In a total shocker, the first big move from Microsoft acquiring Activision-Blizzard-King becomes 1,900 employees being laid off. Many of them involved Activision-Blizzard employees and also Xbox employees leading to a 9% cut in Xbox's total gaming division among all of their studios. They also canceled the Blizzard survival game, "Odyssey" due to the engine being used to make the game being far away from being ready, and the game being many years from release.

Sean and Marc attempt to do their best to discuss the story, the statements, and the aftermath, was this all really inevitable? Could something have been done to prevent it? And what does it say that the workers that have unionized were not part of these layoffs? Do the industry's employees need to do more to fight for themselves? And does this put a damper on acquisitions seeing such large-scale layoffs like this?

Unfortunately, the layoffs don't end there, as Riot Games also suffered layoffs this week (530 employees) and closed their studio Riot Forge which were in-charge of their external partnership games furthering the lore of League of Legends. Embracer Group continued its string of layoffs by lowering the workforce of Black Forest Games by 50% as well.

There are other things discussed in this episode, but it felt very weird to lead with that. Sean has early impressions of the newly released Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. Nintendo puts out a statement indirectly about Palworld, rumors continue to grow about Nintendo Switch 2 releasing in 2024 and now with an 8-inch LCD screen to boot. Square-Enix wanting to focus on quality over quantity with their games lineup, and much more!

You can also watch this episode in video form on the W2M Network Youtube Channel, please give us a like, comment on the episode, and give the channel a subscribe and follow as well: https://youtube.com/live/j7XMD1OmNSE

Links:

Preparing for two years of pain article from Christopher Dring: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/games-industry-leaders-braced-for-up-to-two-years-of-pain

Microsoft lays off 1,900 gaming division employees: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/microsoft-cuts-1900-staffers-from-its-games-division

Riot Games lays off 530 employees and closes Riot Forge: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/riot-lays-off-530-staff-riot-forge-shutting-down

Nintendo Switch reportedly will have 8-inch LCD Screen: https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-2-reportedly-has-an-8-inch-lcd-screen

Radulich in Broadcasting's Review of Marvel's Echo on Disney +: https://youtube.com/live/6HaPqS0OD6Q

The latest episode of Otalku Cafe: https://youtube.com/live/wgPJz036u3c

Our Friend's over at The Outerhaven.net's newest Spectator Mode Podcast: https://youtu.be/FavWyBkhV4Q?si

Timestamps:

00:01:00: START

00:02:50: Housekeeping

---------------------- Games we are Playing -------------

00:04:50: Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Sean)

00:12:50: Far Cry 6 and Team Fortress 2 (Marc)

----------------- MAIN TOPIC ---------------

00:15:00: Xbox introduces Xbox Selects Program for to help indie games with visibility

00:17:20: Microsoft lays off 9 % of the Xbox gaming division including workers from Activision-Blizzard-King, Xbox, and Zenimax/Bethesda, and also Blizzard's Survival Game "Odyssey" canceled

-------------- What's in the News -------------

00:38:40: Square-Enix wants to diversify its portfolio of games and lessen its reliance on their big franchises

00:48:35: Dragon's Dogma 2 Dev says Using Fast Travel means your game is boring

00:54:15: Nintendo Switch 2 will have an 8-inch LCD screen according to analyst

00:58:50: A little VR interlude

01:00:05: Nintendo issues a statement on defending its copyright with Pokemon mention Palworld indirectly and Palword's first roadmap

01:08:15: PlayStation is going to put Until Dawn on PS5 and PC

01:09:45: Gamers want Tifa from Final Fantasy VII in Tekken 8, and Harada responds

------------------- Entertainment Corner ---------------

01:11:35: Millie Gibson may be done with Doctor Who and the first season hasn't even aired

-------------- The End --------------

01:15:45: Games Coming out this week: Granblue Fantasy Relink, Persona 3 Reload, and more!

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