layoffs Archives

AppWizard

December 25, 2025

Blade director reassures suffering fans with soothing words: ‘Please be patient, it will be a special game’

Arkane Studios unveiled their latest project, Blade, at The Game Awards 2023, but concerns have arisen due to the lack of updates and its absence from the Xbox Games Showcase. The game's silence intensified speculation after it did not appear at the Game Awards 2025. Arkane's co-creative director, Dinga Bakaba, reassured fans on social media that the team is dedicated to delivering a special game. The studio faces challenges, as their previous title, Prey, struggled commercially, and the disappointing performance of Redfall led to the closure of Arkane Austin in 2024. Additionally, Microsoft's focus on artificial intelligence and recent layoffs in its gaming division have raised concerns about the future of game development. The success of Blade is critical for Arkane, as it has the potential to offer a unique take on superhero narratives.

AppWizard

December 18, 2025

Steam’s 2025 Replay reveals we all once again spent around 14% of our time on games released in the same year—which apparently shakes out to a median of 0.56 new games

Players dedicated 14% of their total playtime in 2025 to games released in the same year. Historical data shows the following percentages for the same metric: 17% in 2022, 9% in 2023, and 15% in 2024. This suggests that, on average, players may settle around 14-15% of their gaming time on new releases in future years. For an average player logging 300 hours of gameplay, this equates to approximately 42 hours spent on titles that debuted in 2025. The median number of games played by users was four, implying engagement with about 0.56 new games.

AppWizard

December 11, 2025

Legendary FPS developer John Romero says his studio ‘survived the cancellation of our huge game’ and its shooter project ‘will be new to people the way that going through Elden Ring was a really new experience’

In July, Romero Games announced the loss of funding for its anticipated shooter project, coinciding with layoffs at Microsoft affecting over 9,000 employees. The studio assured its community of efforts to ensure survival amid uncertainty. Recently, at the Salón del Videojuego de Madrid 2025, John Romero announced that the studio is working on a reimagined shooter project, drawing inspiration from games like Elden Ring. Romero emphasized a bold and imaginative direction for the new game, continuing the legacy of groundbreaking titles such as Doom.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Creative Assembly has been busy—Total War: Medieval 3 is coming, along with more Warhammer DLC and another game that will be revealed next week, ‘marking the beginning of an exciting new era’

Creative Assembly has announced the development of Total War: Medieval 3, returning to the Middle Ages after two decades since Total War: Medieval 2. The announcement was made during a 25th anniversary showcase by Sega and Creative Assembly. The game is described as a tribute to its predecessors and an evolution for the franchise, promising historical authenticity and player agency. It is currently in pre-production. Creative Assembly's last major release, Total War: Three Kingdoms, received acclaim but lacked ongoing support. The studio also continues to develop content for Total War: Warhammer 3, with a new DLC titled Lords of the End Times set for release next summer. Additionally, another announcement is expected during The Game Awards on December 11, which is described as one of the most ambitious projects in the franchise's history.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

It’s 2025’s most notorious flop, but you can now try this would-be GTA rival for free, and it really can only get better

Mindseye, launched in June 2025 by Build a Rocket Boy, is an action game that received poor reviews and faced significant issues at launch, leading to employee layoffs. Founder Leslie Benzies attributed the game's failure to external sabotage. Despite ongoing turmoil, the team is working on updates, including a free demo released with Update 6, which offers a portion of the campaign and player-created content. The free starter pack weighs under 50GB and includes a 15-minute main quest and 14 additional challenges, although the free-roam feature has been removed. The complete game is currently available at a 50% discount, priced at .99 / £27.49.

AppWizard

November 30, 2025

MindsEye developer offers a starter pack that lets you try the beleaguered action game’s best mission for free, though you should imagine air-quotes the size of skyscrapers around the word ‘best’

MindsEye, developed by Build A Rocket Boy, launched on Steam five months ago with numerous issues, including a convoluted narrative, poor combat mechanics, and technical glitches, leading to overwhelmingly negative reception. Leslie Benzies, the studio's head, blamed 'saboteurs' for the game's shortcomings amid over a hundred layoffs and concerns about mismanagement. A recent patch was released to improve performance, AI, animation, and combat. Build A Rocket Boy introduced a "free starter pack" that includes the seventh campaign mission, "Robin Hood," which features stealth, a car chase, and a street gunfight. The starter pack also contains 14 Arcadia missions, though past experiences with these missions have been unfavorable. Regular updates are promised for the free starter pack, allowing players to experience the game without financial commitment.

AppWizard

November 27, 2025

Epic CEO says AI disclosures like Steam’s make “no sense” because AI will be involved in “nearly all” future game development

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Epic Games, believes that AI disclosure tags in gaming marketplaces like Steam should be removed, arguing that AI will be involved in nearly all future game production. He expressed optimism about AI empowering smaller development teams to create expansive game worlds. However, he acknowledged that AI's reputation is often negative due to its use as a means of creative replacement rather than enhancement, leading to layoffs in the industry. Major companies like King and Ubisoft have reduced their workforce in part due to AI advancements. Steam had previously introduced guidelines requiring developers to disclose AI usage, with nearly 8,000 games reported to have incorporated generative AI. The actual number is likely higher, as seen in the disappointment over the number of demos using the technology during Steam Next Fest.

AppWizard

November 19, 2025

Rescued “Minecraft challenger” Hytale finally shows off gameplay, and it has the building blocks of something great

Hytale was originally developed by Hypixel Studios and acquired by Riot Games in 2020. Riot announced the cancellation of Hytale in June, but a deal was made with Hypixel's co-founder, Simon Collins-Laflamme, to revive the project. Hypixel has shared gameplay footage and aims to combine elements from Minecraft and platforms like Roblox. The game faced delays under Riot's management, but Hypixel is now focused on delivering a playable version and will announce an early access release date soon. They have decided to revert to the original engine for development while planning future cross-platform functionality. Collins-Laflamme noted that the current version has imperfections but shows promise, and he assured that Hytale will not take any revenue from modders and server owners for the first two years.

AppWizard

November 16, 2025

As players flood back to my survival game of choice, its director is planning new updates “for years to come” after 1.0

The recent update, Enshrouded: Wake of the Water, has attracted players back to the survival game, which has over four and a half million players since its launch two years ago. The development team has grown from around 40 to approximately 80 members. The 1.0 release is targeted for 2026, with ongoing plans for a console version and various enhancements. Player engagement has increased, with active counts between 30,000 to 50,000, and a stable base of around 10,000 during quieter periods. Keen Games has implemented a 'feature wish' board for players to suggest and vote on ideas. The team plans to continue supporting the game with new content after the 1.0 release. Enshrouded is currently available at a 20% discount on Steam until November 24, priced at .99 / £19.99.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

Crystal Dynamics makes third round of layoffs this year

Developer Crystal Dynamics has reduced its workforce by "under 30" employees across various departments. This decision is part of a series of job cuts made throughout the year, with previous reductions occurring in August and March. The company is reorganizing its studios and teams to optimize the development of its flagship title, Tomb Raider, and to prepare for future projects. Crystal Dynamics expressed gratitude to the affected employees for their contributions and committed to providing support during the transition.