Latest news with #gamingindustry
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Supermassive Games is delaying Directive 8020 and laying off staff
Supermassive Games, the developer behind story-driven games like Until Dawn, The Quarry and The Dark Pictures Anthology, is cutting its workforce due to the ongoing "challenging" state of the games industry. The studio says it's having to adapt its team structure and as a consequence expects to lose up to 36 employees. The current size of the Supermassive's staff is unclear, but in February last year it cut somewhere in the region of 90 jobs, at which time Bloomberg estimated the studio had more than 300 employees. "This decision was not taken lightly, and we know it will be an incredibly difficult time for everyone," the UK-based developer said in a statement published today. "Our absolute priority will be to offer full support to all those affected." ADVERTISEMENT Supermassive is currently working on Little Nightmares III and the sci-fi horror adventure Directive 8020 , which is the fifth entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology. It said the layoffs will have no impact on the development of the former, which is still due out October 10. Directive 8020 has been delayed to the first half of 2026, which it says will allow it to "deliver the very best experience for our fans." The game had been scheduled to release on October 2.
France 24
a day ago
- Business
- France 24
Games giant Ubisoft bets on reorganisation to dispel blues
The internal rejig into a slew of autonomous units aims for "a more agile and focused organisation while ensuring necessary long-term stability and creative vision", chief executive Yves Guillemot said in a statement. Ubisoft reported 311 million euros ($364 million) of sales in the first quarter of its 2025-26 financial year, a fall of 3.9 percent compared with the same period last year, largely driven by technical problems with shooter game "Rainbow Six Siege". Acknowledging "mixed results", Guillemot nevertheless hailed the release of "Assassin's Creed Shadows". The latest instalment in the money-spinning franchise "delivered on its expectations, with now more than five million unique players since launch," he said in a statement. Sales were slightly less impacted, losing 2.9 percent, when measured using Ubisoft's own preferred indicator of "net bookings", which excludes some deferred revenues. The company forecast net bookings of around 450 million euros in its second financial quarter, boosted by new partnerships and revenue from TV series. For the full financial year, it confirmed objectives including stable year-on-year net bookings and "approximately break-even" operating profit. Ubisoft made a net loss of 159 million euros in 2024-25 and is in the midst of a cost-cutting plan that has seen it shut several studios outside France and slash over 2,000 jobs. Its woes reflect broader, global headwinds for the video games industry over the past two years. Chinese tie-up Guillemot -- a member of the founding family that has run Ubisoft for decades -- also said the company had made "meaningful progress" on the plan to split its activities among several "creative houses", each responsible for a different slate of games. Ubisoft has not gone into detail about the functioning of the new units or how its remaining franchises will be divided among them, promising further information about the reorganisation by October. In an email to staff last week seen by AFP, Guillemot had said the units would be "autonomous" and "completely responsible for their business objectives". Pressured to change by a string of disappointing releases and a slumping stock price, Ubisoft created the first such subsidiary earlier this year in a billion-euro deal with heavyweight Chinese investor Tencent. The 3,000-strong unit will control Ubisoft's biggest franchises in "Assassin's Creed", "Rainbow Six" and "Far Cry". Ubisoft said last week that the subsidiary will be run by the CEO's son Charlie Guillemot alongside Christophe Derennes, a veteran chief of the company's major development studio in Montreal. "Christophe, Charlie and their teams will benefit from advice and expertise from Tencent," one of China's largest gaming and internet firms, Yves Guillemot said in his email to staff. Looking ahead, Ubisoft plans to release in March a remake of "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time", one of its most popular titles from two decades ago. Strategy series "Anno" will get a new episode set in ancient Rome while the company is also cooking up mobile versions of "Rainbow Six" and fellow shooter "The Division". It warned in May however that several unannounced major titles were being delayed. Such news has contributed to a 28-percent slump in Ubisoft's stock price since January. Ubisoft's image has also been harmed by a high-profile case in which three former executives were sentenced this month for enabling a culture of sexual and psychological harassment.
Zawya
a day ago
- Sport
- Zawya
Savvy Games Group and King Abdulaziz University partner to launch training program in Games and Esports
JEDDAH: Savvy Games Group ('Savvy'), Saudi Arabia's National Champion for Games and Esports, and King Abdulaziz University, one of Saudi Arabia's largest universities, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to offer specialized diplomas in Games Production and Esports Management to students. The collaboration aims to equip Saudi students with high-impact skills that would help them pursue careers in the fast-growing games and esports industries. This MoU lays the groundwork for a strategic partnership between Savvy and King Abdulaziz University, with a shared vision to develop national talent and empower the next generation of professionals in Saudi Arabia's games and esports industry. Launching in the upcoming academic year, the two diplomas for Games Production, and Esports Management, will provide high-quality learning to students, blending academic education with practical, industry-driven expertise. By enrolling into these programs, students will gain core competencies in managing game development projects and organizing professional esports events — two vital fields that are shaping the future of entertainment, technology, and digital experiences. 'This partnership with King Abdulaziz University is a key step in building local capabilities in game development and esports operations,' said Majed Al-Muhanna, Chief Human Resources Officer at Savvy. 'This is part of our Savvy Academy initiative, through which we are enabling new pathways for the next generation of Saudi professionals to gain the skills and experience required to succeed and be a leader in this industry. Our work directly supports the National Gaming and Esports Strategy and Vision 2030's ambition of establishing Saudi Arabia as a global hub for games and esports.' Prof. Mohammed Balubaid, Dean of the Applied College, commented: 'This partnership with Savvy underscores our commitment to equipping students for careers in rapidly growing industries aligned with the Vision 2030. As gaming and esports expand at an unprecedented pace, there's a rising demand for talent that combines creative insight with operational excellence. Through this collaboration, students are expected to be exposed to real-world opportunities such as potentially supporting major international events like the Esports World Cup hosted in Saudi Arabia. We're proud to offer our students these pathways and contribute to shaping the Kingdom's digital future.' The MoU is part of Savvy Academy's Level-Up program that is designed to provide vocational training in games and esports to university students in Saudi Arabia by partnering with renowned educational institutions. About Savvy Games Group Savvy Games Group ('Savvy') was formed with a mission to drive long-term growth and innovation in the games and esports industry. Backed by its shareholder, the Public Investment Fund, Savvy deploys capital over long-term horizons through acquisitions, investments, and business ventures. By expanding its portfolio and growing the games and esports ecosystem, it is shaping the future of the sector on a global scale. As Saudi Arabia's National Champion for Games and Esports, Savvy is also focused on developing the sector's domestic ecosystem. About King Abdulaziz University King Abdulaziz University (KAU), located in Jeddah, is a leading academic institution in Saudi Arabia, known for excellence in education, research, and national contribution. The university plays a critical role in developing foundational and interdisciplinary skills that prepare students for evolving professional landscapes. KAU actively engages with industry partners to drive innovation and support Vision 2030 development goals.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Oblivion Remastered dev team spared the worst of mass layoffs at Virtuos, studio claims as it "remains fully committed" to projects like Cyberpunk 2077 and Metal Gear Solid Delta
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Yesterday, reports emerged that Virtuos, the studio behind Oblivion Remastered and Metal Gear Solid Delta, was set to lay off around 300 people. Today, the company has confirmed those reports while downplaying the effects of the firings on current and future projects. "Approximately 7% of Virtuos' global workforce was affected, primarily in teams facing lower occupancy and slower demand due to structural shifts in the industry," the company says in a statement. "This includes about 200 roles in Asia and 70 roles in Europe, including fewer than 10 in France, where the core team working on Oblivion Remastered is located." The statement calls the layoffs a "rebalancing of roles across our studios and geographies." Translated to non-corporate speak, Virtuos is primarily a support and co-development studio, so it's focusing on regions where most of its clients work. At least, that's how the company is framing the mass layoffs, and why they're having "a greater impact on our teams in Asia." Virtuos notes that it's "providing separation packages, career transition assistance, and opportunities for redeployment across our global network where possible. The company's immediate focus is on managing this transition with care, transparency, and respect." The company also "remains fully committed to all our partnerships, including ongoing work on announced titles such as Oblivion Remastered, Cyberpunk 2077, and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater." It might seem like a bizarre time for Virtuos to go through layoffs, since Oblivion Remastered was a hit, Metal Gear Solid Delta seems poised for substantial success, and the company's work on Cyberpunk 2077 patch 2.3 seems pretty well received. But as our own Austin Wood noted in his previous coverage of these layoffs, it's just the games industry's latest demonstration that hits will not spare you. Another Xbox studio reacts to the layoffs exploding around it: with Rare's Everwild dead, Sea of Thieves dev says "it's impossible for something like this not to ripple through the studio." Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Virtuos, the studio behind Oblivion Remastered, is reportedly laying off staff
Virtuos, the studio that developed The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, is reportedly laying off seven percent of its staff, or around 300 employees, according to Gauthier Andres, a reporter and co-founder at Origami. The studio has provided support on a number of large game projects — including a recent patch for Cyberpunk 2077 — and employs over 4,200 people across the US, Europe and Asia. The brunt of the layoffs are happening to Virtuos employees in China, where Andres reports that around 200 positions are being eliminated. Virtuos' teams in France, who were primarily responsible for the surprise release of Oblivion Remastered back in April, are also expected to be impacted. Besides reviving Bethesda classics, Virtuos has contributed work to the upcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and several ongoing live service games, like Dune: Awakening and Sea of Thieves. Nothing about the company's output or the critical reception of its games would suggest it needs to conduct layoffs, but that reflects the current precarious state of the games industry. Even having theoretically steady work doing post-release support and game remasters isn't enough. Virtuos' layoffs follows the sweeping cuts Microsoft made to its Xbox division in early July. Microsoft reportedly cancelled games, like Rare's long-in-development Everwild, and shutdown whole studios, like The Initiative. Romero Games, which had an unannounced funding deal with Microsoft, was also forced to cancel its current project, though it hopes to find a new publishing partner.
