year on year to $1.58 billion. Its GAAP loss of $21.08 per share decreased from -$17.02 in the same quarter last year. Is now the time to buy TTWO? Find out in our full research report (it's free). Revenue: $1.58 billion (13.1% year-on-year growth) Adjusted Operating Income: $252.8 million vs analyst estimates of $271.8 million (16% margin, 7% miss) Revenue Guidance for Q2 CY2025 is $1.38 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $1.31 billion EPS (GAAP) guidance for the upcoming financial year 2026 is $0.17 at the midpoint, missing analyst estimates by 82.3% EBITDA guidance for the upcoming financial year 2026 is $535 million at the midpoint, below analyst estimates of $1.97 billion Adjusted EBITDA Margin: 18.5% Market Capitalization: $42 billion Take-Two's first quarter results were shaped by a mix of new game launches across its core labels and ongoing strength in established franchises. Management credited the launch of Sid Meier's Civilization VII, WWE 2K25, and PGA TOUR 2K25, as well as strong engagement from NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto titles, for driving revenue growth. CEO Strauss Zelnick highlighted that NBA 2K25 saw a 7% year-on-year increase in units sold, with engagement metrics like daily active users and average games per user up significantly. The company also noted robust performance from mobile subsidiary Zynga, especially new titles like Match Factory and Color Block Jam, both of which contributed to higher recurrent consumer spending. CFO Lainie Goldstein attributed the quarter's margin pressures to higher development costs for unreleased titles and noted a partial goodwill impairment charge tied to updated long-term expectations for one business unit. Looking forward, management emphasized a pipeline of major releases and a continued focus on operating efficiency as key to future growth. Take-Two expects NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto, and new launches such as Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4 to be the primary drivers for the year ahead. Zelnick stated, 'We expect sequential growth for both this year and next, even before Grand Theft Auto VI is released.' Goldstein pointed to a modest increase in operating expenses, mainly for marketing upcoming titles, but assured investors that expense growth is expected to lag behind revenue growth. Management also signaled that the share of direct-to-consumer revenue should expand, aided by recent court rulings, and cautioned that mobile trends may moderate due to the maturity of certain Zynga titles. Management attributed the quarter's performance to strong franchise engagement, new title launches, and stabilization in mobile, while margin headwinds stemmed from higher development costs and a goodwill impairment. NBA 2K engagement surge: NBA 2K25 outperformed internal forecasts, with unit sales up 7% over last year and significant gains in user engagement metrics; management credited improved features and a focus on core player demands. Mobile titles drive growth: Zynga's new games, including Match Factory and Color Block Jam, achieved profitability quickly and contributed to both net bookings and engagement; management cited the multi-studio approach as a competitive advantage. Recurrent spending momentum: Recurring in-game purchases across NBA 2K, Grand Theft Auto Online, and mobile titles grew 14% year-on-year, now accounting for 77% of net bookings in the quarter, with NBA 2K's in-game monetization up over 40%. Cost and margin pressures: Operating expenses rose due to higher development outlays for games not yet released, with Goldstein noting that a $3.6 billion impairment hit operating margins, partly reflecting updated expectations for Zynga. Direct-to-consumer channel expansion: The company highlighted growing direct-to-consumer sales, especially in mobile, and expects recent court decisions to further reduce third-party distribution costs and allow more direct customer relationships. Take-Two's outlook is anchored by major new title launches, franchise strength, and a focus on cost control amid moderating mobile trends. New game pipeline: Management expects Mafia: The Old Country and Borderlands 4, along with annual sports iterations, to drive sequential growth and maintain player engagement ahead of Grand Theft Auto VI's release. Operating efficiency initiatives: Cost discipline through a previously announced reduction program is intended to offset rising development and marketing costs, with management aiming for operating expense leverage as net bookings grow. Mobile market headwinds: While Zynga's recent hits support optimism, Goldstein warned that some mature mobile titles may see softer trends, potentially moderating overall mobile segment growth despite ongoing investment in new launches. 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While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
WIRED
28-05-2025
- WIRED
'Grand Theft Auto' Publisher Swaps DEI for 'Diversity of Thought' in Annual Report
May 28, 2025 11:51 AM Take-Two's latest 10-K report has removed any mention of supporting social justice and LGBT+ rights, as more industries fall in line with President Donald Trump's anti-DEI agenda. Take-Two Interactive did not mention DEI in its latest annual report. Photograph: Jakub Porzycki/AP Images Take-Two Interactive, the publisher behind Grand Theft Auto VI , is forgoing any mention of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and promoting 'diversity of thought" in its latest annual report. The change, first spotted by Game File, is part of the company's annual 10-K report, which offers insight into the company's business, financials, and risk factors. In 2024, the report included a robust section about DEI, expressing support for groups working to 'eradicate social injustice,' LGBTQ+ rights, and minority game design students, and 'celebrating cultural differences' through employee groups. In the 2025 report, Take-Two only mentions diversity in one area: 'We firmly believe that diversity of thought drives the innovation that is integral to our success.' The report adds that the company aims 'to provide an inclusive workplace in which everyone feels respected, heard, and safe,' but does not include commitments to provide scholarships to minority game design students, which were made in 2024. 'By empowering our colleagues to embrace an entrepreneurial mindset and to take calculated risks, we believe that we have created an environment where our people can thrive,' the report reads. The move is part of a growing trend of companies rolling back their DEI initiatives amid a crackdown on anything perceived as DEI by the Trump administration. DEI efforts in the video game industry have grown since the early days of gaming, but it wasn't until 2020 that major companies began to throw support behind minority developers in acknowledgement of greater systemic issues. After George Floyd was murdered by police, companies began to vocally support movements like Black Lives Matter and pledged to help marginalized developers. As President Donald Trump has been cracking down on DEI in both the public and private sector, however, those efforts may now be in danger. Reached by WIRED, a spokesperson for Take-Two declined to comment. The company's website still includes a statement that says it believes 'more diverse teams are more valuable and effective. Diversity is key to our success.' DEI backlash, which has most recently spread across companies in fields like tech and retail, has a firm foothold in gaming communities. Last year, an online harassment movement styling itself as 'Gamergate 2.0' attacked consultancy companies hired to provide guidance and advice on cultural sensitivities, and created lists that deemed even a whiff of anything non-white, cis-male, and heterosexual as DEI. In modding communities, mods for games like The Sims 4 are being created to remove LGBT and Black non-player characters from the game. The language in Take-Two's report echoes that of companies like Meta, which said it would seek "cognitive diversity' in its own 10-K earlier this year, as it ended its own DEI programs. The Entertainment Software Association, which organized the now defunct E3 and acts as an advocate for the video game industry among regulators and lawmakers, declined to comment about the impact of DEI rollbacks in video games. Instead, a spokesperson directed WIRED to the ESA's "Inclusion & Belonging' page on its website, which champions representation and that 'the video game community is vast and diverse.' Diversity of thought may not be a problematic concept in theory, but right-wing personalities have adopted it as a talking point that can provide cover racist, sexist, or transphobic views. Daniel Oppong, founder of The Courage Collective—a consultant that advises companies on DEI—says it is often used as a cop-out to sidestep a company's lack of representation. 'When organizational cultures are largely homogenous, they'll often cite 'diversity of thought' as a means to indicate some element of distinctiveness,' he says. That still doesn't let any company off the hook. 'In that spirit, if 'diversity of thought' is deemed necessary (and acceptable),' he says, 'then diversity of identities (aka: diverse teams) should be an imperative as well.' Oppong says there's a great misconception around what people consider DEI today. 'What was meant to be a robust, interdisciplinary practice designed to create cultures where people thrive, is often misrepresented as 'wokeism' and reduced to polarizing buzzwords that do not accurately portray the essence and impact of effective DEI,' he says. These programs can offer equal access to things like better working conditions for people with disabilities, improved parental leave, and equal access to career opportunities. 'One of the biggest misnomers about DEI is the notion that it only benefits people from historically marginalized groups,' Oppong says. 'The truth is, when implemented effectively, DEI benefits everyone.' For some companies, like Target, DEI rollbacks have meant lost profits and cultural backlash. Next year, Take-Two will publish Rockstar's highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI, which co-stars a Latina woman—the very kind of character the anti-woke crowd calls DEI. 'People want to support and work for brands that align with their values,' Oppong says. 'Given the shifting demographics of the US, it's imperative that organizations consider the unique needs and values of different identity groups – particularly if they want to remain relevant and resonant with employers and consumers alike.'
