Episode 160: A Bad Year for Game Creators is a Bad Year for Games (News Show)

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, a leadership shake-up at PlayStation, and Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard now seems like a sure thing. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! 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 VIRTUOS LAUNCHES GAME DEVELOPMENT STUDIO IN TOKYO | Virtuos Supercell acquires majority stake in Ultimate Studio | GamesIndustry XSOLLA ACQUIRES ACCELERATXR | XSOLLA New Microsoft/Activision deal addresses previous CMA concerns in cloud gaming | UK CMA