ByteAction - Issue 149

ByteAction is a newsletter for game developers and fans

Hello, and welcome to 149th edition of ByteAction newsletter!

Last week Keen Games announced another major milestone as Enshrouded player base has just hit 3 million. A huge success for a game that was released in January 2024.

In other news, Jam City announced about recent cuts. The studio will be laying off 10% of their staff.

Lastly, a new gaming studio - Chamo Games - was announced. Formed by ex-IO and ex-Ubisoft Massive employees the studio is already working on a new FPS IP.

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The Byte

1. Warner Bros. gaming revenue plunges by 41% following the failure of Suicide Squad.

The Action

2. Arkadium is launching a new publishing service to support third-party game developers with marketing, research, and monetization, enhancing its earlier platform access for game submissions.

Retro Byte

3. Apple has lifted its ban on retro gaming emulators, causing apps like Delta to soar in popularity and boost interest in third-party app stores among EU iPhone users.

Studio Byte

4. Founded by veteran game designer Paul Ehreth Anchor Point Studios is a NetEase Games global game studio based in Barcelona but operating remotely. The studio's motto is Per Aspera, Ad Astra (through hardships, to the stars). They’re building an action-adventure IP and are currently hiring for a number of key roles in Barcelona & remotely.

Legal Stuff

5. Equity has released guidelines for UK video game developers to ensure fair pay and better working conditions for voice actors, including protections against unauthorized use of their voices in generative AI.

6. Turkey has imposed a nationwide block on Roblox, citing concerns over alleged child exploitation and inappropriate content on the platform.

Acquisitions/Investments

7. Mixrift raises $1.6m.

8. Nazara Technologies, an Indian gaming and sports media firm, has acquired UK-based Fusebox Games for $27.2 million in an all-cash deal.

New Game Corner

9. Sonic X Shadow Generations - October 25th, 2024

   “Shadow Generations," a new platformer by Sonic Team and Sega, stars Shadow the Hedgehog. Set during "Sonic Generations" it follows Shadow's fight against Black Doom.

Resource Byte

10. OpenVC

    VC deck templates & access to thousands of VCs.

Who’s Hiring?

Lead Game Designer - Hypersonic Laboratories - Remote

Technical Director - Bespoke Pixel - Barcelona, Spain

Senior Devops Engineer - Funcom - Bucharest, Romania

Senior Data Analyst - Original Games - Remote, Europe

Principal Level Designer - Firesprite - Liverpool, UK

Senior UI Artist - Yager - Remote, Europe

Chief of Staff - Voodoo - Paris, France

Lead Engine Programmer - Ramen VR - San Francisco, CA

Lighting Artist - Gunzilla Games - Remote, Europe

Recruiter - Larian Studios - Warsaw, Poland

Design Director - Socialpoint - Barcelona Spain

UI Designer - Mojang Studios - Stockholm, Sweden

UI Artist - FreeRange Games - Remote, USA

Lead Level Designer - CD Projekt Red - Boston, MA

VFX Artist - Afterburner Studios - Remote

Senior Producer - Haven Studios - Montréal, Canada

Lead Concept Artist - Fortis Games - Remote

Senior Game Designer - Wargaming - Vilnius, Lithuania

Lead VFX Artist - Sega Europe Ltd - Sofia, Bulgaria

Data Analyst - Eneba - Europe, Remote

Gameplay Engineer - Bad Robot Games - Remote, USA

Unity Developer - Odderslab - Remote

Community Manager - 31st Union - San Mateo, CA

Technical Director - Klang Games - Berlin, Germany

Product Designer - SDP Games - Remote

Senior Gameplay Programmer - People Can Fly - Remote, Worldwide

Art Director - Bulletfarm - Remote, USA

Senior Unity Developer - SocialPoint - Barcelona, Spain

Senior Brand Manager - Remedy Games - Helsinki, Finland

Engineering Manager - Procreate - Hobart, Tasmania

Principal Animator - Maverick Games - Warwick, UK

Game Designer - Dreamcraft Entertainment - Redwood City, CA

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

11. Chris Kohler Interview

    “We couldn’t have that, because if we’re essentially making you go through all of these timelines, this virtual museum, you have to feel like you can just go wherever you want to without being held back at all, because if you’re being held back it’s like we’re forcing you to read, and we don’t want to force you to do anything.”

    Chris Kohler

Events

12. Northern Game Summit - 18th-20th September, 2024

    The Northern Game Summit (NGS) is an annual event held in Kajaani, Finland, focused on the game development industry. It serves as a platform for game developers, industry professionals, students, and enthusiasts to network, share knowledge, and explore the latest trends in game development. NGS features a diverse lineup of speakers, including keynotes, panels, and workshops, covering a wide range of topics such as game design, programming, art, marketing, and business development. The event also offers numerous opportunities for attendees to connect with peers and industry leaders.