Microsoft Layoffs, China’s Gaming U-Turn, “The Day Before” Drama, + More! - GameLinked Jan 25, 2023

[JakobRush]

 

NEWS SOURCES:

 

LOST IN THE BLIZZARD

Microsoft announces 1,900 layoffs from gaming division

https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-lays-off-1900-staff-from-its-video-game-workforce

Amounts to about 8% of Microsoft Gaming Division https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/25/24049050/microsoft-activision-blizzard-layoffs

Over 5,000 workers in the games industry have lost their jobs in 2024 https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/over-5000-games-industry-workers-have-already-lost-their-jobs-in-2024/

According to Technical artist Farhan Noor’s website https://publish.obsidian.md/vg-layoffs/Archive/2024

That’s already half of the # of layoffs from the entirety of last year https://lmg.gg/rRuVi (Farhan Noor)

Includes Xbox, Bethesda, and AB, according to Spencie https://lmg.gg/hKxqo (IGN)

While non-voluntary leavers are texting Jason Schreier to find out if they’re impacted https://twitter.com/jasonschreier/status/1750543289227284649

Also Mike Ybarra—former Xbox executive who joined Blizzard in 2019 after 20 years at Microsoft—is also leaving the company allegedly voluntarily https://twitter.com/Qwik/status/1750527310493868293

 

OOPS, JK LOL

China quietly removes proposed bans on game monetization tactics from govt site

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/china-removes-proposed-bans-on-monetisation-tactics-from-government-website

Weeks after the guidelines tanked Chinese game companies’ values https://techcrunch.com/2024/01/22/china-quietly-pulls-draft-gaming-rules-from-website/

Shares have jumped https://www.reuters.com/technology/china-regulator-removes-draft-video-game-rules-website-shares-jump-2024-01-23/

Draft rules “inaccessible as of Tuesday morning” https://lmg.gg/HASqa (Reuters)

May be because consultation period expired on Monday https://lmg.gg/lnhsH (Reuters)

“The removal was described by analysts as unusual, with some saying a revision could be in store.” https://lmg.gg/6KJsq (Reuters)

Would have limited in-game purchases, daily log-in incentives https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-68068440

Banning games from forcing players into combat https://lmg.gg/hMhZX (Reuters)

“the introduction of a pop-up warning players of "irrational" behaviour was proposed.” https://lmg.gg/uqz0y (BBC)

 

THE DAY SEVERAL WEEKS AFTER THE DAY BEFORE

The Day Before dev blames failure on everyone else in now-deleted Twitter statement

https://www.polygon.com/24048997/the-day-before-fntastic-shut-down-accusations

There was a “hate campaign” https://www.eurogamer.net/the-day-before-developer-resurfaces-to-blame-games-failure-on-hate-campaign

Bloggers made huge money hating on the game https://lmg.gg/FsPfj (Polygon

Indie dev Crimson disagreed from the start; Spends $1500 and 300 hours to parody gameplay trailers to illustrate overpromising marketing https://www.gamesradar.com/indie-dev-spends-300-hours-and-dollar1500-on-assets-to-complete-their-the-day-before-parody-trailer-warning-people-how-easy-it-can-be-to-get-sucked-into-the-hype/

Some comparisons:

1.   Zombie encounter, attacked from behind

a.  The Day Before 1st gameplay trailer https://youtu.be/13NzZfbATW8?t=265

b.  Parody trailer https://youtu.be/Xj8EZDdGwQc?t=275

2.  Gathering loot

a. The Day Before 2nd gameplay trailer https://youtu.be/b_aVvmLt-B4?t=416

b. Parody https://youtu.be/Xj8EZDdGwQc?t=208

Parody actually shows off parkour https://youtu.be/Xj8EZDdGwQc?t=438

 

 

QUICK BITS

 

POKEMONITORING THE SITUATION

The Pokemon Company make official statement on Palworld—I mean “another company’s game released in January 2024”

https://corporate.pokemon.co.jp/media/news/detail/335.html

They intend “to investigate” https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/01/pokemon-company-will-investigate-palworld-in-light-of-plagiarism-accusations/

Palworld dev told Automaton the game cleared legal reviews https://automaton-media.com/en/news/20240122-25873/

Specific quote https://lmg.gg/ISVVz (Automaton Media)

Maybe they’re just embarrassed they got upstaged so bad https://www.gamesradar.com/its-almost-embarrassing-that-pokemon-got-upstaged-by-something-as-sloppy-as-palworld-a-janky-survival-game-carried-by-one-good-idea/

Or maybe they want people to leave them alone https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/pokemon-company-statement-on-palworld-copyright-allegations-sounds-a-lot-like-please-leave-us-the-hell-alone

 

WE FELL INTO THE PIT

New 2d pixel-art FNaF game trailer allegedly leaked by its developer (The Wrestle Quest studio)

https://www.thegamer.com/wrestlequest-developer-leaks-2d-five-nights-at-freddys-into-the-pit-spin-off/

https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/five-nights-at-freddys-creator-says-its-fine-to-talk-about-new-leaked-game-3576913

https://youtu.be/IHEPIhGSmQs

Presumed to be based on the Oswald story from the Into the Pit novel https://freddy-fazbears-pizza.fandom.com/wiki/Fazbear_Frights_1:_Into_the_Pit

 

SKYRIM 2

New details on Avowed

https://kotaku.com/avowed-rpg-obsidian-microsoft-companions-1851188715

Come from Official Xbox Podcast https://youtu.be/yJFDLV9ov_U

Small interview with game director https://www.pcgamer.com/obsidians-avowed-is-going-classless-ditching-off-pillars-of-eternitys-crunchy-stat-heavy-builds-in-favour-of-skyrim-like-ability-trees/

 

CHEERS OF THE KINGDOM

Legend of Zelda producer spotted at Super Nintendo World, Zelda expansion speculated

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/01/eiji-aonuma-has-been-spotted-alongside-miyamoto-at-universal-studios-japan

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/universal-studios-pulls-video-showing-zelda-producer-at-construction-site/

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/removed-video-of-eiji-aonuma-at-universal-studios-orlando-sparks-zelda-park-speculation/1100-6520602/

Still of their outfits

https://twitter.com/Stealth40k/status/1750364191670607991

 

SUPER NINTENDO HARD

Super Mario Kart modder gave the game fixed camera angles

https://twitter.com/LF_MrL314/status/1750173271364895219

https://www.gamesradar.com/super-mario-kart-modder-adds-sadistic-resident-evil-style-camera-angles-calls-it-the-worst-thing-i-have-ever-created/

He originally “threw together” an example on one map back in June https://twitter.com/LF_MrL314/status/1677127899252391936

Decided to release it as a full hack https://twitter.com/LF_MrL314/status/1750177379224277387