An unprecedented number of job cuts have been announced as the new year unfolds. The Genshin Impact community expresses dissatisfaction with the recent actions or inactions by HoYoVerse, and the highly anticipated movie adaptation of Until Dawn appears to face delays. This week's Game Rant recap delves into the most significant headlines from the past week.
Developer commentary for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered unveils an original storyline where a character was intended to be killed. Tekken 8 makes its mark as the next major milestone in the fighting game genre, and there's a wealth of information for early players of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League to catch up on. All this and more in the latest roundup of gaming industry news.
Microsoft's Gaming Division Hit with 1,900 Layoffs
Microsoft's gaming division experiences a distressing 1,900 job cuts, affecting Activision Blizzard and other entities. Additionally, Blizzard's president and co-founder/chief design officer are set to depart. As part of these layoffs, a Blizzard survival game internally named Project Odyssey has been axed.
Riot Games Announces Large-Scale Job Reductions
Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends and Valorant, starts 2024 with news of 530 layoffs, equating to 11% of its workforce.
Genshin Impact Faces Backlash Over Lantern Rite Festival Rewards
Social media review-bombing ensues as part of the community expresses dissatisfaction with Genshin Impact's 4.4 Lantern Rite festival, citing perceived mishandling of in-game content.
Revelations from The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered Dev Commentary
Insights from the developer commentary for The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered indicate that Ellie was originally scripted to drown Abby at the game's conclusion. However, this plotline was discarded in an attempt to preserve Ellie's remaining humanity, hinting at a potentially challenging path to redemption in a sequel.
Potential Arrival of Until Dawn on PS5 and PC
Following the announcement of a live-action movie adaptation for Until Dawn, there are indications that the Supermassive game for PS4 may also be released on PS5 and PC. If confirmed, this move is likely aimed at reacquainting players and potential fans with the horror movie's source material ahead of its promotional campaign.
Features
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered's No Return mode offers extensive content, particularly as an endlessly replayable roguelike. However, an expansion incorporating characters from Part 1 could further enhance its appeal and depth.
- The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered’s No Return Holds Untapped Expansion Potential
Movies & TV
The marketing for Madame Web has raised concerns, with rumors suggesting that the iconic quote from Amazing Fantasy #15 may have been mishandled in this spin-off. Only time will tell if these speculations hold true in the coming month.
- Rumor: Madame Web Alters Iconic Spider-Man Quote
Guides
With the impending early access launch of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, players are eager for insights into Rocksteady's live-service shooter before diving in.
- Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League - Addressing Burning Questions (Crossplay, Online-Only & More)
Game Rant Exclusives
Tekken 8 appears to surpass its predecessors significantly, offering immersive accessibility and single-player content, although its netcode may not be the most advanced in the industry.
- Tekken 8 Review