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EA's CEO claims AI isn't costing people their jobs, instead it's helping them
AppWizard
April 29, 2026

EA’s CEO claims AI isn’t costing people their jobs, instead it’s helping them

EA CEO Andrew Wilson stated that AI is intended to enhance existing roles in the gaming industry rather than replace them. He emphasized that AI serves as a tool to improve productivity, particularly in routine tasks, and mentioned that EA is hiring more quality assurance (QA) staff than ever before, with 85% of QA work being supported by machine learning or AI-driven algorithms. Despite recent layoffs at EA, including teams involved in the development of Battlefield 6, Wilson maintains that AI's role is primarily augmentation. However, the company faced criticism after allegations that AI was used to generate artwork for a premium bundle, raising concerns about the impact of AI on employment in the gaming sector.
Ubisoft have reportedly cancelled Alterra, a life sim blending Animal Crossing with Minecraft, after almost three years of dev work
AppWizard
April 22, 2026

Ubisoft have reportedly cancelled Alterra, a life sim blending Animal Crossing with Minecraft, after almost three years of dev work

Ubisoft has canceled an unannounced life simulation game called Alterra, which had been in development for nearly three years. The development team was informed of the cancellation on April 21st and has the option to transition to other projects within the company. The cancellation is part of a broader restructuring at Ubisoft, which has included project discontinuations and layoffs, including the closure of the Tom Clancy studio, Red Storm, resulting in 105 job losses. Earlier in January, Ubisoft also canceled the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake and five other titles.
'The industry's in a really horrible place,' Brenda Romero says: 'We were there in the '80s for the crash, and this is definitely crashier'
AppWizard
March 29, 2026

‘The industry’s in a really horrible place,’ Brenda Romero says: ‘We were there in the ’80s for the crash, and this is definitely crashier’

The videogame industry is currently facing significant uncertainty and job insecurity, reminiscent of the early 1980s crash. Industry veterans Brenda and John Romero express concern that the current situation is worse than that period. Brenda Romero stated that the industry is in a "really horrible place," with many individuals affected by job losses, including over 16,000 during the pandemic's end. Their studio has had to reduce its team size due to a loss of funding, impacting their game development vision. Economic pressures, including rising prices for PlayStation 5 hardware due to global economic challenges, are contributing to declining sales and consumer confidence. Despite the industry's struggles, John Romero remains committed to game development, while Brenda acknowledges the unpredictability of the future, particularly regarding the push for generative AI in game development.
Blizzard vet Rob Pardo closed this year's GDC keynote by urging executives to cool it with the layoffs: 'The game team is more valuable than the game itself'
AppWizard
March 15, 2026

Blizzard vet Rob Pardo closed this year’s GDC keynote by urging executives to cool it with the layoffs: ‘The game team is more valuable than the game itself’

Rob Pardo, former chief creative officer of Blizzard, spoke at the Game Developers Conference about the unpredictability of creating hit games and the importance of retaining successful developers. He highlighted a concerning trend in the industry where studios lay off developers after successful game launches, citing the example of Battlefield 6 selling 7 million copies in three days. Pardo emphasized that a successful game is often the result of a strong development team that has navigated challenges and adapted throughout the creation process. He urged industry executives to value and nurture their teams, as they are crucial to the game's success.
Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney wades into the Arc Raiders AI voice debate with an imaginary scenario predicting 'infinite, context-sensitive, personality-reflecting dialog based on and tuned by human voice actors'
AppWizard
November 12, 2025

Epic Games boss Tim Sweeney wades into the Arc Raiders AI voice debate with an imaginary scenario predicting ‘infinite, context-sensitive, personality-reflecting dialog based on and tuned by human voice actors’

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, views generative AI as a significant opportunity for enhancing in-game dialogue, proposing it could create "infinite, context-sensitive, personality-reflecting dialog" shaped by human voice actors. His comments were in response to criticism from freelancer Rick Lane regarding the use of AI-generated voices in the game Arc Raiders. Sweeney believes that AI can enhance human productivity and that competition among game developers fosters better games rather than reducing job opportunities. He argues that the future of AI offers greater opportunities for voice actors compared to traditional roles, envisioning a gaming landscape with dynamic, context-sensitive interactions. Critics, however, question the feasibility of his vision and express concerns about the potential threat to voice actors' livelihoods. Industry responses to generative AI vary, with some leaders embracing it while others remain cautious. Sweeney acknowledges the validity of concerns about the impact of progress on affected individuals.
Ubisoft "restructuring" RedLynx, up to 60 jobs at risk
AppWizard
October 22, 2025

Ubisoft “restructuring” RedLynx, up to 60 jobs at risk

Ubisoft has announced a restructuring of its RedLynx studio, which may result in job losses for up to 60 employees. The changes aim to streamline costs and enhance operational efficiency, with a focus on prioritizing projects. Celine Pasula, Managing Director of RedLynx, acknowledged the emotional impact of the announcement on employees and teams. Despite the challenges, Ubisoft remains optimistic about RedLynx's future, emphasizing a commitment to technical excellence in mobile gaming and improving capabilities across various platforms.
Saudi Arabia's acquisition of Electronic Arts faces pushback from game developers, petition calls on FTC to 'scrutinize this deal closely'
AppWizard
October 17, 2025

Saudi Arabia’s acquisition of Electronic Arts faces pushback from game developers, petition calls on FTC to ‘scrutinize this deal closely’

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, along with private equity firms, is acquiring Electronic Arts (EA) for a billion dollars, facing significant resistance from the United Videogame Workers-CWA union. The union has urged regulators to prioritize job protection, creative freedom, and accountability in decision-making. EA, with annual revenues of .5 billion and profits of billion, is not in distress, but concerns have been raised about potential layoffs, particularly at BioWare, a studio known for its progressive narrative approach. The union warned that job losses would be a choice made for investor profit rather than necessity. U.S. senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren have expressed concerns about national security risks related to the acquisition, but regulatory intervention seems unlikely due to a shift in the FTC's stance and the involvement of Jared Kushner in the deal. The union has initiated a petition to prompt regulatory examination of the acquisition.
MindsEye maker BARB set to make redundancies
AppWizard
July 4, 2025

MindsEye maker BARB set to make redundancies

Build A Rocket Boy, the developer of MindsEye, is preparing for potential layoffs, informing its approximately 300 UK employees and those at its subsidiary PlayFusion of possible redundancies. MindsEye, launched in early June, faced a poor reception due to technical difficulties, leading the company to address these issues. Co-CEO Leslie Benzies attributed some challenges to "internal and external saboteurs," a sentiment echoed by co-CEO Mark Gerhard. However, the game's publisher has stated they do not believe any sabotage occurred during development or launch.
Embracer's headcount dropped by 1.8k staff last year
AppWizard
June 20, 2025

Embracer’s headcount dropped by 1.8k staff last year

Embracer Group has reduced its workforce by over 1,800 employees, specifically a decrease of 1,857 compared to the previous fiscal year. This follows approximately 1,400 job losses in the prior year. The company has also divested several studios, including Gearbox and Saber Interactive. Embracer is planning to split into three publicly-traded entities, and founder and CEO Lars Wingefors will step down, with Phil Rogers taking over as CEO. Wingefors will become executive chairman of the Board, focusing on strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, and capital allocation.
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