Sigh. When it looked like the worst industry-wide redundancies were behind us, Bungie decided that one round of layoffs wasn’t enough. Despite an initial cost-cutting exercise in October 2023, the studio decimated its ranks by a further 17% this past week. Nothing I write here will be unique; it’s all been said a thousand times. But that doesn’t change our disappointment and anger whenever a new statement about a “difficult” decision breaks. As always, I feel for the developers impacted. Imagine watching your colleagues get the axe In October and being told it was “all hands on deck” to deliver …
Tag: Industry
After Latest Studio Closures, Xbox Has Killed All Trust
This week, I originally planned to preview the forthcoming Call of Duty: Black Ops reveal in June, maybe focus on Nintendo finally acknowledging the successor to the Nintendo Switch, or talk about some of the great releases this week, such as the Metroidvania puzzler Animal Well, but Xbox decided to steal the headlines and the attention of everyone for all the wrong reasons. Before going forward, I need to address it, and I’m not going to sugarcoat things: Xbox has fucked it. Royally. The closure of four development studios—including Tango Gameworks, the developer of Hi-Fi Rush—and the resulting town hall …
With E3 Gone, the Big Three Look On
The video game industry is a fast-moving beast. Trends appear overnight and disappear just as quickly. Development studios close at the click of an executive’s finger. The game of the moment becomes tomorrow’s afterthought. One constant, however, is the period in early summer, when publishers, developers, and hardware manufacturers showcase plans for the rest of the year and beyond, although the format has changed from what was regarded as the standard for twenty-something years. The Entertainment Software Association held the inaugural Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 – get it?) in May 1995 with the goal of making it the premier …
Switch 2 Launch 2025: Nintendo Is in Dangerous Territory
I’d put myself in the upper echelons of Nintendo fandom. I’ve had a long history with the company since my first hand-me-down GameBoy Pocket. I’m an Animal Crossing die-hard, my girlfriend beats me at Mario Kart, and I frequently reminisce over Wii Sports taking over the world in 2007. I still enjoy most of Nintendo’s first-party output, and the Nintendo Switch, the hybrid console phenomenon entering its eighth year on the market, is my preferred choice for third-party titles when possible. I’ve been anticipating a jump in hardware since the dreaded Switch Pro rumour cycle in 2021 and thought this …
The Game Awards 2023 – Picks & Predictions
It’s awards season! And there’s no better way to kick it off than The Game Awards, a show that I consistently enjoy despite not always being the most entertaining. Geoff Keighley has stuck with his vision for TGA and evolved the show into a slickly produced showcase of the past year full of exciting announcements, random celebrity appearances and the celebration of some of the year’s best games. TGA isn’t perfect — it’s a bit like potpourri. Made up of different elements, it can be flashy and entertaining, but ultimately, you end up looking at it and thinking, is all …