For the final two weeks, it appears like at the least 40-50% of the information I’ve heard about is about folks within the video games business both being laid off or leaving their firms for no matter purpose. On the retirement or job-shifting facet, we’ve received Jim Ryan of PlayStation, Donald Mustard of Epic, Glen Schofield of Hanging Distance, and Hideki Kamiya of Platinum Video games. On the layoff facet, we’ve seen the “restructuring” of Embracer Group, the losses at Crystal Dynamics and, most just lately, the large layoffs at Epic Video games.

The layoffs are after all the extra tragic of the losses — it sucks that we proceed to see these tales week-in and week-out. It’s been a tough yr within the business, for all that it’s been an ideal yr for video games. As players, we’re consuming effectively, however as members of the business that makes and offers us the video games, we’re watching fires spring up all over the place. I can solely hope — and I very a lot do — that these affected by the layoffs obtain the assistance they want and discover new jobs, and people who are retiring get pleasure from their new chapters.

In different information, SAG-AFTRA has voted in favor of a online game strike, which might see performers trying to acquire higher protections and pay. Meta has additionally revealed the Quest 3 headset, a mixed-to-virtual actuality headset — I’ll be curious to see if that’s one thing they’ll pull off.

In private information, I’ll be making an attempt out the brand new replace to Cyberpunk 2077 lastly, although I can’t assure I’ll have the time or persistence to play by all the factor once more. It’s pleasing to see Cyberpunk’s tenacity repay (although maybe much less so once I keep in mind CD Projekt Pink has additionally laid off folks just lately). I’ll even be enjoying the Separate Methods DLC for Resident Evil Remake 4. I additionally wish to play one thing somewhat cozy, so I’ll doubtless check out that Paleo Pines sport that simply got here out.

What to play this week

What’s new:

• Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
• Counter-Strike 2
• EA Sports activities FC 24
• El Paso, Elsewhere
• Mineko’s Evening Market
• Paleo Pines
• Pizza Possum
• Wildmender
• Soulstice
• Overpass 2
• Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Journey of Dai

New on subscription providers:

• Amnesia: Rebirth (GeForce Now)
• BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle (GeForce Now)
• Bramble: The Mountain King (GeForce Now)
• Broforce (GeForce Now)
• Don Duality (GeForce Now)
• Doom Everlasting (GeForce Now)
• Dordogne (GeForce Now)
• Mud Fleet (GeForce Now)
• Japanese Exorcist (GeForce Now)
• Figment 2: Creed Valley (GeForce Now)
• I Am Fish (GeForce Now)
• Necesse (GeForce Now)
• A Plague Story: Innocence (GeForce Now)
• Quake II (GeForce Now)
• Street 96 (GeForce Now)
• Spacelines from the Far Out (GeForce Now)
• Completely Dependable Supply Service (GeForce Now)
• Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector (GeForce Now)
• Yooka-Laylee and the Inconceivable Lair (GeForce Now)
• These Doomed Isles (GeForce Now)
• Kirby & the Wonderful Mirror (Nintendo Swap On-line)
• Cypher 007 (Apple Arcade)