ByteAction - Issue 126
ByteAction is a newsletter for game developers and fans
Hello, and welcome to 126th edition of ByteAction newsletter!
Last week we released the second podcast episode. I spoke to Roman Gauthier where we explored the world of video game sound design and music composition . . You can give it a listen straight on Byteaction or head to Spotify. My aim is to record an episode every week, so let’s see how I get on :) If ever you are interested in being on one of the episodes - just drop an email on tomas@byteaction.co or reach out to me on Linkedin.
As for what happened in the games industry:
Layoffs are continuing in the games industry and last week it was all about Sony and EA. 900 people are to be laid off, and studios such as Guerrilla Games, Firesprite and Naughty Dog will be affected, with Playstation London Studio set to shut down entirely. It’s a damn shame especially given the complexity of the project and the tech they were developing. As for EA - they will be laying off 670 people across several locations.
In other news, NetEase has established Bullet Farm, a new studio led by Call of Duty veteran David Vonderhaar, focused on developing a new co-op IP.
Also, Remedy bought bag the rights to Control IP from 505 for $17m.
Lastly, Tropic Haze, the developers behind the Switch emulator Yuzu, agree to settle their lawsuit with Nintendo for $2.4 million. Additionally, they will remove the program and source code, and shut down the associated website and social media channels.
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The Byte
The Action
Retro Byte
Seven years back, Nintendo's gamble paid off. As the Switch era ends, we can salute the trail it blazed for the future
Studio Byte
Blazing Griffin Games is a Scottish game development studio founded in 2011, and is known for its innovative titles such as "The Ship: Remasted." The studio offers diverse gaming experiences with engaging narratives and strategic gameplay
Legal Stuff
Tim Sweeney criticizes Apple's 'bitter griping' following its EU fine for anticompetitive practices
A top game of 2024 has been removed from the Switch due to gambling worries
Acquisitions/Investments
Embracer Group to sell Saber Interactive for up to $500 million to private investors
Embracer’s Gearbox studio nears finalizing a deal with an undisclosed buyer
New Game Corner
Rise of the Ronin - March 22nd, 2024
Rise of the Ronin is an action-role playing video game that’s being developed by Team Ninja and is to be published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It will debut exclusively for the PlayStation 5.
Resource Byte
It’s a Canva for audio. Wondercraft offers a seamless experience for crafting audio content across various projects, including podcasts, audiobooks, advertisements, corporate communications, and much more. You can produce studio-quality audio and adapt your content for a worldwide audience, all within a unified platform.
Who’s Hiring?
Audio Programmer - Liquid Swords - Stockholm, Sweden
Lead Technical Designer - Deck13 - Frankfurt, Germany
Unity Developer - Reality Games - Krakow, Poland
Gameplay Engineer - Companion Group - UK, Remote
Senior Economy Designer - Neon Koi - Helsinki, Finland
Data Analyst - People Can Fly - Dublin, Ireland (Remote)
Lead Character Artist - Tactical Adventures - Lyon, France
Technical Artist - Dovetail Games - Remote, UK
Senior Gameplay Programmer - Heart Machine - Culver City, CA (Remote)
Creative Lead - Jagex - Remote, UK
Technical Artist - Thatgamecompany - Los Angeles, CA (Remote)
Lead Producer - The Gang - Remote, Malaysia
Network Programmer - Steel City Interactive - Remote, UK
CMO - Tacticle Games - Copenhagen, Denmark
UI Programmer - Flix Interactive - UK, Remote
Senior Systems Designer - That’s No Moon - Los Angeles, CA (Remote)
Senior Producer - IOI - Barcelona, Spain
Interested in sharing your job posts here? Just click on the button below for more info and reach out to tomas@byteaction.co
Dev Talks
Interview with Neil Druckman - Naughty Dog
“I guess that I don’t see myself doing this forever at this scale. It’s just a lot, and it takes a lot out of you. It’s very stressful to manage that many people and multiple studios worldwide. Yeah so, I’m just at a point in my life where it’s like, you start looking at, ‘what’s the end game here? When is it time to call it?”
Neil Druckman
Events
Games Industry Social - March 18th, 2024
Heading to GDC? Don’t miss out on the Games Industry Social organised by GIG and Gamesindustry.biz.