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Digging into SAG-AFTRA’s Stellar Win With Sarah Elmaleh
Actor and SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Negotiating Committee chair Sarah Elmaleh discusses the recent Interactive Media Agreement that ended an 11-month strike. The deal includes improved actor pay, new safety standards, and terms for the use of generative AI, giving actors more control over their data. Elmaleh shares her experience navigating the three-year negotiation process.
Godot open-source game engine bans genAI code contributions
The Godot Foundation has implemented new guidelines banning most generative AI code contributions to its open-source game engine. While AI assistance for tasks like code completion is permitted, the engine will no longer accept substantial AI-generated code to ensure human responsibility and manage the review burden on maintainers. This decision comes amidst broader industry discussions about the use of AI in game development.
Ubisoft hires former Take-Two and Amazon vet to head up its Tom Clancy games
Ubisoft has hired Christoph Hartmann, formerly of Take-Two Interactive and Amazon Game Studios, to lead its "Creative House 2." This new division will oversee major Tom Clancy franchises including The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot expressed confidence in Hartmann's ability to build and elevate these established game series.
Another giant US company is looking to expand into gaming claims report
NBCUniversal, the company behind Universal Pictures and the streaming service Peacock, is reportedly considering expanding into the video game business. This potential move comes as the company is preparing for a spin-off from Comcast. While no specific plans have been revealed, NBCUniversal is assessing various growth opportunities, with gaming being one of them.
PGA Tour 2K25 Celebrates America’s Birthday With Nightmare Statue Of Liberty Skin
PGA Tour 2K25 has released a new Statue of Liberty-themed cosmetic skin to celebrate the July 4th holiday. The skin, available for purchase with Virtual Currency, adds a unique, albeit unsettling, visual to the game. The article also touches on the monetization strategies of Take-Two Interactive's titles, including Grand Theft Auto 6.
Rockstar UK employees say the GTA 6 developer's still plagued by gender pay gaps, crunch, and vague bonuses which make them 'as pliable as possible to their boss's whims'
Employees at Rockstar Games' UK studios report ongoing issues with gender pay gaps, opaque bonus structures, and normalized crunch, despite the studio's work on Grand Theft Auto 6. Union members anonymously shared concerns about a lack of transparency and inconsistent compensation policies, with efforts made to inform staff about their rights regarding working hours.
Ubisoft taps former 2K president Christoph Hartmann to oversee shooter franchises
Ubisoft has appointed former 2K president Christoph Hartmann to lead its new 'Creative House 2' division, which focuses on shooter franchises like The Division, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell. This move comes as Ubisoft restructures its studio ecosystem, which has also involved significant cost-cutting measures and layoffs.
Union raises concerns over gender pay gaps, bonus management, and crunch at Rockstar
Members of the Rockstar Game Workers Union have voiced concerns about potential gender pay gaps, inconsistent bonus management, and contractual overtime requirements that facilitate crunch. The union is seeking voluntary recognition from Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, which stated it fosters a culture of teamwork and kindness and values open dialogue. Employees highlighted issues with the discretionary and often subjective bonus system, a widening gender pay gap, and contract clauses that opt employees out of UK Working Time Regulations, potentially leading to excessive overtime.
PlayStation Announcing the End of Physical Game Releases Resulted in Rise in Stock Prices
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it will cease physical game releases for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, a move that has coincided with a rise in its stock price. This transition aligns with market trends favoring digital purchases and the popularity of disc-less consoles like the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. Analysts suggest this decision will also influence future console designs, potentially reducing manufacturing costs for the PlayStation 6.
Xbox is reportedly testing a feature to digitize physical game collections as PlayStation decides to phase out discs
Xbox is reportedly testing a "Disc to Digital" feature that would allow users to convert their physical game collection into digital entitlements. This comes as PlayStation plans to phase out disc-based games by 2028, and other publishers like Take-Two are opting for digital-only releases, signaling a significant shift in the industry away from physical media.
Ubisoft appoints former 2K and Amazon exec Christoph Hartmann to lead Creative House 2, overseeing Splinter Cell, The Division and Ghost Recon
Ubisoft has appointed industry veteran Christoph Hartmann as General Manager of its newly formed Creative House 2. This business unit will oversee major franchises including Splinter Cell, The Division, and Ghost Recon, as well as the recently acquired MOBA game March of Giants. Hartmann previously founded 2K Games and led Amazon's games division.
Why Sony Is Killing Disc-Based PlayStation Games And The Implications For PS6 And Beyond
Sony will cease releasing PlayStation games on physical discs starting in 2028, a move industry expert Piers Harding-Rolls suggests will likely delay the PlayStation 6's launch until at least that year and will result in a disc-less base model. This transition to all-digital is driven by shifting consumer preferences towards digital downloads, which now account for 80% of PlayStation game sales, and aims to streamline retail and improve profit margins by reducing costs associated with disc manufacturing and physical distribution.
Sony announces an end to the PS3 and Vita digital stores
Sony announced it will be closing the digital stores for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita globally in July 2027, with some regions seeing closures later this year. While previously reversed due to fan backlash in 2021, the company cites the need to evolve commerce systems and focus resources on modern platforms. Games already purchased will remain downloadable.
GTA 6 devs have to opt-out of crunch, claim Rockstar North insiders, because it's baked into their contracts
Sources within Rockstar North claim that crunch is effectively built into employee contracts for Grand Theft Auto 6, with developers needing to opt-out of working hour regulations. Insiders also allege issues with pay gaps, bonuses used for compliance, and a lack of transparency in career progression. Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, stated they strive to provide world-class work environments and are open to dialogue with the union.
PlayStation ending production of physical software in January 2028
Sony Interactive Entertainment will cease production of physical game discs for all new PlayStation titles starting January 2028, reflecting a shift towards digital distribution. This decision aligns with changing consumer preferences and industry trends, impacting games released before the cutoff date. The company remains committed to providing diverse purchasing options for players.
GTA 6 developer Rockstar accused of enforcing crunch, weaponising bonus payments, and ignoring a widening gender pay gap
Rockstar Games is facing new allegations from employees regarding crunch culture, a widening gender pay gap, and the weaponization of bonus payments, particularly concerning the development of Grand Theft Auto 6. These claims emerge as employees pursue union recognition, with Take-Two Interactive stating they will engage in dialogue with the union.
Rockstar accused of ignoring pay inequity, mandating crunch, and weaponizing bonuses
Multiple Rockstar Games developers, speaking anonymously through the Rockstar Game Workers Union, have accused the company of failing to address gender-based pay inequity, mandating crunch, and using bonuses to manipulate employees. The developers claim that compensation is inconsistent and often falls below market rates, with initiatives to address pay gaps being scrapped. The union is seeking voluntary recognition and has highlighted that crunch is normalized through UK worker contracts, with employees opting out of regulations.
MMO Week in Review: Guild Wars goes mobile, Bungie gets layoffs
This week's MMO news includes Guild Wars launching on mobile, Star Trek Online's new update, and Throne & Liberty's summer expansion. However, the industry also saw significant layoffs at Sony and Bungie, impacting hundreds of developers working on Destiny 2 and Marathon. Other news includes Valve's Steam Machine pricing, the ongoing Ashes of Creation lawsuit, and updates on Grand Theft Auto VI's online multiplayer.
GTA VI finally has a release date, but fans are worried
Grand Theft Auto VI is slated for release on November 19th, but concerns are rising among fans regarding its $129.95 AUD price tag and the lack of a physical disc version at launch. While Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has addressed rumors about delayed physical releases, sources within Rockstar suggest no discs are planned, fueling player distrust about industry trends and rising game costs.
Detaljer om GTA VI verkar läcka från butikssidor
Details for Grand Theft Auto VI appear to have leaked from Brazilian online store listings for Amazon and Kabum. The descriptions, which have since been edited or removed, suggested advanced AI would control NPCs with their own routines and that social media would play a significant role, with in-game mobile phones showing viral videos in real-time. The leaks also hinted at the ability to switch between characters and unique character abilities.
