TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the trending stories in gaming. In today’s news: Sony reveals next console will target hardcore gamers; the Brazilian games industry has more than doubled in four years; and My Friend Pedro shifts 250,000 copies in one week.

Sony reveals next console will target hardcore gamers

Sony chief executive Kenichiro Yoshida has revealed in a strategy briefing that the next iteration of its PlayStation console will focus more on hardcore gamers, meaning the platform provider is set to prioritise AAA releases, major publishers, and hardware.

While the news is set to delight console gamers with a penchant for high-definition graphics, the news is less appealing for smaller developers, who do not have the resources to compete with the established publishers. Despite this perceived snub, an anonymous source from Sony has stated that they believe indie developers will still release games for the ‘PlayStation 5’, the name of which has yet to be confirmed.

The Brazilian games industry has more than doubled in four years

The Brazilian games industry, in terms of companies operating in the country, has more than doubled in four years, increasing to 276 companies employing 2731 staff in 2018, compared to 133 companies employing 1133 staff in 2014.

This is a reflection of, and has helped to fuel, a national industry with sales worth an estimated USD$1.5bn (£1.18bn). Despite previous concerns surrounding high tariffs, which forced Nintendo to cease distribution of titles in 2015, with a return in 2017, Brazil has long been highlighted as an increasingly important market for the global games industry, and is now estimated to be the 13th largest market globally.

My Friend Pedro shifts 250,000 copies in one week

Indie platform shooter My Friend Pedro has shifted 250,000 copies in one week, since its release on Nintendo Switch and PC on June 20th. Published by Devolver Digital and developed by solo developer Victor Ågren, operating as DeadToast Entertainment, the title has become a firm favourite across the industry, gaining consistently high review scores.

Originally launched as a flash game in 2014, My Friend Pedro demonstrates the success that can still be attained in indie gaming, despite game studios operating on typically increasing budgets and crunch cultures.