Game Industry
Ongoing coverage on Game Industry.
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Nintendo’s Iwata Cut His Salary, Epic’s Sweeney Cut 830 Jobs Instead
The article contrasts the leadership styles of the late Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney during difficult company periods. Iwata famously cut his own salary to avoid layoffs during Nintendo's struggles with the 3DS launch and Wii U, while Sweeney laid off 830 employees at Epic Games in 2023. The piece argues that Iwata's approach fostered a better work environment and contributed to Nintendo's long-term success, contrasting it with what it describes as a more traditional, employee-costing corporate strategy at Epic.
The industry is in a 'really horrible place,' say Brenda and John Romero
Brenda and John Romero describe the current state of the video game industry as 'horrible,' drawing parallels to the 1983 crash due to widespread layoffs and studio closures at companies like EA, PlayStation, and Epic Games. Brenda Romero also expressed concern over the push for generative AI, stating that Romero Games is not utilizing the technology.
"I didn't expect them to have the same impact as Final Fantasy 16": Clair Obscur Expedition 33's Ben Starr thought "being an idiot with Balatro" would be his biggest role of 2025, not Sandfall's surprise-hit RPG
Voice actor Ben Starr expressed surprise at the significant success of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, noting it unexpectedly rivaled the impact of Final Fantasy 16. Starr, who also contributed to Hades 2, initially believed his biggest role of 2025 would be related to Balatro. The RPG's widespread acclaim highlights a strong player demand for its specific style.
Analyst says Epic Games layoffs send a clear signal: 'This will not get any easier'
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced over 1,000 layoffs due to a decline in Fortnite engagement since 2025, leading to the company spending more than it earns. Analysts suggest this signals a challenging period for the entire industry, exacerbated by inflation and increased competition from platforms like Roblox. The company is also shutting down several Fortnite game modes, including Rocket Racing and Festival Battle Stage.
Metacritic’s 16th annual game publisher rankings released, Nintendo ranks #12
Metacritic has released its 16th annual publisher rankings, with Nintendo improving to the 12th position from 22nd in the previous year. The company's performance was notably boosted by the continued success of its past titles, including The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Epic Games Lays Off Over 1,000 Employees Amid Fortnite Slowdown and Industry Pressure
Epic Games has laid off over 1,000 employees due to declining Fortnite engagement and broader industry pressures, as confirmed by CEO Tim Sweeney. The company is implementing significant cost reductions and addressing challenges in maintaining consistent seasonal content for Fortnite. These layoffs are framed as a financial correction, not related to AI adoption, while Epic continues to invest in Unreal Engine and developer tools.
Epic Games lays off more than 1,000 employees: 'We're spending significantly more than we're…
Epic Games has laid off over 1,000 employees due to ongoing financial challenges, with CEO Tim Sweeney citing a significant spending deficit and a slump in Fortnite engagement since 2025. Sweeney mentioned that while some issues are industry-wide, others are specific to Epic's struggles in consistently delivering engaging Fortnite seasons.
Epic is laying off more than 1,000 workers, citing a downturn in Fortnite engagement
Epic Games is laying off over 1,000 employees, citing a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement and a need to cut costs. CEO Tim Sweeney stated that the company is spending more than it makes, necessitating major workforce reductions to ensure financial stability. The layoffs come alongside the discontinuation of three Fortnite modes: Rocket Racing, Fortnite Ballistic, and Festival Battle Stage.
Epic Games just laid off over 1,000 people
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney announced that over 1,000 employees are being laid off due to a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement starting in 2025, leading to the company spending more than it makes. These layoffs are not related to AI development, and the company is implementing cost-saving measures across various departments. Affected employees will receive severance packages, extended healthcare, and accelerated stock options.
Epic confirms layoffs of over 1,000 employees as Fortnite engagement slides
Epic Games has confirmed layoffs affecting over 1,000 employees due to a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement since 2025, leading to the company spending more than it earns. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the cuts are necessary for financial stability and are not related to AI, but rather increased competition for player attention and past legal battles with Apple. Affected employees will receive severance packages, extended healthcare, and accelerated stock options.
Epic Games lays off over 1,000 staff citing Fortnite “downturn” in popularity
Epic Games has laid off over 1,000 employees, citing a significant downturn in Fortnite engagement since 2025 and broader industry challenges. CEO Tim Sweeney stated the layoffs are intended to save $500 million and stabilize the company's finances. The company plans to focus on improving Fortnite's seasonal content and advancing its Unreal Engine technology.
If You're Playing Final Fantasy Games on PS5, There's a Good Chance You're Old
Data suggests that the Final Fantasy franchise, particularly titles like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, has an aging player base, with a significant majority of players over 30. Director Naoki Yoshida believes long gaps between releases have hindered attracting younger players. The article questions Square Enix's strategy and suggests a radical reinvention, similar to Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, might be needed to revitalize the series for modern audiences.
77% of US Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth players were 30 or older, analyst says, as Square Enix fights to get young people to…
An analysis of player demographics for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in the US reveals that 77% of players are aged 30 or older, with 62% being 35 or older, according to Circana's Mat Piscatella. This trend, noted by Final Fantasy 14 director Naoki Yoshida, suggests the Final Fantasy series may be struggling to attract younger players due to long gaps between releases and evolving player preferences.
Quoteworthy
An actor from Expedition 33 believes the game industry will not learn from its current practices, citing the opportunistic nature of capitalism. The sentiment suggests a critical view of how business interests might overshadow artistic or ethical considerations within game development.
Games Inbox: Are people right to criticise Nvidia’s DLSS 5 tech?
Readers express concerns over Nvidia's DLSS 5 technology, with some criticizing its rollout and potential AI integration. The discussion also touches on the decline of VR gaming, nostalgia for the Xbox 360 era, and anticipation for upcoming game releases in 2026, including Grand Theft Auto 6 and Persona 6.
PS5 Led Resident Evil Requiem Sales in the US, Outpacing PC
Resident Evil 4 has sold over 6 million copies, with the PlayStation 5 version leading sales in the US and outpacing PC. Discussions in the comments highlight debates over sales figure manipulation, the game's quality, and the value of physical copies versus digital distribution.
Quoteworthy
Jeff Kaplan argues that players should refrain from complaining about games they have no intention of playing. He suggests that this behavior is unproductive and detracts from the enjoyment of the gaming community.
'Imagine Being Such a Loser': We've Hit Rock Bottom with Website Dedicated to 'Failing' Games
A new website called Flopathon has emerged, dedicated to tracking Steam player counts and labeling games as 'flops' in an antagonistic manner. While it presents data similar to SteamDB, its approach is described as mean-spirited and not neutral. The article argues that Steam player data is only a fraction of a game's overall success and that such a site can skew perceptions.
Unions band together to launch new game industry conference 'by workers, for workers'
A new game industry conference called the Game Workers Conference has been launched by unions. The event will be hosted online and will be freely accessible to all attendees.
GDC Indie Spotlight: Mixtape, Replaced, and More | Official Xbox Podcast
The author discusses Xbox's current strategy, contrasting it with past leadership and PlayStation's approach to third-party support. They express optimism for Xbox's future, particularly regarding PC game compatibility on the console and potential for a wider game library compared to PlayStation's exclusive release cadence.
