[DizzyDoo]

Yes, that's a good overview.

In addition, I think in the last few years the swing has been towards bigger publishers or corporate holding groups (Embracer, Microsoft/Sony, Tencent, etc) sweeping up lots of previously independant studios (Eidos, Riot, Double Fine, Mojang, etc) in acquisitions - for the sake of owning the intellectual property and freedom to do more with the license. But also, and crucially, stopping other rival companies doing the same thing first, leading to big arguments like this one: https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/3/23623363/microsoft-sony-ft...

Perhaps the colder global financial situation will cool this acquisition/centralisation spree, but maybe not!

[MichaelZuo]

There's huge advantages to combining together for studios and publishers because then they can demand better terms from Valve/Epic/Sony/Microsoft/Apple/Google, if they are not already working for one of the above.