It’s been a wild month in the games industry, with additional waves of layoffs, predictions and interesting game releases. Here are the highlights of everything that’s been going on:

Remedy Entertainment has appointed Jean-Charles Gaudechon as its new CEO starting March 1. While Remedy says he’s a strong fit for its current business phase, fans are reacting negatively online, mainly due to his background at EA and a sports-betting company, fearing a shift away from Remedy’s narrative-driven, single-player focus toward heavier monetization.

In other news, over 1,200 Ubisoft employees went on strike in protest of the company’s recent restructuring, planned future layoffs, and a return-to-office mandate. Five Ubisoft unions in France - STJV, Solidaires Informatique, CGT, CFE-CGC, and Printemps Ecologique - are participating, and the three-day walkout also affected workers at Ubisoft Milan.

Lastly, Nexon has reported record-breaking revenue for the third year in a row in its 2025 earnings. The company credits the growth mainly to its Dungeon & Fighter and MapleStory franchises, along with Arc Raiders, which has now sold over 14 million copies.

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The Byte

1. Recent layoffs at studios behind new live-service games highlight how brutally high-risk the model is, with only a few hits surviving while most struggle or fail.

The Action

2. Sega has written off $200 million from its $776 million acquisition of Rovio, admitting the Angry Birds maker underperformed expectations amid intensified competition and rapid changes in the global mobile games market.

Retro Byte

3. Best Retro consoles 2026.

Studio Byte

4. Cast Iron Games is a UK-based video game development studio founded in 2024 and part of the Pneuma Games Group as a sister studio to Double Eleven.

   The studio focuses on AAA co-development, technical support, and game porting across platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch (including Switch 2), PC and mobile, and is known for its strong technical expertise and team-first culture.

   Led by industry veterans Arden Aspinall and Jon Seymour, Cast Iron Games aims to build long-term partnerships with developers and grow toward full game development as it expands.

Legal Stuff

5. Microsoft has withdrawn its copyright claim against indie developer Unomelon.

6. The EU “Stop Killing Games” initiative has passed 1 million signatures, triggering formal submission to the European Commission to push for rules keeping games playable after support ends.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Ironwood Studios raises $4m for its next IP.

8. Mattel is set to fully acquire mobile studio Mattel163 from Chinese publisher NetEase.

New Game Corner

9. Directive 8020 - May 12th, 2026.

   Directive 8020 is an upcoming cinematic sci-fi survival horror game developed and published by Supermassive Games (known for Until Dawn, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures Anthology).

Resource Byte

10. Kilo AI

    Open source coding agent.

Who’s Hiring?

QA Engineer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior Producer, Audio - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA/Remote

Lead Unreal Programmer - Cast Iron Games - Wakefield, UK

Associate Lead Engine Programmer - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Senior Talent Acquisition Manager - Homa - Paris, France

Senior Technical Artist - Cast Iron Games - Wakefield, UK

Lead Platform Programmer - Cast Iron Games - Wakefield , UK

Senior Development Manager - Crytek - Frankfurt, Germany

Senior Audio Programmer - Rebellion - Oxford, UK

Senior Unreal Programmer - Cast Iron Games - Wakefield, UK

Lead Game Designer - Scopely - Barcelona, Spain

Senior Platform Programmer - Cast Iron Games - Wakefield, UK

Render Engineer - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Client Side - Zeptolab - Serbia

Experienced Programmer - Cast Iron Games - Wakefield, UK

HR Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Lighting Artist - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Animation Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland

Gameplay Designer - Escape Velocity Entertainment - Remote

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

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Dev Talks

11. Interview with Patrick Soderlund

    “We don't use AI to not have to hire people or replace people or job groups or voice actors. People have to take a step back and understand what it is and how it can be a big help to developers and be a tremendous benefit to players. I realize it is an intricate subject and discussion.”

    Patrick Soderlund

Events

12. Guildford Games Festival - February 20th, 2026

    The Guildford Games Festival is an annual community-driven event in Guildford, UK, celebrating the town’s vibrant video game development scene.

    It brings together game developers, students, fans, and industry professionals for a full day of talks, panels, workshops, playable demos, portfolio reviews, and networking, showcasing local studios and offering insight into careers and game creation. The festival supports the local games community, promotes talent and diversity, and highlights Guildford’s role as a major UK game-dev hub.

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It’s been a wild month in the games industry, with additional waves of layoffs, predictions and interesting game releases. Here are the highlights of everything that’s been going on:

Although EA shareholders approved the $55B buyout that will reportedly leave EA in $20B debt , the the US Congressional Labor Caucus, backed by the Communications Workers of America union, has urged the FTC to thoroughly review the deal over concerns it could drive cost-cutting measures such as layoffs, offshoring, restructuring, or studio closures.

In other news, Netflix has revised its bid for Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming and film business to be fully cash-based, replacing its earlier cash-and-shares offer to add certainty and speed up shareholder approval. The move is aimed at strengthening Netflix’s position against a rival bid from Paramount Skydance, which continues to pursue Warner Bros despite repeated rejections.

Lastly, Meta’s recent decision to cut about 10 % of jobs at its Reality Labs division and close several internal VR studios has sparked industry concern about a potential “VR winter,” as the company shifts investment away from costly VR hardware toward AI-driven wearables and smart glasses. While Meta maintains it isn’t abandoning virtual reality entirely, investors and developers worry the reduced focus and slower growth could chill momentum in the broader VR market.

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The Byte

1. What to expect from Playstation in 2026?

The Action

2. Games industry predictions for 2026.

Retro Byte

3. Best all time retro games.

Studio Byte

4. 11 bit studios is a Warsaw-based indie developer and publisher founded in 2010, best known for making emotionally heavy, morally challenging games rather than pure escapism. They broke through globally with This War of Mine, which portrays war from a civilian perspective, and cemented their reputation with Frostpunk, a survival city-builder built around brutal ethical decisions.

Legal Stuff

5. Hasbro is facing a shareholder lawsuit alleging it misled investors about demand and sales of Magic: The Gathering’s controversial 30th Anniversary set.

6. The EU “Stop Killing Games” initiative has passed 1 million signatures, triggering formal submission to the European Commission to push for rules keeping games playable after support ends.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Netflix has acquired Ready Player Me.

8. CD Projekt Red sells GOG platform for $25m.

New Game Corner

9. Reanimal - February 13th, 2026

   Reanimal is an upcoming co-op horror adventure game from Tarsier Studios, releasing on February 13, 2026 for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2. Players control a brother and sister who must work together to explore a twisted, hostile island, solve environmental puzzles, evade grotesque creatures, and rescue their missing friends in a dark, atmospheric world that blends survival horror, stealth and cinematic platforming. The game supports solo play with AI for the second character as well as local or online cooperative multiplayer and aims to deliver a more unsettling, mature experience than its predecessors.

Resource Byte

10. Kilo AI

    Open source coding agent.

Who’s Hiring?

QA Engineer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior Producer, Audio - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA/Remote

Associate Lead Engine Programmer - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Senior Talent Acquisition Manager - Homa - Paris, France

Senior Development Manager - Crytek - Frankfurt, Germany

Senior Audio Programmer - Rebellion - Oxford, UK

Lead Game Designer - Scopely - Barcelona, Spain

Render Engineer - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Client Side - Zeptolab - Serbia

HR Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Lighting Artist - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Animation Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland

Senior Technical Producer - Escape Velocity Entertainment - Remote

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

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Dev Talks

11. Interview with Tim Bender

    “The ways in which game publishing contracts are generally written violate a lot of principles of what's an efficient contract. There are principles involved in how contracts should be done that help everyone. One of the principles is that risk should be borne by the party best able to bear that risk”

    Tim Bender

Events

12. GamesForum Barcelona - February 10th-11th

    Gamesforum Barcelona is a two-day industry conference in Barcelona focused on mobile gaming growth and monetization, bringing together developers, publishers, and UA and monetization experts to share strategies on user acquisition, ad and product monetization, and alternative growth. It features panels, roundtables, and networking with industry leaders and is considered a key event for professionals looking to accelerate mobile game success.

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In this episode of ByteAction, I sit down with Guillaume Rambourg, a true operator of the games industry who’s quietly helped shape some of the biggest brands in gaming. Guillaume started his career in a QA department at CD Projekt during the final stretch of The Witcher 1, went on to help build GOG, opened CD Projekt’s US office, he then moved to Riot Games to launch their Paris office and get the company closer to players across Europe. Most recently, he was brought into Respawn (EA) to build a European publishing team for Apex Legends.

We talk about what it’s actually like to build teams and offices from scratch, why Riot’s long hiring process actually makes more sense than people think, and why self-awareness and a growth mindset matter more than raw talent. Guillaume shares what “player-first” really means in practice, and why a lot of live service games fail.

We also talk extensively about leadership, hiring, esports, community building, novelty in games, and where the industry is heading next. This one is part career story, part leadership masterclass, and part honest reflection on what it takes to build things that actually last in games.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Guillaume

03:00 Guillaume’s Journey in Gaming

05:58 Early Influences and Career Switch

09:14 The Growth of CD Projekt

11:48 Cultural Shifts at CD Projekt

15:01 The Launch of The Witcher 3

17:50 Establishing the US Office

20:50 Transition to Riot Games

23:57 Building the Paris Office at Riot

27:06 Understanding Player Needs at Riot

30:04 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

34:03 The Evolution of eSports Management at Riot

37:10 Recruitment Standards and Criteria at Riot

41:39 Diversity and Team Chemistry in Hiring

46:39 Leadership Style and Clarity in Decision Making

51:45 Keys to Successful Live Service Games

57:28 The Future of Gaming: Trends and Predictions

01:01:42 Advice for Aspiring Game Industry Professionals

It’s been a while since the last edition so I hope you’ve been well. The games industry has had another rollercoaster year, but from what I’ve been seeing and hearing I’m positive that the worse is in the past and we’re nearing this stage of stability.

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: Sports Interactive has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with FIFA that grants its upcoming Football Manager 26 game official rights to the 2026 World Cup, Women’s World Cup and Club World Cup tournaments, including branded kits and broadcast visuals.

In other news, a few weeks ago it was announced that UK studio Splash Damage had been acquired by private-equity investors, ending its ownership under Tencent, and would continue operating under its current leadership team. Shortly after the news followed that Splash Damage has begun a studio-wide consultation that will result in major layoffs…

Lastly, The Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025 salary survey found that U.S.-based game professionals earn an average of $142 000, but 24% reported being laid off within the past two years.

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The Byte

1. 2025 Game Awards nominees announced.

The Action

2. A pre-trial filing claims Krafton tried to avoid a $250 million earnout by firing Subnautica 2’s founders, taking over Unknown Worlds, and even consulting ChatGPT for legal strategy.

Retro Byte

3. Best all time retro games.

Studio Byte

4. Homa Games is a Paris-based mobile games company that evolved from a hyper-casual publisher into a full-stack game-creation platform offering developers data-driven tools, analytics, market insights, monetization tech, and publishing support to rapidly build and scale games. Founded in 2018, Homa has launched dozens of titles with over a billion downloads, powered by its proprietary Homa Lab, which enables fast prototyping, A/B testing, and optimization. Today the company positions itself less as a traditional publisher and more as an ecosystem that helps indie and small studios compete with major developers, while expanding beyond mobile into console and cross-platform opportunities.

Legal Stuff

5. Rockstar’s mass firing of 30+ employees wasn’t about GTA 6 leaks but about someone sharing internal Slack policy changes on a union-linked Discord before most staff had officially received them.

6. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has been ordered to appear in French court this October after a harassment trial involving three former executives.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Nintendo is acquiring Bandai Namco Studios Singapore, taking 80% in April 2026 and the rest later, renaming it Nintendo Studios Singapore and bringing the Ace Combat, Tekken, and Splatoon-support studio fully under its umbrella.

8. Embracer is selling Arc Games and Cryptic Studios for $30 million to Project Golden Arc as part of its ongoing restructuring, while keeping Remnant publishing rights and shifting Fellowship MMO rights to Coffee Stain Group.

New Game Corner

9. Elden Ring Nightreign: The Forsaken Hollows - December 4th, 2025

   The Forsaken Hollows — the upcoming DLC for Elden Ring Nightreign, drops on December 4, 2025 and adds substantial new content: 2 new playable Nightfarers (Scholar and Undertaker), 2 new bosses (including The Dreglord), and a new Shifting Earth environment dubbed The Great Hollow, along with additional locations, tougher foes, and fresh challenges.

Resource Byte

10. Hostinger Horizons

    AI web/software builder - similar to Replit and Base44.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Technical Director - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Associate Lead Engine Programmer - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Homa - Remote, Europe

Senior Development Manager - Crytek - Frankfurt, Germany

Lead Animator - Rebellion - Oxford, UK

Design Director - Scopely - Culver City, CA

Render Engineer - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Client Side - Zeptolab - Serbia

COO - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Combat Designer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Shawn Layden

    “Imagine if you had to buy a Sony CD player to listen to Sony music artists? I mean, it sounds absurd, but that’s where we kind of are in gaming. The hardware money is really juicy, and you’d be reluctant to give it up. I get that. But you can just go to a content strategy, rather than every six years fomenting around how much ray tracing and what does 200 frames per cycle look like — and just try to create”

    Shawn Layden

Events

12. BIG 2025 - December 12th-13th

    The Bilbao International Games Conference (BIG) is a major European video-games industry event, reconceived from the older Fun & Serious Game Festival to focus primarily on professionals — developers, indie studios, publishers, and industry stakeholders.

Subscribe now

Hope you’re having a productive September so far.

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: EA has been in talks for a record $50 billion buyout led by investors including Saudi Arabia’s PIF, which sent its stock price up 15% last week, amid controversy over PIF’s ties to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In other news, UK studio Splash Damage has been acquired by private-equity investors, ending its ownership under Tencent, and will continue operating under its current leadership team.

Lastly, Konami reported that Silent Hill F outsold the Silent Hill 2 remake at launch, surpassing 1 million copies sold worldwide within a day of its September 25 release.

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The Byte

1. A Newzoo report found that 45% of single-player AAA games released since 2021 launched between August and November, based on analysis of 155 titles across PlayStation, PC, and Xbox.

The Action

2. At Tokyo Game Show week, Xbox’s showcase delivered updates on upcoming titles with highlights including the reveal of Forza Horizon 6 set in Japan, a Gungrave Gore remake, new content for 007: First Light, and Japan-themed maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.

Retro Byte

3. Best all time retro games.

Studio Byte

4. Coffee Stain Studios is a Swedish game developer founded in 2010 by students from the University of Skövde and is best known for creating the viral hit Goat Simulator as well as the factory-building game Satisfactory. Based in Skövde, the company has since expanded to include Coffee Stain Publishing and other affiliated studios like Coffee Stain North and Lavapotion. In 2018, it was acquired by Embracer Group through THQ Nordic but continues to operate with creative independence, focusing on quirky, innovative titles that often gain strong community followings.

Legal Stuff

5. Microsoft is reportedly cutting off Israel’s Unit 8200 from using certain Azure and AI tools after violations tied to surveillance of Palestinians, amid a consumer boycott of Xbox.

6. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has been ordered to appear in French court this October after a harassment trial involving three former executives.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Midwest Games raised $2 million from Prevail Private Capital to expand its publishing support and back underrepresented developers, marking the firm’s first investment in gaming.

8. Once a booming industry fueled by major investments, esports has seen a sharp decline in investor interest since 2022, leading to layoffs and consolidation, even as the market continues to grow and evolve—particularly in the U.S., its second-largest hub after China.

New Game Corner

9. ARC Raiders - October 30th, 2025

   ARC Raiders is a free-to-play cooperative third-person extraction shooter developed by Embark Studios. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth overrun by mechanized alien machines known as “Arcs,” players drop into dangerous zones to scavenge resources, fight enemies, and extract loot. The game blends tense PvE combat with PvP encounters, emphasizing teamwork, survival, and high-risk, high-reward gameplay.

Resource Byte

10. Hostinger Horizons

    AI web/software builder - similar to Replit and Base44.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior Technical Lighting Artist - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Character Artist - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Social Media Director - Scopely - Culver City, CA

HR Manager - Rockstar Games - Leeds, UK

Data Engineer - Lingokids - Remote, Europe

Render Engineer - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Client Side - Zeptolab - Serbia

Head of Publishing - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Combat Designer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Phil Rogers

    “This isn’t a theoretical future. It’s happening now and the results are quite compelling. Many of our studios have been experimenting with AI in the past couple of years and are now starting to really leverage it to eliminate bottlenecks and empower our development teams. We’re beginning to see measurable increases in productivity.”

    Phil Rogers

Events

12. GIC 2025 - October 23rd - 26th.

    The Game Industry Conference (GIC) is Poland’s largest game development event, held annually in Poznań alongside the Poznań Game Arena expo, one of Europe’s premier consumer gaming shows. It serves as a dynamic hub for professionals across the industry to network, share insights and trends, and participate in focused summits on various subjects. In 2025, GIC is scheduled for October 23–26, offering keynote talks, workshops, pitching events, concerts, and vibrant social gatherings, all catering to the vibrant Polish and broader European games ecosystem

Subscribe now

This year I had an opportunity to go to Gamescom. I really enjoyed this year’s event. There were some truly exciting new game reveals. AI dominated much of the discussion, but there’s also a growing awareness that regulation could be on the way, and studios are beginning to prepare. On the people side, it’s clear that studios are taking a more strategic approach to workforce models, balancing in-house teams, outsourcing, and freelancers while still competing globally for the best permanent talent. On the show floor, some studios really stole the spotlight, from CI’s Lords of the Fallen with its tattoo booth to Capcom’s Resident Evil Requiem.

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: It was reported that the Finnish games industry has shrunk 4.9% over two years, generating €2.85 billion in 2024 with operating results falling from €800 million in 2023 to €400 million in 2024.

In other news, Paramount and Activision have announced a live-action Call of Duty movie, with Paramount set to develop, produce, and distribute the film to both fans and new audiences.

Lastly, NetEase has closed T-Minus Zero Entertainment, the 2023-founded studio led by ex-BioWare veteran Rich Vogel, ending its sci-fi multiplayer project due to "current market conditions

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The Byte

1. Over 450 Diablo franchise workers at Activision Blizzard have unionized across multiple roles, with Microsoft recognizing the union.

The Action

2. King allegedly announced 200 layoffs in a mandatory July 2, 2025 company call, where president Todd Green outlined severance deals that some employees challenged.

Retro Byte

3. Atari has acquired the rights to five Ubisoft titles — Cold Fear, I Am Alive, Child of Eden, Grow Home, and Grow Up — and plans to reintroduce them on new platforms.

Studio Byte

4. NeoBards Entertainment, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Hong Kong with studios in Taipei and Suzhou, is an independent game developer known for its collaborations with major publishers like Capcom, Square Enix, and Konami. The studio has worked on remasters such as Devil May Cry HD Collection and Onimusha: Warlords, contributed to Resident Evil 2, 3, and 7 ports, and developed Resident Evil: Resistance and Re:Verse. Beyond Capcom, it supported Marvel’s Avengers, Dynasty Warriors M, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and is currently leading development on Konami’s upcoming Silent Hill ƒ.

Legal Stuff

5. Blizzard is suing the creators of a major World of Warcraft private server for alleged copyright infringement, accusing them of disrupting and cannibalizing its player community.

6. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has been ordered to appear in French court this October after a harassment trial involving three former executives.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. WeMade invests $7.2m in Studio Rasa.

8. Once a booming industry fueled by major investments, esports has seen a sharp decline in investor interest since 2022, leading to layoffs and consolidation, even as the market continues to grow and evolve—particularly in the U.S., its second-largest hub after China.

New Game Corner

9. Dying Light: The Beast - September 19th, 2025

   Dying Light: The Beast follows Kyle Crane after years of inhumane experiments leave him transformed into a half-human, half-creature hybrid. Consumed by vengeance, players navigate an open world filled with survival horror challenges as Crane hunts down the mastermind behind his mutation.

Resource Byte

10. RefineAResume

    Tailor your resume to any job in seconds.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior Animation Programmer - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Character Artist - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Social Media Director - Scopely - Culver City, CA

HR Manager - Rockstar Games - Leeds, UK

Data Engineer - Lingokids - Remote, Europe

Render Engineer - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Client Side - Zeptolab - Serbia

Brand Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Combat Designer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Wade Rosen - Atari

    “A single game can oftentimes outperform the other ten that you would have said yes to. I think there's been such a quest from so many companies in the industry to get to scale that they said yes to a lot of marginally opportunistic things”

    Wade Rosen

Events

12. GIC 2025 - October 23rd - 26th.

    The Game Industry Conference (GIC) is Poland’s largest game development event, held annually in Poznań alongside the Poznań Game Arena expo, one of Europe’s premier consumer gaming shows. It serves as a dynamic hub for professionals across the industry to network, share insights and trends, and participate in focused summits on various subjects. In 2025, GIC is scheduled for October 23–26, offering keynote talks, workshops, pitching events, concerts, and vibrant social gatherings, all catering to the vibrant Polish and broader European games ecosystem

Subscribe now

In this episode of the ByteAction Podcast, we sit down with Christian Gascons, COO and co-founder of Games for a Living (GFAL), to explore the journey of building sustainable gaming studio, their upcoming launch of Diamond Dreams, and how their team is redefining the match3 space.

From Christian’s start at Blizzard Entertainment, to co-founding a studio in Barcelona, to building highly player focused games, this episode dives into the realities of the gaming industry today

➡️ If you’re into gaming, startups, Web3, or entrepreneurship, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

0:54 – Welcome to the Podcast
1:18 – Announcing the early launch of Diamond Dreams
2:20 – Why launch now? Timing & market conditions
2:28 – Who is Christian Gascons?
3:20 – Early career: from Blizzard to VR studies
6:25 – Founding Games for a Living & the vision
8:30 – Building infrastructure before launching Diamond Dreams
9:35 – The founding team & creative leadership
11:45 – Raising $1.2M with just a PowerPoint
13:00 – Making Web3 gaming accessible & optional
14:10 – Why “game first” matters in blockchain gaming
15:01 – Physical jewelry linked to in-game collectibles
16:45 – How the gameplay & collectibles work
18:20 – Digital collectibles vs NFTs
20:20 – Building community, influencer program & Proof of Lux campaign
23:35 – The hardest challenges: legal, compliance & iteration
27:05 – Free-to-play, user acquisition & market realities
28:18 – Gaming industry downturn & layoffs
30:22 – The role of a COO in a gaming startup
33:37 – Leadership style & company culture
36:12 – Lessons from 13 years as an entrepreneur
39:35 – Why fun matters more than graphics
42:19 – Retention & what makes players come back
44:00 – Future vision for Games for a Living
45:02 – Leaving a mark in Web3 gaming
46:10 – Advice for young people entering the gaming industry

https://gfal.com/

In this episode I’m joined by Darius Misiukevicius - Product Owner at Honeygain - the largest crowdsourced web-intelligence network.

We talk about the the origins and evolution of HoneyGain, a platform that allows users to share their unused internet bandwidth for monetary rewards. Darius shares insights into the B2B model, user education, and the challenges faced during the company's growth, especially during the pandemic. Finally, we explore the importance of leadership, team dynamics, and the future of AI in business, while also touching on the startup culture in Lithuania and the values that drive personal and professional growth.

0:00 Introduction

07:07 Understanding the B2B Model

12:54 Evolution of HoneyGain's Product

16:55 Challenges and Timing of Launch

21:17 User Trust and Security Concerns

23:43 Diversity in Platforms and Services

24:51 Solving Problems for Game Studios

25:32 Future Developments and Personal Impact

26:39 Navigating Leadership Responsibilities

27:20 The Essence of Leadership Skills

28:13 Proud Moments in Team Development

29:01 Unlocking Potential in Others

30:40 Core Values in Family and Business

32:28 Hiring for Soft Skills vs. Hard Skills

35:24 The Importance of Mutual Respect in Work Relationships

37:21 Open Communication in Team Dynamics

40:19 Building a Tech Company in Lithuania

42:21 The Future of AI in Business

45:27 Fueling Energy and Passion in Leadership

46:16 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

https://www.honeygain.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/misiukevicius-darius/

Last week, I had the chance to help organize a game dev meetup here in Barcelona, and it was a clear reminder of how much energy and appetite there is for connection in this industry. Great vibe with people sharing stories and sparking new ideas.

Barcelona is quickly becoming one of Europe’s key hubs for game development, and I can’t wait to see what continues to grow out of this community in the years ahead.

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: A new indie publisher named Artex has launched in Frankfurt, Germany. Reviving the name of a 1990s developer known for Ankh: The Tales of Mystery, Artex is tied to the origins of Deck13. The new venture aims to support indie studios during their early start-up phase.

In other news, Virtuos has confirmed a company restructure, resulting in layoffs affecting approximately 7% of its workforce. Around 200 roles were cut in Asia and 70 in Europe, with fewer than 10 of those in France—where the team working on Oblivion Remastered is based. The layoffs are attributed to lower demand and structural industry shifts.

Lastly, The Chinese Room, known for Still Wakes the Deep and Dear Esther, has officially separated from former parent company Sumo Digital through a management buyout. The move comes after months of uncertainty, following Sumo’s shift to focus solely on development services rather than original IP. The studio now operates independently once again.

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The Byte

1. Roblox is introducing video selfie–based age estimation and a new two-tiered Connections system as part of its efforts to enhance safety and protect minors on its platform.

The Action

2. Microsoft’s recent layoffs affecting 9,000 workers have sparked backlash, as insiders claim the cuts could have been avoided if the company had scaled back its AI investments instead.

Retro Byte

3. Soolra is launching an iOS emulator app and retro controller case that turns iPhones into handheld gaming devices, supporting legally licensed 8-bit era games and user-uploaded ROMs.

Studio Byte

4. Hangar 13 is a game development studio under 2K Games, best known for the Mafia series, particularly Mafia III. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in California, with additional offices in Europe, the studio is recognized for its strong narrative focus and cinematic storytelling set within historical crime settings.

Legal Stuff

5. Amid the ongoing $250 million lawsuit surrounding Subnautica 2, the game's new CEO has pushed back against allegations that its delay was intended to avoid a major payout to former studio leaders.

6. Tomb Raider composer Peter Connelly has been jailed for 16 months for fraudulently securing a second Covid Bounce Back Loan by overstating his company’s turnover.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Netflix plans to steadily increase its investment in video games, aiming to grow the segment with well-scoped titles that deliver value, while staying disciplined and measured in its approach.

8. Once a booming industry fueled by major investments, esports has seen a sharp decline in investor interest since 2022, leading to layoffs and consolidation, even as the market continues to grow and evolve—particularly in the U.S., its second-largest hub after China.

New Game Corner

9. Mafia: The Old Country - August 8th, 2025

   Mafia: The Old Country is a third-person action-adventure game set in 1900s Sicily, exploring the gritty origins of organized crime. Players take on the role of Enzo Favara, navigating the brutal underworld as he fights to survive and earn his place within the Family. The game promises an immersive, story-driven experience rooted in historical crime drama.

Resource Byte

10. RefineAResume

    Tailor your resume to any job in seconds.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior VFX Artist - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Character Artist - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Render Engineer - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Product - Zeptolab - Remote

Brand Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Producer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Senior Engine Programmer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Nate Fox

    “We love Jin Sakai. We spent a lot of years bringing his story to life. But when we set out on the long road to creating a sequel, we wanted to make something that excited us all at Sucker Punch. We think that enthusiasm and love for building an origin story comes through for players being able to experience something very new as well.”

    Nate Fox

Events

12. devcom & Gamescom 2025 - August 17th - 24th.

    Devcom is the official game developer conference that takes place just before Gamescom. It focuses on the business, creative, and technical sides of game development, featuring talks, workshops, and networking for professionals across the global games industry.

    Gamescom is one of the world’s largest video game trade fairs, held annually in Cologne, Germany. It serves as a major global platform for game publishers, developers, and tech companies to showcase upcoming titles, hardware innovations, and industry trends. The event includes game announcements, hands-on demos, esports tournaments, and panels, drawing a mix of media, industry professionals, and the public.

In this episode I’m joined by Rafał Bieniek - co-founder & CEO of Metashift Labs.

We discuss Rafał’s journey in game development, the challenges of starting a studio, and the importance of community engagement. He shares insights on transitioning from a side project to a full-time endeavor, the dynamics of working with investors versus publishers, and the innovative concepts behind their upcoming game. The discussion also touches on the future of game development, the role of AI, and advice for aspiring developers.

00:00 Introduction and Personal Background

03:17 Journey into Game Development

05:46 Starting a Game Studio

08:19 Transitioning from Side Hustle to Full-Time

10:53 Hiring and Team Growth

13:25 Working with Publishers vs. Investors

15:55 New Game Development Approach

18:15 Innovative Game Concept

20:51 Connection Between Players and Characters

23:16 Game Mechanics and Strategy

25:54 Conclusion and Future Plans

26:26 Validating Ideas Early in Game Development

28:37 Finding Your Niche in Game Design

31:33 Building a Community Around Your Game

34:10 The Current State of the Game Industry

39:41 Leveraging AI in Game Development

42:40 Creativity Within Constraints

44:50 Personal Gaming Preferences and Inspirations

48:24 Future Aspirations for Metashift Labs

https://metashiftlabs.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafbie/

https://dominusautoma.com/

In this episode I’m speaking to Antek Krowicki, and Zach Howe - the co-founders of Nyx Studios. Nyx Studios is a multimedia entertainment company. They’re currently promoting their first tabletop game Havoc: Gen Zero (The Nyxlands of Havoc), which just wrapped up its successful Kickstarter campaign after raising 572% of its goal.

➡️ We talk about designing with storytelling at the core, building worlds inspired by literary sci-fi and strategy classics, and why community-driven creation is the future of indie games.
➡️ We also discuss Antek’s and Zack’s journey from writers to worldbuilders, and how a dream project launched in a Telegram group became a Kickstarter success and a growing game universe.

00:00 Building Bonds: The Power of Friendship in Gaming

06:17 The Genesis of Havoc: Founding a Game Company

09:12 From Writers to Game Designers: A Unique Journey

11:56 Inspiration Behind Havoc: Games and Literature

15:03 The Evolution of Havoc: Naming and Universe Building

17:50 The Future of Havoc: Expanding the Universe

20:50 What Makes a Game Successful? Insights from the Industry

23:17 The Art of Game Design: Iteration and Improvement

26:07 Creating a Rich Universe: The World of Havoc

29:01 Gameplay Mechanics: Understanding Havoc

31:53 Kickstarter Success: The Journey to Funding

38:41 Building a Thriving Community

40:17 The Evolution of Community Engagement

43:17 Insights on the Gaming Industry

49:57 Team Dynamics and Collaboration

51:59 Imagining a Future with Unlimited Resources

56:29 Balancing Work and Personal Life

01:02:17 Future Plans for NYX Studios

01:06:20 Advice for Aspiring Game Developers

https://enterhavoc.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nyx-studios-games

This week I’ve released a new podcast. In this episode I speak with Hanin Fakhriddin - a mobile marketing expert whose journey spans across Gameloft, Ubisoft, and beyond. From pre-smartphone gaming to leading high-impact launches like Hungry Dragon and Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians she shares her insights on how mobile games are brought to market, and what makes them thrive.

You can check the podcast here:

ByteAction

Hanin Fakhriddin: Deep Dive to Mobile Games Marketing

Listen now

10 months ago · Tomas Ramoska

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: Build a Rocket Boy released MindsEye under a cloud of controversy, withholding review codes amid executive departures and allegations of a smear campaign, with early players citing major performance issues and mixed reception on Steam.

In other news, Nordic startup Studio555 raises €4M seed round to develop its gamified interior design app blending creativity and tech.

Lastly, Northern Ireland’s Studio Ulster launches $96.5M virtual production facility in Belfast, calling it the world’s most advanced.

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The Byte

1. Gaming VCs adapt to shifting landscape as early-stage slowdown meets rising bets on ad tech.

The Action

2. Microsoft and AMD have partnered to co-develop silicon for next-gen Xbox consoles, promising better visuals, AI features, and full game library compatibility.

Retro Byte

3. Former GTA technical director Obbe Vermeij revealed Rockstar aimed to introduce online play as early as GTA 3 in 2001, long before perfecting it with GTA 5.

Studio Byte

4. Private Division is a developer-focused publisher that partners with top creative talent to support the development of passionate, high-quality games. Known for publishing titles like Kerbal Space Program, The Outer Worlds, OlliOlli World, and Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, the label also collaborates with studios like Moon Studios, Evening Star, and Yellow Brick Games on upcoming projects.

Legal Stuff

5. U.S. actors union pauses year-long video game strike after reaching "tentative agreement" on AI issues.

6. Playdead co-founder Dino Patti faces a potential lawsuit over a deleted post about Limbo and a photo of co-founder Arnt JensenAcquisitions/Investments.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Cyprus-based Nice Plans Studio secures $3M to expand its multiplayer shooter portfolio with a distributed development team.

8. Bigger Games secures $25 million in funding to accelerate growth and expansion in its mobile gaming business.

New Game Corner

9. Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game - July 29th, 2025

   Settle into the peaceful charm of the Shire and enjoy the simple pleasures of Hobbit life. In Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, you’ll explore lush landscapes, decorate your cozy dwelling, and build lasting friendships with fellow Hobbits and familiar faces from Middle-earth. Discover, share, and relax in this heartwarming adventure crafted for comfort and community.

Resource Byte

10. Coda.

    Notion alternative.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior VFX Artist - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Character Artist - Larian Studios - Barcelona, Spain

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Lead Community Manager - Wargaming - Berlin, Germany

Head of Product - Zeptolab - Remote

Brand Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Producer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Senior Engine Programmer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Alex Karpazis

    “The big thing–first, we wanted to make sure that all of our community could still enjoy the game, which is why we decided to do a massive evolution that answers a lot of what they’ve been asking for. Changes to movement, changes to the audio system, which we completely revamped to make it more natural and much more accurate. We also wanted to make sure that even though the game is insanely tough – it’s a challenging game – new players can check it out and download it for free with their friends. We’ve revamped the onboarding experience so they can see what makes Siege so satisfying.”

    Alex Karpazis

Events

12. Develop: Brighton - 8-10 July, 2025

    Develop:Brighton is Europe’s leading game developer conference, held annually in July in Brighton, UK. It brings together industry professionals—from major studios to indie developers—for three days of talks, workshops, networking, an expo, and an Indie Showcase. With over 100 sessions across disciplines like art, code, design, and business, the event offers practical insights, career growth, and community-building in a relaxed seaside setting.

In this episode of ByteAction, I speak with Hanin Fakhriddin - a mobile marketing expert whose journey spans across Gameloft, Ubisoft, and beyond. From pre-smartphone gaming to leading high-impact launches like Hungry Dragon and Might and Magic: Elemental Guardians she shares her insights on how mobile games are brought to market, and what makes them thrive.

We discuss the evolution of marketing in games, the role of community building, testing strategies before launch, and why data and psychology are at the heart of great marketing. Hanin also offers a candid look at her shift into freelancing and the challenges (and joys) of teaching, consulting, and staying ahead in a fast-paced industry.

Whether you’re a dev, a marketer, or just curious about how mobile games succeed, this episode is a masterclass in mobile growth marketing.

Link to Hanin’s mobile marketing academy:

https://hanin-fakhriddin-s-school.teachable.com/?preview=logged_out

00:00 Introduction
03:15 The Roles of Networking and Graphics in Game Development 09:30 Turning Creative Visions into Playable Realities
16:40 Tackling "Impossible" Problems in Game Programming
22:50 The Secrets to Great Multiplayer Games
29:10 Remote Work: Challenges and Opportunities in Game Development
35:45 VR Gaming: The Next Frontier?
41:20 How to Break Into Game Development—and Thrive?
36:45 Balancing Innovation with Market Demand
46:55 Predictions for the Future of Gaming Technology

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has officially dropped its case against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, stating that dismissing the complaint best serves the public interest after losing its appeal earlier this month.

In other news, PlaySafe ID, a platform designed to keep cheaters, bots, and predators out of games, has raised $1.12 million in pre-seed funding to promote trust and fairness in gaming without compromising player privacy.

Lastly, gaming services provider Side has opened a new studio in São Paulo to meet growing client demand and plans to double its South American workforce, creating at least 100 jobs in QA, art, and co-development.

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Share ByteAction

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The Byte

1. ‘Indiana Jones and The Great Circle’ emerges as a winner at Nordic Game awards 2025.

The Action

2. Former Bungie employees allege that toxic leadership, greed-driven decisions, and a lack of player empathy are eroding the studio's culture and damaging its future.

Retro Byte

3. XBOX 360 - a retro game console?

Studio Byte

4. Shiro Games is an independent game studio based in Bordeaux, France, best known for developing Northgard, a Norse mythology-inspired strategy game that earned critical and commercial success. Founded in 2012, the studio has a reputation for creating original IPs with a strong focus on gameplay depth and artistic style. Other notable titles include the action RPG Darksburg and the narrative-driven adventure Wartales.

Legal Stuff

5. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot and HR director Marie Derain will be summoned to testify in a June 2025 trial aimed at exposing the alleged systemic harassment involving former Ubisoft executives.

6. After a four-year legal battle, Fortnite has returned to Apple’s U.S. App Store following a court decision favoring Epic Games in its dispute over in-app payment policies.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Nazara Technologies has acquired UK-based Curve Games for $28.9 million.

8. Xaba Secures $6M to Develop AI 'Synthetic Brains' for Industrial Robots

New Game Corner

9. Dune: Awakening - June 5th, 2025

   Dune: Awakening is a survival multiplayer game from Funcom that drops players into the harsh, open-world environment of Arrakis, where they’ll need to fight, build, and adapt to survive its deadly deserts and political intrigue. Early access begins June 5, 2025, with full release on PC set for June 10.

Resource Byte

10. Coda.

    Notion alternative.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Lead Producer - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Head of Analytics - Wargaming - Seoul, South Korea

Head of Product - Zeptolab - Remote

Brand Manager - Shiro Games - Bordeaux, France

Senior Producer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Sound Designer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Chris Sigaty

    “We gotta get people to try it and start talking about it. Sunderfolk is the kind of game that lives on strong word of mouth and grows over time, and while the gaming world is slowly discovering what it’s all about, Secret Door is planning the next phase of support for the game. Right now we’re focused on spreading awareness of Sunderfolk and getting to a place where we think we can bring out the next thing and add additional content that keeps building the community.”

    Chris Sigaty

Events

12. Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona - 3-4 June, 2025

    Pocket Gamer Connects Barcelona 2025 is set to take place in June 2025, bringing together professionals from across the global games industry with a strong focus on mobile, indie, Web3, and emerging technologies. The two-day B2B event will feature expert talks, panel discussions, networking opportunities, investor matchmaking, and the popular Big Indie Pitch. It's part of the well-established PG Connects series and serves as a key European hub for developers, publishers, and service providers to connect and collaborate.

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: Polygon, a video game and pop culture website, has been acquired by Valnet, the owner of The Gamer and Game Rant. Following the sale, several long-time staff members have been laid off or have decided to leave.

In other news, Wombo Games, a new studio founded by IO Interactive co-founder Janos Flösser, has launched in Copenhagen. Their debut game, Raiders of Blackveil, a co-op PVE roguelite with MOBA and extraction elements, will enter Steam Early Access this summer.

Lastly, The EU has fined Apple $568.6 million for blocking App Store apps from linking to alternative payment options, violating the Digital Markets Act.

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Can you help? If you like ByteAction, click on the button below and share it with your network. Who knows, perhaps it might be helpful to someone out there.

Share ByteAction

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The Byte

1. GTA VI launches on May 26th 2026.

The Action

2. The Russian government has seized former Wargaming studio Lesta Studios, citing Wargaming’s support for Ukraine, despite the company having exited the Russian market in 2022.

Retro Byte

3. Retro gaming lounge at Seattle airport lets you play for free.

Studio Byte

4. ASOBO Studio is a French video game developer based in Bordeaux, founded in 2002. The studio gained early recognition by developing games based on Pixar films like Ratatouille, WALL-E, and Up. It later earned critical acclaim for its original titles, especially A Plague Tale: Innocence and its sequel Requiem, as well as for developing Microsoft Flight Simulator (2020 and 2024). Known for technical innovation and storytelling.

Legal Stuff

5. A Florida teen is suing Roblox and Discord for allegedly enabling her abuse.

6. Ubisoft is investigating a legal complaint over its data collection and online requirements for single-player games.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. NCSOFT completes a strategic equity investment into Emptyvessel.

8. Xaba Secures $6M to Develop AI 'Synthetic Brains' for Industrial Robots

New Game Corner

9. Car Dealer Simulator - May 29th, 2025.

   Explore the used car market by finding deals, upgrading vehicles, and selling for profit—start as a novice and work your way up to car dealer success.

Resource Byte

10. Internet.io

    Different AI models in one.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior Animator - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Producer - Bulkhead - Derby, UK

Devops Engineer - Carry1st - Remote

Senior Core Engineer - 31st Union - Valencia, Spain

Communications Director - Steer Studios - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Head of Analytics - Wargaming - Seoul, South Korea

Head of Product - Zeptolab - Remote

Senior Producer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Sound Designer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Trip Hawkins.

    “I fully expect Switch 2 to exceed 100 million units sold in its lifetime, just like its predecessor. This will be the fifth Nintendo platform to exceed 100 million and every one of these has been family-oriented. Sony’s PS1, PS2 and PS4 are the only others in history to sell this well.”

    Trip Hawkins

Events

12. Nordic Game - 20-23 May, 2025

    The Nordic Game Conference 2025 (NG25 Spring) is Europe's premier games industry event, scheduled for 20–23 May at Slagthuset in Malmö, Sweden. It brings together thousands of professionals from the Nordic region and around the globe to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and creativity in game development

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: Former Space Ape developers have launched Offroad Games, a 10-person startup focused on car-themed titles. They're reviving Space Ape’s cancelled racer Go Race: Super Karts and working on a new unannounced IP alongside continuing work on Chrome Valley Customs and Fastlane: Road to Revenge.

In other news, Niantic has laid off 68 employees as part of a restructuring following the $3.5 billion sale of its gaming portfolio to Scopely. Scopely now owns Pokémon Go, Monster Hunter Now, and Pikmin Bloom, along with the teams working on them. Niantic will shift focus to geospatial AI under its new identity, Niantic Spatial.

Lastly, Sandbox VR have surpassed $200m in sales and is set to open more venues worldwide. It’s an exciting time for location based VR and Sandbox VR is at the forefront of it all.

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Can you help? If you like ByteAction, click on the button below and share it with your network. Who knows, perhaps it might be helpful to someone out there.

Share ByteAction

If you’d like to contribute to my work & see it continued - you are welcome to purchase a monthly or yearly subscription below:

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The Byte

1. Mike Johnson Blames Video Games to Justify $880B Medicaid Cuts.

The Action

2. Ubisoft Releases Colorblind Accessibility Tool 'Chroma' as Open-Source Software.

Retro Byte

3. Atari 7800+ Retro Console Sees Major Price Drop to $75 in Woot's Spring Sale

Studio Byte

4. Sandfall Interactive is an independent video game studio based in Montpellier, France, established in 2020. The studio specializes in developing premium 3D games for PC and next-generation consoles, focusing on single-player experiences that feature compelling narratives, intricate characters, and visually stunning fantasy worlds.

Legal Stuff

5. Ubisoft Asserts Players Never Owned 'The Crew' in Ongoing Legal Dispute.

6. UK Gambling Commission Charges 15, Including Former Tory MP, Over Insider Election Betting.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Infinite Reality will acquire Touchcast for $500m.

8. Xaba Secures $6M to Develop AI 'Synthetic Brains' for Industrial Robots

New Game Corner

9. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - April 24th, 2025

   Join the members of Expedition 33 as they embark on a mission to stop the Paintress once and for all, ensuring she can never paint death again. Journey through a world of wonder inspired by Belle Époque France, and face off against distinctive enemies in this turn-based RPG infused with real-time action.

Resource Byte

10. Yotoplay

    If you have kids and you want to offer them quality screenless entertainment - Yoto is a way to go.

Who’s Hiring?

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Senior Animator - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Producer - Bulkhead - Derby, UK

Devops Engineer - Carry1st - Remote

Head of Analytics - Wargaming - Seoul, South Korea

Head of Product - Zeptolab - Remote

Senior Producer - Naughty Dog - Los Angeles, CA

Art Manager - Fantastic Pixel Castle - Remote, USA

Director of Ops - SciPlay - North Carolina, USA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Sound Designer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Backend Engineer - Xsolla - Montréal, Canada

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Tonda Ros

    “This is ultimately a game about people making assumptions, and having expectations, and finding out over time that their assumptions are wrong, and then their expectations are surpassed.”

    Tonda Ros

Events

12. Nordic Game - 20-23 May, 2025

    The Nordic Game Conference 2025 (NG25 Spring) is Europe's premier games industry event, scheduled for 20–23 May at Slagthuset in Malmö, Sweden. It brings together thousands of professionals from the Nordic region and around the globe to celebrate innovation, collaboration, and creativity in game development

As for what has happened in the games industry recently: Former Space Ape developers have launched Offroad Games, a 10-person startup focused on car-themed titles. They're reviving Space Ape’s cancelled racer Go Race: Super Karts and working on a new unannounced IP alongside continuing work on Chrome Valley Customs and Fastlane: Road to Revenge.

In other news, Amazon Luna has signed a multi-year deal with EA to bring top titles to its cloud gaming service, starting with Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Fallen Order, and Dead Space. Luna is also expanding to new countries.

Lastly, Game Informer has returned after its August 2024 shutdown, now owned by Gunzilla Games. The publication will operate independently under a new entity, Game Informer Inc.

If you have been referred to ByteAction, you’re welcome to subscribe.

Can you help? If you like ByteAction, click on the button below and share it with your network. Who knows, perhaps it might be helpful to someone out there.

Share ByteAction

If you’d like to contribute to my work & see it continued - you are welcome to purchase a monthly or yearly subscription below:

Subscribe now

The Byte

1. Nintendo Direct 2025: Everything announced

The Action

2. Sam Altman responds to ChatGPT users creating Studio Ghibli style AI images.

Retro Byte

3. The Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro offers over 70,000 classic games in a plug-and-play retro console—no emulators or ROMs required.

Studio Byte

4. Villeurbanne based ​Passtech Games is an independent video game development studio founded in 2012 by Sylvain Passot. The studio specializes in creating action and adventure games, with notable titles including Space Run (2014), Space Run Galaxy (2016), Masters of Anima (2018), Curse of the Dead Gods (2020), and Ravenswatch (2023). In April 2021, the studio was acquired by Nacon, a move aimed at strengthening Nacon's presence in the roguelike game sector while allowing Passtech Games to maintain its creative autonomy.

Legal Stuff

5. Alberta has scrapped plans to revive a tax credit for developers, opting instead for strategic funding and investments in the digital media gaming industry.

6. Immutable announced that the SEC has closed its inquiry with no findings of wrongdoing, ending the investigation signaled by last year's Wells notice.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Krafton has acquired over 75% of Indian gaming studio Nautilus Mobile, known for the Real Cricket franchise, in a $14 million all-cash deal.

8. Ubisoft is spinning off its top franchises into a new unit with €1.16B from Tencent and dedicated global teams.

New Game Corner

9. Atomfall - March 27th, 2025

   Atomfall is a new survival-action game set in post-nuclear disaster Britain. Players will explore, scavenge, craft, barter, and fight through stunningly recreated landscapes while uncovering the mystery behind the catastrophe.

Resource Byte

10. Yotoplay

    If you have kids and you want to offer them quality screenless entertainment - Yoto is a way to go.

Who’s Hiring?

Data Analyst - Wargaming - Vilnius, Lithuania

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Level Designer - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Product Director - Homa - Remote, UK

Producer - Bulkhead - Derby, UK

Art Manager - Fantastic Pixel Castle - Remote, USA

Senior Animation Programmer - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Senior Unity Developer - Softgames - Berlin, Germany (Remote)

Senior Gameplay Engineer - Sony Playstation Studios - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Art Director - Techland - Warsaw, Poland (Remote)

Sound Designer - 11 Bit Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Backend Engineer - Xsolla - Montréal, Canada

Client Developer - Snowprint Studios - Berlin, Germany

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Senior Environment Artist - Cold Symmetry Games - Remote, USA

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Jakin Vela (IGDA)

    “When I looked at the GDC survey, I did notice the AI point. About 30% of developers were skeptical about AI use. I don’t know if you were aware, but last year at our IGDA booth, we polled people walking by about where they felt AI was. Were they excited? Were they concerned? About 40% were on the concerned side as far as AI impacting their jobs, impacting their livelihoods. Seeing that report having increased from the previous year’s report–I want to say the last GDC report said 18% of developers were concerned about AI. I think we’re finally seeing people understand the serious impact AI is going to have on their jobs, especially jobs in QA, localization, anything where people are susceptible to being replaced with automation and AI.”

    Jakin Vela

Events

12. Reboot Develop Blue - 14th-16th of April

    Reboot Develop Blue is a high-profile game developers' conference held annually in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It brings together industry professionals, indie developers, and renowned speakers from major gaming studios worldwide. The event features keynote speeches, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and showcases of upcoming games and technologies. It’s known for its intimate, high-end setting and attracts top talent from the gaming industry.

Last week Peer Global Inc. raised $10.5 million to expand its team and accelerate AI development for its metaverse game engine, while launching a "personal planets" feature for user-created 3D social hubs.

In other news, The European Investment Fund (EIF) has pledged $21 million to Behold Ventures to support early-stage game developers in the Nordic region.

Lastly, Jam City has sold its Montreal-based studio Ludia to a group of Canadian investors and senior management after receiving a compelling acquisition offer.

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The Byte

1. Acclaim Entertainment, the iconic publisher of Mortal Kombat, has returned as an indie game publisher after over two decades, led by industry veterans to focus on original IPs.

The Action

2. “Split Fiction” sold over 1 million copies in just 2 days…

Retro Byte

3. Tamagotchi, the iconic virtual pet, has been nominated for induction into the 2025 Video Game Hall of Fame.

Studio Byte

4. Villeurbanne based Old Skull Games is an independent game studio known for creative and cooperative games on mobile, PC, and console. Notable titles include Tiny Quest and Cavaboom. They also have a tabletop RPG branch, Old Skull Publishing, which produces Sharp Swords & Sinister Spells and other RPGs.

Legal Stuff

5. Parents have sued Fortnite maker Epic Games, alleging deceptive practices that create "the illusion of scarcity" and "FOMO" to encourage in-game purchases.

6. Hidden Variable has ceased development on Skullgirls Mobile and 2nd Encore due to a dispute with Autumn Games, filing a lawsuit over alleged contract breaches and unpaid fees totaling $131,500 plus expenses.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Munich-based indie developer Welevel raised $5.7 million, led by Bitkraft Ventures, to expand its team and develop an AI platform for its upcoming AAA sandbox survival game

8. Meta has launched a $50 million Meta Horizon Creator Fund, aiming to reward innovators who shape the future of Meta Horizon Worlds

New Game Corner

9. Monster Hunter Wilds - February 28th, 2025

   Monster Hunter Wilds (2025) is the next major entry in Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, featuring an expansive open world with dynamic ecosystems, seamless exploration, and large-scale hunts. Players will face powerful new monsters in ever-changing environments, using updated weapons, traversal mechanics, and co-op multiplayer. It aims to push the series forward with deeper immersion and storytelling while retaining the core hunting experience fans love.

Resource Byte

10. Linear

    Linear is a modern software development platform that simplifies managing issues, projects, and product roadmaps.

Who’s Hiring?

Data Analyst - Wargaming - Vilnius, Lithuania

VFX Artist - Limit Break - Tokyo, Japan

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Level Designer - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Director of Game Design - Tilting Point - Barcelona, Spain

Unity Developer - Sago Mini - Toronto, Canada

Art Manager - Fantastic Pixel Castle - Remote, USA

Senior Gameplay Engineer - Sony Playstation Studios - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Backend Engineer - Xsolla - Montréal, Canada

Technical Director - IOI - Barcelona, Spain

Client Developer - Snowprint Studios - Berlin, Germany

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Senior Environment Artist - Cold Symmetry Games - Remote, USA

Senior Network Programmer - Haven Studios - Montréal, Canada

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Jo Tan

    “One thing we’re working to solve is how you make the hardware, regardless of what platform you use–HyperX is a very good example. You can use the same peripherals, like a headset–if you want to play a game and hear everything through your headset, how do we make the headset work exactly the same and easily transferable when you play on the TV or the PC or a handheld device? That’s why I wanted to do the instant pair. Think of instant pair as a sophisticated Bluetooth.”

    Jo Tan

Events

12. Reboot Develop Blue - 14th-16th of April

    Reboot Develop Blue is a high-profile game developers' conference held annually in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It brings together industry professionals, indie developers, and renowned speakers from major gaming studios worldwide. The event features keynote speeches, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and showcases of upcoming games and technologies. It’s known for its intimate, high-end setting and attracts top talent from the gaming industry.

I’ve got to say - it’s been a while. Feeling refreshed though, and caught on a number of life/work tasks. I’m looking forward to continuing with ByteAction and consistently providing you with interesting articles/news from gamedev as well as new podcast episodes and behind scenes photos from events.

Last week a decade after its 2015 release, Pocket Monster: Remake—a Pokémon clone—has led to a settlement. The Chinese developers have now publicly apologized to The Pokémon Company.

In other news, Unity revenue fell by 25% year-over-year to $457 million in Q4 2024 with the company blaming its “portfolio reset” for the decline.

Lastly, Liquid Swords, the studio founded by ex-Avalanche COO Christofer Sundberg, is laying off staff to scale back operations while continuing development on its first game.

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Can you help? If you like ByteAction, click on the button below and share it with your network. Who knows, perhaps it might be helpful to someone out there.

Share ByteAction

If you’d like to contribute to my work & see it continued - you are welcome to purchase a monthly or yearly subscription below:

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The Byte

1. Former Belka Games staff have launched Studio42, a Cyprus-based mobile game studio led by ex-CEO Alexandr Bogdanov, focusing on casual puzzle games.

The Action

2. NetEase has cut jobs, closed studios, and scaled back international investments—including its Marvel Rivals team—amid broader industry uncertainty, with reports suggesting further divestment from overseas studios.

Retro Byte

3. 50 years of game history told through 60 games.

Studio Byte

4. Seattle-based Ironwood Studios is a team of seasoned game developers dedicated to crafting immersive adventures with surreal settings and storytelling-driven gameplay. They’re currently working on a successful survival IP - Pacific Drive. It is a first-person driving survival game where your car is your only companion, set in a surreal, supernatural take on the Pacific Northwest.

Legal Stuff

5. Sony fights back in Bungie’s lawsuit against ex-Marathon director Christopher Barrett, releasing disturbing messages he allegedly sent to female employees.

6. Voice actor Marin M. Miller accused Supergiant Games of recasting roles in Hades to avoid signing a SAG-AFTRA interim contract, which allows union work during the ongoing strike for AI protections.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Unit Network secures $18M to advance its decentralized platform for trading real-world and digital assets.

8. Meta has launched a $50 million Meta Horizon Creator Fund, aiming to reward innovators who shape the future of Meta Horizon Worlds

New Game Corner

9. Monster Hunter Wilds - February 28th, 2025

   Monster Hunter Wilds (2025) is the next major entry in Capcom’s Monster Hunter series, featuring an expansive open world with dynamic ecosystems, seamless exploration, and large-scale hunts. Players will face powerful new monsters in ever-changing environments, using updated weapons, traversal mechanics, and co-op multiplayer. It aims to push the series forward with deeper immersion and storytelling while retaining the core hunting experience fans love.

Resource Byte

10. Linear

    Linear is a modern software development platform that simplifies managing issues, projects, and product roadmaps.

Who’s Hiring?

Data Analyst - Wargaming - Vilnius, Lithuania

VFX Artist - Limit Break - Tokyo, Japan

Senior Game Designer - Coffee Stain Studios - Gothenburg, Sweden

Level Designer - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA

Senior Graphic Designer - Genies - San Mateo, CA

QA Director - Supermassive Games - Guildford, UK

Audio Director - Fantastic Pixel Castle - Remote, USA

Senior Gameplay Engineer - Sony Playstation Studios - Los Angeles, CA

Lead Developer (Unity) - Univrse - Barcelona, Spain

Backend Engineer - Xsolla - Montréal, Canada

Technical Director - IOI - Barcelona, Spain

Client Developer - Snowprint Studios - Berlin, Germany

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Senior Environment Artist - Cold Symmetry Games - Remote, USA

Senior Network Programmer - Haven Studios - Montréal, Canada

Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co

Post Jobs

Dev Talks

11. Interview with Josef Fares

    “We need to adapt to it. If it’s part of the industry we should see how to implement it to see how we get better games. I can understand the fact that some people could lose their jobs but that goes for every new technology.”

    Josef Fares

Events

12. Reboot Develop Blue - 14th-16th of April

    Reboot Develop Blue is a high-profile game developers' conference held annually in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It brings together industry professionals, indie developers, and renowned speakers from major gaming studios worldwide. The event features keynote speeches, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and showcases of upcoming games and technologies. It’s known for its intimate, high-end setting and attracts top talent from the gaming industry.

In this episode, I’m speaking with two very talented programmers, Nikita and Michal, who’ve worked on some of the most challenging aspects of game development, including networking, and graphics, for games such as Six Days in Fallujah and Saints Row 3 Remastered.

Together, we uncover the intricate craft of game programming and its pivotal role in shaping the experiences we all enjoy as gamers.

They share insightful stories about overcoming "impossible" technical problems and what it truly means to succeed as a senior programmer in today’s fast-evolving gaming industry.

Finally, we explore the human side of game development—working remotely, building meaningful connections with teams across the globe, and maintaining passion for gaming in a demanding industry. Whether you’re a developer or a gaming enthusiast, this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes insights and practical advice from two industry veterans.

00:00 Introduction
03:15 The Roles of Networking and Graphics in Game Development 09:30 Turning Creative Visions into Playable Realities
16:40 Tackling "Impossible" Problems in Game Programming
22:50 The Secrets to Great Multiplayer Games
29:10 Remote Work: Challenges and Opportunities in Game Development
35:45 VR Gaming: The Next Frontier?
41:20 How to Break Into Game Development—and Thrive?
36:45 Balancing Innovation with Market Demand
46:55 Predictions for the Future of Gaming Technology