Jason Schreier
Reporting and statements that mention Jason Schreier.
Latest coverage
EA to Cut Costs by $700 Million Annually, Potential Mass Layoffs Inbound – Rumor
Electronic Arts is reportedly planning to cut $700 million in annual costs following its acquisition by the Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. This move is expected to lead to significant layoffs across the company, despite EA's current financial stability. New investors plan to leverage AI in game development, which could also impact staffing.
Last Sentinel Spent 6 Years and “Hundreds of Millions” to Compete With GTA and Failed – Rumor
Lightspeed LA's ambitious open-world cyberpunk game, Last Sentinel, has reportedly been in development for six years with a budget in the hundreds of millions, aiming to compete with Grand Theft Auto. Despite features like an elaborate story and destructible environments, the project has suffered from staff turnover, unclear creative vision, negative internal playtest feedback, and significant layoffs. Tencent has expressed dissatisfaction, leading to a drastic change in the game's direction, with its eventual release uncertain.
Double Fine Cuts 25% Of Staff After Separating From Microsoft
Double Fine has laid off 25% of its staff, approximately 23 employees, following its separation from Microsoft and regaining independence. Studio head Tim Schafer stated the cuts were necessary to scale the studio to a sustainable size. Microsoft had divested five studios, including Double Fine, earlier this month.
Sunday Multiplex
This article discusses content creator videos, including a segment by Jason Schreier on how Amazon revitalized a studio after abandoning a game. It also features Wendell from Gamers Nexus discussing topics like ID verification for operating systems and VPN bans.
The Elder Scrolls 6’s Development Roadmap Hasn’t Been Affected by Layoffs, Says Bethesda
Bethesda Game Studios has stated that its development roadmap for The Elder Scrolls 6 remains unaffected by recent Xbox-wide layoffs, despite significant job losses across its studios. While the company assures progress is on track, former employees express concerns about the impact of losing experienced staff. Director Todd Howard and Xbox CCO Matt Booty have previously indicated the game is progressing well, though a release window remains unannounced.
Former PlayStation Executive Hopes Bloodborne Comes to PS5 or PC Some Day
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida expressed his confusion and hope regarding the lack of a PlayStation 5 or PC port for Bloodborne. He noted that while Sony releases many remasters, Bloodborne remains unavailable on modern platforms, and he theorizes director Hidetaka Miyazaki may be hesitant to let others work on it. Rumors of a Bluepoint Games remake pitch were also mentioned, though FromSoftware reportedly opposed it.
Bethesda Canceled an Unannounced PvP Shooter Amidst Layoffs – Rumor
Bethesda has reportedly canceled an unannounced PvP shooter, with details emerging from a laid-off employee's LinkedIn profile. This cancellation comes amidst significant layoffs at the company, which also impacted other studios under ZeniMax Media. While the specifics of the canceled project are unknown, it is speculated to be the Rainbow Six Siege-like title previously rumored to be in development at MachineGames.
StarCraft 2 is included in Blizzard's BlizzCon digital goodies, which is more evidence a new game will be announced…
Blizzard Entertainment is offering free in-game items for StarCraft 2 and Heroes of the Storm as part of its BlizzCon digital goodies, fueling speculation about a new StarCraft game announcement. This follows a significant update to StarCraft 2 and a previous job posting for a lead designer on an 'AAA open-world shooter' using Unreal Engine, suggesting a potential shift for the franchise.
Xbox Game Pass isn’t "viable" with so few subscribers, says former Forza lead bracing for more…
Former Forza Horizon 5 director Mike Brown stated that Xbox Game Pass is not viable due to insufficient subscriber numbers, leading to recent studio layoffs. He believes the service's player-focused concept, while well-intentioned, has not met the necessary financial targets. Journalist Jason Schreier also noted that some Xbox studio leadership detest Game Pass, viewing it as detrimental to game value and the industry.
The Biggest Critics Of Xbox Game Pass May Be Inside Xbox
Internal criticism within Xbox suggests that Xbox Game Pass has devalued games and negatively impacted the industry, with some leaders viewing it as a detriment. Despite its initial promise, the subscription service has faced challenges including price increases and shifting tiers, with even its own leaders questioning its success and impact on major franchises like Call of Duty.
Is Game Pass Still the Right Strategy for Xbox?
This article analyzes the current state and future strategy of Xbox Game Pass, questioning its sustainability and impact on game value. Despite initial excitement and acquisitions to bolster its library, internal sentiment appears negative, with reports of studios detesting the service and subscriber growth falling short of projections. While Game Pass remains a key, albeit paradoxical, component of Xbox's offerings, its future is uncertain amidst internal challenges and a need for renewed growth.
Bethesda Director Todd Howard Says He Has No Plans to Retire Anytime Soon
Bethesda game director Todd Howard stated in an interview that he has no immediate plans for retirement, citing his passion for his work and colleagues as motivation. He also touched upon the recent layoffs at Bethesda, describing it as a difficult period for the company. Howard is currently leading development on The Elder Scrolls 6 and is involved with new Fallout projects, including remasters and Fallout 5.
Xbox Studio Leadership Has “A Lot of People” Who “Absolutely Detest Game Pass” – Rumor
According to a report by Jason Schreier, a significant number of Xbox studio leaders reportedly "detest" the Game Pass subscription service, believing it devalues their games and the industry. This sentiment comes amid questions about Game Pass's sustainability and subscriber growth targets, even as Xbox continues to add new titles to the service.
Saturday Multiplex
A trailer has been released for the official Ghost Rider character guide in Marvel Tokon - Fighting Souls. The article also mentions Valve's 14-year journey to create the Steam Machine, as detailed by Jason Schreier.
Todd Howard Says Fallout’s Future Is Bigger Than The Long Wait For Fallout 5
Bethesda Game Studios boss Todd Howard discussed the future of the Fallout franchise, emphasizing that Fallout 5 is the long-term destination and is currently in pre-production. He also confirmed upcoming remasters for Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas, and a new update for Fallout 76 titled Raven Rock.
The Elder Scrolls 6 Remains Bethesda’s “Primary Development Focus”: “We’re Where We Planned To Be”
Bethesda has confirmed that The Elder Scrolls 6 remains the studio's primary development focus, with the majority of the team working on the title. Despite concerns about development following layoffs and the use of contractors, the studio stated they are on track with their planned development schedule. While no release date or window has been provided, the game is reportedly playable internally.
Comings and Goings
Microsoft's Xbox division has undergone significant layoffs, impacting numerous studios and projects. Industry figures like Jason Schreier have reported on the scale of these cuts, with outlets like Game Developer and BBC analyzing the implications for the gaming giant's future.
God Of War Laufey Will Be On A Disc, And That Tells Us When It Could Launch By
Santa Monica Studio confirmed that God of War Laufey will be released on disc, leading to speculation about its launch date before Sony phases out physical media in January 2028. Reporter Jason Schreier previously indicated a February or March 2027 release target for the game, which focuses on Faye's story. The article also touches on Sony's business decision to abandon physical discs and mentions Marvel's Wolverine will also be on disc for PlayStation 5.
Xbox Does Not Plan to Replace Laid-Off Roles With H-1B Visa Hires, Says Microsoft
Microsoft communications lead Frank Shaw clarified that recent layoffs at Xbox, totaling around 1,600 roles, were part of a necessary restructuring and not an effort to replace employees with H-1B visa hires. He stated that H-1B visas represent a small percentage of Microsoft's overall workforce and are not specific to Xbox. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma also confirmed the layoffs and the closure of four studios, emphasizing that the decisions do not reflect the talent of the affected employees.
Xbox Developers Facing “Panic and Anxiety” at Further Layoffs – Rumor
Xbox developers are reportedly experiencing significant panic and anxiety due to ongoing and anticipated future layoffs, with further job cuts planned for the remainder of fiscal year 2027. This uncertainty is causing stress among remaining staff, who fear their workload could be used as justification for future termination. The situation extends to agencies working with the company, which have seen their vendor budgets slashed by 50 percent.
