Sherbytes: Industry News Megathread, v.2

[Valhoven]

Hardware sales down ATB for January YoY:



PS5 - down 38%
Xbox Series X|S - down 50%
Nintendo Switch - down 53%

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

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

Well the subsequent article says they’ve received since February 2023 a raise of 65,000 Yen per month (from 240,000 Yen per month to 305,000 yen per month) so it just seems funny to be like “hey, they’ve gotten over the past two years a raise of $400 USD per month — well guess what, we’re throwing in an extra $33 USD”.

What’s shocking to me in the revelation that these people only make 3.6 million yen per year, which according to Google is only $25k USD. I don’t understand how that’s possible as when I went to Japan in 2007 it was like the most expensive place I’ve ever been. A can of Coke was like $5 USD.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

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.

That doesn’t gel with my first hand experience in Tokyo in 2007 where everything was expensive as fuck.

 

[avenue94]

That doesn’t gel with my first hand experience in Tokyo in 2007 where everything was expensive as fuck.

Expensive compared to what/where? That was almost 2 decades ago.

Compared to costal cities in the US (where you'll find a lot of video game companies), Japan will have much cheaper housing, modestly less expensive food costs, better public transit (you won't need to carry an auto loan and maintain a car), and lower healthcare costs since it's built in.

 

[Valhoven]

Some sales numbers on Wukong here.

Main bit is that of the 25M units sold (big success), 30% were non-domestic, i.e., ex-China, tallying some 7.5M units.

Speaking to game's success:

Considering the game's base price of $60 and, for the sake of argument, halving it to $30 to account for Steam fees, regional price adjustments, and other factors, those 7.5 million copies would rake in around $225 million.

The resulting figure is enough to cover the game's $70 million production budget (development and marketing included) three times over, proving that Black Myth: Wukong would still be a success even without Chinese players.

 

[Valhoven]

Bautista on Gears of War film in production hell; wants fans to hype the film online and also bugs Netflix about it himself:



Dave Bautista wants Netflix to move forward with their ‘GEARS OF WAR’ movie.

“It’s not like I’m not badgering them. Come on, Netflix. Get it together”

 

[method115]

Bautista on Gears of War film in production hell; wants fans to hype the film online and also bugs Netflix about it himself:



Dave Bautista wants Netflix to move forward with their ‘GEARS OF WAR’ movie.

“It’s not like I’m not badgering them. Come on, Netflix. Get it together”

They are probably seeing how much it's going to cost and wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze. I remember after Gray Man released hearing rumors that they were done with big budget releasees like that.

 

[Valhoven]

This is a productive use of AI, IMO, but requires high QC over asset production and must have human oversight. Definitely don't see good reason to demonise the tech ATB.

Problem is, the rabbit never goes back in the hat once companies see what they can and can't get away with re quality, who they can keep and let go re money, how fast they now can do something versus before re time, and so on. Activision, Ubi, or EA for example with the rabbit...scares me, lol.

Humans prove a harder and harder sell when things see automation. Before I left my last company (software firm), we started integrating AI into our tasks at the request of higher-ups and since having left, I see their marketing newer software tools they've developed with the text 'powered by AI'. Companies lose money if they don't get on the AI bandwagon, for better or worse.



Activision confirms some in-game #CallOfDuty content is AI generated

“Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in game assets"

 

[rikwebb]

The upcoming Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3+4 remaster / remake has been rated in Singapore, official reveal is supposed to be March 4th

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 rated in Singapore for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC

The Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore has rated the unannounced Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC.

www.gematsu.com

Countdown timer on the Tony Hawk's game site

Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™

Play the fully-remastered Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ & Tony Hawk’s™ Pro Skater™ 2 games in one epic collection, rebuilt from the ground up in incredible HD.

www.tonyhawkthegame.com

 

[avenue94]

This is a productive use of AI, IMO, but requires high QC over asset production and must have human oversight. Definitely don't see good reason to demonise the tech ATB.

Problem is, the rabbit never goes back in the hat once companies see what they can and can't get away with re quality, who they can keep and let go re money, how fast they now can do something versus before re time, and so on. Activision, Ubi, or EA for example with the rabbit...scares me, lol.

Humans prove a harder and harder sell when things see automation. Before I left my last company (software firm), we started integrating AI into our tasks at the request of higher-ups and since having left, I see their marketing newer software tools they've developed with the text 'powered by AI'. Companies lose money if they don't get on the AI bandwagon, for better or worse.



Activision confirms some in-game #CallOfDuty content is AI generated

“Our team uses generative AI tools to help develop some in game assets"

Just so much cart before the horse for AI. Most companies don't even manage to deploy competent internal databases and move off excel, but they're going to deploy their own LLMs trained on their data. Lol

It crowds out much more useful funding. Case in point, HP bought Humane's remnants but started sending out WFR notices for HyperX this week.

 

[Sycho Sid]

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Not a surprise.

 

[Valhoven]

Fable has been delayed until 2026, confirms MSFT. New pre-alpha teaser:

 

[Valhoven]

Developer house Quantic Dream confirms in interview on recent layoffs by owner NetEase, that Detroit: Become Human has sold 11M units. Wow. Not my genre but I remember people loving it. Studio otherwise unaffected, Quantic reports.

Quantic Dream, the NetEase-owned developer behind Heavy Rain, Detroit and the upcoming Star Wars Eclipse has broken its silence following the layoffs and shutdowns seen across numerous other NetEase-supported studios.

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, Quantic Dream CEO Guillaume de Fondaumière said the studio's teams had not been impacted by NetEase's dramatic cuts, and were "continuing to develop our projects at full pace".

Indeed, things are apparently rosy for the company, with de Fondaumière noting the developer saw its highest revenues in its 28-year history during 2024, driven by "exceptional performance" of its back catalogue of games - and 2018's Detroit: Become Human in particular. The company shifted a further 2m copies of Detroit across PC and PlayStation last year, for a new all-time total of 11m.

Interview here courtesy of Eurogamer.

Upcoming project:

 

[GearSolidMetal]

Fucking wow.

 

[method115]

Fucking wow.

I liked the system but people making it more than it is IMO. I honestly didn't even like the original game it came with. I think I went through and killed all the leaders just cause that was fun and that's it. Once I saw more were added after doing that I just stopped playing.

 

[Valhoven]

Fucking wow.

This reminds me of Ubisoft's patented Art of Battle fighting control system (best in class and I've ever seen) that's been withering on the For Honor vine for 8 years and will probably die with the game when support ceases in about two years per latest rumors. An open-world or new game utilising this system has been a fantasy of mine but graveward she dives.

 

[Valhoven]

In collective action, 31 VAs for Apex Legends have refused to oblige EA in requesting they come in for recording sessions to voice-give or train generative AI in what would eventually replace them in future recordings for respective chars.

Full read here courtesy of PC Gamer.

 

[method115]

In collective action, 31 VAs for Apex Legends have refused to oblige EA in requesting they come in for recording sessions to voice-give or train generative AI in what would eventually replace them in future recordings for respective chars.

Full read here courtesy of PC Gamer.

Wild. Reminds me of US workers who were forced to train their replacement from another country coming in on a VISA. Either train them for the next 3 months or lose your job now.

 

[Law Talkin’ Guy]

In collective action, 31 VAs for Apex Legends have refused to oblige EA in requesting they come in for recording sessions to voice-give or train generative AI in what would eventually replace them in future recordings for respective chars.

Full read here courtesy of PC Gamer.

Disgusting of EA but not surprised.