Labor Issues
Ongoing coverage on Labor Issues.
Latest coverage
Star Wars: Zero Company devs left without pay, report claims, with "most" staff furloughed prior to launch
Developers at Bit Reactor, the studio behind Star Wars: Zero Company, were reportedly furloughed without pay weeks before the game's launch, with "most" of the team impacted. A spokesperson for Bit Reactor stated the decision was theirs alone and expressed hope to rehire staff if the game's launch is successful. The situation has emerged amidst ongoing legal action between the studio's co-founders.
AI is 'just a plagiarism machine that makes people lose their jobs' in the eyes of The Talos Principle…
Narrative designers Jonas and Verena Kyratzes from Croteam express strong skepticism about the current applications of AI in game development, calling it a 'plagiarism machine' that harms creativity and leads to job losses. They argue that while the underlying technology is impressive, its current use in profit-driven systems is detrimental, and the focus should be on labor issues rather than the technology itself.
Quantic Dream-anställd: Star Wars Eclipse kan inte färdigställas utan mer personal
Employees at Quantic Dream have stated that the development of Star Wars Eclipse is severely understaffed and may not be completed without significant additional personnel. This comes after the studio laid off 115 employees following the cancellation of their multiplayer game Spellcasters Chronicles. The developers are organizing protests, dubbed 'Summer Strike Fest', to highlight the unsustainable working conditions and the need for more staff to complete Star Wars Eclipse.
Issues and Activism
Electronic Arts' headquarters in Redwood was reportedly 'raided' as a protest against a potential takeover by Saudi Arabia. Separately, Microsoft fired the head of its Israeli subsidiary and other managers due to allegations of surveillance on Palestinians.
Issues and Activism
Gunzilla's CEO has denied allegations of delayed payments to full-time employees and refuted claims of calling unpaid contractors 'haters'. The company is facing scrutiny over its financial practices.
Issues and Activism
Epic Games is facing criticism for laying off a terminally ill employee who lacked life insurance. Separately, the upcoming Borderlands 4 DLC is receiving backlash due to its high price and perceived short content.