workforce Archives

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

Pentagon inspector general investigating Hegseth’s use of Signal messaging app

DoD's acting Inspector General, Steven Stebbins, is reviewing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the Signal app for operational airstrike discussions in Yemen to evaluate compliance with policies on commercial messaging for official communications and classification mandates. Concurrently, House Oversight Committee Democrats are investigating the Department of Government Efficiency's data usage, while OPM is directing agencies to revise performance review processes to prioritize adherence to presidential policies. The Defense Department has mandated public reporting of canceled contracts linked to Trump's efficiency initiatives. The SSA is tightening identity-proofing requirements for benefit applications, discontinuing phone verification options. During a nomination hearing, Trump’s nominees for OPM and OMB faced questions regarding federal workforce reductions. The Army has abandoned plans for a billion-dollar software development contract after feedback on draft RFPs. Employees at the IMLS have been placed on administrative leave amid concerns over the agency's future and grant disbursement obligations following Trump's executive order aimed at eliminating smaller entities.

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

Wrong signal: Donald Trump shoots the messaging app instead of the messmaker

Maher became the non-executive chair at Web Summit after leaving her CEO position last year to lead NPR. She also chairs the Signal Foundation, known for its encrypted messaging service, which was used by Trump administration members during military planning in Yemen, leading to criticism from Trump supporters due to her previous comments about Trump and her advocacy for restricting free speech. Meanwhile, Gordon Hardie, CEO of O-I Glass, received a total compensation package of €1.46 million last year, which included a base salary of €682,322, stock awards, and additional benefits. The University of Limerick recently ceased posting on X due to declining engagement and concerns over content, though it remains open to reconsidering its stance. Peter Vandermeersch, CEO of Mediahuis Ireland, is writing a book titled “Ierland. Guinness, God en Google,” which will explore various aspects of Irish life and culture.

Winsage

April 4, 2025

Microsoft turns 50: Tracking Bill Gates’ journey – from a dorm room to tech powerhouse

In 2025, Microsoft will celebrate its 50th anniversary, marking the beginning of its journey in 1975 when Bill Gates and Paul Allen aimed to make personal computers accessible to everyone. They created user-friendly software, starting with MS-DOS, which laid the foundation for the Windows operating system. Microsoft has since transformed work, learning, and communication with tools like MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while also creating millions of jobs and driving innovation. The company is currently focusing on integrating artificial intelligence with cloud computing and will host a special event in Redmond, Washington, to introduce new Copilot features.

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 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

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.

Winsage

March 31, 2025

Microsoft is turning 50. Is it ready for the next technological frontier?

Satya Nadella made a significant investment in OpenAI at the end of 2022, positioning Microsoft as a leader in the AI sector and boosting its valuation by over a trillion dollars. As of early 2025, Microsoft faces challenges including reduced data center investments, disappointing stock performance, tensions with OpenAI, and declining market enthusiasm for AI technologies. The company's shares have dropped approximately 16% since peaking in July 2024, and it has experienced a 7% decline this year, making it the only member of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks without a gain over the past twelve months. Microsoft has retreated from ambitious AI infrastructure plans, scrapping data center projects that would have increased its computing power by about 14%. The company is also developing its own AI models while struggling with the market traction of Copilot, which has not advanced beyond initial testing for many organizations. Broader trends indicate a slowdown in AI adoption growth rates among U.S. workers and growing apprehension among CIOs regarding AI expenditures.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

37-year-old studio behind iconic PC game Myst and one of the longest-surviving indies in the world just laid off “roughly half the team”

Cyan Worlds announced a reduction in its workforce, laying off twelve team members, which is approximately half of its staff. This change will take effect at the end of March.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

Crystal Dynamics cuts 17 jobs

Crystal Dynamics announced a workforce reduction of 17 employees as part of a strategic move to align with evolving business needs. The studio is developing a new Tomb Raider installment to be published by Amazon and is involved in reviving the Perfect Dark franchise with Microsoft's The Initiative studios. The company is providing transition packages and outreach opportunities for affected employees. Crystal Dynamics stated that the layoffs do not reflect the dedication or capabilities of those impacted and assured stakeholders that project timelines and objectives will not be affected.

AppWizard

March 27, 2025

English is no longer the biggest language on Steam as Chinese gamers embrace PC gaming even harder after Black Myth: Wukong

Mandarin is the most widely used language on Steam, with 33.7% of users selecting it as their primary language, followed closely by English at 33.5%. Over 66% of Steam users have chosen a primary language other than English. The popularity of games developed by Chinese companies, such as Genshin Impact and Honkai: Star Rail, has contributed to this trend. Chinese game developers often have significantly larger budgets and workforces compared to Japanese developers. Additionally, Mandarin speakers are not only from mainland China but also from Taiwan, Singapore, and Malaysia, with reports of the language being encountered in South Korea and Vietnam in 2023.