And I believe it

According to Remnant 2 Principal Designer Ben Cureton, no one has seen or obtained 100% of everything the Souls-like has to offer. ??My 30-some hours in the game are casual numbers to some, but even still I believe this cla?im.

"For those that love secrets and exploring, no one has seen or obtained 100% of everything #Remnant2 has to offer," Cureton tweeted. "I'm talking about hardcore players with over 400+ hours, reviewers that had early access, even our own internal developers. No one. Remnant 2 has secrets within secrets within secrets. We made sure obtaining 100% Achievements is very player-friendly and then went far beyond that to keep the ??game rewarding long after you've hit that goal."

//?twitter.com/verytragic/status/1682061381141446657

Randomization probably plays a bit of a role in this

Almost everything in Remnant 2 is random. Even at the beginning of the game, the first world you adventure to is not linear. Therefore, some of the secrets in the game probably require specific parameters to be met under the right conditions. Honestly, it's one of the things that makes Remnant 2 so great. Every ??run is different, creating the opportunity for infinite replayability. Some of the maps also have their own ??unique side-zones that may hold some clues on discovering these unseen secrets.

Even though no one has seen everything just yet, I wonder how long this will hold up once the game releases. As of now, there's still a pretty small pool of players that have played.  I'm sure there will be some ex??plorers and completionists that team up to try and hunt down everything there is to find.

Remnant 2 launches on July 25 on PC, PlayStation  5, and Xbox Series X|S. Those that pre-order the Ultimate Edition get early access and ?jump into the game on July 21.

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Mystery project now has a 'new framework'

CD Projekt RED has confirmed that it is now continuing development of 'Project Sirius', an as-yet-untitled spin-off set with the high fantasy universe of The Witcher. The project, first announced in October of 2022, was paused in March, with CDPR telling investors it re?quired re-evaluation.

But in a Regulatory Announcement posted yesterday afternoon, the Polish developer noted that the title was back on track, with some of the development? funds from the first quarter of the year written off entirely. According to the statement, Project Sirius now has a "reformulated framework" which is "[better] aligned with [CDPR's] strategy." The written-off development funded is noted as being in the region of $650,000 USD.

As to what form Project Sirius will take, that remains known only to CDPR and the title's developer, Boston-based studio The Molasses Flood. Back in October, the project was described as having a broader scope than traditional Witcher titles, with a focus on both single and multiplayer support as well as an "innovative" take on the Witcher universe.

One element that is for sure, however, is that the new title is still a long, long way from hitting store shelves, and CDPR will remain currently focused on its long-time-coming Cyberpunk 2077 DLC, Phantom Liberty, which is?? still yet to confirm its (supposed) 2023 release? date.

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'Creators First'

Veteran video game developer Konami has announced that it has opened a new studio in Osaka, Japan. The new offices, located in the Osaka Umeda Twin Towers south building, will support th??e developer in its ??efforts both grow and endure over the coming decades.

"Konami Osaka Studio is a developmental relocation of the existing studio and comes with the concept of 'Creators First'", said the developer in a press release. "It is characterized by a well-developed environment where creators can demonstrate their full potential, and is set up in a location with convenient transportation access. As the major production center in Western Japan, the facility is fully equipped wit??h motion capture equipments and sound studios necessary for product development."

Konami, which celebrates its 50th anniversary thi??s week, goes on to suggest that the new building will be a core entity in the studio's current and future projects, noting that it hopes Konami Osaka will encourage "sustainable growth" over the next 50 years. So I guess Konami is not looking to get out of the gaming biz anytime soon �despite the past decade's penchant for gyms and pachinko halls.

In addition to the new offices, Konami continues its work on the establishment of a new, next-gen R&D center. Konami Creative Front Tokyo Bay is expected to open in 2025, and provide the central locale for the company's experiments into new engines and technology. Having already teased several unannounced game reveals for 2023, Konami's next major release is expected to be a remake of the legendary survival horror title Silent Hill 2, which is in development for PS5 and PC.

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Follow, follow, follow, follow...

Fledgling Canadian studio Yellow Brick Games has announced the establishment of a second studio in it??s native country �The new office is located in that hive of game dev activity, Montreal, and will work alongside the main ?offices, which are located in Quebec City.

"With the growth of recent months, we began to reach a critical mass of employees in the Montreal area, which justified offering them a space where?? they could have the opportunity to choose to work from home or not, to gather and to experience the Yellow Brick Games culture in another way," said ??Yellow Brick co-founder Thomas Giroux in a press statement.

Established in 2020, Yellow Brick Games was founded by several industry veterans, including former  Dragon Age director Mike Laidlaw and Assassin's Creed: Syndicate producer Jeff Skalski. The new studio remains busy with its first project, an epic fantasy RPG sporting an original IP. A year ago today, the studio announced that it was partnering with Private Division, which ?is expected to publish the untitled game once its ready to roll.

"The market for independently produced games is growing rapidly and the technology is keeping pace,�said Laidlaw at the time of the studio's founding. “Small, diverse teams can now create high-quality experiences. For veterans of big-studio productions like myself and much of our team, this is the perfect time to get back to a small, agile, and highly motivated group. We want our games here at Yellow Brick to take potentially millions of players on wonderous journeys, and we want every member of our team to have a direct impact on the new worlds we’re creating.�/p>

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New digs for 47 and 007

Danish developer IO Interactive has announced the establishment of a brand new studio, situated in Istanbul, Turkey. The new studio represents major growth for the Hitman developer, and is expected to play a key role in all of IO's forthco??ming releases.

We are excited to announce the opening of our fourth IOI studio in Istanbul, Türkiye," reads the official press statement. "Uniquely positioned in the pan-continental gateway to Europe and Asia, IOI Istanbul is a crucial part in t??he continued growth and success of IO Interactive."

//twitter.com/IOInteractive/status/1635930010350??387201??s=20

"The mission of IOI Istanbul is to establish a hub for AAA game development in the region and create unique game experiences for our players across the world. Our team in Istanbul will play a significant role in our ambitious productions: Project 007, Project Fantasy and Hitman. We’re excited to share more details (and share som??e photos!) about our new studio in the coming weeks and months."

The Istanbul studio, which is the fourth of IOI's global locations, is opening at a time when the developer has announced that it is about to focus full-time on its previously teased Project 007. Speaking in a recent interview with Eurogamer, IO noted that its core franchise, Hitman, was on "a little bit of a hiatus" while the team concentrated on the James Bond title. They were also quick to point out that t??hey saw Agent 47 as an integral part of the studio, so we can expect his return in good time.

You can check out more details on IOI Istanbul and its vacancies over on its new website.

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Take a day off, 47

IO Interactive has suggested that Hitman fans will have plenty of time to dive into ?the rec?ent games' consolidation, as Agent 47 will be taking a break from his globe-trotting adventures for some time.

Speaking in an interview with Eurogamer, IO Interactive co-owner Christian Elverdam says that a new "major, major" Hitman game is "a little bit on hiatus", which is pretty understandable given the steady stream of excellent content that the team has been rolling out since the series reboot back in 2016. Recently, the 2016 release, simply titled Hitman, was consolidated with its 2018 and 2021 sequels, forming one package of missions, commonly known as Hitman: World of Assassination.

This bumper pack of murder and mayhem features all ??of the base games and their respective DLC, purchasable as individual parts or as one massive bundle. And given the franchise's open-ended gameplay, as well as its litany of in-mission challenges, achievements, and al??ternate contracts, World of Assassination adds up to potentially hundreds of hours of stealth action �More than enough to tide you over until our boy picks up the Silverballers once again.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=slA??huh21ii??8&ab_channel=IOInteractive

So, what is IO Interactive up to? Well, it seems the team is getting to work on its previously teased James Bond game, which currently goes under the title of Project 007. Announced back in the fall of 2020, we are yet to hear or see any updates on this exciting new endeavor. Insiders have previously suggested that we won't be seeing Jimmy or his Walther until at least late-2025, but I can't think of a team better suited to delivering the shadowy, espionage action of the 007 franchise. Excited to hear some news.

Oh, and for Hitman fans, don't you worry. Elverdam notes that our favorite S?uspicious Bald Person remains "very much in the heart of this company". So I guess he's just taking a well-earned break.

Check out the full interview right now over at Eurogamer.

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First project already in pre-development stage

A team of former Riot Games executives has announced the founding of a new studio �The Believer Company has been founded ?on an initial budget of $55 milli?on in Series A Funding, and is already in the early development stages of its first project: an open-world adventure based on an original IP.

Located in Los Angeles, the new studio will be led by former Riot Games vice-president Michael Chow, who is joined by Riot founding member Steven Snow. The initial team also includes CTO Landon McDowell (Microsoft, Riot Games), CCO Jeremy Vanhoozer (Bungie, Electronic Arts), COO Tim Hsu (Riot Games), CMO Shankar Gupta-Harrison (Riot Games, Dentsu X), Director of Operations Grace Park (League of Legends: Wild Rift), VP of Design Jeff Jew (League of Legends), Associate Game Director Juno Blees (League of Legends: Wild Rift), and VP of R&D Technologies Julien Bouvrais (Eidos, U??bisoft)

The Believer Company's brand-new website features a litany of quotes and mission statements, many of which are written in hyper-ambitious and super-flowery fashion, as expected from a team of executives. The common thread to be pulled from said prose is that the Believer team is looking to take game development and production in exciting new directions, harnessing the forefront of modern technologies to vivify the studio's incoming releases. While not openly stated, it is more-than-pointedly suggested by Snow that the studio is not looking into the use of blockcha??in/NFT tech in its games.

"Players are the best audience to serve in th??e world," writes Chow of the new venture. "They’re noble, smart, discerning, and infinitely inventive. We hold their investments of time, skill, and hard-earned money as sacred, and we will always put their needs first at every stage of Believer’s journey. We?? look forward to growing our team with people as passionate as we are and we are actively seeking like-minded talent to believe with us."

"I couldn’t be more excited to be??gin this journey with Steven [Snow]. He’s? a loving, stalwart champion of players �at times viciously protective of their best interests. There’s no better flag-bearer for what we’re setting out to do."

The Believer Company has several vacancies on its new team, which can be found on the website.

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We Are The Game Creators

Back in September 2022, we reported that long-time BlazBlue producer Toshimici Mori was stepping away from Arc System Works, a company that he had served for just shy of two decades �And it seems that Mori is now ready to get back into the thick of the action, with the establishment of a brand new developer, Studio Flare.

Based in Gotanda, Tokyo, Studio Flare has been co-founded by Mori and the former executive vice-president of Marvelous, Toshinori Aoki, with a healthy dose of financial funding from Chinese commerce conglomerate Netease. Aoki will serve as president and CEO of ?Studio Flare, with Mori serving as vice president and head producer. Th??e studio has a long list of openings, with roles for artists, engineers, coders, and server maintenance managers.

"With knowledge and expertise from their past projects, Studio Flare wil?l deliver new game experiences to global audiences. The company also has received support from NetEase Games, the gaming division of NetEase,?? Inc.," reads a press release. "Studio Flare has [[the intent] to create games with an edgy feel that bring excitement to hardcore gamers. We will start developing original games for console platforms, with a small but highly talented team based in our studio in Gotanda, Tokyo."

For those familiar with Mori's work, the specific use of "edgy" in the press release is quite amusing, as Mori's oeuvre has frequently featured dark, cringe-cool, super-sexualized characters. While it is fantastic to see Mori back in the game and in the driving seat, one can't help but wonder what fate this leaves for his trademark series, BlazBlue, which sta??ys with Arc System Works, and will hopefully not get lost among that studio's catalog of releases.

You can check out Studio Flare's brand-new website �complete with obligatory shades and leather jacket shot �right here.

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Ori developer putting all of its chips on the table

Indepen?dent develo??per Moon Studios is seemingly gambling a lot on its next release, suggesting that the performance of the unannounced new title could "make or break" the studio.

Moon Studios CEO Thomas Mahler made the stark comments on Twitter when discussing the ARPG title, which was first announced three years ago a??nd has been in steady development since. The mystery project will not only see the studio take a break from its much beloved Ori series, but will also see Moon move?? away from Xbox exclusivity and into the wider world of platforms, courtesy of publisher Private Division.

"Our next project is going to be a make-or-break moment for Moon," wrote Mahler on Twitter. "Either we manage to revolutionize the ARPG genre or we’ll slowly fade away into the distance. While that should be scary, I LOVE the challenge! Diablo, PoE, etc.: We’re coming for you, may the best one wi??n!"

//twitter.com/thomasmahler/sta??tus/1628379708671901698?s=20

The Austrian developer was founded in 2010 by Mahler and Gennadiy Korol. Mahler previously worked at Blizzard Entertainment, but was inspired to start on his own after witnessing the success of esoteric indie releases such as PlayDead's Limbo, Number None's Braid, and The Behemoth's mega-hit, Castle Crashers. Moon has released two titles to date, charming fantasy adventures Ori and the Blind Forest and its sequel, Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Both titles were bestowed with pr?aise from critics and fans for their gorgeous visuals, vibrant worlds??, and dramatic storytelling.

Unfortunately, it has not all been positive press. A year ago, Moon developers speaking with GamesBeat accused the studio of curating a toxic work environment, stating that crunch culture was readily apparent in the studio's walls, alongside allegations of inappropriate jokes, unprofessional behavior, and the withholding of praise and support, with all allegations aimed specifically at the studio's founde??rs. In response, Mahler and Korol penned a statement stating that they felt "regret" for making any employees "??uncomfortable."

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Horror studio creeps into the indie gaming scene

Blumhouse Productions, the film production company behind a litany of modern horror classics, has announced the establis??hment of new division Blumhouse Games, with which it expects to oversee the development and publishi??ng of independent horror releases on PC, console, and mobile platforms.

The new gaming divis??ion plans to work alongside indie developers with the creation, marketing and publishing of their own titles. Following its initial movie model, Blumhouse Games is expected to focus on lower-budgeted titles, spreading the word with impactful marketing and ensuring a fast and lucrative turnaround. The new division will be led by Zach Wood, a journeyman within the gaming industry who has worked as a producer for the best part of 25 years, having worked with Iron Galaxy, Arkane Studios, and Sony Santa Monica.

??"Through my time in the industry, I’ve had the good fortune of working closely with developers to bring their ideas to life," said Wood of the new endeavor. "There’s a unique opport??unity for horror and genre in the indie game space, and I’m thrilled about teaming up with Blumhouse to meaningfully leverage the company’s brand, reputation, and creative talent."

Blumhouse Productions was founded in 2000 by U.S. producer Jason Blum, following incredible success in the horror field with titles such as The Purge, Paranormal Activity, Insidious, Happy Death Day, and Jordan Peele's breakout hit, Get Out. Since its inception, Blumhouse has been responsible for several hugely popular releases, including the Halloween trilogy, Ma, The Black Phone and, most recently, the campy killer doll release, M3GAN.

The gaming division forms part of BH growth, which already encompasses non-movie projects such as books, podcasts, ??and "haunted house" attractions.

But let's get to the point: We need a Blumhouse ?All-Stars platform brawler.

Or a M3GAN game.

At least stick my g3rl in Mortal Kombat 12.

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'All Gratitude'

In a surprising piece of news, developer Firaxis has announced the departure of two of its veteran players: game director Jake Soloman and studio lead Steve Martin. Both individuals have been with the studio for over 20 years, overseeing the development and release of acclaimed strategy titles including XCOM, XCOM 2, and, most recently, Marvel's Midnight Suns.

"I’m embarking on a new chapter; however, I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my dreams at Firaxis Games,�said Solomon in an official press statement. "I’m thankful to everyone who enjoyed XCOM and Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and to my development and publishing partners who helpe?d bring tho?se games to life."

In a separate message posted to Twitter, Soloman teased that his "Brain was on fire with a new dream?" and that it was "Time to go chase it". Soloman has worked with Firaxis for t??he best part of 23 years.

//?twitter.com/SolomonJ?ake/status/1626582096440598533?s=20

Steve Martin also expressed his gratitude toward Firaxis in a statement posted to the company's official Twitter account: "I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity to have championed and led the work of such a talented group of people for the past couple decades at the greatest st?udio in the world," wrote Martin. "I am proud of the legacy of games Firaxis has created and its reputation in the industry."

"I look forward to cheering on Firaxis in its n?ext chapter. Stay civilized!"

//twitter.c??om/FiraxisGames/statu??s/1626582244881207299?s=20

Martin will be placed b??y Firaxis Chief Operating Officer Heather Hazen.

"I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to carry on the studio’s storied legacy, beginning with the announcement that Firaxis is in development on the next iteration of the legendary Civilization franchise,�said Hazen of the new role. “I’m lucky to be working with some of the best developers in our industry, and we have plans to take the Civilization franchise to exciting new heights for our millions of players around the world. In addition, we will continue to support Marvel’s Midnight Suns with post-launch content, and explore new creati?ve projects for our teams."

Marvel's Midnight Suns is available now on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X.

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Veteran team already at work on brand new IP

Today brings news of a new studio entering the world of video game development �Wildlight Entertainment has been founded by a party of developers, almost all of whom have previously worked with Respawn Entertainment on major league titles such as Call of Duty, Titanfall, and Apex Legends.

In fact, the key founder of Wildlight Entertainment is Apex Legends' original game director, Chad Grenier, who announced the launching of the new studio on Twitter yesterday evening. Grenier heads up a team of over 10 individuals, all of whom have taken their leave of Respawn within?? the past two years. These include CEO Dusty Welch, project lead Mohammad Alvali, engineer Justin Cook, lead designer Carlos Pine??da, project manager Amelia Duarte, and art director Robert Taube.

//twitter.com/ChadGrenier/status/1626271511748435974??s=20

Currently working in a remote capacity, Wildlight Entertainment has physical offices established in both Los Angeles and Seattle, and is already hard at work on its first title: a brand new, yet-to-be-revealed IP. While the pertinent details are on the hush-hush, one can only assume that the team behind Apex Legends, Call of Duty, and Titanfall will be ??????????????????????????looking to deliver a highly polished action title, perhaps with a similarly sci-fi/futuristic slant.

You can read more on the company and its team over on the new Wildlight Entertainment website, or follow the studio on Twitter for updates, job vacancies, and more news and info. For action/shooter fans, this w??ill definitely be one of the developers to watch in 2024 and beyond.

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Employees to return to office from spring 2023

Activision Blizzard has confirmed report?s that it is mandating a partial return-to-office stipulation for all of its employees from spring of this year. ABK employees will be expected to return to their workplace in April, while Blizzard workers will return in July. King staff returned back in July 2022.

The new mandate, which requests all employees attend their offices for at least three days a week, was first reported by VGC, who noted that disgruntled employees had leaked the news to social media. These employees noted that they are still concerned by the health hazards of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which initially forced the at-home mandate, while one Blizzard employee, @LeastMyHairIsOk,?? opines that many coworkers find the commute, and the workplace environment,? costly and stressful.

"The majority of employees at ABK have no interest in returning to office either full or part-time. This isn’t to say that nobody sees the value in an office environment, but we’ve overall decided the risks do not outweigh those benefits," wrote the employee on Twitter. "For over a decade now, lower earning depa?rtments have pleaded with leadership to include yearly [Cost of Living] adjustments into salary to prevent this, but [have] been denied, and o??ur most recent meetings from last month suggest that there are no plans for this to change this year."

Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Ac?tivision Blizzard confir??med plans for the return-to-office mandate.

"Activision Blizzard has been returning teams to the office over the past year, and on February 13, we updated our future-of-work plans," sai??d a spokesperson for the publisher. "In close partnership with each leadership team, we crafted a plan that is customized based on what’s best for our business and our teams."

"We look forward to the increased real-time, in-person colla??boration ?and opportunities this change will foster."

Activision Blizzard employees are being forced to return to the of??fice soon, it’s claimed [VGC]

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Resident Evil 4 coming in at the final hour

Capcom has published its most recent financial report, which sees the veteran developer continuing its recent rocket success �Furthermore, the studio is quietly confident that it is on tr?ack to deliver a stellar financial year for 2022-2023, potentially one of the biggest in the history of the company.

As translated by VGC, Capcom sold around 29.1 million titles in the nine-month period ending December 2022, which represents an increase of almost five million games on the same period 2021. These numbers were led by successful sales for Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak, which sold 2.75 million copies during this window. The fantasy RPG was followed by continued sales for older releases such as Resident Evil 2 (1.5m), Devil May Cry V (1.45 million), and Resident Evil 3 (1.35 million).

//www.youtube.com/watch??v=cMzJv0LOJYo&??;ab_channel=ResidentEvil

Despite these amazing unit sales figures, it should be noted that Capcom's actual revenue for 2022 is down on the previous year, which saw the studio roll out the hugely successful Resident Evil Village. Still, the company is incredibly confident in its ability to end the current fiscal year successfully. The hugely anticipated Resident Evil 4 will arrive on PC and co??nsoles on March 24, offering a last-minute hail mary with which could see Capcom close out the fiscal year (which ends days later) with record sales.

Capcom has been rocking steady momentum ever since January 2018 and the launch of its greatest-selling game of all time: Monster Hunter World. This release preceded a string of highly regarded new titles, equally supported by a selection of fun remasters, remakes, and retro compendiums. June 2023 sees the launch of Street Fighter 6, a title already awash in praise from critics and players, and?? should see Capcom roll into 2024 on the crescent of one of its best-ever financial waves.

Capcom says it’s set to? sell a record number of games for a fiscal year [VGC]

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Cream 'o' the crop, rise to the top, yeeeah!..

Skybound Entertainment has made a committed financial investment in indie studio MegaCat Studios, the developer working on fun-looking, ring-rocking RPG WrestleQuest.

As reported by GamesIndustry.biz, Skybound Entertainment has not released a figure for its investment, but the site's sources believe it to be in the "multi-million" region. As a publisher Skybound currently holds IPs such as The Walking Dead and Escape Academy, while also owning physical distribution rights for titles such as Cuphead, Psychonauts 2, Untitled Goose Game, Gang Beasts, and more recently Striking Distance Studios' The Callisto Protocol.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtpjlXOviKA&ab_??ch?annel=SkyboundGames

Pittsburgh-based MegaCat Studios has released several low-key titles in its young life, including games for retro platforms such as the NES and the Sega Mega Drive. WrestleQuest represents the indie outfit's biggest and most promising title to date, blending strategic RPG combat with the Day-Glo, territory-era world of pro wrestling. Alongside a roster of original characters, WrestleQuest will also star real-world grapplers ?such as The Road Warriors, Sgt. Slaughter,  Jake "The Snake" Roberts, Andre the Giant, and Macho Man? Randy Savage.

It is reported that MegaCat intends to use Skybound's investment to help with the financial side of project development, while also noting that the partnership will give the small studio access to IP and publishing resources. With the release of WrestleQuest just four months away, this exciting venture looks set to propel MegaCat well i?nto 2023 and?, hopefully, beyond.

WrestleQuest launches May?? 2023 on PlayStation, PC, Xb?ox, and Nintendo Switch.

Skybound makes multimillion-dollar investment in Mega Cat ??Studio??s [GamesIndustry.biz]

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'ABK is a problematic parent company'

A veteran software engineer at developer Activision Blizzard has quit his role at the studio after reportedly being unable to reconcile with what he calls a "toxic" stack-ranking staff appraisal syste??m.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Brian Birmingham, who has worked with Blizzard Entertainment on titles such as World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, and Warcraft III: Reforged, departed the company after 17 years of service when face?d with the appraisal system, which he says grades teams on a curve, and thus forces the manager to "downgrade" certain employees for little reason other than to maintain said curve.

Birmingham claims that he was asked to change a team member's status from "Successful" to "Developing", an act which Birmingham says what done to "squeeze" performances out of his team members. The Bloomberg report notes that around 5% of a team's staff were required to be "low-scoring", which would inherently hamper their chan?ces at receiving promotions or bonuses.

//twitter.com/BrianBirmi??ng/status/1617688536983175168?s=20&t=kcCVcqzgHVRu5vqXgBNwYw

"This sort of policy encourages competition between employees, sabotage of one another’s work, a desire for people to find low-performing teams that they can be the best-performing worker on, and ultimately erodes trust and destroys creativity," wrote Birmingham in an open letter to his team. "If this policy can be reversed, perhaps my Blizzard can still be saved, and if so I would love to continue working there. If this policy cannot be reversed, then the Blizzard Entertainment I want to work for doesn’t exist anymore, and I’ll have to find ?somewhere else to work."

Following Bloomberg's report, Birmingham also took to Twitter to cla??rify his stance, pointing the finger directly at upper management of Activision Blizzard King (ABK), while praising the talent and work ethic of the hundreds of colleagues that he has worked alongside for the best part of two decades.

//twitter.com/BrianBirming/status/161768????8557367488512?s=20&t=kcCVcqzgHVRu5vqXgBNwYw

"I bear no ill will toward my former colleagues at Blizzard Entertainment. The Blizzard I knew and always wanted to work for is being torn apart by the executives at ABK, and it makes me sad." wrote Birmingham on Twitter??. "I truly respect the developers I worked with at Blizzard. I will still play Blizzard games; the developers ?at Blizzard are still amazing."

"But ABK is a problematic parent company," he concludes. "They put us under pressure to deliver both [World of Warcraft] expansions early. It is deeply unjust to follow that by depriving employees who worked on them their fair share of profit. The ABK team should be ashamed of the?mselves."

It should be noted that, in a later tweet, Birmingham states that he has not had contact with Bloomberg, nor d??id he send them a copy of the emai?l which he wrote for his team on departure.

Blizzard Manager ?Departs In Protest of Employee Rankin?g System [Bloomberg]

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Look forward to something, somewhere, at somepoint

Happy ne??w year folks! Here's to another fine year of this fine pastime of video gaming, and it seems that many of Japan's biggest developers and publishers are all ready and raring to bring fun new adventures your way in 2023... They just are??n't exactly ready to come forward with any titles, release dates, platforms, or trailers...

As part of the myriad Happy New Year messages dropped by multiple studios, a lot of titles were certainly teased �in as ?much as it was revealed that they exist, somewhere, in somebody's desk.

[Thanks to Gematsu and Famitsu for the translations of the studios' messages.]

Konami led the charge, teasing "??power-ups", (whatever the hell that means), and "new developments for familiar series" while also "quietly progressing on new projects". So, look forward to all of that. Especially the p?ower-ups!!

Persona publisher Atlus also joined the cryptic crew, noting that it is "preparing several unannounced titles" while also asking fans to check out the incoming ports of Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden, which hit PlayStation, PC, Xb??ox, and Nintendo Switch platforms on January 19. They'll be here before you know it �ready and raring for their 14th playthrough.

//www.youtube??.com/watch?v=PazfxkDW3RU&ab_channel=KOEITECMOAMERICA

Spike Chunsoft �of Danganronpa and AI: The Somnium Files �also noted that it was "preparing unannounced large-scale title(s)" with some form of reveal to be expected "in the not-so-distant future". Spike Chunsoft is also preparing Master Detective Archives: Rain Code for its upcoming Switch release, and will also be handling the long-awaited PS5 edition of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition.

Koei Tecmo was a little more specific with its new year plans, announcing new RPG Fate/Samurai Remnant for PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch platforms. Fans can expect the new title at some point in 2023. Developers Omega Force and Kou Shibusawa, and Aniplex released a short teaser trailer. You can also check out a brand-new website right here.

So there ?you have it. Plenty of studios are planning to release something, at some point. Let's go!

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He's Super Smashed, brother

Game designer Masahiro Sakurai has stated that he officially considers himself "semi-retired". The beloved Super Smash Bros. director made the comment in a new interview with Japanese outlet Denfaminicogamer.

"Sakurai confirms that he is semi-retired," reads a translation from Twitter's PushDustIn. "He is 52 after all. [With] Smash Bros. for 3DS / Wii U and Ultimate, he spent nine years in active development. Sakurai felt that if he is just continuously mak??ing games full time, and his life will be over before he realizes it."

While working tirelessly on the most recent title in the Smash Bros. series, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Sakurai would famously and frequently half-joke about his exhaustion, lack of social life, and endless need to keep working on the game, its updates, and its litany of DLC characters �all while fending off a tidal wave of requests and complaints from some members the platform? fighter's community.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEDofZGOOUY&ab_channel=D??estructoid

While Sakurai seemingly took his humongous workload with good humor, it's not difficult to imagine that he must feel as if he aged 20 years in 10, and when directing a title as under-the-microscope as Smash Bros. Ultimate was, it's perfectly understandable that he might feel as if he never needs to step into the spotlight ever again. Of course, Sakurai referred to being "semi" retired, and as such it might be hard for him to truly step away from game design/development 100%. Perhaps we will see Sakurai operating in an advisory or executi?ve producer position in sporadic gaming endeavors.

For the most part, however, it seems that his time as a game director is most assuredly over, and that Sakurai wishes to enjoy his coming years without the burden of game development weighing on his every waking moment. He's certainly earned a peaceful life �a statement that nobody can deny.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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Wild times continue for the industry giant

[Update: In a release received by Destructoid, it is confirmed that Alegre is l??eaving Activision Blizzard to acce??pt a new role as CEO of Yuga Labs, the startup behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT collection.]

Another day, another headline fo??r Activision Blizzard �And this one concerns a major movement within the publisher's highest offices, as President and COO Daniel Alegre has announced their intention to step down from their position in? the company. Alegre's contract will end on March 31, 2023.

The move was revealed in a filing by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Alegre will be taking leave from the Call of Duty and World of Warcraft publisher in order to pursue an unnamed alternate opportunity. Alegre ?joine??d Activision in 2020, having previously worked as president of shopping and global retail for another one of the largest companies on the planet: Google.

During his near-three year tenure, Alegre has presided over Activision Blizzard during what is easily its most tumultuous era in history �ranging from the lawsuit filed against Blizzard Entertainment by the State of California, through the microscopic study of Blizzard's in-house work policies, as well as the behavior of controversial Activision CEO Bobby Kotick. Most recently, Activision Blizzard has tussled with the FTC and other trade regulators over its proposed $68.7 billion USD sale to Microsoft.

How much of the above led Alegre to seek out new pastures will only be known by a handful of people, but it is hard to imagine that the turmoil did not play a part in their decision to leave what is, essentially, the biggest chair in perha??ps the biggest and most lucrative publishers in the gaming industry. As the change has not been officially announced b??y Activision itself, Alegre's successor is yet to be named.

Activision Blizzard president and COO Dani?el Alegre stepping down [GamesIndustry.biz]

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Retirement is overrated

Blizzard Entertainment has announced that Chris Metzen, one of the formative creators of the Warcraft franchise, has rejoined the studio to work on future releases in the World of Warcraft series. Metzen retired in 2016, having worked on the fantasy franchise since its formation in?? the early ?1990s.

Metzen's return was announced in a statement by current World of Warcraft manager John Hight.

"It is with great joy that I announce Chris Metzen has joined the Warcraft Leadership Team as Creative Advisor. Chris’s focus initially will be on World of Warcraft, then his work will expand to other projects across this growing franchise", wrote Hight.?? "We are so happy to be reuniting him with the world he helped create."

Metzen was a key designer for much of Warcraft's lore, worlds, and characters. Metzen's work on the franchise includes the design of both humans and orcs for the universe, as well as the creation of the creepy "Forsaken" race, as well as one of Warcraft's most iconic and ?instantly recognizable people, The Night Elves. Aside from his design work, Metzen also voiced original Horde master, Thrall, whose grisly visage was plastered on much of the original trilogy's marketing materials.

Metzen has likely rejoined the team in order to offer his insight and ideas to the modern World of Warcraft universe, perhaps steering the lore in a direction that will reflect the golden age of the Warcraft franchise. It goes without saying that the studio Metzen is rejoining is a very different place than it was in the 1990s, or even when he departed in 2016. Blizzard Entertainment remains under the microscope following California's investigation into its workplace practices (and ensuing lawsuit), while parent company Activision remains mired in a complex legal battle, following its prop?osed acquisition by Microsoft.

Some might wonder with Metzen has left the comfort of his retirement to rejoin the studio that he helped build, what with its current, tumultuous status. But given that Warcraft was such a labor of love for the original Blizzard team, sometimes you just c?an't let those passio??n projects go. (Though the more cynical might suggest that Blizzard simply drove a dump truck of cash to his front door and said "Help".)

World of Warcraft's newest expansion, Dragonflight, is now live on PC and Mac.

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Hope you brought enough lollipops

Bayonetta fans might have had to wait a helluva long time to get their hands on long-in-development sequel Bayonetta 3, but they can seemingly be assured that their favorite witch is set to run and run �at least if creator and direct??or Hideki Kamiya has his way.

Speaking in a new interview with IGN, Kamiya passionately espoused his love for the high-energy, high-violence franchise, going as far as to suggest that he wants to see many, many more sequels hit the shelves before the demonic diva takes her final bow... if she ever will.

"I love Bayonetta more th?an anyone," Kamiya told IGN. "Ipersonally can’t conceive the Bayonetta series ever ending. I want to make a Bayon??etta 4 and Bayonetta 5, and I intend on pitching them to the company. We often talk internally about how we could make nine of them. I want people who love the Bayonetta series to believe me when I say: 'I’m not going to do anything that will betray the players'."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RlGQM6PvHY&ab_channel=Nintendo??ofAmerica

Elsewhere in the interview, Kamiya seems to suggest that he has Bayonetta's entire universe �her adventures, friends, enemies, and overall lore �essentially stored in his head and ready to rock. Kamiya notes that he would love t?o see spin-off games exploring other elements of the franchise, perhaps focusing on Bayonetta's litany of sidekicks, such as newcomer witch-in-training Viola or Bayonett'a long-time companion, Jeanne.

"It’s an established part of the character Jeanne that she also works as a superhero named Cutie J. I’d even like to make a spin-off for that," continues Kamiya. "Keeping the Bayonetta series going is of the utmost importance to me, so I’m not fixated on what numbers are attached to a game’s title. I want to be able to depict the extensive world of Bayonetta that is inside my head."

So there you have it, fans. You might have been twiddli??ng your thumbs for the longest time while waiting for Bayonetta's return, but, in Hideki has his way, you'll b?e guiding the sassy sorceress and her army of pals through the seven hells for the rest of your lives. So looks like it's gonna be worth sticking around. The world will never become too grey while our favorite witch is live and kicking.

Bayonetta 3 is available now on Nintendo Switch.

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Major capital investment already secured

Sharon Tal Yguado, a media executive who has formerly worked for companies Amazon and FOX on a variety of smash-hit network shows, has ann??ounced the opening of new game development studio Astrid Entertainment.

The remotely-operated studio is yet to announce its workforce, but has seemingly already entered pre-production on its first release �believed to be a multiplayer-centric title. Tal Yguado has already successfully secured a "seven-figure pre-seed investment" from a party of powerful investors including Netease, Tower 26, and Stardom Ventures, which will be used to get Astrid Entert??ainment off to something of a major headstart.

"I love developing rich worlds and watching millions of people engage and build communities around them. We are seeing a new generation that wants something different. They enjoy walking into evocative worlds that give them freed?om, let them hang out with their friends, explore, discover and create their o?wn stories," said Tal Yguado in a press statement.

"I am incredibly lucky to have found and partnered with like-minded visionary game developers who are already pushing boundaries in this medium. We can’t wait to announce our incredibly talented gaming le??adership team. Soon!"

Tal Yguado, who has previously been named one of the three most influential media executives in Hollywood, has worked a plethora of roles in televisual entertainment, partnering with various networks and having a hand in the production of shows such as The Walking Dead, The Boys, Invincible, Fleabag, Jack Ryan, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and The Lord of Rings: Rings of Power.

Sharon Tal Yguado La?unches Gaming Venture Ast?rid Entertainment [Deadline]

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Nominative determinism in action

Publisher Thunderful Games has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Br??itish i??ndependent studio Jumpship. The acquisition makes Jumpship the 10th studio to join the Thunderful portfolio, and the first purchase since the establishment of new CEO Anders Maiqvist.

“The level of intrigue that Jumpship has managed to generate for its debut title shows you that this is a team with a deep artistic vision," writes Thunder?ful Games' Agostino Simonetta in a press release. "Adding to our already diverse and accomplished roster of talent under the Thunderful Studios�umbrella is an important part of our strategy to build strong internal IPs. We look forward to supporting the team at Jumpship to harness their skill for building impactful narrative-driven experiences as they continue to create fantastic titles within the Thunderful family."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_lPMatv07o

Founded in 2017 by Chris Olson and PlayDead co-founder Dino Patti, Jumpship's first release, Somerville, launches today on November 15 and concerns a young family's encounter with an intergalactic invasion. Much like previous PlayDead hits Limbo and Inside, Somerville sports a heavy atmospheric slant, evocative and stylistic visuals, and light platform and puzzle-ba???sed challenges.

Dino Patti also spoke of ?their excitement and confidence in? the Thunderful acquisition.

"I feel really good about the partnership with Thunderful ??and what it will do for Jumpship," said Patti. "I have known Agostino for a very long time and we have built a strong relationship of trust. We’ve been talking about this possibility for around a year and, over that time, I have only become more convinced that this is a great opportunity for Jumpship and Thunderful alike."

Somerville launches today on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.

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Kobayashi takes their expertise to new pastures

Former Capcom producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi has established a new game development studio within the infrastructure of Chinese tech conglomerate NetEase �The new studio, titled GPTRACK50, will be situated in Osaka, Japan, and wil??l des??ign and produce new titles under the NetEase Games banner.

"I believe that NetEase Games, a company with extensive experience in investment and co-development, is a very reli?able business partner in developing high-quality games and entertainment projects," said Kobayashi in a statement. "With the support and respect from NetEase in understanding me ?and my team’s development achievements and values, I will build a stronger team with the goal of creating more original quality contents that will satisfy users around the world."

Here's a delightfully '00s promotional video to announce the new studio's founding.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUY8EoKUt8M

Kobayashi had worked with Capcom for an impressive 27 years before taking leave from the company in March of this year, announcing his departure on his 50th birthday. In his time with the studio, Kobayashi had worked writing code for PlayStation classics such as Resident Evil, before rising through the ranks to a producer role �working alongside beloved franchises such as killer7, Devil May Cry, Dino Crisis, and Sengoku Basara. With almost three decades of major game development under his belt, Kobayashi's GPTRACK50 ??studio will be one to watch.

As we noted previously, the hiring and positioning of Kobayashi can be seen as a major step in NetEase' efforts to move into the lucrative game development market. NetEase works alongside Activision Blizzard as a China-based partner, and recently opened. of its first U.S.-based studio, Jackalope Games. Yakuza creator Toshihiro Nagoshi also founded his own studio under the NetEase banner, d??emonstrating the holding company's desire to court some major producers within gaming culture.

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Green(ish) Light

Microsoft has released its financial details for the first quarter of its fiscal year �While the statistics are something of a mixed bag, it has been a significant, positive season for the Xbo??x brand, with strong hardware sales leading to an overall revenue increase of around 11% year-on-year.

The continuing economic slump has been tough on Microsoft, which has seen a decline in many of its sectors. Revenue for operating software Windows dropped by a mighty 15%, while Xbox game sales were also down by a much more manageable 3%. The drop in game sales is likely due to the worldwide cost of living crisis, as well as an increased interest in subscription service Xbox Game Pass. Thus, ev?en if Xbox game sales are down??, there is something to be said for Game Pass' growth.

More positive news came in the form of the publisher's Intelligent Cloud server division, which saw a stellar year-?on-year revenue increase of 20%. As previously mentioned, much of Xbox's decline was offset by the growing sales of Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S consoles. The sales of Xbox hardware and engagement with the Xbox Game Pass service �now boasting over 20 million subscribers �will clearly look to carry to load as Microsoft pushes through this continued downswing in customer spending.

Of course, the more negative elements of the report are hardly about to bankrupt the company. Microsoft's overall revenue for the period still totals somewhere in the region of $50 billion USD, while its net income, even with a huge 14% drop, still saw the company? pull in around $17.6 billion. MS is not going to be scratchin?g for change anytime soon.

It should also be noted that the publisher recently laid off hundreds of employees across its entire workforce. Additionally, MS remains adamant in seeking approval for its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

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Hindrance to game production, claim devs

A game developer has expressed their frustration with Xbox's mandatory declaration that all Xbox Series X games must also run on its lesser-powered pal, Xbox Series S �Noting that the requirement can be, and frequently is, a hindrance to the forwar??d progression of next-gen gaming.

As reported by VGC, these comments were made by Bossa Studios' VFX developer Ian McC??lure, speaking in a conversation on Twitter with Giant Bomb founder Jeff Gerstmann. Gerstmann had previously commented that the Xbox Series X/S "forced compatibility" was unlikely to be preventing forward momentum of development within the industry �the latter being a commonly referenced talking point by many gaming communities, regardless of their platform of choice.

However, McClure then offered up an alternate viewpoint, suggesting that the cheap Xbox Series model has been forcing awkward limi??tations on multi??ple studios and their respective game developers.

"It might sound broken, but the reason you are hearing it a lot right now is because MANY developers have been sitting in meetings for the past year desperately trying to get Series S launch requirements dropped," opined McClure in since-locked tweets. "Studios have been through one development cycle where Series S turned out to be an albatross around the neck of production, and ?now that games are firmly being developed with new consoles in mind, teams do not want to repeat the process."

While McClure might be the most recent developer to make these candid comments, they are most certainly not the first. Speaking with Gamerant, Rocksteady artist Lee Devonald pointed to the "lowest platform compatibility" dictum as a frequent thorn in the side of developers, suggesting that an "entire generation of games [are being] hamstrung by that potato." (It should be noted that Devonald was likely referring to the ruling as a potato, and not the Xbox Series S itself.)

And, in other testimony, Alexander Battaglia of the technically-focused Digital Foundry has noted that they frequently hear of studio frustrations, hindered by the Xbox Series S' reduced memory limitations and facilitating the need to adapt design plans specifically to fit a "next-gen" game's design onto the cheaper model. Xbo??x itself has recently updated its Xbox Series S dev kit model, freeing up additional memory space in order to allow developers to "stretch their wings" a little further.

Developer claims ‘many�studios are asking Xbox to drop mandatory Series S co?mpatibility [VGC]

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Overwatch producer on board for new SoCal digs

Netflix Games continues in its efforts to boisterously become part of the gaming industry at large �The fledgling outfit has not only announced the opening of a brand new studio, its fifth developer to date, but is also currently looking into the possibilities of launching its own cloud gaming service. The news was announced by Netflix VP of Gaming Mike Verdu during a presentation at TechCrunch Disrupt.

The new development studio, which will be established in Southern California, will be headed up by industry veteran Chacko Sonny, who previously worked for Activision Blizzard as the executive producer of arena shooter Overwatch. Sonny left the publisher in the fall of 2021, one of a number of high-profile departures in the wake of the company's Californian laws?uit and myriad toxic workplace allegati?ons.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMdi0VlPJ0o

In addition to the reveal of the new studio, Verdu also noted that Netflix Games was "seriously exploring" the potential for a cloud gaming service. Verdu suggested that this service would be a "va??lue add", as opposed to its own distinct platform �This is clearly a distinct effort to distance the potential Netflix service from Google's "Stadia" model, which announced its closure earlier this month.

The newly established studio, along with the exploration into the world of cloud gaming, represents the latest steps in Netflix' efforts to carve itself a piece of the lucrative gaming pie. Already building a portfolio of in-house developers, Verdu surmised that the studio had 5??5 games currently in the works, with at least half based upon Netflix own range of IPs.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jhfofq-ehw

For the most part, Netflix Games has focused on the mobile gaming market �with gaming releases based on Netflix franchises such as Stranger Things as well as its own original titles �thoug??h it clearly has some serious ambition on deck.  Thus, it wouldn't be surprising to see the company eventually branch out into producing more games for home console platform?s in the future.

Netflix to expand? into cloud gaming, opens new studio? in Southern California [TechCrunch]

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Activision Blizzard opposition rejected

Blizzard Albany's QA? team has been successful in its efforts to seek approval on a unionization vote �The National Labor?? Relation Board (NLRB) secured the team's right to hold a unionization ballot this fall, despite opposition from publisher and studio holder Activision Blizzard.

As reported by The Washington Post, Blizzar??d Albany's (formerly ?Vicarious Visions) 21-employee team had applied to the NLRB for the ballot as an independent body, seeking approval of its right to vote on unionization in an effort to strive for better pay and further security in its worker rights. The vote will now be held later this month, with the ballots counted and the result declared on November 18.

Activision Blizzard had previously argued that the entirety of the company should vote on unions as a whole, as opposed to just an individual 21-employee tea??m within one of the publisher's ??many subsidiaries. This argument was rejected by the NLRB, however, on the grounds that the pay rate for Blizzard Albany QA's team was far lower than that of other Activision Blizzard studio employees, and thus made the Albany QA team a distinct party from its Blizzard colleagues.

[caption id="attachment_347665" align="alignnone" width="640"] [The Activision Blizzard walkout of July 2021 Photo Credit: Bloomberg][/caption]"While we respect the NLRB process, we strongly disagree that a decision that could significantly impact the future of the entire Albany-based Diablo team should be made by just a handful of employees," said Activision Blizzard's Rich George in ?a statement to The Washington Post. "Given our tightly integrated operations in Albany, all of our eligible non-supervisory employees there should have a voice and be allowed to vote, not just the approximately 20 quality assurance testers picked by the union."

Despite Activision Blizzard's comments on the vote damaging the studio as a whole, Blizzard Albany's QA team has found solidarity in other, non-unionized employees with the World of Warcraft and Overwatch developer. One unnamed employee told the post that the QA squad is "critically undervalued by corporate", stating that while "all game workers need a union, QA is ?in dire need".

As to whether the NLRB's decision leads to further unionization creeping within the walls of Activision Blizzard and other major developers/publishers remains to be seen �but given the litany of terrible stories that are frequently pulled from the shadows of the gaming industry as a whole, here's hoping.

Blizzard Albany QA team gets union vote g??reenlight [The Washington Post]

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Xbox department among those affected

According to a report from Business Insider, Microsoft has made major layoffs across its entire company, with many "hundreds" of employees from many ?different departments finding themselves out of work.

Several teams within Microsoft have been hit with major cuts, with some divisions and subsidiaries �such as war sim developer Studio Alpha �forced to close entirely.  The cuts have reportedly affected a wide variety of in-house departments, from Microsoft's space technology division to its premier gaming platform, Xbox.  While the exact number of layoffs is unknown, Business Insider?? suggests it is i??n the region of hundreds but is overall less than 1000.

"Like all companies, we evaluate our business priorities on a regular basis, and make structural adjustments accordingly," a Mi??crosoft spokesperson in comments to Eurogamer. "We will continue to invest in our business and hire in key growth areas in the yea?r ahead."

As all global industries adjust to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, slowed production, reduced consumer spending, and a steadily increasing cost of living crisis, even some of the world's biggest and most successfu?l companies seem to? be tightening purse strings at best, and making sweeping staff cuts at worst.  As always, it is the "little people" that feel the hardest impact, forced out of work at a time of complete economic uncertainty, in a working world for which fragility has become a universal concern.

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It's all Greek to me

The studio formerly known as Square Enix Montreal has now rebranded as "Onoma" �The name change comes follo??wing the outfit's acquisition by Swedish holding com?pany Embracer Group.

In a statement on the studio's sparkling fresh website, Onoma reveals that it went through over 160 name suggestions before settling on the new name, which is Greek for "name" and was chosen due t??o its easy pronunciation in almost any language �most notably French and English, the native languages of the French-Canadian studio.

"Our strength has always been our ab?ility to evolve and adapt to trends and market changes," reads the statement. "Our rebrand as Studio Onoma i??s one more transformation that we are excited to take on. Our new brand identity will serve as an umbrella to multiple products, programs, and initiatives, each with distinct personalities."

Onoma was acquired from Square Enix by Embracer Group back in May of this year, in a smart and lucrative deal that also included proven developers Eidos Montreal and Crystal Dynamics, as well as a catalog of well-known and successful IPs including Legacy of Kain, Thief, Deus Ex, and, most notably, Tomb Raider. The $300 million (USD) acquisition was finally completed in August.

"Our name and look might have changed," concludes the developer's statement, "but we are still us: a studio that empowers creativity and innovation and always puts people before products. (Just in a new and i?mproved version!)"

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