THERE ARE EIGHT DAYS LEFT TO BACK THE GAME INDUSTRY HARDSHIP FUND AND GET A LOT (127!!!) OF GAMES WHEN YOU DO do it. do it. do it. do it. do it itch.io/b/3802/game-...

If you're part of the BioWare or Sims community and want to talk about how those studios' queer characters and themes have impacted you and your fears for those series moving forward after this sale, I'd love to chat with you for a Kotaku story. Can be reached here or email kshepard@kotaku.com

Kotaku@kotaku.com · yesterday

Well, I guess Electronic Arts belongs to Saudi Arabia, private equity, and Jared Kushner now. https://kotaku.com/electronic-arts-officially-belongs-saudi-arabia-jared-kushner-now-2000721666

We passed the initial goal in 4 days! So we've upped it - let's push forward to $200k!! Thanks to everyone for buying the bundle and sharing wherever you can.

Brandon Sheffield@brandon.insertcredit.com · 6d ago

In response to the unprecedented number of game developers laid off this year, we have created a bundle on itch to benefit a Game Industry Hardship Fund, managed by @videogameworkers.bsky.social. More than 100 games for 10+ bucks! Please share widely and donate generously! itch.io/b/3802/game-...

Its infuriating that so many dev created resources like GrackleHQ.com and Gameuidatabase.com are completely hamstrung by AI scrapers. It ruins what remains of the small scale, community driven internet.

The upgrades to the switch 2 version of Xenoblade Chronicles 1 are so confusing to me. The hoverbikes they added are a very welcome solution to how large their environments are and adding a racing mode with tight turns and high speeds sounds like fun, but why make the hoverbikes drive like boats?

Try to make sure your casual gamer friends, or core/hardcore ones who assume that sales just weren't enough to keep employees, are seeing coverage like this I'm finding that the masses truly just don't always see the dissonant reality: that there's PLENTY of profit but wages are straight up stolen!

Eurogamer@eurogamer.bsky.social · last wk.

After laying off Battlefield 6 devs, EA boss Andrew Wilson's bonus rose $8m to $38m last year, thanks to the game's success across "all milestones" www.eurogamer.net/ea-boss-38-m...

The layoffs are getting worse. Devs are suffering. Gamers are suffering. Organizing is the only way to save this industry and the people who make it possible.

New data suggests layoffs will affect 14,259 people by the end of 2026, up 78% from first forecast of the year

"The pace of layoffs is accelerating faster than our models initially predicted"

gamesindustry.biz

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains

Nayan Ramachandran@thetrin.blacksky.app · last wk.

Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains

Final Fantasy XIV Online: 60 Day Time Card Code is $24.99 on Newegg DOTD w/ code SSF72622 buff.ly/TGYx480 #ad

Its always wild (in a good way) to see folks I worked with ages ago in game/season/patch dev videos.

From a database to a full-fledged bible! ✨🕺 We've collabed with @eddcoates.bsky.social on the Game UI Bible, a 500+ page hardback adventure through the UI/UX of loads of your favourite games 🎮 Let us entice you with a limited signed bookplate by Edd himself and more below 🔗👇

AI is not a neutral technology whose benefits need to be redistributed. It is a weapon of class war from above, designed to cheapen labor and concentrate power. Nationalizing it does nothing to change that.

The Socialist Case Against Nationalizing AI

AI is not a neutral technology whose benefits need to be redistributed. It is a weapon of class war from above, designed to cheapen labor and concentrate power. Nationalizing it does nothing to change that.

jacobin.com

Did you know that in official numbers (often extracted from WARN notices), contractors aren't counted as cut employees? So the games industry bloodbath is even worse than being reported. Big ups to Rebekah for covering what many game workers already know: it's past time we fight for our dignity.

Kotaku@kotaku.com · 2w ago

Thousands of full-time video game industry workers have been laid off in the last several years as game companies scramble to cut costs. But there are even more cuts happening quietly to contract workers, wh... https://kotaku.com/amidst-mass-layoffs-contract-workers-devastated-video-games-2000718416

Well, guess this means its time for the yearly re-watch

Ash Parrish, Kotaku's LeBron James@adashtra.bsky.social · 4w ago

"Believe in the me that believes in you" was bars in 08. Its a fucking holy anthemic prayer right now because it acknowledges that belief in yourself is hard if not impossible "Oh you don't believe in yourself, that's fine, believe in me and that'll carry us both" BARRSSSSS

I get that most recipes need more garlic than they list, buy maybe mistaking 6 cloves of garlic with 6 bulbs is too much.

Put it back. What are they gonna do? Lay you off?

Kotaku@kotaku.com · 4w ago

Bethesda HR Forced Staff To Remove Small Memorial To Laid-Off Colleagues

Javi knows. This is spot on. These dynamics, plus shorter seasons/shorter overall runs... it's all bad for television, just bad for the form all around. Anyway, thread:

javier grillo-marxuach@okbjgm.bsky.social · 4w ago

i believe that the the entire "binge watch" model of releasing television series is based on a faulty premise, and that faulty premise has significantly devaluated television as an art form. stick with me on this one...

Negotiations are taking longer with Arkane because of "strict French labor laws" just means Msft can't do whatever they want in countries with reasonable protections for workers. Something to think about.

The game industry is so fucking back

One of the things I love about living in a larger metro area is being able to see all the fireworks everyone sets off. The city's stuff is fine for the spectacle, but seeing smaller, mismatched versions across the city is what real celebration looks like.

Games aren't made by studios, they're made by people. The studio is just the logo on the side of the building. The way this industry is undervaluing, abusing, and discarding people is shameful, and it's doing damage to this medium we will never fully know. All while execs line their pockets.

Saying one of the most prolific live service titles “fell short of expectations” in a massive layoff announcement is a slap in the face to every dev and every player who knows how much Destiny meant in an industry where longevity is rare. Whose expectations did it fail? The investors? The execs?

Jumped onto Arena for the first time in a minute and it's wild to see everyone with TMNT and Marvel avatars. A lot of folks I talk to have accepted the deluge of Universes Beyond sets, but this is the first I've seen of the community outright embracing it

Today is a momentous day for the workers of Arena! After months of planning, waiting and organizing, our dream is finally a reality; the votes have been counted, and our union of UWOTC-CWA has been officially elected. From this day forward, we have a union!

In the same day we got: - beloved studios possibly getting shuttered - people hoping that said studios get allowed to spin off instead - a studio that successfully spun off from Netflix being lambasted for their use of AI for code / data when they suddenly had to pivot major parts of their game

Look, I understand the reasoning around "readjusting after the pandemic hiring spree", but I still think it's an excuse. We've seen layoffs ever since Twitter was bought + axed a large portion of their team. Business folks saw investors liked it and we've seen a steady stream of layoffs ever since

these studios will continue to treat us like chess pieces until we take our power back. without us there would be no games!!!!

Danielle Lalonders@dlalonders.bsky.social · 2mo ago

it would benefit all of us to unionize because literally none of us have job security in this industry. you can work at a company for 10+ years and they will stay lay you off like you’re nothing. it shouldn’t be like this

Memo to Democrats: You can be cis and straight and the Republicans will still run a homophobic and transphobic campaign against you. Also there will be racism. So just do the right thing. Support the most vulnerable in our society full throatedly and proudly.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2mo ago

REP. BRANDON GILL: This is a much more effeminate version of Beto O'Rourke ... this is somebody who is really obsessed with children ... I think of James Talarico as a barely straight version of Pete Buttigieg KAYLEIGH McENANY: We know Talarico has a longtime girlfriend and she's very beautiful

One of the things I'm really digging in Mina the Hollower is just how much discovery there is. They explain the basic moveset in the first 5 minutes, but they force you to figure out new uses for it all the time. It does a great job of making you feel really clever.

There is a problem with the stories we tell & the way we perceive how change happens. The Union of Pinnacle Tenants, the largest tenant-led union in NYC—are the reason Mamdani took action. Organized people power is pivotal. Top down stories of elected heroes (even ones we like) are not sufficient.

Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social · 2mo ago

In January, Zohran Mamdani took action against bankrupt landlord Pinnacle, which was responsible for over 5,000 housing violations. Thanks to his intervention, Pinnacle's new owners have forgiven millions in tenants' back rent. This is what governing for the people looks like.