N e w s C e n t r a l
New survey reports one in 10 game developers have lost their jobs in 2024
<figure> <img alt="Inside The Game Developers Conference" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RMguPgfa-66V4UxL738BP5cG-SA=/1x0:4000x2666/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73861613/1239464952.0.jpg" /> </figure> <p id="gebIaV">One in 10 game developers lost their job in 2024. That’s according to the results of the annual <a href="https://gdconf.com/news/gdc-2025-state-game-industry-devs-weigh-layoffs-ai-and-more">Game Developers Conference state of the video game survey</a>. The survey sampled over 3,000 developers and covered a number of topics including industry layoffs and what kind of games developers are working on.</p> <p id="s1v18u"><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/8/24065868/a-dark-shadow-falls-across-the-gaming-industry">Prolific layoffs</a> have <a href="https://www.polygon.com/24177290/video-game-industry-layoffs-studio-closures-record">ravaged the industry</a> over the last two years making the question of their impact on developers one of the most important in the survey. In addition to 10 percent of developers losing their jobs, 41 percent of respondents said they had been impacted by layoffs in some way, either by being laid off directly or seeing coworkers or colleagues in other departments let go. The survey also noted that the number of people impacted is potentially much higher because of the students and graduates who reported having a difficult time simply getting a job in the industry at all.</p> <div class="c-float-left c-float-hang"><aside id="66FpmH"><div></div></aside></div> <p id="Ub5X5i">When asked what reason companies gave for layoffs, 22 percent said restructuring while 18 said declining revenue. 19 percent gave no reason at all. Developers, though, have their own ideas about why layoffs keep happening. In an analysis of responses to what developers think the reason behind layoffs is, the majority were general statements about the industry’s over-expansion during the pandemic. Companies acquired workers and studios in hopes of meeting a level of demand for games that dried up as covid restrictions loosened. However, some developers believe the reason for layoffs is much simpler. Companies like <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/30/24283812/microsoft-q1-2025-earnings-revenue-profits-windows-xbox-gaming-surface">Microsoft</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/7/24215155/sony-sees-strong-gaming-growth-despite-weaker-ps5-sales">Sony</a> still reported growing revenues despite multiple rounds of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/31/24210476/bungie-to-layoff-220-employees-new-project">layoffs</a> and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24151047/xbox-shuts-down-arkane-austin-tango-gameworks-microsoft">studio</a> <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/29/24282900/sony-shutting-down-concord-firewalk-studios">closures</a>. It’s no surprise then that 13 percent of respondents attributed layoffs to corporate greed.</p> <p id="OeThiB">In addition to layoffs, the last few years have also seen the failure of a number of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/3/24234909/sony-concord-ps5-shutdown-poor-sales-launch-pc">high-profile, big-budget, live-service games</a>. While there has been some success in that area with new games like <em>Marvel Rivals</em>, it’s generally tough to launch a live-service game that can compete with the overbearing likes of <em>Fortnite</em>, <em>Roblox</em>, and <em>Call of Duty</em>. 2024 was also the year that <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/21/24348727/balatro-5-million-copies-the-game-awards"><em>Balatro</em></a>, <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24162572/animal-well-platforming-difficulty-bigmode"><em>Animal Well</em></a>, and <a href="https://www.theverge.com/24237778/astro-bot-review-ps5-game-of-the-year"><em>Astro Bot</em></a> dominated headlines and award lists suggesting a greater appetite for those kinds of <a href="https://www.theverge.com/23589879/hi-fi-rush-making-of-interview-xbox">smaller-scoped, single-player experiences. </a>It’s interesting, and perhaps concerning then, that according to the survey, over 30 percent of AAA developers are working on a live-service game.</p> <p id="sDyF5H">When it asked developers their thoughts on live-service games the survey answered, “One of the biggest issues mentioned was market oversaturation, with many developers noting how tough it is to break through and build a sustainable player base.”</p> <p id="p69X68"></p> <p id="gweQFM"></p>
Source: www.theverge.com
Reception: Negative
Nearly 10 years later, Tumblr TV launches to all as a TikTok alternative
<p>In 2015, the blogging site Tumblr launched a GIF discovery feature called Tumblr TV as an experimental product. Now, with the U.S. TikTok ban leaving the fate of the short-form video app uncertain, Tumblr has decided it’s finally time to launch Tumblr TV, which has since evolved to support video, to all its users as […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Positive
Scale AI is facing a third worker lawsuit in about a month
<p>In this suit, workers are claiming they suffered PTSD from disturbing content.</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
How to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads
<p>In the wake of Meta’s decision to remove its third-party fact-checking system and loosen content moderation policies, Google searches on how to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Threads have been on the rise. People who are angry with the decision accuse Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg of cozying up to the Trump administration at the expense of […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Rent-to-own startup Divvy Homes selling to Brookfield for about $1 billion
<p>After a turbulent few years for proptech, Divvy Homes announced Wednesday that it is selling to a division of Brookfield Properties for about $1 billion.</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Microsoft’s relationship with OpenAI cracked when it hired Mustafa Suleyman, rival Marc Benioff says
<p>Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said that the two AI leaders, Sam Altman and Mustafa Suleyman do not care for each other.</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Neutral
AngelList, CoinList partner to help crypto startups raise and manage funds
<p>Crypto is making such a big comeback that AngelList and CoinList are launching a way to help raise capital for crypto-specific founders using crypto coins. They are teaming up to launch crypto special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and crypto roll-up vehicles (RUVs), the companies shared with TechCrunch exclusively on Wednesday. The partnership, they said, will give users […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Positive
Samsung Unpacked: Samsung teased an extra-thin S25 model at Unpacked
<p>Samsung Unpacked’s “one more thing” was a bit of a weird one. After the presentation ended, the company rolled a brief pre-packaged video of the Galaxy Edge — not to be confused with the “Star Wars” theme park of the same name. Though limited, the reveal was confirmation of earlier rumors that the hardware giant […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Researchers develop a way to power wearables through human skin
<p>The dream of battery-free devices has taken an unlikely turn, as Carnegie Mellon researchers debuted Power-Over-Skin. The technology allows for electrical currents to travel through human skin in a bid to power things like blood sugar monitors, pacemakers, and even consumer wearables like smart glasses and fitness trackers. Researchers note the tech is still in […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Negative
Samsung Unpacked: Samsung’s Galaxy S25 will support Content Credentials to identify AI-generated images
<p>Another tidbit just dropped following Wednesday’s Samsung Unpacked event. This one comes courtesy of Adobe, which notes that the new Galaxy S25 line will be the first handsets to support the Content Credentials standard, aimed at labeling AI-generated content as such. The Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) group — of which Samsung is […]</p> <p>© 2024 TechCrunch. All rights reserved. For personal use only.</p>
Source: techcrunch.com
Reception: Positive