fired Archives

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Battlefield 6 Devs Are ‘Learning’ From Player Created Big Maps

Battlefield 6 developers have acknowledged criticism regarding the lack of large maps since its launch and have promised additional maps are forthcoming. Bobby Kotick revealed he offered [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Good morning and welcome to your regularly scheduled Friday. As you prepare to embrace the weekend, take a moment to catch up on today’s Morning Checkpoint, a curated selection of noteworthy updates from the gaming industry. Battlefield 6 devs address lack of big maps and offer some hope Since its launch last month, Battlefield 6 has faced criticism regarding the absence of expansive maps. In response, EA has taken to their blog to reassure players that additional maps of various sizes are on the horizon. The developers at Battlefield Studios have acknowledged the community's creativity, particularly in the Portal mode, where user-generated maps have begun to reshape the gaming experience. In a recent playtest, I had the opportunity to explore the upcoming map, Eastwood, and it appears to be a promising addition that will likely satisfy players’ desires for larger battlegrounds. The hope remains that future updates will deliver even more expansive environments, fulfilling the expectations of dedicated fans. Bobby Kotick offered Notch .5 billion for Minecraft In a recent podcast appearance, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed that he nearly acquired Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Kotick recounted his experience negotiating with Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, stating, “We offered him .5 billion. And he said, ‘By the way, I’m quitting, and my top leadership guys are all quitting.’” With only 30 employees at the time, the deal fell through, leaving Activision to eventually gain ownership of Minecraft through Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2023. Insider claims RDR2 is going to get a PS5 upgrade In recent news, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, enhancing its performance on newer consoles. According to reliable leaker NateTheHate, there are also plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, although the timeline has been impacted by delays related to GTA 6. The gaming community eagerly awaits further developments on this front. Phasmophobia devs don’t want the game to be a live-service ‘treadmill’ The co-op ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia has garnered a significant following, yet its developers are keen to distance themselves from the live-service model prevalent in titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty. In an interview with PCGamesN, art director Corey Dixon expressed a desire to avoid the pressures of live-service development, emphasizing the importance of creating a game that players enjoy for its inherent fun rather than as a means to retain their attention. This refreshing perspective highlights a commitment to player experience over monetization strategies. Rockstar’s firing of 31 employees is now officially being discussed in the UK Parliament Earlier this month, Rockstar Games made headlines by terminating over two dozen employees in the UK. The affected workers, along with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, have accused the company of union-busting and are demanding their reinstatement. Rockstar contends that the dismissals were due to the sharing of confidential information. This situation has escalated to the point where it was addressed in the UK Parliament, raising questions about the company's practices and the implications for its workforce. ICYMI: Watch This:" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].5 billion to acquire Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, and there are plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, though delays related to GTA 6 have impacted the timeline. The developers of Phasmophobia aim to avoid the live-service model, focusing instead on creating a game that players enjoy for its fun. Rockstar Games recently fired 31 employees in the UK, leading to accusations of union-busting and discussions in the UK Parliament regarding the dismissals.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

‘I think we’re in the fight of our lives’: Fired Rockstar employees and IWGB are confident the GTA 6 developer will be held accountable for its alleged union busting

Over 30 employees at Rockstar Games were terminated, leading to protests organized by the Independent Workers' of Great Britain (IWGB) union, which labeled the firings as union busting. Take-Two, Rockstar's parent company, stated that the dismissals were due to "gross misconduct" related to employees discussing confidential information, denying any link to union activities. As a result of these events, the release of Grand Theft Auto 6 has been postponed from May 2026 to November 2026 to ensure quality standards. A representative from People Make Games expressed belief that the financial impact of the firings and delays has been considered by management, but he remains optimistic about the strength of worker solidarity in response to the situation.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Arcane Trigger Announced For PC With Free Demo

Indie game developer MiniWhale, in collaboration with publisher Anotherindie, has released a retro-inspired wizard shooter called Arcane Trigger. A free demo is available on Steam. Players take on the role of a mage defending their realm from interdimensional foes, featuring three distinct characters with unique magical abilities and 15 waves of escalating difficulty. The game includes over 220 unique bullets, 150 magical seals, and a dual progression system. Players can craft elemental arsenals using various magic types, fuse bullets for enhanced versions, and experience over 2,000,000 possible combinations of bullets, seals, and upgrades. The game features enchanting pixel art and is designed for fast-paced, accessible gameplay.

Winsage

October 20, 2025

In ’90s Microsoft, you either shipped code or shipped out

Former engineer Dave Plummer reflects on Microsoft's past, particularly the 1990s and the stack ranking system. He describes the hiring process as selective and rigorous, with some individuals securing positions despite lacking strong coding skills. Those who didn't fit the traditional developer mold could transition to program management roles, which were better suited to their strengths. Microsoft implemented a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) for employees misaligned with their roles, requiring them to improve their performance within a set timeframe or face termination. Plummer notes that while PIP could help some employees, it also highlighted the complexities of performance management. He criticizes the stack ranking system, which evaluated staff using a bell curve, creating a competitive and cutthroat environment. Microsoft abandoned stack ranking in 2013, a decision linked to a period of internal strife and low morale. Plummer likens the evaluation meetings to a survival spectacle, comparing it to "The Bachelor," where managers chose which employees to retain.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

The videogame that started it all gets a roguelike reimagining 53 years after launch, and it’s free to try

Devolver Digital and Kenny Sun have released Ball x Pit, a roguelike game that reimagines the classic Pong. Kenny Sun is known for his minimalist design but has opted for a maximalist style in this game, featuring vibrant chaos and frenetic gameplay. Players must redirect streams of ammunition, reminiscent of Pong, while incorporating roguelike mechanics such as optimizing builds and engaging in multiple rounds. Ball x Pit is available on Steam for .99 / £11.69, with a demo offered for players to try before purchasing.

AppWizard

October 15, 2025

The story for Paradox’s original, canned Bloodlines 2 has gone the way of the dodo, and its fired narrative lead says no one’s spoken to him about it, but the good news is he’s working on 2 games at once right now

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was announced in 2019 by Paradox Interactive, featuring Brian Mitsoda as the original writer and narrative lead. In 2020, both Mitsoda and creative director Ka'ai Cluney were dismissed, and by 2021, Hardsuit Labs lost the project. In 2023, Paradox transferred the project to The Chinese Room, which led to a complete overhaul of the game. Mitsoda has had no communication with The Chinese Room or Paradox since his departure. Dan Pinchbeck from The Chinese Room stated that they would create a new narrative for Bloodlines 2, which Mitsoda interpreted as a reason for replacing his team's contributions. Mitsoda was responsible for designing quests, dialogue tools, and character development during the initial stages of the game, but he preferred the creative process over public relations roles. He is currently involved in a AAA project and an independent venture, hoping to return to game direction in the future.

AppWizard

September 12, 2025

Path of Exile 2’s new patch has me breathing a sigh of relief as GGG removes the worst way to die

The latest patch notes for Path of Exile 2 introduce a 'grace period' for the sprint feature, preventing players from being heavily stunned upon taking damage at the start of a sprint. The minimum sprint duration has been slightly increased to support this change. Other updates include balance improvements, enhanced audio and visual cues for specific attacks, adjustments to the Raise Specter skill, correct weapon set usage for the Ancestral Warrior Totem, and a new button on the character selection screen for quicker access to towns or hideouts. Additionally, the positions of the regular player stash and guild stash have been swapped in the Ziggurat. The patch 0.3.0c is now live, featuring various adjustments and bug fixes.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

You were right: Minecraft the Game changed because of the reaction to Minecraft the Movie

The recent release of A Minecraft Movie has become a financial success in 2025, prompting changes in the Minecraft game. At SXSW London, Harry Elonen, associate brand director for Minecraft, announced that elements from the movie have been integrated into the game as part of a transmedia strategy to enhance fan engagement. The frequency of game updates has increased from once a year to four times a year. A sequel to A Minecraft Movie is in preliminary development, suggesting more updates will follow. The film will be available for streaming on Max starting June 20.

Winsage

May 22, 2025

Microsoft fires employee who interrupted CEO’s speech to protest AI…

During Microsoft's annual Build developer conference in Seattle, software engineer Joe Lopez interrupted CEO Satya Nadella's address to protest the company's technology supply to the Israeli military amid the Gaza conflict. Lopez was escorted from the venue after shouting at Nadella. He later sent a mass email to colleagues challenging Microsoft's claims about its Azure cloud platform's use in Gaza. The conference saw multiple interruptions from pro-Palestinian protests, and demonstrators gathered outside. Microsoft acknowledged providing AI services to the Israeli military but stated there was no evidence linking its technologies to harm in Gaza. Lopez reportedly received a termination letter following his protest, and the advocacy group No Azure for Apartheid claimed Microsoft has restricted internal communications related to Palestine and Gaza.

AppWizard

April 18, 2025

10 hidden easter eggs in A Minecraft Movie – The Times of India

A Minecraft Movie has grossed 6.8 million domestically and is expected to be the first film of 2025 to surpass the 0 million mark. The film opens with a recreation of Minecraft's iconic loading screen. It features Steve's village with items like an Ender Pearl and Crafting Table, which serve as nods for fans. In Natalie’s kitchen, there is a tater tot pizza and a wrestling match reminiscent of Nacho Libre. The film includes a crossover with Minecraft Legends during the final boss fight. A Swift Golem, crafted with boots, is introduced as a fast-moving character. Mojang developers Jens "Jeb" Bergensten and Torfi Frans Olafsson make cameos. YouTubers DanTDM, Aphmau, Mumbo Jumbo, and LDShadowLady appear in a storage auction scene. A crowned pig with Technoblade's skin pays tribute to him. Enchanted bows are fired by skeleton mobs during an ambush on the first night. The film features villagers with professions, including a librarian.