Sherbytes: Industry News Megathread, v.1

[rikwebb]

Looks like Tomb Raider Reloaded

Thanks, wasn't aware there was a new one coming

 

[rikwebb]

EA/Respawn cancelled an in development single player title that would of been the Apex/Titanfall universe

Management informed the unnamed game's team of about 50 people that EA will try to find positions for them within the company. Anyone who can't be placed will be given severance packages and laid off, according to the people familiar with the matter, who asked to speak anonymously because they were not authorized to speak to the press. An EA spokesperson declined to comment.

The canceled project, code-named TFL or Titanfall Legends, was a single-player game set in the universe shared by the Apex Legends and Titanfall games. It was directed by veteran designer Mohammad Alavi until he left the company in early 2022. Although the game hadn't been advertised, EA had hinted at it several times.

 

[Valhoven]

EA/Respawn cancelled an in development single player title that would of been the Apex/Titanfall universe

EA, never one to disappoint or ignore playerbase pipe dreams and wishes.

Spoiler

 

[method115]

EA/Respawn cancelled an in development single player title that would of been the Apex/Titanfall universe

Not surprised from what I understand Apex was sort of done without EA's permission and they didn't want it.

 

[rikwebb]

Not surprised from what I understand Apex was sort of done without EA's permission and they didn't want it.

From what I know work on it was already being done just before Titanfall 2's release date and EA buying Respawn ut had to convince EA to let them carry on working on it

 

[rikwebb]

Just in case if anyone plays them both Rumbleverse and Knockout city are both shutting down (rumbleverse end of Feb and 1st week of June for Kockout City)

 

[rikwebb]

A bit more on the cancelled Apex/Titanfall universe title

 

[Valhoven]

Really liked B4B. USA's Turtle Rock Studios readying up for next big project:

​

 

[Valhoven]

A bit more on the cancelled Apex/Titanfall universe title

It's been said but bears repeating that Titanfall 2 was one of the best MP experiences I've ever had. Great game and great campaign, too. RIP.

 

[avenue94]

A bit more on the cancelled Apex/Titanfall universe title

I'm less surprised that EA canceled the game then by the fact that they even put money behind a singleplayer game as this point. Maybe we'll see some assets/content from the game show up down the road in another title.

 

[rikwebb]

New Nintendo Direct tomorrow at 2pm PST

 

[rikwebb]

Anyone who's played Cities Skylines on PS4 or Xbox One get a free upgrade to the upcomig next gen remaster

Introducing an enhanced player experience for PlayStation®5 players and Xbox Series X|S players

-25 buildable tiles!
-Quick selection tool
-UX Improvements (such as precision placements, distance indicator and updated snapping options)
-New environmental controls panel (adjust things like time of day, rain, fog, and environment coloring)
-Map editor
And an overall graphic performance increase for the bigger city builders!

Releasing 15th February, 2023.

 

[rikwebb]

Saudi Arabia's PIF has upped thier stake in Ninendo from 6.07% upto 7.08%

https://www.videogameschronicle.com...rtedly-increased-its-stake-in-nintendo-again/

As per Trading View, the country's Public Investment Fund (PIF), a sovereign wealth fund chaired by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, has reportedly increased its stake in the Nintendo Switch maker to 7.08%.

The fund first acquired a 5.01% stake in Nintendo in May 2022. Just last month, it increased this stake to 6.07%.

Nintendo has previously claimed that when the PIF bought its initial 5.01% stake in the company, it was unaware of the transaction and first learned about the Saudi investment from news reports. It has yet to comment on the latest developments.

 

[rikwebb]

Saudi Arabia's PIF has upped thier stake in Ninendo from 6.07% upto 7.08%

https://www.videogameschronicle.com...rtedly-increased-its-stake-in-nintendo-again/

Its now upto 8.26% , they are now the biggest shareholder outside of Nintendo themselves

https://www.middle-east-online.com/en/saudi-sovereign-wealth-fund-now-holds-826-nintendo-stock

They've also upped thier stakes in EA and Take-Two also

https://www.axios.com/2023/02/16/saudi-arabia-ea-activision

• The country's sovereign wealth fund increased its stake in EA from 5.1% to 5.8% with the acquisition of 2 million more shares as of the end of 2022, according to one new filing.
• Its stake in Grand Theft Auto maker Take-Two grew from 5.3% to 6.8% by the end of last year, after it obtained nearly 3 million more shares.

 

[rikwebb]

Looks like Ubisoft are adding another 4 Assassins Creed games to whats already in development


https://insider-gaming.com/assassins-creed-all-in/

 

[rikwebb]

Luminous Productions (FF15, Forspoken) is being merged back into Square Enix

 

[Valhoven]

Wanted to share on upcoming IOI property for @NoSmilez, @method115 and other dawg hitmen:

​

Excerpt from IOI homepage:

It has now been a decade since we first imagined creating a new “World of Assassination” for our HITMAN games. Seven years ago, we launched that world in its infancy and nurtured it to grow to comprise three full games, exciting new game modes, many additional locations, and extra targets. And more importantly, it has allowed us to build a bond with our community that has supported us ever since. We have gone from a strong vision, through a lot of unforeseen events, to the ever-expanding world with freedom of approach in its core that we have today.

Now we are sharing with all of you, that we are embarking on a new adventure! One that expands our creativity, our capabilities, and in some sense our identity. We are building a new world, a new IP – an online fantasy RPG. A world and a game built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come. It feels familiar, yet at the same time IOI is going on a journey unlike any we have been on before.
​

IOI is also hiring right now across their Denmark, Sweden, and Spain offices if interested. Check out here.

 

[rikwebb]

Wanted to share on upcoming IOI property for @NoSmilez, @method115 and other dawg hitmen:

​

Excerpt from IOI homepage:

It has now been a decade since we first imagined creating a new “World of Assassination” for our HITMAN games. Seven years ago, we launched that world in its infancy and nurtured it to grow to comprise three full games, exciting new game modes, many additional locations, and extra targets. And more importantly, it has allowed us to build a bond with our community that has supported us ever since. We have gone from a strong vision, through a lot of unforeseen events, to the ever-expanding world with freedom of approach in its core that we have today.

Now we are sharing with all of you, that we are embarking on a new adventure! One that expands our creativity, our capabilities, and in some sense our identity. We are building a new world, a new IP – an online fantasy RPG. A world and a game built from the core to entertain players and expand for many years to come. It feels familiar, yet at the same time IOI is going on a journey unlike any we have been on before.
​

IOI is also hiring right now across their Denmark, Sweden, and Spain offices if interested. Check out here.

Wonder if this is linked to the rumored project that was Microsoft exlcusive "Project Dragon" also they are still hiring heavily for the 007 project too

 

[rikwebb]

EA laid off over 200 QA testers teserday out of the blue

 

[Valhoven]

EA laid off over 200 QA testers teserday out of the blue

It's unfortunate if not ignominious that QA is one of the first departments/teams to be thinned when belts see tightening; to that end, most aren't in-house but contractors. Depending on the pub or dev in question, it sometimes feels warranted even to clap back with what QA? Hehe. Related, I've always suspected game scoring to get budget leftovers too largely, which is such a shame.