January 26th 2024.
A Predictable Takeover
In the letters page this Friday, a reader brought up a valid point about Japanese companies like Nintendo not cutting jobs despite the current economic climate. They were particularly impressed with Super Mario Bros. Wonder and wondered why the company was able to avoid layoffs. To join in on the discussion, you can email RoboExec.
It seems like GC was right all along about the Activision Blizzard acquisition leading to job cuts. The number announced, 1,900, is truly disheartening. But why? These are not just duplicate jobs, this is Microsoft using the acquisition as a cover-up for other unrelated job cuts. They hope that by doing this, no one will realize who is being let go and for what reason.
Personally, I am done with Xbox after hearing this news. I refuse to support their games or consoles anymore. I have no interest in their products, even if they were to get rid of Phil Spencer and his team. Spencer has been in charge of Xbox for over a decade now, and what has he accomplished? Another failed console, no must-have first-party games, a massive loss of over $70 billion for Microsoft, and now, the unnecessary loss of 1,900 jobs. Bravo, Phil. When will you be replaced by an AI? It doesn't have to be a top-of-the-line one to do a better job than you.
The Inevitable Outcome
It's mind-boggling to see Microsoft, a company valued at $3 trillion, laying off 1,900 employees. It's hard to comprehend why this is happening. While there may be some overlap with Activision, this number seems extreme. I don't want to hear about them acquiring more developers if this is the outcome. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. The entire games industry is experiencing layoffs. What's even more frustrating is that Microsoft is now the richest company in the world. Couldn't they have found a way to avoid this?
Initially, I assumed it would be support staff let go due to the overlap of roles. However, it's clear now that this is not the case. With Sony talking about expanding to other platforms, developers being fired every week, and Embracer Group facing financial struggles, one has to wonder if a game crash is on the horizon. Has the industry become oversaturated with content?
East vs. West
Have you noticed how Japanese companies have not announced any layoffs during this time? It's strange considering they operate in the same global market and sell their games to the same audience. How is it that they are not responding to the financial pressures like Microsoft is? It's disgusting what Microsoft is doing, especially when you consider the fact that they are now the biggest company in the world. They have paid more money to Bobby Kotick to leave than they have saved by letting go of so many hardworking employees.
Japanese companies may not be run like charities, but let's not forget that when Nintendo was struggling with the Wii U, their executives took a pay cut. Microsoft, on the other hand, is not in any financial trouble. They simply want to make even more money, and they don't care about the consequences.
If Phil Spencer tries to apologize through a video, pretending to be remorseful for having to lay off 1,900 people while facing no personal consequences, I will be sick. Spare us the crocodile tears, Phil.
Solid Information
Is there any confirmation on when the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake will be released? There was a hint in a recent PlayStation 5 trailer that it would be this year, but nothing has been officially announced. I am a big fan of the series and will definitely play it if it receives positive reviews from GameCentral and other trusted sources. I am also hoping that the rumors of Bluepoint working on a remake of Metal Gear Solid 1 are true, as their remake of Shadow Of The Colossus was impressive.
In other news, the Solid Snake amiibo is currently available on the UK Nintendo Store, and I just bought one. The Dragon Quest Hero amiibo is also in stock.
Bad Art
I find the success of Palworld to be quite bizarre. I played it on Game Pass and found it to be a mediocre mishmash of other games, with unoriginal artwork and backgrounds that seem to be taken directly from Pokémon and Zelda. Maybe I could understand its success if it were free, but 8 million copies sold in less than a week at £25 each? I don't understand the appeal.
I am curious to know if anyone reading this is still playing the game beyond the first few hours of idle curiosity. I suspect the majority of players are young children who think the concept of shooting and eating Pokémon is edgy and cool. I may have felt the same when I was eight, but is this really the best-selling game of the year? Is this the best the games industry has to offer? The next time someone argues that games are not art, Palworld will be used as an example to prove their point.
Making the List
After two hours of intense gameplay filled with shouting, swearing, and sweaty palms, I finally completed one of the most challenging levels in Mario history, Wall Climb Jump 2 from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. What a game!
Hey there! Have you read the latest Friday letters page? One reader brought up an interesting question about Japanese companies like Nintendo not cutting jobs, while also expressing their love for Super Mario Bros. Wonder. If you want to join in on these discussions, you can email RoboExec.
It seems that GC was right all along about the Activision Blizzard acquisition leading to job cuts. A whopping 1,900 jobs to be exact. It's truly awful. But what's the reason behind it? Are these just duplicate jobs or is Microsoft trying to hide other job cuts under the same banner? It's a shame that they're hoping no one will notice who's going and why.
Personally, I've had enough of Xbox. I won't even consider playing their games or buying their consoles anymore. Not even if they get rid of that smug Phil Spencer and his team. I mean, he's been in charge for a decade now and what has he achieved? Another failed console, no must-have first party games, a massive loss for Microsoft, and now 1,900 jobs gone. Good job, Phil. When are you getting replaced by an AI? Even a mediocre one would do a better job.
Speaking of job cuts, it's mind-boggling how Microsoft became a $3 trillion company and then suddenly decided to lay off 1,900 employees. It just doesn't add up. I understand that there may be some overlap with Activision, but that number is extreme. And let's not forget that this is not an isolated incident. The whole gaming industry is facing layoffs. But what frustrates me the most is how Microsoft is now the richest company in the world. Couldn't they have just swallowed the cost?
I always thought it would be the support staff who would be affected by these mergers. But clearly, that's not the case here. With Sony talking about expanding to other platforms, studios facing layoffs every week, and even Embracer Group struggling, I have to wonder if a game crash is on the horizon. Has the industry become oversaturated with content?
Moving on to a different topic, have you noticed how Japanese companies seem to be the only ones not laying off employees? It's interesting because they're also part of the global economy and cater to the same audience as everyone else. Yet, they're not acting like Mr. Burns after losing a money fight.
The way Microsoft is handling these job cuts is disgusting. And let's not forget that they're now the biggest company in the world. Yet, they paid Bobby Kotick more money just to get rid of him than they've saved from ruining the lives of their employees. It's sickening.
I'm curious to know when the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake will be released. There was a recent PlayStation 5 trailer that hinted at a release this year, but nothing has been confirmed. And while Bluepoint has denied working on any more remakes, the rumor of a Metal Gear Solid 1 remake by someone else is still floating around.
On a different note, I find the success of Palworld to be quite bizarre. I tried it out on Game Pass and it just feels like a jumbled mess of other games, with artwork and backgrounds that seem to be ripped straight from Pokémon and Zelda. I can understand its appeal if it were a free game, but selling 8 million copies in less than a week at £25 each? I'm not seeing it.
And finally, after hours of shouting, swearing, and sweaty palms, I finally managed to conquer one of the most difficult Mario levels - Wall Climb Jump 2 from Super Mario Bros. Wonder. What a game! It's amazing how it can bring out such intense emotions in players.
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