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"The smallest severance pay possible" - Bethesda union vows to fight as studio employees reel from "bare minimum" payout following mass Xbox layoffs
Employees at Bethesda's Montréal studio, represented by the OneBGS union, are reportedly receiving the minimum legally permissible severance pay following mass layoffs by Xbox. The union claims this contradicts earlier assurances and has filed a complaint against Bethesda and Microsoft for violating Canadian labor laws. The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between management and workers in the gaming industry following significant job cuts.
Bethesda union slams Xbox for offering the 'bare legal minimum in terms of severance'
Unionized employees at Bethesda Montreal, represented by OneBGS, have criticized Microsoft and Xbox for offering the minimum legal severance to laid-off workers. Despite initial assurances of employment until September 2026, affected Canadian employees received termination letters stating they would receive only eight weeks' pay in lieu of notice and immediate loss of benefits. The union vows to fight for better terms for its members.
Oblivion Remastered's lengthy patch drought could end with its Switch 2 release, which Bethesda say includes "optimisations" they hope to bring to PC
Bethesda has indicated that optimizations for the upcoming Nintendo Switch version of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered may eventually be brought to PC. This comes after a lengthy period without major updates for the game, which has resulted in mixed reviews on Steam due to persistent issues. The studio also commented on a shift in their communication strategy, suggesting it was planned independently of recent industry changes.
Stalker 2 studio founder's claims that Xbox paid more for exclusivity than the game cost to make "do not reflect the actual facts", according to GSC Game World
GSC Game World has refuted claims made by its former founder, Sergiy Grygorovych, that Xbox paid more than the development cost for Stalker 2's exclusivity. The studio stated that Grygorovych was not involved in the negotiations and his comments do not reflect the actual facts, with the majority of the budget funded by current owner Max Krippa.
Stalker 2 developer refutes claims by studio founder that Xbox paid more than game's development cost to make it exclusive
GSC Game World has refuted claims made by studio founder Sergiy Grygorovych that Microsoft paid more than the development cost of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl to secure its timed Xbox exclusivity. The developer stated that Grygorovych was not involved in negotiations or development and that his comments do not accurately reflect the situation, noting that the majority of the budget was funded by studio owner Max Krippa.
Games Inbox: Is buying second-hand video games going to end?
Readers discuss the potential end of second-hand physical game sales due to the increasing prevalence of digital distribution. Concerns are raised about the loss of ownership and the impact on retailers like CeX. The convenience of digital is acknowledged as a major factor driving this shift, with some lamenting the decline of physical media.
Halo: Campaign Evolved Gets Explosive Launch Trailer, Advanced Access Now Live
Halo: Campaign Evolved has launched its Premium Edition with advanced access and released an explosive new trailer showcasing revamped visuals and gameplay. Developed on Unreal Engine 5, the game features Master Chief battling the Covenant to prevent the activation of Alpha Halo. Improvements include default sprinting, equipable Plasma Swords, split-screen co-op, and various gameplay modifiers like Skulls and a third-person perspective. The full release is scheduled for July 28th on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Bethesda Montreal’s Laid Off Employees Told They Will Get Bare Minimum Severance, No Healthcare
Employees laid off from Bethesda's Montreal studio have reportedly been offered the minimum legal severance and lost healthcare benefits, according to the union OneBGS. This contradicts earlier statements about negotiating with the union. Bethesda and Xbox leadership are facing legal complaints for alleged labor law violations in Canada. Despite these issues, the company reaffirmed its focus on The Elder Scrolls 6 and upcoming Fallout projects.
Union claims Bethesda developers were laid off the day Xbox announced new Fallouts—after being told they would…
The Bethesda Game Studios Union has filed a legal complaint against Bethesda, alleging violations of Canadian labor laws. The union claims that Bethesda prematurely terminated Canadian employees on July 17, the same day Xbox announced remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, and confirmed Fallout 5 is in early development. Union representatives stated that affected employees were initially told they would remain employed until September while severance was negotiated, but instead received termination letters with the bare legal minimum severance and immediate loss of benefits.
Microsoft is apparently reneging on its promise to bargain with laid-off Bethesda Montreal devs
Microsoft is reportedly reneging on its promise to bargain with laid-off Bethesda Montreal employees regarding severance packages. The Bethesda Game Studios union claims that Microsoft/Xbox informed affected workers they would receive the minimum legal severance without negotiation, contradicting earlier assurances. This alleged violation of labor laws has led the union to file a complaint and encourage public feedback to Microsoft.
Laid off Bethesda Montreal staff allegedly told they'd get "smallest severance legally possible" the same day as those Fallout announcements
Laid-off employees at Bethesda Montreal have claimed they were informed of receiving the minimum legal severance on the same day Xbox announced new Fallout projects. The union representing Bethesda Game Studios staff alleges that Canadian employees received termination letters stating they would get eight weeks of pay in lieu of notice and lose health insurance immediately. The union has filed a legal complaint against Bethesda for violating labor laws.
Microsoft is bringing original Xbox exclusives to PC for the first time, starting with four 'classic games'
Microsoft has launched a new program to bring original Xbox exclusive games to PC for the first time, starting with four titles: BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. These games are available for purchase on PC and included with all Game Pass plans, offering enhanced features like customizable graphics. This initiative is part of a broader effort by Xbox to preserve and make older games accessible on modern platforms.
"Unconscionable": The day of Bethesda's Fallout reveal explosion, its laid-off Montreal devs were told they "would receive the smallest severance legally possible" and "immediately" lose health insurance benefits, union says
Bethesda's Montreal union, OneBGS, claims that laid-off developers are being offered the minimum legally required severance pay and are losing health insurance immediately. This is occurring despite parent company Microsoft's significant profits and investments in the intellectual property the developers helped create. The union has filed a legal complaint against Bethesda for alleged labor law violations.
Xbox Backward Compatibility on PC launches today with Blinx, Conker and more
Microsoft has launched its Xbox Backward Compatibility program for PC, allowing select original Xbox titles like Blinx: The Time Sweeper and Conker: Live and Reloaded to be playable on Windows 11 PCs and handhelds such as the ASUS ROG Ally. These games are available via Xbox Game Pass or purchase, with features like resolution upscaling and achievements planned for later this year.
The Elder Scrolls Online is struggling with "team bandwidth" after Xbox layoffs hit Bethesda and ZeniMax, leading devs to limit a store for in-game items
The Elder Scrolls Online developers are facing "team bandwidth" issues following layoffs at Bethesda and ZeniMax, impacting the game's features. To manage the workload, the Web Crown Store has been removed from the official website, though in-game purchases remain available. Changes are also being made to the Crown Store blog due to capacity limitations.
Xbox's surprise announcement of PC backwards compatibility is great to see — and one more reason not to buy a…
Microsoft has launched a new Xbox backward compatibility program for PC, allowing players to officially purchase and play four original Xbox titles: Blinx: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fuzion Frenzy. These games feature enhanced graphics, including up to 4x resolution upscaling, and will eventually receive an achievement system. This initiative is seen as a positive step for both consumers and digital preservation.
We All Float On: The Goodyear Blimp is Now Available to Fly in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
The Goodyear Blimp is now flyable in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, allowing players to explore national parks and other locations from a unique aerial perspective. This addition coincides with the game's World Update 22, which focuses on U.S. National Parks. The article includes insights from Goodyear's Chief Pilot Adam Basaran on the experience of flying the blimp both in real life and in the simulation.
Comings and Goings
Alpha Dog Games founders have reacquired their studio from Microsoft following its closure in 2024. Additionally, Asha Sharma, who was appointed as Xbox's VP of engineering, has departed the company after only three months.
Microsoft launches Xbox backward compatibility for PC
Microsoft has begun rolling out Xbox backward compatibility for PC, starting with four classic titles: BliNX: The Time Sweeper, Conker: Live and Reloaded, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Fusion Frenzy. These games support up to 4x resolution upscaling and enhanced graphics settings, with plans to add features like achievements in the future. This initiative is part of a broader effort to preserve Xbox games and bring them to PC, occurring amidst industry-wide discussions on game preservation and recent layoffs within Microsoft's gaming division.
Following layoffs and muddy strategy shifts, Xbox announces Backward Compatibility on PC program, with Blinx and Conker leading the first wave
Xbox has launched a new Backward Compatibility on PC program, bringing classic titles like Blinx: The Time Sweeper and Conker: Live and Reloaded to PC and handhelds such as the ASUS ROG Ally. This initiative includes enhanced features like up to 4x resolution upscaling and is available through Xbox Game Pass or individual purchase. The program aims to revive Xbox's strength in backward compatibility, with plans for future updates and achievements.
