Game Development
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Xbox retreats again – but to where? | Opinion
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees across various studios as part of a company 'reset' to focus on profitable franchises. This move raises questions about the future of Xbox's first-party strategy, its Game Pass subscription service, and the upcoming console generation, particularly given the high cost of components and the blurring lines between PC and console gaming.
IO Interactive to shutter Istanbul studio following end of Project Fantasy deal with Xbox
IO Interactive will close its Istanbul studio following the withdrawal of Xbox's funding for its online fantasy RPG, Project Fantasy. The company cited the decision as necessary to maintain its independence as a AAA developer and publisher. IO Interactive has regained full ownership of Project Fantasy and plans to fund and develop it independently.
Xbox setting Compulsion and Double Fine free is the only good thing to come out of Microsoft's layoffs
Microsoft's recent layoffs, affecting thousands of employees, have led to Xbox allowing Compulsion Games and Double Fine Productions to become independent. While the mass job losses are devastating, this move is seen as a positive step for fostering innovation in the indie game space, freeing these studios from the constraints of triple-A development.
Spyro: Reignited Trilogy devs used an open-source emulator to look at the original platformer and measure "all the metrics" of gem placements, enemy paths, and more for their remake
Toys for Bob developers used a modified open-source emulator to meticulously recreate Spyro: Reignited Trilogy, measuring exact gem placements and enemy paths. This approach ensured the remake's faithfulness to the original games while incorporating quality-of-life improvements like updated controls.
Doom developer id Software "is essentially dead," Duke Nukem 3D co-creator says after layoffs reportedly cut…
Following significant layoffs at Xbox, Apogee co-founder George Broussard stated that id Software is "essentially dead" as a development studio, with most of its programming, testing, and Quake Champions teams reportedly cut. Broussard suggests id Software is now relegated to a support role for Bethesda, lamenting the potential loss of the idTech engine. The article also touches on the broader implications of Microsoft's studio sales and layoffs for independent developers.
Doom creator John Romero praises the devs who carried on id Software's legacy as Microsoft reportedly lays off half of the studio: "The last few games showed real care, skill, and respect"
Doom co-creator John Romero has expressed his sympathy for id Software employees affected by recent layoffs, which reportedly cut the studio in half. Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing a significant restructure, impacting ZeniMax Studios and its subsidiaries, including id Software, Bethesda Game Studios, and Arkane Studios. Despite reports of Bethesda focusing on its strongest franchises like Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein, the extensive layoffs at id Software, particularly among coders working on the id Tech engine, raise concerns about the future of these series.
ATARI NAMES ANDREAS DEPTOLLA PRESIDENT OF ATARI EUROPE
Atari has appointed Andreas Deptolla as the new President of Atari Europe, a newly created position. Deptolla, who joined Atari in 2023 as Chief Technology Officer, will oversee the company's expanding European operations, including development studios in the UK and Sweden, and business operations in Germany. Richard Snowdon has also been appointed Vice President of Studios, Europe.
"We simply spread ourselves too thin" – Xbox's Asha Sharma on firm's restructuring plans
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma detailed the company's restructuring plans, which include 3,200 layoffs and the divestment of five internal studios: Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, Undead Labs, and Arkane Lyon. Sharma stated that Xbox "spread itself too thin" with various bets, leading to a weakening of its core business and a need to streamline management and refocus resources.
The Sandbox Hosts $5,000 AI Game Jam
The Sandbox is hosting its first Game Jam for Alpha Creators, an event focused on AI-led game development tools, running until July 31. Participants can win a share of $5,000 in prizes, with the first-place winner receiving $2,500. The event includes workshops and Q&A sessions with The Sandbox team to support creators.
IO Interactive closing Istanbul studio after regaining control of Project Fantasy
IO Interactive is closing its Istanbul studio following Xbox's withdrawal of financing for the online RPG Project Fantasy. Although IO Interactive has regained full ownership of the project, the studio must now find a new balance and focus on its main internal titles. The closure is described as a necessary step to ensure the long-term future of the independent AAA developer and publisher.
The Outer Worlds and Fallout New Vegas studio Obsidian is reportedly losing a quarter of its staff in Xbox layoffs
Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds and Fallout New Vegas, is reportedly laying off approximately a quarter of its staff, around 60-70 employees. These cuts are part of broader layoffs at Xbox, which impacted 3200 jobs across various Microsoft-owned studios. The layoffs affect multiple disciplines, including senior talent, and come as Obsidian continues work on Grounded 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 DLC.
What exactly is going on with Marvel's Blade? Arkane Lyon's fate remains unclear in the wake of Xbox's controversial 'reset'
Microsoft's Xbox division is undergoing significant layoffs and studio restructuring, impacting Arkane Lyon and its in-development game, Marvel's Blade. While the studio is in consultation due to French labor laws, reports suggest Blade is safe from cancellation despite being over-budget and internally delayed. Todd Howard of Bethesda Game Studios recently expressed positive impressions of the game.
The Daily Grind: What does the future look like for Elder Scrolls Online in the wake of Microsoft’s massacre?
Microsoft's recent layoffs have significantly impacted the Elder Scrolls Online studio, leading to the dismissal of numerous staff members, including senior employees. Despite assurances that the game will continue, the roadmap is expected to suffer, raising concerns about its future development and the loss of institutional knowledge within the MMORPG genre.
Report: Roughly half of the id Software team have been laid off
id Software, the developer of Doom: The Dark Ages, has reportedly laid off approximately 50 percent of its staff, equating to over 90 employees. This follows Xbox's announcement of eliminating 3,200 roles across its video game division. Bethesda president Jill Braff stated that the company is restructuring around its biggest franchises, including Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Wolfenstein, Doom, and Quake.
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick once reportedly suggested Halo 4 should have a real-money auction house like Diablo 3 infamously did
Former Xbox boss Don Mattrick reportedly suggested that Halo 4 should feature a real-money auction house for in-game items, similar to Diablo 3's controversial experiment. This idea was met with internal disbelief by the development team, who recognized the potential negative impact on the game's reputation and completion status. Halo 4 ultimately launched without such a feature, and Mattrick departed Microsoft in 2013.
Portside Game Assembly in Hamburg Establishes Itself as the Conference for International Exchange Among Indie Game Studios — 2027 Date Announced
The Portside Game Assembly, an international conference for indie game studios held in Hamburg, has announced its 2027 dates following a successful 2026 event. The conference, organized by Gamecity Hamburg and Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, focuses on fostering exchange and networking among studio leaders in a confidential setting. The 2027 edition is scheduled for June 24 and 25.
Bethesda boss says the company must focus on its "strongest franchises" as Xbox layoffs reportedly hit The Elder Scrolls and Fallout makers hard
Following significant layoffs impacting Bethesda Game Studios and id Software, Bethesda president Jill Braff has informed staff of a strategic shift to concentrate on the company's strongest franchises, including The Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Doom, and Quake. This move aims to ensure a more stable business foundation and sustainable growth for future investments in its intellectual properties.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance star says it didn't lead to work in other games: 'The industry at large has never…
Luke Dale, the voice actor for Lord Hans Capon in Kingdom Come: Deliverance and its sequel, expressed disappointment that his acclaimed work has not led to more opportunities in the gaming industry. He highlighted the supportive nature of developer Warhorse Studios but criticized the broader industry's lack of recognition for his contributions. Dale has since found success and community through streaming on Twitch.
Staff at Fallout: New Vegas Developer Obsidian Reportedly Left Unsure How 'Huge List of Projects' Can Continue After Xbox Layoffs Hit Hard
Staff at Obsidian Entertainment are reportedly concerned about the studio's future projects following significant layoffs within Microsoft's Xbox division. The uncertainty stems from a 'huge list of projects' and the impact of the recent job cuts on the development team.
Latest Xbox layoffs hit id Software as Doom: The Dark Ages' DLC launches, around half of the staff potentially cut
Xbox is implementing significant layoffs, impacting id Software heavily just as its new DLC for Doom: The Dark Ages is set to launch. Reports suggest around half of id Software's staff, potentially including most coders, may have been cut. This follows broader workforce reductions across ZeniMax studios and other Xbox-owned entities, raising concerns about the future of the id Tech engine and the studio's development capabilities.
