studio Archives

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

PlaySide is making layoffs

PlaySide Studios, an Australian game developer, is reducing its workforce as part of an operational restructuring due to challenges in securing new work-for-hire projects. The layoffs will primarily affect work-for-hire and non-project specific personnel, with an undisclosed number of positions being cut. The restructuring is expected to save between AUD 4 million and AUD 5 million annually, but will incur a one-time cost of AUD 1.5 million. Ongoing projects, such as Mouse: PI for Hire, will not be impacted. The company plans to provide outplacement support and counseling services to affected employees. CEO Been Skender emphasized the need for resilience in the business model while acknowledging the difficulties faced by staff.

AppWizard

April 3, 2025

How Arrowhead helped turn around Helldivers 2’s poor fortunes

Shams Jorjani, CEO of Arrowhead, discussed the company's journey following the success of Helldivers 2, emphasizing the importance of targeting a specific audience rather than a broad one. The game's unexpected popularity attracted millions of players, prompting a reevaluation of their development approach. Jorjani noted that creating a game for a dedicated audience can resonate beyond that group, referencing From Software's challenging games as an example of how niche titles can create new genres. Despite not aiming for a mainstream audience like Call of Duty, Arrowhead attracted a diverse player base with varying expectations. Jorjani described challenges during a difficult period of balancing studio principles with the demands of a larger audience. The experiences from Helldivers 2 will influence Arrowhead's future projects and enhance their understanding of audience engagement in the gaming market.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Over 1.5m people have played Atomfall

Atomfall has attracted over 1.5 million players since its launch on March 27th, achieving one million players within its first weekend. The game is available through the Xbox Game Pass subscription service and debuted on multiple platforms, including PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles. It became the 15th highest-grossing title on Steam within its first week. Rebellion, the studio behind Atomfall, considers this launch their most successful to date.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Superman: Extended Preview to Play Before A Minecraft Movie

Warner Bros. has released an extended sneak peek of James Gunn's Superman, which will be shown before screenings of A Minecraft Movie this weekend. The preview was first revealed at CinemaCon, featuring Gunn, Peter Safran, and the film's lead actors: David Corenswet, Rachel Brosnahan, and Nicholas Hoult. It highlights a scene where a wounded Superman is rescued by his pet, Krypto, and offers a look at Superman's automatons and the Fortress of Solitude. Krypto's character is inspired by Gunn's own rescue dog. Superman is scheduled to be released in theaters on July 11th.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Naughty Dog And Nixxes On The PC Port Of The Last Of Us Part II: “We Take The Steam Deck Very, Very Seriously”

The Last of Us Part II is set to launch on Steam on April 3, marking a shift in Sony's strategy to release titles across multiple platforms. The porting process involves adapting the game from PlayStation hardware to PC, which presents challenges due to differences in architecture and the need for customizable experiences for PC gamers. The development team, including members from Naughty Dog and Nixxes, has implemented a system for real-time shader compilation to enhance performance. The port will also include new characters and gameplay modes, while maintaining the original narrative. Extensive collaboration between Naughty Dog and Nixxes has ensured support for various input devices and accessibility options.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in April

The PC gaming landscape remains active in April, with notable releases scheduled. Key titles include: - April 1: Koira - Cute puppy adventure - April 2: Bugaboo Pocket - Entomology life-sim - April 3: Sand - Extraction shooter with giant walkers - April 8: South of Midnight - Action-adventure southern folktale - April 8: Burden of Command - Tactical leadership RPG - April 9: Descenders Next - Downhill snowboarding - April 9: Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days (early access) - April 10: Crashlands 2 - Open world crafting RPG - April 10: Hollywood Animal - Hollywood studio management - April 10: Steel Seed - Sci-fi stealth action adventure - April 10: The Talos Principle: Reawakened - Unreal 5 remake - April 10: Monaco 2 - Co-op heist sequel - April 14: Repose - Black and white adventure - April 14: Stygian: Outer Gods - Survival horror RPG - April 17: Mandragora - Side-scrolling, dark fantasy RPG - April 17: Phantom Breaker - Pixel art beat'em up - April 17: Tempopo - Rhythmic garden puzzler - April 18: Lunar Remastered Collection - '90s RPG classics - April 22: War Rats: The Rat em Up - April 23: Sunderfolk - Couch co-op RPG - April 23: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy - April 24: Detective Dotson - Crime-solving as a Bollywood hopeful - April 24: Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves - April 24: Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero - April 28: Badlands Crew - Offroad battles Additionally, various gaming events are scheduled throughout the month.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

Eidos Montréal is cutting 75 jobs

Eidos Montréal has announced a reduction in its workforce, resulting in 75 employees facing redundancy. The layoffs are part of the conclusion of one of its operational mandates and are not a reflection of the employees' skills or dedication. The company stated it lacks the capacity to reallocate these employees to other projects. Eidos Montréal is committed to supporting the affected employees during their transition. This announcement follows a similar layoff of 17 employees at Crystal Dynamics, another studio under the Embracer Group, highlighting ongoing adjustments in the gaming sector.

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

EA alum Adolf Kristjansson is Starbreeze’s new CEO

Adolf Kristjansson has been appointed as the new CEO of Swedish gaming company Starbreeze, replacing interim CEO Mats Juhl, who held the position since May 2024. Kristjansson has extensive experience in the gaming industry, having worked at Electronic Arts for over a decade and previously held roles at Tæknival / BT and GAME. He has also served on the boards of Silverfox and Thunderful Group. Kristjansson expressed enthusiasm for Starbreeze's projects, including an upcoming Dungeons & Dragons title and the expansion of the Payday franchise. Starbreeze chair Jürgen Goeldner welcomed Kristjansson and thanked Mats Juhl for his contributions as interim CEO.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

Myst maker Cyan Worlds has made layoffs

Cyan Worlds has reduced its workforce by half, eliminating 12 positions due to challenging industry conditions. The management acknowledged the difficult situation and maintained open communication with the team about potential challenges. They offered severance packages to affected employees and invited other developers to consider the available talent. The studio's focus is on securing financing for their next project and stabilizing operations.

AppWizard

March 30, 2025

Get up to 85% off some of the PCs weirdest adventure games, all to benefit ‘humanitarian relief in Ukraine’

Amanita Design is hosting a sale from March 26 to April 2, offering discounts of up to 85% on its entire game catalog, with all proceeds going to humanitarian aid in Ukraine through the organization People in Need. The original Samorost is free, Samorost 2 is priced at £1.28, Samorost 3 at £2.54, and Machinarium at £5. Botanicula, released in 2012, and Creaks, released in 2020, are both available for £5. Amanita's upcoming project, Phonopolis, features a narrative inspired by Karel Čapek and George Orwell. A complete bundle of all games and soundtracks is available for just over £25.