How do we stop the next round of games industry mass layoffs?

According to one unofficial tracker created by video game artist Farhan Noor, there have been 8000 layoffs in 2024 so far, following an estimated 10,500 layoffs in 2023. The leaders of Microsoft, Embracer Group, Epic and other industry giants have made swingeing cuts to their workforces. While larger companies have inevitably seen the largest reductions, many smaller developers and publishers have also cut staff or even closed their doors. Circumstances vary by company, of course, but as regards the biggest publishers, there are some broad overlapping causes: reckless or, if you prefer, “overambitious” expansion and overhiring during the pandemic lockdown gaming boom; lower-than-hoped returns on new technologies and business models such as NFTs; and rising global interest rates, which have scared away potential investors.

The carnage was uppermost in Larian CEO’s Swen Vincke’s mind when he accepted Baldur’s Gate 3’s Best Narrative gong at the GDC Awards last month. According to Vincke, the layoffs can be traced straightforwardly to a pattern of executive greed that sees company leadership betting the livelihoods and stability of their workers on whatever new idea seems capable of delivering instant growth for shareholders.

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Yoshi-P says it’s “about time” for more Final Fantasy Tactics, does not mention Vagrant Story

Final Fantasy 16 and Final Fantasy 14 boss Naoki Yoshida has told The Gamer that he reckons “It’s probably about time,” for a new Final Fantasy Tactics game.

The hint at some long term wish fulfillment came up during an interview with The Gamer’s Gabrielle Castania, in which Naoki ‘Yoshi-P’ Yoshida spoke about Final Fantasy 16’s upcoming The Rising Tide DLC, alongside DLC director Takeo Kujiraoka and localisation director Michael-Christoper Koji Fox.

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The Pokémon Company Reveals Date And Venue For 2024 World Championships

Hello Honolulu!

The Pokémon Company wrapped up this weekend’s European International Championship with a taste of what’s in store for the competitive scene over the rest of 2024, importantly sharing the date and venue for this year’s World Championship which is heading to Hawai’i this summer.

Revealed in an all-new trailer (above) we now know that the 2024 Pokémon World Championships will be held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center in Honolulu from 16th-18th August.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

The Maw – 8th-13th April

Time for another sorry week of heaving news-fuel into the Maw’s thousand-and-one gullets and urgh, what’s that brooding stench? It reeks of embargoes in here. The air is foul with it. This week is the week of the inaugural Triple-I Initiative showcase, aka the IIIIs, aka a 45-minute dollop of trailers and announcements from such studios as Slay The Spire creators MegaCrit and Darkest Dungeon developers Red Hook. We know of a couple of the announcements in advance; others, we’ll learn about alongside you on 10th April.

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Daily Deals: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Xbox Wireless Controller, Persona 3 Reload

Saturday and the weekend have officially arrived, which means it is time to round up the best deals you can find this weekend! We’ve searched all over the internet to compile the deals you do not want to miss, which include video games, technology, earbuds, and more. The best deals for Sunday, April 7, include Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the Razer BlackShark V2 Headset, Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Nintendo Switch Lite, Beats Powerbeats Pro, and more.

Save 40% Off Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is a release that went under many people’s radars earlier this year. At $29.99, this 2D platformer is absolutely worth your time and money. We gave the game an 8/10 in our review, stating, “Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown captures not only what made games such as The Sands of Time so good, but it irons out a lot of the little issues that plagued the 3D games.”

Xbox Wireless Controller – Dream Vapor Special Edition for $42.39

This special edition Xbox controller is sure to make a nice addition to any collection. The Dream Vapor edition features a swirly pink and purple pattern, which is a unique offering compared to other official Xbox controllers. At 24% off, this is the lowest we’ve seen this controller yet. Additionally, you can always use an extra controller. Whether you’re playing a multiplayer title or your controller wears down after years of use, having an extra on hand is better for everyone.

Grab the Razer BlackShark V2 for $98

The BlackShark V2 headset has an impressive set of features that should fit all of your needs. First, there is a noise cancellation factor with the earcups built inside the headset. Outside noise is always a problem with most gaming headsets, but the BlackShark V2 Pro limits noise from leaking into your gameplay experience. Audio-wise, the BlackShark V2 Pro has 50mm sound drivers that contain titanium-coated diaphragms. Each driver is divided into three separate parts to create the best-quality lows, mids, and highs. You’re getting excellent sound quality both in and out of games.

Unicorn Overlord for $39.99

Unicorn Overlord just released last month and is already available at Amazon for $39.99. This title was developed by Vanillaware, most recently known for 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Over 60 unique characters are available to choose from within Unicorn Overlord, where you command armies in tactical battle. We gave the gave a 9/10 in our review, stating “Unicorn Overlord is a visual delight that’s brimming with creativity, and an absolute must-play for any fan of strategy RPGs.”

Save 41% Off This Cowboy Bebop Vinyl

The Cowboy Bebop Original Soundtrack is officially available now on vinyl! This 2LP set contains an Amazon-exclusive Red Velvet color variant. Inside, you’ll find the inner sleeves printed with beautiful art from the series. With the soundtrack composed by Yoko Kanno and the Seatbelts, this vinyl set is perfect for any Cowboy Bebop fan.

Persona 3 Reload for $39.99

Persona 3 Reload is already one of the biggest 2024 releases so far. The remake brings in new gameplay features, new voice actors, and an impressive slew of technology, including ray tracing. It’s on sale right now at Amazon for $39.99, which marks a new all time low for the title. If you’ve never experienced the story of Persona 3, this is the definitive way to do so.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth for $39.99

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is the latest title in the long-running RPG series. Kiryu Kazama returns following the events of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, uniting with Ichiban Kasuga in a wild adventure you won’t forget anytime soon. This $30 discount just a few months after launch is a great deal you shouldn’t pass up on, though newcomers should aim to play the previous titles in the series before jumping in.

Save 48% Off Beats Powerbeats Pro Wireless Earbuds

The Beats Powerbeats Pro are an excellent choice if you’re looking for an Apple AirPods alternative. You can get up to nine hours of listening time off a single charge, with over 24 hours available if you use the included charging case. These earbuds are powered by the H1 chip, which allows for easy pairing and instant connectivity when using an iPhone. Overall, it’s hard to beat the value these earbuds provide at just $130.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink for $49.99

Granblue Fantasy: Relink marks the first console RPG from Cygames. Characters from the beloved mobile RPG make in appearance in a brand-new story with many thrills and environments to discover. The big focus of Relink is the multiplayer features, which allow you to tackle over 100 quests with friends around the world. With many post-launch characters and updates planned, you can expect hundreds of hours of fun with a title like this.

HyperX Alloy Elite 2 Mechanical Keyboard for $71.99

The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is an excellent choice if you’re in the market for a new gaming keyboard. HyperX Pudding Keycaps are included, which are translucent ABS to allow more light to be seen through them. Additionally, dedicated media controls and a volume wheel are included. This keyboard is normally priced at $129.99, so you’re saving almost 50% with this deal from Amazon.

Nintendo Switch Lite Bundle for $179

Walmart currently has the Timmy & Tommy’s Aloha Edition Nintendo Switch Lite available for $179. This bundle includes a turqoise Nintendo Switch Lite and a free digital copy of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Together, that has a $260 value, which means you can save $80 by purchasing this bundle. If you have not purchased a Nintendo Switch yet, this is an excellent option.

NHL24 for $24.99

NHL 24 brought all-new gameplay and dozens of new features to the hit EA Sports series. This is the lowest price we’ve seen NHL 24 at so far, so if you’ve been on the fence, be sure to pick up the game while this sale is live. There are a total of over 75 new goal celebrations in NHL 24, which elevates the presentation and immersion to new heights.

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 for $29.99

Woot currently has both the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions of Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 on sale for 50% off. This collection includes the first three Metal Gear Solid titles, in addition to Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. If you’ve yet to play through these incredible action titles, the Master Collection is the best (and only) way to do so on modern gaming platforms.

Feature: Nintendo Life eShop Selects & Readers’ Choice (March 2024)

The best eShop games of February, chosen by you and us!

Spring has sprung, and so has the next edition of eShop Selects.

This time, we’re looking at the best hidden gems — as voted for by Nintendo Life staff — alongside a separate poll for the Reader’s Choice for March’s eShop releases. You’ll see the winner of the latter at the bottom of the article.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Back Page: ‘NL Destinations’ Presents The Best Vacation Locales On Switch

‘Never Leave’, amiright?

In the magazine business, the Back Page is where you’d find all the weird goofs that we couldn’t fit in anywhere else. Some may call it “filler”; we prefer “a whole page to make terrible jokes that are tangentially related to the content of the mag”.

We don’t have pages on the internet, but we still love terrible jokes — so welcome to our semi-regular feature, Back Page. Today, Ollie whips down to the travel agents in search of a well-earned break…

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Dragon Quest 12 Reportedly Suffers Delay, Producer Steps Down Following Reshuffle

Square Enix has supposedly found a candidate to replace him.

Square Enix is currently undergoing a large-scale organisational “overhaul” and it seems Dragon Quest has been impacted.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Dragon Quest’s “top producer” Yu Miyake, who is now 56 years of age (and has contributed to “numerous” Dragon Quest titles over the years), will be “stepping down from the role” following delays of the new entry.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Poll: So, Will You Be Getting Xbox’s Grounded For Switch?

The garden awaits.

Xbox’s backyard multiplayer survival and crafting game Grounded arrives on the Switch later this month and it’s got us wondering how many users within the community here on Nintendo Life will be picking it up.

This Obsidian-developed title is already available on Xbox Game Pass, and when it launches for Switch on 16th April it will come with the final major update for the game which includes New Game+, new ant types, new mutations, weapon variants, and much more.

Read the full article on nintendolife.com