All articles tagged with #video game industry
Supermassive Games has finalized a redundancy process resulting in the departure of more than 70 employees, including senior leadership and developers. The cuts, which began with a consultation in August, reduce the studio's workforce from over 400 to a significantly smaller number, marking a major contraction for the developer of 'Back 4 Blood' and 'State of Decay'.
Supermassive Games has laid off over 70 employees, a move announced less than six months after the release of its sci-fi horror title Directive 8020. The cuts, which include senior leadership and developers, follow a consultation process that began in August. The studio, known for interactive horror games like Until Dawn, is downsizing from a workforce of over 400 to ensure financial sustainability, despite recent efforts to patch in online multiplayer for its latest release.
Supermassive Games has finalized a redundancy process that resulted in the dismissal of more than 70 employees, including senior leadership and developers. The cuts, which began with a consultation in August, reduce the studio's workforce from over 400 to a significantly smaller number, marking a major contraction for the developer of 'Back 4 Blood' and 'State of Decay'.
The proposed EU Kids Act, introduced in September 2026, faces intense backlash from the video game industry and decentralized social media developers. Critics argue the legislation’s broad age verification requirements and restrictions on private servers could collapse the European gaming market and undermine the technical foundations of the Fediverse. While the law aims to protect minors through strict safety measures, opponents warn that its implementation is technically unfeasible for small-scale operators and fundamentally incompatible with open-source network architectures.
Heart Machine, the studio behind Hyper Light Drifter, is at risk of shutting down after a publisher withdrew funding for an unannounced project. Studio head Alx Preston announced on September 16, 2026, that nearly all remaining staff were laid off due to the loss of this critical income. The studio’s recent titles, including Hyper Light Breaker and Possessor(s), failed to gain traction, leading to previous cuts and a failed Patreon pivot. While Preston expressed uncertainty about the studio's survival, he committed to finding a path forward and assisting displaced employees with job placement.
Nippon Ichi Software lifted its forecast for the year ending March 2027, predicting a 50.1% year‑over‑year rise in net sales and a 141.4% jump in operating profit to 715 million yen, with ordinary and net profits also up substantially, driven by sizzling demand for Village in the Shade (over 100,000 copies sold in Japan in five days and 50,000 more by late August). The global version launches on October 27, expected to boost sales further. The upbeat outlook follows a turnaround from 2025 losses after shifting from contract work to original IP, with more titles like GOBBLE and Prinny Party: Going Overboard! on the horizon, and the stock briefly hitting the upper limit on Aug 31 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch apologized to writer Stella Sacco for publicly saying he would have been happy to replace her with AI; Sacco accepted the apology but reiterated concerns about AI in games and the impact on workers, while Karch reflected on leadership and the ongoing shift toward AI tools in the industry.
Supermassive Games, the UK studio behind Until Dawn and Little Nightmares 3, disclosed a new redundancy consultation that could cut up to 75 jobs, marking the third layoff round in two years as it restructures to stay viable amid shifting industry conditions; the company says the move is necessary for sustainability and will support affected staff.
Rockstar Games announced Grand Theft Auto VI will be released as a fully digital download, with a “physical version” that is actually a download code in a box rather than a disc. A misinterpreted email suggested discs could be available later, but Rockstar clarified there are no plans to print physical discs at launch or in the near term. The move reflects a broader shift toward digital and cloud gaming, with potential impacts on resale, storage, and retailers. Development costs are cited around $1–1.5 billion, justifying higher price points, while preloads begin November 12 and the game launches November 19, 2026.
CD Projekt Red’s co-CEO says the studio hasn’t completed its full redemption arc and has, in effect, lost the faith of some players after Cyberpunk 2077’s launch, but remains hopeful about future titles (including The Witcher 4) and notes improving sentiment following the Phantom Liberty DLC.
OtherSide Entertainment laid off 17 employees after canceling Argos: Riders on the Storm, saying the brutal games market made the project unviable; affected staff are being encouraged to seek new opportunities.
Less than a month after Luna Abyss launched, Kwalee Labs announced via LinkedIn that the entire Luna Abyss team has been laid off, effectively signaling a studio shutdown; the post cited the decision as outside the company’s control and said all affected staff are now available for work, with no detailed reasons given.
Kwalee Labs confirmed on LinkedIn that the entire Luna Abyss development team—nine people—has been made redundant just weeks after the game's May 21, 2026 launch. CEO Hollie Emery said the layoffs were outside of their control, and the affected staff are now available for work. Kwalee Labs, formerly Bonsai Collective and rebranded last year, had supported a high-profile release but could not shield the team from this wave of cuts.
Piper Sandler projects GTA 6 around 46 million units at launch, using subreddit traffic multipliers and historical launch data; two independent methods converge on ~46M. At $70–$80 per unit, gross revenue would be about $3.22B–$3.68B with net after platform fees around $2.25B–$2.58B. If achieved, it would surpass GTA V’s launch performance and potentially become the biggest entertainment product launch ever, though results depend on install base and pricing.
Grand Theft Auto 6’s anticipated November release is acting as a gravitational pull on the 2026 game calendar, pushing a string of big titles into September and October and triggering a crowded fall season as publishers scramble to line up releases and fans brace for a busy, possibly budget-stretching period. The piece notes September’s already packed slate and predicts November will be GTA 6’s dominant window, even as other publishers test the waters against it.