Witt
@yourogsan.bsky.social
All opinions are my own. Except when they're from my corgis, but you'll know when that happens
When massive corporations lay off foundational team members like Ching, they tear out the soul of a team. It is up to all of us to protect video games and it starts with the real people who make them. #SaveGameWorkers and tell Microsoft to correct course on these layoffs (link in bio).
"Indies will save us" No! YOU WILL SAVE INDIES! Go leave a review for that neat indie game you like, share the trailer for an upcoming game you're anticipating, tell your fave developer they did a good job, go tell people about such and such game that's just come out, you can make a difference!
Xbox Boss Asha Sharma Says Elder Scrolls VI Looks Great, So Stop Talking About That Giant Rat Outside Bethesda's Office
Xbox Boss Praises Elder Scrolls 6 As Bethesda Devs Protest Outside
The newly appointed Xbox CEO posted on social media that the upcoming RPG looks 'incredible'
kotaku.com
Today at HQ, we had special guests from Microsoft leadership. We refuse to let executives forget what game studios are actually made of: their workers. As welcome gift, we placed hundreds of flags outside, honoring all of the game workers who have been laid off by Microsoft in 2026 (so far).
I repeat. Roblox is the worst thing that's happened to the video game industry.
Mike Straw | Insider-Gaming.com@mikestrawmedia.com · 4w agoMy opinion: Roblox is the worst thing that's ever happened to the video game industry.
I didn’t even see this had been announced. I was lead writer on this one! And Saber replaced me with ChatGPT midway through development. All the passenger voices were AI too. Either they changed direction at some point or they’re not disclosing it on Steam
Rideshare "Stimulator" - Announce Trailer | PS5 Games
YouTube video by PlayStation
youtu.be
Game developers like David want to make games for adventurers like you - but they can't do if their colleagues keep getting arrows to the knee. The future of video game development belongs to you, hero. #SaveGameWorkers and tell Microsoft how these layoffs impact the worlds you love (link in bio).
NEW: CWA union members have inflated a giant rat and deployed a wall of red flags representing laid off Xbox workers outside the Bethesda office in Rockville. The protest was timed to coincide with a visit from Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who is apparently at the studio today.
But he no longer has "14 layers of management" to fight through? Morale should be skyrocketing!
Insider Gaming@insider-gaming.com · 3d agoid Software's Chris Hays Says Morale Has Never Been Lower insider-gaming.com/id-softwares...
Developers like Eric just want to make games that enrich player's lives. But too often, multi-billion dollar companies like Microsoft, Sony, and EA want to enrich shareholders via layoffs. #SaveGameWorkers and tell these companies to stop treating game developers as disposable: shorturl.at/5ruBE
There are no video games without video game developers. Trillionaire corporations will continue to treat devs as line items on a balance sheet unless we fight back. Join us on August 18th to #SaveGameWorkers, as we rally across nine studios in the US and Canada. More location details to come soon.
We are halfway to the end of the game industry hardship bundle - this is when most campaigns to experience a slump - let's try to beat the trend! We've already raised $160k to help out of work game devs - I'd love to double that by campaign's end. Please share widely! itch.io/b/3802/game-...
Person by person, Microsoft has gutted teams that support Xbox players. Cameron Miller was Zenimax's German Billingual Customer Support Lead until he was laid off on July 6th. Together, we can still send a message to Microsoft and #SaveGameWorkers. These layoffs cannot continue! shorturl.at/5ruBE
The fact that it’s not uncommon for game companies to require you to relocate across the country just to lay you off is crazy. “Sorry we made you and your family move to an incredibly expensive city a few months ago to do a job you could have done remotely - also you’re now out of a job. :)”
UVW-CWA's hardship fund has raised over 100k through the bundle with @itch.io and has had a real impact on the lives of laid off developers. You can help by purchasing the bundle, and make a long-term difference by joining UVW-CWA. Check out the bundle here: itch.io/b/3802/game-...
I'm looking into my crystal orb and I see Mass layoffs Increased monetization Fewer projects releasing Increased outsourcing More crunch
Kotaku@kotaku.com · last wk.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
I can't be more proud of everyone who has contributed to this fund. It's because of everyone that chipped in that we can make meaningful change in the lives of many. And this is just one step! Imagine what we could do if we continue to work together!
United Videogame Workers-CWA@videogameworkers.bsky.social · last wk.As of this morning, the itch bundle officially broke 100k. This is a lifeline to our fellow workers and proof that solidarity extends beyond borders, both literal and figurative. Never let anyone tell you that things cannot change.
You’ve helped us raise over 80k for laid off gamedevs in need so far, and we still have plenty of time left in the bundle’s drive. Everyone who organized this effort was doing so on their own time for the benefit of others. If these companies wanted to, they would. They don’t. We do. Join us. ✊
btw if the ESA or any of these studios wanted to put together an initiative to provide financial relief to laid off game workers, they have ~$60M in total assets that they could allocate towards one. They're welcome to reach out to me if they need info on how to set one up.
Shayna Moon (she/they)@themoonis.gay · 2w agoDevs, pay attention to who is actually, practically offering support to our laid off colleagues. It’s not the companies, it’s not the ESA, it’s the union, it’s us.
The diarrhea lettuce company, Taylor Farms, uses slave labor contracted from the Arizona Dept. of Corrections. The backbreaking labor is often performed by imprisoned Mexican nationals who would be otherwise ineligble to work in the US. They are paid $1.50 an hour.
The Diarrhea Lettuce Company Has Been Linked to Forced Labor
The lettuce-producing Taylor Farms was linked to the widespread use of prison labor before its involvement in a cyclospora outbreak.
futurism.com
User researchers like Elisabeth Whyte made sure players' voices were heard in your favorite Xbox games. On July 6th, Elisabeth and her entire team at Zenimax were laid off. Now, make your voice heard and #SaveGameWorkers by telling Microsoft to end their cycles of layoffs: shorturl.at/5ruBE
For just $10, you too can become 23% more rad
United Videogame Workers-CWA@videogameworkers.bsky.social · 2w ago🎉 IT'S LIVE 🎉 The game industry hardship fund itch bundle made in partnership with @necrosoftgames.com is HERE. Over 100 games for $10+ bucks: all funds (save for itch fees) go directly to the UVW-CWA Game Worker Hardship Fund. GOOD GAMES FOR A GOOD CAUSE👇 itch.io/b/3802/game-...
A lot of people have been asking how they can best help support this effort. Here's your opportunity! And you get a bunch of rad games as a bonus!
Brandon Sheffield@brandon.insertcredit.com · 2w agoAll money, minus processing fees for itch, goes to out of work game developers to pay for food, housing, healthcare, and whatever they need to make it through. Neither we as the organizers nor UVW take any of the money from the bundle. Game developers can apply here: uvw-cwa.org/hardship-fun...
Alternative headline: Andrew Willson lays off everyone who worked on successful Battlefield 6 to steal all the wealth they created.
PC Gamer@pcgamer.com · 2w agoDespite its success, Electronic Arts rewarded some of those who made Battlefield 6 by laying them off. It's a different story for EA CEO Andrew Wilson.
On July 6th, Microsoft laid off 50% of id Software. Among these cuts were folks like John "Jebus" Roberts, a principal engine programmer on the id Tech engine. For 15 years, Jebus supported the games you love. #SaveGameWorkers by telling Microsoft to end their cycles of layoffs: shorturl.at/5ruBE
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
In our new series #SaveGameWorkers, you’ll meet the people who make your favorite games at Xbox…until they get laid off. Today, meet Eric Bakutis from Zenimax Online Studios. #SaveOurDevs by telling Microsoft to end their cycles of layoffs: feedbackportal.microsoft.com/feedback/ide...
