I'm afraid it's not just this industry. We're in for a very rough year.So many job loses.
WTF is wrong with this industry....
I was under they impression they were just doing COD support.This is the biggest bummer for me. I was hoping for a good platformer from this team.
Yup. And some folks are still trying to gaslight ppl saying it wasnt devs being fired.I expected job losses in HR and QA, but this is horrible and a stupid move to lay off talented developers. This sucks
Yes, but as developers of Crash Bandicoot, they obviously have the chop for a game like Banjo (or another Crash of course).I was under they impression they were just doing COD support.
Most of the dev firings looks justified so far. Sledgehammer is an obvious one with how how consistently poor their CoD campaigns are. The survival games from Blizzard was 6 years in the making with 2-3 still to go. That obviously had to go. These Toys for Bob layoffs are upsetting, though.Damn....
Yup. And some folks are still trying to gaslight ppl saying it wasnt devs being fired.
There are always job losses and I get that. This makes no sense IMO.Damn....
Yup. And some folks are still trying to gaslight ppl saying it wasnt devs being fired.
When it comes to tech companies with big pockets, you never know when you got a CEO who has moneybags and will float the boat, or a penny pincher who will gas entire office buildings if things dont go well.I don't think ABK employees would think they'd start regretting Kotick as soon as he had left lmao.
Lot of these employees were very naive and ill-informed. Microsoft is one of the worst corpos in the world, and they won't make them work on fulfilling projects. Employees should have fought againt the acquisition. But they did not take the time to inform themselves.
Well, of course it was redundant, they made original games, who need that? Now they will be part of CoD factory! Good thing for the industry, congratulations to all gamers.Sucks they lost their job, but if it's redundant...I mean it's not charity. Gotta streamline somehow.
If I made a multi-billion dollar purchase and I found that people were in positions that were no longer necessary, I would first try to find a new useful spot for them. Ultimately, if that's not possible then yea, what else are you gonna do?
I wish there was some kind of centralized system for lay offs where people could easily connect with another employer in the industry who might need their talents. It might lessen the blow and ease the minds of the folks affected. Something like a LinkedIn but just for the gaming industry.
Sarcasm aside, they still have people making original games. I don't think this is the issue. COD will be fine. Sledgehammer though has been known for years as the red headed step child of the COD developers. I'm surprised Activision didn't do this themselves.Well, of course it was redundant, they made original games, who need that? Now they will be part of CoD factory! Good thing for the industry, congratulations to all gamers.
The same group of consultants are advising these companies to aggressively get lean, and to rightsize explosive tech salaries. These companies are reporting record revenue and profits - this has everything to do with greed and appeasing shareholdersOk, are we entering a recession or is gaming just fucked?
Just companies like Xbox and Embracer who ate more than they could chew.Ok, are we entering a recession or is gaming just fucked?
Possibly but i dont think so. Unemployment rates are rock bottom again and inflation is cooling off. The only big thing that might do it is with the high mortgage rates. Anyone who has to do a new mortgage or renew at the current rates will have big payments. And just like 2008, if you can float a wild 2% special deal mortgage, but cant afford a 5% mortgage when the promo is over, then youre fucked. Thats no different than now where mortgages were 2-3% for ages (mine bottomed at 1.2% for a stretch!), but renewing is now about 6%, then youre fucked too.Ok, are we entering a recession or is gaming just fucked?
ABK Workers division has begun to act as well:
Tech and gaming, being unable to see past the next quarter, grew irresponsibly during the pandemic bump and found themselves in a pit now that things have normalized.Ok, are we entering a recession or is gaming just fucked?
The companies did this to themselves. The whole industry has embraced the FOMO flavor of the week massive hype model (both GaaS and non-GaaS), seemingly without any developer stopping to ask themselves, "what if this particular game game in development isn't a home run?" And when they do, like when Sony clearly did, they realize that they have to cancel basically everything in development because it makes no sense financially.We are entering in a phase where no mistakes in gaming can be made.
Or you either hit or miss big.
It's happening elsewhere, like news media. But I think it's more pronounced in this industry because the Covid induced growth spurt is waning.Ok, are we entering a recession or is gaming just fucked?
Feels more like an Xbox crash. Until I see otherwise, Nintendo and PlayStation are suffering nothing close to this.Feels like we have an industry crash... no pun intended
Also, games seem to take longer and cost a ton more to make. So if the sales arent there, then there's goes the studio.The companies did this to themselves. The whole industry has embraced the FOMO flavor of the week massive hype model (both GaaS and non-GaaS), seemingly without any developer stopping to ask themselves, "what if this particular game game in development isn't a home run?" And when they do, like when Sony clearly did, they realize that they have to cancel basically everything in development because it makes no sense financially.
To be fair, gamers absolutely led them there with their obsession with Twitch streamer/social media hype, but unfortunately we all now have to suffer the consequences until this painful readjustment is done.
Why, when did either those aquire a company as large as ABK?Feels more like an Xbox crash. Until I see otherwise, Nintendo and PlayStation are suffering nothing close to this.
Outside of gaming, however, there's a lot of this happening.
Come again?Why, when did either those aquire a company as large as ABK?
MS organization is much larger and more bloated than the completion, but Sony axed Pixelopus last year (a very small studio), 20 employees at Media Molecule and the recent Insomniac hack suggested layoffs and a studio closure being imminent.Feels more like an Xbox crash. Until I see otherwise, Nintendo and PlayStation are suffering nothing close to this.
Outside of gaming, however, there's a lot of this happening.
Yes, layoffs will happen industry wide, but not to this degree. The size only means more people, but percentages are key.MS organization is much larger and more bloated than the completion, but Sony axed Pixelopus last year (a very small studio), 20 employees at Media Molecule and the recent Insomniac hack suggested layoffs and a studio closure being imminent.
Companies like Nintendo & Valve run a tight ship, so I don't expect much from them.
but this is horrible and a stupid move to lay off talented developers.
I only have one example from Nintendo in terms of a tight ship. So take it as you want as overarching truthful or a misleading one off.MS organization is much larger and more bloated than the completion, but Sony axed Pixelopus last year (a very small studio), 20 employees at Media Molecule and the recent Insomniac hack suggested layoffs and a studio closure being imminent.
Companies like Nintendo & Valve run a tight ship, so I don't expect much from them.