Microtransactions

Good Morning. The Game Developers Conference has provided an email template for those who need a little help writing their boss that they should attend GDC 2024.

— Tim Rhyne, Derek Neville

MAIN QUEST:

GameBattles is set to shut down on January 15, 2024, as part of Activision Blizzard's broader esports division cuts. This closure will result in more layoffs and mark the end of MLG’s last remaining asset.

GameBattles was acquired by Major League Gaming in 2006, with Activision acquiring MLG in 2016. It is known for organizing online tournaments in games like Call of Duty and no less than 2 million users have created accounts on the site in GameBattles’ 20-year tenure.

GameBattles largely only served Blizzard-Activision King titles in its present state and Microsoft has acquired and invested heavily in similar products such as Start.gg (formerly smash.gg).

Step Back: GameBattles would have a harder time developing for Microsoft’s ecosystem compared to an existing Microsoft team adding relevant BAK titles. Microsoft’s esports plans may come to light as we watch how next year’s World Series of Warzone develops, where GameBattles accounts were required for teams to compete.

HUD

• 🤖 YouTube is adding a new policy requiring creators to flag any videos they post that include AI-generated content. The platform is also rolling out a new set of community guidelines around the policy that will allow someone to request a video be taken down if it involves AI simulating them doing something that didn’t happen.

• 💰️ A $15 World of Warcraft mount outearned the entire StarCraft 2 WoL game release. As long as microtransactions are successful, spending development time within complex genres, such as real-time strategy, is no longer a priority for developers.

• 😢 Digital Bros is planning on laying off approximately 30% of its global workforce. The firm, which owns several studios including 505 Games, pointed towards a change in the industry since the pandemic as the main driver, stating that gamers prefer established IPs over brand-new games.

MAJOR W

• ⏩ Larian Studio’s CEO Swen Vincke teased the studio’s next project in a tweet celebrating Baldur’s Gate 3’s 8 Game Awards nominations, saying “I wish I could tell you about our next big game but this is really encouraging us to ensure it pushes many boundaries.”

• 📺 The first trailer and Netflix release date for Pokémon Concierge were revealed. The animated mini-series is the first collaboration between The Pokémon Company and the streaming company and is set to be available globally on December 28th.

• 🍫 Microsoft has made an edible chocolate Xbox controller to go along with a Wonka-inspired Xbox Series X as part of a giveaway around the upcoming Timothée Chalamet film.

F IN THE CHAT

• 🔍 The Open Hand Foundation, which was founded by popular gaming YouTuber The Completionist’s family, and in which the content creator has a role, is being accused of keeping donations while promoting that the money is being sent to various charities. The claims were brought by YouTubers Karl Jobst and SomeOrdinaryGamers in videos uploaded to their pages.

• 🦖 Wildcard’s Ark: Survival Ascended, the latest game in the Ark franchise, was delayed on Xbox Series X|S less than a day before it was supposed to be released. The studio still hopes to release the game this week.

CAREER CORNER

• Level Designer — Coffee Stain (Malmö, Sweden)

• Business Development, Steam — Valve (Bellevue, WA)

• Motion Capture Developer — Rockstar Games (San Diego, CA)

HIVE MIND

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