Psychonauts
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Psychonauts developer Double Fine will unionise with CWA
Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, is unionizing with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) alongside other Microsoft game studios. The CWA confirmed that Double Fine workers are forming a union to preserve commitments to creative excellence, diversity, inclusion, and worker quality of life. Microsoft has adopted a neutral stance regarding the unionization efforts.
Double Fine petitions to unionize
Double Fine Productions, a Microsoft-owned studio, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the Communication Workers of America. Approximately 42 employees are included in the union effort, which aims to preserve the studio's commitments to creative excellence and worker quality of life. Microsoft has stated a neutral approach to the organizing efforts.
Double Fine Productions is the latest Microsoft subsidiary to unionise
Double Fine Productions, the developer of Psychonauts, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the support of the Communications Workers of America. This move follows a trend of unionization among Microsoft subsidiaries, with the company agreeing to a neutral approach. The proposed union includes 42 employees who aim to preserve the studio's commitments to creative excellence and worker quality of life.
Kiln Review - For the love of pottery
Kiln is a 4v4 party brawler from Double Fine Productions where players sculpt their characters using a pottery wheel, impacting their abilities in battle. The game features deep customization options, strategic combat mechanics, and a social hub. While offering a fun and unique experience, the review questions its long-term player retention due to a potential lack of content variety.
Psychonauts, Kiln studio Double Fine votes to unionise
Double Fine Productions, a Microsoft-owned studio known for Psychonauts, has voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America (CWA). This follows similar unionization efforts at other Microsoft-owned studios like id Software. Separately, Slay the Spire 2 developer Mega Crit is adjusting its patch release schedule and has removed the Doormaker boss in favor of a new one called Aeonglass.
Double Fine is the latest team at Microsoft to unionize
Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, has filed a petition to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board, with all 42 employees participating. The studio is organizing with the Communications Workers of America, a union that has previously supported labor efforts at other Microsoft-owned studios like Activision and ZeniMax.
Psychonauts Developer Double Fine Is Forming a Union
Double Fine Productions, the developer behind Psychonauts and Kiln, is in the process of forming a union. This move makes Double Fine the latest studio under Microsoft to establish a union.
Business and Finance
Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts, has formed a union, becoming the latest Microsoft-owned studio to do so. This move signifies a growing trend of labor organization within the gaming industry.
Psychonauts developer Double Fine are the latest Microsoft-owned studio to unionise
Double Fine Productions, the Microsoft-owned studio behind Psychonauts, has announced its decision to unionize with the Communications Workers of America. The union will include all 42 employees at the studio. This move follows similar unionization efforts by other developers owned by Microsoft, amidst recent layoffs within the company.
Double Fine is unionising at Xbox Game Studios
Double Fine, the developer of Psychonauts, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize with the Communications Workers of America. This move involves 42 employees and follows similar unionization efforts within Microsoft's gaming divisions, including Activision Blizzard and Zenimax. While Microsoft has historically taken a neutral stance on unionization, the company has faced delays in collective bargaining with previously formed unions.
Workers for Xbox studio Double Fine are forming a union
Workers at Xbox studio Double Fine, known for the Psychonauts series, are forming a labor union. The employees are organizing with the Communications Workers of America.
First-party Xbox studio Double Fine is unionizing
First-party Xbox developer Double Fine, known for the Psychonauts series, has filed to unionize under the Communications Workers of America. The union would represent 42 employees, and the company leadership is requesting voluntary recognition from Microsoft, which has adopted a neutral stance.
The 10 best RPGs for kids if you're looking for family-friendly gaming sessions
This guide highlights ten role-playing games suitable for children, focusing on family-friendly experiences. The selection includes titles like Monster Hunter Stories 3, Costume Quest 2, and Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu/Eevee, emphasizing accessible gameplay and engaging narratives for younger players across various modern platforms.
Slay the Spire 2 "may not be perfectly balanced yet," Half-Life writer and Valve veteran Erik Wolpaw says, but with 1,500 hours in the first game he has no doubt Mega Crit will pull it off
Valve writer Erik Wolpaw, known for his work on Half-Life 2 and Portal, shared his thoughts on Slay the Spire 2, stating that while it may not be perfectly balanced yet, he has confidence in developer Mega Crit. Wolpaw, who has over 1,500 hours in the original Slay the Spire, is currently playing the sequel extensively, both solo and in co-op.
Double Fine Productions and its new pottery-inspired game Kiln don’t just break the mold – they smash it to pieces
Double Fine Productions is developing Kiln, a unique party brawler inspired by pottery where players create and then destroy ceramic vessels as fighters. Founded by Tim Schafer, the studio emphasizes a kind and experimental culture, with Kiln originating from an internal game jam. The game will launch on April 23, 2026, for multiple platforms including Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Steam, and will be available on Xbox Game Pass.
How Double Fine balances fun with pottery sculpting in Kiln
Double Fine Productions' upcoming multiplayer game Kiln blends pottery sculpting with objective-based online combat. Lead designer Lauren Scott and lead artist Jared Mill discussed the challenges of balancing player expression in pottery creation with fun, accessible gameplay mechanics, including refining collision detection and simplifying simulation elements. The game evolved significantly from its initial concept during Double Fine's Amnesia Fortnight event.
Some takes don't age: Back in 2009, a creative director warned about the risks of 'obsessively self-referencing' existing hit games
In a 2009 interview, Paul Barnett, then creative director of Warhammer Online, criticized the industry's tendency towards 'design memes' and 'obsessive self-referencing,' warning that replicating successful formulas stifles innovation and funding for new ideas. He also discussed the distinction between games as art, design, and business, emphasizing the importance of the business aspect for long-term studio sustainability.
Kiln Hands-on Preview - Throwing clay and throwing hands
Kiln is a multiplayer pottery-themed brawler from Double Fine where players create vessels on a pottery wheel that determine their in-game abilities. The game involves teams of four protecting their kiln while trying to extinguish the enemy's flame. Kiln is set to release on PC and Xbox Series X/S on April 24.
Game Pass Might Get New Subscription Tier With Only Xbox Game Studios Titles – Rumor
A rumor suggests Microsoft is planning a new, lower-priced Game Pass tier codenamed 'Triton' that would exclusively feature titles from Xbox Game Studios. This potential tier aims to attract a broader customer base by focusing solely on first-party content. The article also touches on past criticisms of Game Pass price increases and potential partnerships with services like Netflix.
Psychonauts and Keeper developer's Game Pass party game Kiln gets a release date, and it's coming really very soon
Double Fine has announced that its new multiplayer party brawler, Kiln, will be released on April 23rd for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, and will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The game features a unique pottery-themed twist where players sculpt their characters on a pottery wheel to use in online arenas.