In a total shocker, the first big move from Microsoft acquiring Activision-Blizzard-King becomes 1,900 employees being laid off. Many of them involved Activision-Blizzard employees and also Xbox employees leading to a 9% cut in Xbox's total gaming division among all of their studios. They also canceled the Blizzard survival game, "Odyssey" due to the engine being used to make the game being far away from being ready, and the game being many years from release.
Sean and Marc attempt to do their best to discuss the story, the statements, and the aftermath, was this all really inevitable? Could something have been done to prevent it? And what does it say that the workers that have unionized were not part of these layoffs? Do the industry's employees need to do more to fight for themselves? And does this put a damper on acquisitions seeing such large-scale layoffs like this?
Unfortunately, the layoffs don't end there, as Riot Games also suffered layoffs this week (530 employees) and closed their studio Riot Forge which were in-charge of their external partnership games furthering the lore of League of Legends. Embracer Group continued its string of layoffs by lowering the workforce of Black Forest Games by 50% as well.
There are other things discussed in this episode, but it felt very weird to lead with that. Sean has early impressions of the newly released Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Nintendo puts out a statement indirectly about Palworld, rumors continue to grow about Nintendo Switch 2 releasing in 2024 and now with an 8-inch LCD screen to boot. Square-Enix wanting to focus on quality over quantity with their games lineup, and much more!
You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/j7XMD1OmNSE
Links:
Preparing for two years of pain article from Christopher Dring: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/games-industry-leaders-braced-for-up-to-two-years-of-pain
Microsoft lays off 1,900 gaming division employees: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-cuts-1900-staffers-from-its-games-division
Riot Games lays off 530 employees and closes Riot Forge: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/riot-lays-off-530-staff-riot-forge-shutting-down
Nintendo Switch reportedly will have 8-inch LCD Screen: https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-2-reportedly-has-an-8-inch-lcd-screen
Radulich in Broadcasting's Review of Marvel's Echo on Disney +: https://youtube.com/live/6HaPqS0OD6Q
The latest episode of Otalku Cafe: https://youtube.com/live/wgPJz036u3c
Our Friend's over at The Outerhaven.net's newest Spectator Mode Podcast: https://youtu.be/FavWyBkhV4Q?si
Timestamps:
00:00:00: START
00:01:50: Housekeeping
---------------------- Games we are Playing -------------
00:03:50: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Sean)
00:11:50: Far Cry 6 and Team Fortress 2 (Marc)
----------------- MAIN TOPIC ---------------
00:14:00: Xbox introduces Xbox Selects Program for to help indie games with visibility
00:18:20: Microsoft lays off 9 % of the Xbox gaming division including workers from Activision-Blizzard-King, Xbox, and Zenimax/Bethesda, and also Blizzard's Survival Game "Odyssey" canceled
-------------- What's in the News -------------
00:37:40: Square-Enix wants to diversify its portfolio of games and lessen its reliance on their big franchises
00:47:35: Dragon's Dogma 2 Dev says Using Fast Travel means your game is boring
00:53:15: Nintendo Switch 2 will have an 8-inch LCD screen according to analyst
00:57:50: A little VR interlude
00:59:05: Nintendo issues a statement on defending its copyright with Pokemon mention Palworld indirectly and Palword's first roadmap
01:07:15: PlayStation is going to put Until Dawn on PS5 and PC
01:08:45: Gamers want Tifa from Final Fantasy VII in Tekken 8, and Harada responds
------------------- Entertainment Corner ---------------
01:10:35: Millie Gibson may be done with Doctor Who and the first season hasn't even aired
-------------- The End --------------
01:14:45: Games Coming out this week: Granblue Fantasy Relink, Persona 3 Reload, and more!
- Listen and give us a review on these platforms... -
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ag/podcast/video-games-2-the-max/id886092740
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2wjd0u3xO7TdAm4gKRM44L
Amazon: https://www.audible.com/pd/Video-Games-2-the-MAX-Podcast/B08JJPTZTW
Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/video-games-2-the-max-181386
Podcast Addict: https://podcastaddict.com/?podId=2465904
IHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/53-video-games-2-the-m-28438312/
Follow on X (Twitter):
Sean on Twitter: https://twitter.com/W2MSean
W2M Network on Twitter: https://twitter.com/w2mnetwork
- Other Social Media -
Follow us on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@w2mnetwork2
Join us on Discord: https://discord.gg/aydMgvUN9d
Follow us on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/w2mnetwork
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/w2mnetwork/
Follow Us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W2MNetwork
Necessary Roughness Podcast (EP 155): NFL Week 16 Preview! Plus, Nik’s Take on the Historic Ending of Raiders vs. Patriots
Necessary Roughness Podcast (EP 154): NFL Week 15 Preview! Plus, How the Kyler Murray Injury Threw the Cardinals Into a Very Peculiar Situation
Alex Ovechkin 800 Goals, Anaheim Ducks are Bad, Flames Struggling and More
Last Word SC Radio: RIP Grant Wahl
Sonic Frontiers, World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, Xbox is Now Doing $70 Games
Necessary Roughness Podcast (EP 153): NFL Week 14 Preview! Plus, Why the Ravens and 49ers May Both Survive Their QB’s Injuries
Canucks Trade Rumours, Columbus Injuries, and More
Last Word SC Radio: USMNT Netherlands Review, USA Big Picture Analysis
Necessary Roughness Podcast (EP 152): NFL Week 13 Preview! Plus, Why Starting the Packers Continuing to Start an Injured Aaron Rodgers Accomplishes Nothing
Ottawa Senators Issues, Formenton, and Goalie Usage with Jack Richardson
Goalie Consistency, Auston Matthews Play, and Name The Captain
Last Word SC Radio: USMNT Iran Instant Reaction Podcast
Last Word SC Radio: U.S., Costa Rica World Cup knockout shot, Canada officially eliminated
Necessary Roughness Podcast (EP 151): NFL Week 12 Preview! Plus, Why the Texans Decision to Bench Davis Mills is Perplexing
Toronto Maple Leafs Defence, New Jersey Winning Streak, and More
Last Word SC Radio: USA Wales Reaction, England Preview
Necessary Roughness Podcast (EP 150): NFL Week 11 Preview! Plus, Nik Wonders if Chargers HC Brandon Staley May be on the Hot Seat
Hockey Hall of Fame Discussion, Battle for Last, and Career Game
Last Word SC Radio: FIFA World Cup & Concacaf Teams Preview
Ottawa Senators Injuries and DJ Smith Job in Danger with Alicia Scodeller
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Shifting Gears: The Zach Osborne Podcast
The Fly Racing Moto:60 Show
Rocky Mountain ATV/MC Keefer Tested
The Pulp Hockey Show
The London International Horse Show