workforce Archives

Winsage

November 23, 2025

Microsoft faces uphill climb to turn enterprise dominance into widespread AI chatbot adoption

Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella highlighted that over 150 million users are engaging with its Copilot assistant, which aims to enhance productivity in various sectors. However, there are challenges in the enterprise market, with clients hesitant to adopt Copilot licenses and some wanting to reduce their licenses. Copilot, launched as an add-on to Microsoft 365, helps with tasks like summarizing emails and creating presentations. Microsoft has invested heavily in AI, particularly through its Azure cloud infrastructure, which reported a 40% revenue growth. Competing tech companies like Adobe, Google, Salesforce, and Workday are also targeting the enterprise AI market. Despite skepticism, over 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Microsoft 365 Copilot, and some organizations have purchased large numbers of licenses. To encourage adoption, Microsoft plans to introduce a new tier for Microsoft 365 Copilot Business and has offered discounts in the past. Companies like Land O'Lakes and Pearson have successfully integrated Copilot into their operations. Microsoft is also collaborating with Anthropic to enhance its AI offerings. Daily usage of Copilot among commercial sales and support staff has increased, indicating growing internal traction.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

Battlefield 6 Devs Are ‘Learning’ From Player Created Big Maps

Battlefield 6 developers have acknowledged criticism regarding the lack of large maps since its launch and have promised additional maps are forthcoming. Bobby Kotick revealed he offered [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Good morning and welcome to your regularly scheduled Friday. As you prepare to embrace the weekend, take a moment to catch up on today’s Morning Checkpoint, a curated selection of noteworthy updates from the gaming industry. Battlefield 6 devs address lack of big maps and offer some hope Since its launch last month, Battlefield 6 has faced criticism regarding the absence of expansive maps. In response, EA has taken to their blog to reassure players that additional maps of various sizes are on the horizon. The developers at Battlefield Studios have acknowledged the community's creativity, particularly in the Portal mode, where user-generated maps have begun to reshape the gaming experience. In a recent playtest, I had the opportunity to explore the upcoming map, Eastwood, and it appears to be a promising addition that will likely satisfy players’ desires for larger battlegrounds. The hope remains that future updates will deliver even more expansive environments, fulfilling the expectations of dedicated fans. Bobby Kotick offered Notch .5 billion for Minecraft In a recent podcast appearance, former Activision CEO Bobby Kotick revealed that he nearly acquired Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Kotick recounted his experience negotiating with Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson, stating, “We offered him .5 billion. And he said, ‘By the way, I’m quitting, and my top leadership guys are all quitting.’” With only 30 employees at the time, the deal fell through, leaving Activision to eventually gain ownership of Minecraft through Microsoft’s acquisition of the company in 2023. Insider claims RDR2 is going to get a PS5 upgrade In recent news, Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, enhancing its performance on newer consoles. According to reliable leaker NateTheHate, there are also plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, although the timeline has been impacted by delays related to GTA 6. The gaming community eagerly awaits further developments on this front. Phasmophobia devs don’t want the game to be a live-service ‘treadmill’ The co-op ghost-hunting game Phasmophobia has garnered a significant following, yet its developers are keen to distance themselves from the live-service model prevalent in titles like Fortnite and Call of Duty. In an interview with PCGamesN, art director Corey Dixon expressed a desire to avoid the pressures of live-service development, emphasizing the importance of creating a game that players enjoy for its inherent fun rather than as a means to retain their attention. This refreshing perspective highlights a commitment to player experience over monetization strategies. Rockstar’s firing of 31 employees is now officially being discussed in the UK Parliament Earlier this month, Rockstar Games made headlines by terminating over two dozen employees in the UK. The affected workers, along with the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain, have accused the company of union-busting and are demanding their reinstatement. Rockstar contends that the dismissals were due to the sharing of confidential information. This situation has escalated to the point where it was addressed in the UK Parliament, raising questions about the company's practices and the implications for its workforce. ICYMI: Watch This:" max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].5 billion to acquire Minecraft before Microsoft finalized the deal in 2014. Rockstar announced that Red Dead Redemption will receive free upgrades for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Switch 2, and there are plans for a PS5 upgrade for Red Dead Redemption 2, though delays related to GTA 6 have impacted the timeline. The developers of Phasmophobia aim to avoid the live-service model, focusing instead on creating a game that players enjoy for its fun. Rockstar Games recently fired 31 employees in the UK, leading to accusations of union-busting and discussions in the UK Parliament regarding the dismissals.

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.

AppWizard

November 14, 2025

As Krafton evolves into an ‘AI-first company’, the boss of the recently acquired Last Epoch studio says he doesn’t think the ‘doom and gloom’ is warranted

Krafton has announced its intention to become an "AI-first company" with an investment of over 130 billion won. The company has implemented a hiring freeze and a voluntary resignation program for its South Korean workforce. Krafton acquired Eleventh Hour Games (EHG), the studio behind Last Epoch, in July. EHG has maintained a commitment to providing players with free content since its Kickstarter launch in 2018, but recent communications suggest that the pricing for upcoming expansions is uncertain. EHG co-founder Cobler outlined limited options during the acquisition process, including pursuing other intellectual properties, seeking unfavorable funding, joining Krafton, or facing bankruptcy. Cobler expressed optimism about the acquisition's long-term benefits, despite skepticism from others. There is currently no evidence that Last Epoch is declining, but Krafton's strategic decisions may impact the studio. EHG recently launched its third season and plans additional content leading up to an expansion.

AppWizard

November 13, 2025

Legendary city-building series arrives in the Roman Empire for a new start, but one roadblock is keeping players out

Anno 117: Pax Romana is a simulation game set in Ancient Rome, featuring detailed representations of iconic monuments and structures. Players can construct cities in various regions, including Latium and the Celtic wetlands of Albion. The game has received a graphics upgrade and expanded building options, with enhanced military systems allowing for ground and naval combat. Players can choose a patron deity to influence their settlements, and monuments like the Colosseum require multiple building stages and culminate in festivals. However, the game requires Denuvo Anti-tamper technology and an Ubisoft Connect account, which has caused frustration among players due to account creation issues and multiplayer connection errors. The game is available on Steam for .99 / £49.99 and has a 72% positive rating based on reviews.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

Destiny 2 has “not reached expectations” since Sony acquisition, posting loss of $204 million

Sony acquired Bungie for approximately .6 billion in 2022, with about one-third of the investment aimed at retaining Bungie's workforce. Bungie has been operating independently since the acquisition. Sony's CFO Lin Tao announced a ¥31.5 billion impairment loss related to Bungie's intangible assets, reflecting a reassessment of Bungie's value due to underperformance in titles like Destiny 2 and Marathon. Despite this, Sony's overall sales and operating income increased by nearly ¥42 billion compared to the previous year. Tao noted that player engagement and sales for Destiny 2 have not met expectations since the acquisition. She reassured stakeholders that the goodwill associated with Bungie remains intact due to the strength of other titles in Sony's portfolio. Tao acknowledged potential risks for Bungie's upcoming releases and the ongoing performance of Destiny 2, stating that failure to meet expectations could lead to further impairment losses, but does not currently foresee these challenges affecting Sony's overall gaming segment health.

Winsage

November 10, 2025

Advancing security with Windows and Surface | Microsoft SFI Report Nov 2025

Microsoft is committed to security through its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), which employs 34,000 engineers to enhance cybersecurity. The November 2025 SFI Progress Report outlines advancements in security, including principles of Secure by Design, Secure by Default, and Secure Operations integrated into Windows and Surface products. Key updates include: - Windows 11 introduces passwordless sign-in with Passkeys and FIDO2 credentials to reduce phishing risks. - Phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA) is now widely used, lowering account compromise risks. - Windows Hotpatch allows security updates without device restarts, achieving 81% compliance within 24 hours of Patch Tuesday. - Windows 11 features quick machine recovery for automatic, cloud-connected recovery from boot failures. Surface devices lead in security by enabling all recommended features by default and developing memory-safe firmware to address vulnerabilities. Notably, 70% of security vulnerabilities are linked to memory safety issues, and Surface uses Rust-based UEFI firmware to enhance defenses. Surface also develops Windows drivers in Rust to eliminate memory safety bugs and shares innovations through the Open Device Partnership to improve security across the ecosystem.

AppWizard

October 29, 2025

Amazon Games is making major layoffs as it shifts focus away from MMOs to its Luna cloud gaming platform: ‘We have made the difficult decision to halt a significant amount of our first-party AAA game development’

Amazon has reduced its workforce by 14,000 employees across various divisions, with significant cuts in the gaming sector, particularly within game development teams. This decision is part of a strategic shift in Amazon's gaming strategy, as communicated by Steve Boom, the vice president of audio, Twitch, and games. The company is scaling back on major projects, especially in massively multiplayer online games (MMOs), and has made staffing reductions at Amazon Game Studios in Irvine and San Diego. Despite these layoffs, Amazon is committed to certain projects, including a new Tomb Raider game and an open-world driving game. Amazon's gaming efforts have faced challenges, with mixed success in titles like New World: Aeternum and failures such as Crucible. The company plans to focus on creating "console-friendly titles, known IPs, or known play patterns" as it pivots towards its Luna platform. The exact number of employees affected by the layoffs is undisclosed.

AppWizard

October 25, 2025

Europa Universalis lead Johan Andersson says Paradox’s DLC model has been ‘pretty f***ing great’: ‘You decide what’s going in, you decide the scope, you decide exactly when you can release’

Paradox Interactive is known for its 4X and grand strategy games, particularly for its downloadable content (DLC) strategy. Johan Andersson, the lead for Europa Universalis V, is confident in the DLC model, stating it has been effective. The company has grown from a small team to hundreds of employees with five internal development teams, allowing game directors more control over release timing and content scope. Early expansions faced challenges, with some, like Mare Nostrum, receiving mixed reactions. Andersson reassured players that features from Europa Universalis IV will largely carry over to Europa Universalis V. He believes EU5 will serve as a long-term platform for future content development.

AppWizard

October 22, 2025

Over 500 Steam Next Fest demos used generative AI, and I’ve never felt more disappointed

Over 500 demos at the October 2025 Steam Next Fest disclosed the use of generative AI in their development processes, accounting for 17% of the offerings. Developers primarily used AI for marketing and Steam store page assets, but it also extended to art, audio, coding, writing, and in-game interactions. The demo Cloudheim was the most popular, indicating AI was used for "internal communication." Concerns have arisen regarding job security for professionals in the industry, as reliance on AI increases. Some games, like Arc Raiders, have vague disclosures about AI's role, leading to noticeable issues such as awkward dialogue. The lack of transparency about AI-generated assets is also troubling, with some games not disclosing AI usage until players notice discrepancies.