The industry’s labor situation is reaching a boiling point, as Epic Games sacrifices employees on the altar of its fight against Apple and Google. Also: Unity has burnt its goodwill to the ground, voice actors prepare to strike, and Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard now seems like a sure thing.
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TIME STAMPS
- [00:00:31] – The State of the Industry
- [00:09:05] – Unity Update – An Attempt to Save Face
- [00:28:57] – Bye bye, Jim Ryan
- [00:30:03] – Epic Implements IARC Ratings for Fortnite Creative & more Parental Controls
- [00:35:59] – Investment Interlude
- [00:41:50] – Quick Hits
- [00:50:18] – Labor Report
- [01:18:27] – Listener Questions
SOURCES
- Introducing IARC Ratings in Fortnite, Paving the Way for a Multi-Game Ecosystem | Epic Games
- Epic Games Safety and Security Center | Epic Games
- Crystal Dynamics (Embracer) Layoffs | Crystal Dynamics (@crystaldynamics) on Twitter
- Embracer open to divesting studios, confirms more closures on the horizon | Game Developer
- Roblox cuts 30 on talent acquisition team as hiring slows | TechCrunch
- Blizzard lays off several Hearthstone developers after restructuring team | Game Developer
- Hyenas Cancelation and Layoffs at Creative Assembly | Creative Assembly (@CAGames) on Twitter
- Significant job losses likely at Worms publisher Team17 – sources | Eurogamer
- Last Of Us Studio Naughty Dog Is Cutting Developers | Kotaku
- Boomerang X Developer Dang is Shutting Down | Dang (@dangmakesgames) on Twitter
- CLOSING PUNY HUMAN | Puny Human
- Layoffs at Epic | Epic Games
- Five former Ubisoft executives arrested after sexual harassment investigation | GamesIndustry (via Libération)
- Terminated BioWare Employees Sue for Better Severance | Jon Renish (@jonrenish) on Twitter
- SAG-AFTRA Members Approve Video Game Strike Authorization Vote With 98.32% Yes Vote | SAG-AFTRA
- Nickelodeon game developer Workinman unanimously votes to unionize | Game Developer
- Over 100 Developers of Just Cause, Contraband at Avalanche Studios Have Unionized | IGN
- CD Projekt Red devs unionise after its third round of layoffs in three months | Eurogamer
INVESTMENT INTERLUDE