Sherbytes: Industry News Megathread, v.2

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

While i agree with this game dev he relayed it harshly. Gaming influencers today are gaming publications on steroids. Not only giving favorable opinions for future release access, but also receiving direct payments.

"You and I will have legal problems": FPS dev threatens action against rival streamers who've taken more than $10k "from studios we compete with"

"I don't want fake people in my corner"

www.gamesradar.com

I didn't even think of something like this but he's 100% right and maybe he is being harsh but I get it. It's a project he's worked years on and he doesn't want to see it get attacked by some overpaid contactor.

As a lawyer irl this has really piqued my interest. I don’t know much about YouTube’s EULA or whatever other basis this guy may be relying on in taking legal action against content creators, but I’m legit curious to learn more about what legal action he’s proposing that he’s suggesting he can take. Is there in fact some kind of $10k disclosure rule out there?

Edit: I read a bit further in his Twitter thread and he explained he wouldn’t be suing anyone, but rather reporting them to the FTC. We don’t have the FTC here in Canada so I am not familiar with any of these rules concerning disclosure of sponsorships on social media. I presume we would have similar regulations overseen by Canada’s Competition Bureau.

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Ubisoft financial results released with both revenue and net bookings down over 30%. Bookings are YoY at a significant decline of 50%.

Further studio closures and layoffs after latest 300 made redundant plus restructuring incoming, the company confirms. Allaying fears, Ubisoft reports these lower figures were expected and planned for.

Full read here.

 

[KaNesDeath]

Edit: I read a bit further in his Twitter thread and he explained he wouldn’t be suing anyone, but rather reporting them to the FTC. We don’t have the FTC here in Canada so I am not familiar with any of these rules concerning disclosure of sponsorships on social media. I presume we would have similar regulations overseen by Canada’s Competition Bureau.

After the CSGO skin gambling scandal in mid-2016 and especially the Fyre Festival debacle in early 2017. Later in 2017 the FTC warned influencers to start disclosing paid sponsor posts in their social media. If they didnt the FTC would start handing out fines.

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Years in the making, Rainbow Six Siege to receive massive overhaul in 1.5-style update called Rainbow Six Siege X, reveals Ubisoft:

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Team Ninja makes available free Ninja Gaiden mobile wallpaper. Grab below (I enhanced original only a little):

Spoiler: Size

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Bandai Namco releases free desktop wallpaper in run-up to Nightreign launch on 30 May. Grab and enjoy, dawgs:

Spoiler: Size

 

[avenue94]

Years in the making, Rainbow Six Siege to receive massive overhaul in 1.5-style update called Rainbow Six Siege X, reveals Ubisoft:

Honestly one of the worst teaser trailers I've ever seen in terms of not providing any insight. Oh well. Hope it's a cool update but also a perfect example of why Ubisoft is in such a precarious position (no new ideas or games).

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Honestly one of the worst teaser trailers I've ever seen in terms of not providing any insight. Oh well. Hope it's a cool update but also a perfect example of why Ubisoft is in such a precarious position (no new ideas or games).

Haha, agree.

Definitely marketing on the cheap. Wall destructo render dated, too. These cats across current titles still have PS3-era cinematics; it all tracks.

No less glad for Siege players.

I do though like the animation they did with the stylised breaching hammer to bring up the name at the end.

 

[Gingerdead Man]

EA Sports UFC 6 cover fighter will be none other than Alex Pereira, latest info suggests.

Launch window is still TBA but October 2025 rumored.

 

[Gingerdead Man]

In following other big names likes Amazon and Apple who want a piece of the gamerverse, Elon Musk too throws his hat in the ring. So how is he going to do it? AI, apparently.

Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual in the world and founder of xAI, has revealed that he aims to launch an AI gaming development studio with hopes of revolutionising the industry with the use of artificial intelligence.

Speaking during the unveiling of xAI’s Grok-3, its latest AI mode, Musk commented: “We’re launching an AI gaming studio at xAI. If you’re interested in joining us and building AI games, please join xAI.” A separate quote has him saying he wants to “make games great again.”

Full read from PSU team here.

 

[avenue94]

In following other big names likes Amazon and Apple who want a piece of the gamerverse, Elon Musk too throws his hat in the ring. So how is he going to do it? AI, apparently.

Elon Musk, the wealthiest individual in the world and founder of xAI, has revealed that he aims to launch an AI gaming development studio with hopes of revolutionising the industry with the use of artificial intelligence.

Speaking during the unveiling of xAI’s Grok-3, its latest AI mode, Musk commented: “We’re launching an AI gaming studio at xAI. If you’re interested in joining us and building AI games, please join xAI.” A separate quote has him saying he wants to “make games great again.”

Full read from PSU team here.

This is like the worst chimera of Ubisoft and EA big brain ideas that result in terrible games.

If only the finance folks understood that the secret to making good game is just make a good game and stop leaning on investor buzzwords.

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Wanted to post this because I haven't seen Kotick since he'd dropped off post-MSFT acquisition. Looking notably thin but I'm sure his bank statements are phat. (I'll see myself out.)

While I've also criticised MSFT for lack of creativity over the years, I think it ironic Bobby here levels the same when to me, he always came off as the king of eat-our-shovelled-by-the-numbers-crap-and-like-it:

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Founded in 1969, Konami rolling out company-wide raise starting next year. This is the fourth year in a row they've done this. Really good stuff when elsewhere we hear rather of layoffs. From their official news release (below), then a tweet:

In addition, the initial base-salary for new recruits will be 305,000JPY*, an increase from the current starting salary of 300,000JPY. As a result of the raise of Base-salary for the Fourth Consecutive Fiscal Year, this would be 65,000JPY raise compared to February 2023. Konami Group's compensation is composed of base-salary, bonuses and incentives (monetary awards and distributions based on contribution).

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Hayabusa Clan,

All new saga Ninja Gaiden 4 landing Q3/Q4 2025, announces Team Ninja. Can wishlist across platforms!



/Smoke bomb out

 

[Gingerdead Man]

Elden Ring film adaptation? I don't know, krew. Sceptic in me given the budget it demands, thinks Hollywood treatment would mean Tom Holland for Tarnished? Lol. Don't want to be dismissive but would either be a hard pass or pretty interesting – no in-between.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

Founded in 1969, Konami rolling out company-wide raise starting next year. This is the fourth year in a row they've done this. Really good stuff when elsewhere we hear rather of layoffs. From their official news release (below), then a tweet:

In addition, the initial base-salary for new recruits will be 305,000JPY*, an increase from the current starting salary of 300,000JPY. As a result of the raise of Base-salary for the Fourth Consecutive Fiscal Year, this would be 65,000JPY raise compared to February 2023. Konami Group's compensation is composed of base-salary, bonuses and incentives (monetary awards and distributions based on contribution).

A $400 USD a year raise? JFC that’s insulting low given the retardedly high cost of living in Japan.

 

[method115]

A $400 USD a year raise? JFC that’s insulting low given the retardedly high cost of living in Japan.

I thought the same but don’t know much about the country and thought maybe that’s something to brag about there.

 

[Gingerdead Man]

I thought the same but don’t know much about the country and thought maybe that’s something to brag about there.

Same here; haven't economic know to have a thought on the number – but Worm's probably right that it's a low figure. I read it more as a W in the context of greater layoff climate across tech/gaming and these cats are staying an opposite heading.

 

[method115]

Same here; haven't economic know to have a thought on the number – but Worm's probably right that it's a low figure. I read it more as a W in the context of greater layoff climate across tech/gaming and these cats are staying an opposite heading.

Honestly I didn’t think about the lay offs. With that context it is a win imo.

 

[avenue94]

A $400 USD a year raise? JFC that’s insulting low given the retardedly high cost of living in Japan.

Cost of living in Japan is a lot lower than developed Western countries, partly by design partly not.

It's the same reason that TSMC engineers in Taiwan make less than a skilled tradesman in the US.