layoffs Archives

AppWizard

April 29, 2026

Starbreeze hasn’t declared Payday 3 dead yet, but it’s launching yet another spin-off this year—this time on Roblox

Starbreeze has partnered with Gamefam to create a new game set in the Payday universe on Roblox, expected to launch later this year. This will be the second Payday-themed game on Roblox, following Notoriety: A Payday Experience, which was released in 2024. Starbreeze aims to expand the Payday brand through selective licensing and innovative formats, despite facing challenges with Payday 3, which has struggled to attract players. The new projects allow Starbreeze to maintain oversight while external studios handle development. Gamefam has experience in partnerships with major game publishers and brands.

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.

Winsage

April 24, 2026

Microsoft tackles quality control issues. Just kidding, it’s encouraging experienced workers to leave

Microsoft is implementing a voluntary buyout scheme for a segment of its U.S. workforce, targeting employees at the senior director level and below who have a combined age and tenure of 70 years or more. Approximately 7 percent of the workforce, nearly 9,000 individuals, could be eligible for this program, which aims to allow voluntary exits instead of mandatory layoffs. The company has previously laid off 9,000 employees in July 2025, and concerns have arisen about losing experienced talent that is crucial for improving the quality of Windows. Microsoft has invested heavily in artificial intelligence, but its stock price has declined over 20 percent in the past six months. The potential loss of valuable employees due to buyouts could hinder the company's ability to address ongoing quality challenges.

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.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Google executive responsible for AI has a solution for the game industry’s problems, and you’re not going to believe this but it’s AI

Jack Buser, the global director for games at Google Cloud, is focusing on using AI and cloud solutions to tackle challenges in the gaming industry. He noted a rebound in revenue growth but highlighted issues such as declining profits, project cancellations, and layoffs, with only Roblox and the Chinese market thriving. Buser advocates for AI as a potential solution, despite concerns about "rightsizing" strategies that may prioritize profits over employee welfare. His previous role at Stadia ended with mixed results, raising doubts about the feasibility of AI-driven game development. The industry is still awaiting a groundbreaking AI-generated game. Buser emphasizes the need for clearer discussions about AI and suggests that embracing it could lead to easier revenue generation, similar to trends in reality television.

AppWizard

April 22, 2026

Ubisoft cancels Animal Crossing and Minecraft-inspired cosy life sim game Alterra

Ubisoft has canceled Project Alterra, an original game described as an "Animal Crossing-inspired social sim" with Minecraft-like elements. The decision was communicated to the development team on April 21st, resulting in an early dismissal for staff, although no layoffs were reported. The project had been in development by Ubisoft Montréal for nearly three years, led by creative director Patrick Redding and lead producer Fabien Lhéraud. Employees involved in Alterra have been reassigned to other projects within the company. Ubisoft stated that it continuously assesses projects to ensure they align with strategic priorities and quality standards, leading to the discontinuation of those that do not meet expectations.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

The Last of Us star Troy Baker wants to make his own game studio, but he wants to “do it right”

Troy Baker, known for his roles in video games like The Last of Us, is establishing his own game studio to take control of the narrative process and tell his own stories. He aims to blend lessons from his past experiences in the industry into new projects and is focused on building a team of trusted collaborators. Baker recognizes the challenges of transforming ideas into tangible products and emphasizes a careful approach to development, stating that he wants to avoid rushing the process. His venture could potentially create job opportunities for developers amidst industry challenges like layoffs and project cancellations.

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

After the death of Dragon Age, it’s a megaton bummer to go back and hear BioWare’s founders talk about the series’ bright future

PCG has rediscovered a hands-on preview of Dragon Age: Origins by Evan Lahti, along with an interview from 2009 with BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. At that time, the studio was thriving, with both founders expressing optimism about the franchise's future and hinting at sequels. Muzyka noted that Dragon Age would be a franchise with a continuum of experiences, referencing a save transfer feature inspired by Mass Effect. Lahti recalls the excitement of covering the studio shortly after its acquisition by EA. Muzyka defended the artistic integrity of their games against media scrutiny, while Zeschuk commented on controversies surrounding early Mass Effect titles. The interview originally appeared in PC Gamer #198 (UK, March 2009).

AppWizard

April 17, 2026

PC gaming is growing, but it isn’t because of Dota 2 and Fortnite

The gaming industry is undergoing significant transformation, with a notable shift in revenue dynamics. According to Newzoo's 2026 report, PC gaming is expected to surpass console gaming by 2028, driven by lucrative titles like League of Legends and World of Warcraft. In 2025, 56% of PC gaming revenue will come from games outside the top 20, highlighting the growing importance of non-top titles. Total playtime in PC gaming has increased by 14% from 2022 to 2025, with non-top 20 games seeing a 44% rise in engagement. Player preferences are leaning towards RPGs and adventure games, while first-person shooters remain popular on Xbox despite some genre fatigue. The gaming industry is characterized by cyclical trends, indicating that while certain genres may decline temporarily, they are not obsolete.

AppWizard

April 4, 2026

Fortnite’s AI-generated brainrot characters are here, and I hate it

Fortnite has launched the Brainrot Bundle, featuring two new characters: Ballerina Cappuccina and Tung Tung Tung Sahur, each priced at 1,500 V-Bucks. The bundle includes additional themed items, totaling 2,400 V-Bucks for the complete collection. Concerns have arisen regarding the origins of these characters, as they are inspired by memes linked to generative AI. Epic Games recently raised V-Buck prices and laid off 1,000 employees due to a decline in player engagement since 2025. A post on the Fortnite subreddit expressing discontent over the layoffs and the new bundle has gained attention within the community.