Activision Mass Firing Results With Around 800 Employees Out Of Work
Previously it was reported from Bloomberg that Activision is set to relieve an abundance of employees from throughout the publisher to assist in restructuring the company’s main operations. Now coming with the latest earnings call of how Activision performed this past financial quarter, the report ended up being true as roughly 800 workers at the company have been laid off. Amid the recent news that is currently breaking, Kotaku obtained a letter from Blizzard President J. Allen Brack which has been sent to those who have been affected by the recent decision. In the letter, those who have been fired from Activision is said to be promised a “compensative severance package” that offers job placement assistance, health benefits, and profit-sharing benefits from the year prior. “Over the last few years, many of our non-development teams expanded to support various needs,” the Blizzard President reportedly wrote in the letter. “Currently staffing levels on some teams are out of proportion with our current release slate. This means we need to scale down some areas of our organization. I’m sorry to share that we will be parting ways with some of our colleagues in the U.S. today. In our regional offices, we anticipate similar evaluations, subject to local requirements.” Despite the recent attention Activision received focused on the mass layoffs, the situation has been discussed as far as mid-2018, but more recently counted down towards the demise of those who were currently working at the company. With many under a position of intense stress from last Friday, it’s saddening to see those who enjoyed working at Activision Blizzard be let go. According to Game Informer, the outlet spoke with an employee who awaited the official announcement to have said the situation “is like waiting for a loaded gun to go off.” As of right now, Activision enacting a “quiet period” and is currently unable to discuss their plan to reorganize the company which is part of a legal requirement in the restructuring process. Source: Kotaku
February Update For Assassin’s Creed Odyssey Drops New Game Plus And More
It seems the hint in last week’s tea ended up being true as New Game Plus will be making its debut onto Assassin’s Creed Odyssey as part of the series of free content for February. Today's Tea: ) ) ) ( ) )_(___(____)____(___(_ New Game+ / _ is / | coming /____ | this / month / _______/ — Assassin's Creed (@assassinscreed) February 7, 2019 Just like New Game Plus for Assassin’s Creed: Origins, or any game really, players will finally be able to carry over their progress and replay the game once completing the game’s primary story campaign. And to make this more unique for Odyssey, players have the option to play the opposite character they’ve chosen from their first playthrough as part of a long awaited request from the game’s community. Like previous updates, a new story quest has been added bringing the protagonist to Corinthia. As either Kassandra or Alexis assist a pair of brothers following their father’s death, a quarrel between the two siblings begin to form as you progress through the free story arc. Other additions that will be dropping is two new item packs which will be available for purchase on the game’s store: the Wild Boar & Deep Sea Hunter Character packs and the Deep Sea Hunter Naval pack. As well as more additions in the Mercenaries mode will be coming to bring a greater challenge to Ancient Greece. For those who already reached the level cap will now have a reason to keep grinding in New Game Plus as players can now progress up to level 99. Photo mode also received a handful of decorative frames to label your pictures when on your journey in the game’s world. A reminder that Season Pass holders will also be receiving the Assassin’s Creed III Remaster along with Assassin’s Creed III: Liberations on March 29th for Xbox One, PC, and PlayStation 4. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Source: Ubisoft
Paladins End Times Update Brings Cross-Play Excluding PlayStation 4
Following today’s announcement for Paladins‘ End Times Update for the free-to-play online title, Hi-Rez has officially released cross-play between all platforms, but not on PlayStation 4. Not only will players be able to play with one another, but cross-progression will also be available starting today. Along with the biggest news from today’s latest update, Hi-Rez has released a handful of fixes and tweaks to all playable champions. A new siege map titled Shattered Desert will also be available to kick off the new update. And event exclusive Omega skins will slo be added to the game for selected characters: Sha Lin Terminus Dredge Makoa As well as a new ‘Senpai Chest’ worth 100 crystals for players to purchase next time they log into the game. For the full list of patch notes and other game changing additions, click the link below. Previously Hi-Rez recently transitioned their battle royale title Realm Royale into its open beta for all players to test the waters coming up to the game’s official debut in the forthcoming future. Paladins is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Source: Hi-Rez Studios
The Division 2 Open Beta Comes The Start Of March
Fans of the upcoming post-apocalyptic sequel based off the world created by Tom Clancy recently just got a taste of what is The Division 2 with the exclusive closed beta. Users who pre-ordered the game instantly had access to the games play test. In result, from the populated closed beta for the upcoming action adventure, Ubisoft revealed that all players will be able to join in on the new title with an open beta to be on the way. Unlike the long awaited closed beta, players won’t have to be too patient as the inclusive playtest will be going live the first week of March. The open beta will kick off on Friday March 1st until Monday March 4th for everyone to get a feel for what the 2015 successor has in store this time around on all listed platforms. On top of the two main missions you and others can play together, players will also have an handful of side objectives to complete, one even being to intercept the Declaration of Independence in the remains of the U.S. capital. The Division 2 is set to release on March 15, 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Source: Ubisoft
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Studio Acquired By THQ Nordic
The trend for THQ Nordic’s mass acquirings doesn’t seem to let up as the Austrian-based publisher announced the next studio to have purchased recently. Nordic’s parent company Koch Media made a press release announcing the latest acquiring being Kingdom Come: Deliverances developer Warhorse Studios. Today not only marks the game’s studio acquisition, but also is the one year of the game officially releasing. Since the game’s release a year ago in 2018, Deliverance has sold over two million copies throughout all major platforms. Warhorse Studios CEO Martin Fryvaldsky made a statement on his studio joining the THQ cast of developers: “Becoming part of THQ Nordic family is an important milestone for our studio,“ Fryvaldsky says. “We believe that backing by THQ Nordic and Koch Media will give us an extra push in our mission to bring exciting games to our customers and extend the frontiers of the gaming industry,” Amid the excitement that Warhorse currently is on joining Nordic, THQ Nordic CEO Lars Wingefors shares some of his insight on the recent acquisition. “Warhorse Studios is one of the leading independent studios in Europe and I am proud to welcome them to the THQ Nordic group“ In 2018 alone, THQ Nordic made many acquisitions on well-known & beloved studios such as Goat Simulator’s Coffee Stain Studios and Deep Rock Galactic’s Bugbear Entertainment. As well as fan-favorite properties like Time Splitters and Alone in the Dark. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Source: Koch Media
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice coming to Switch this Spring
Ninja Theory’s award-winning title Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice will be making it’s way to the Nintendo Switch eShop this Spring. This came as a nice surprise considering Ninja Theory was recently acquired by Microsoft Studios(now known as Xbox Game Studios). Although Hellblade was developed before the purchase, it still shows that Microsoft is willing to allow the developer to put it’s past work on all platforms. Hellblade takes place in the Viking ages and has you playing as Senua, a warrior who experiences psychosis. The title was created with help from neuroscientists and actual people who suffer from psychosis and is meant to break the stigma surrounding it. Ninja Theory were very talented indie developers best known for their work on Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, and DmC: Devil May Cry. As of now, they employ over 100 employees under the Microsoft banner. With recent news suggesting more Xbox Live integration is on the way for Switch, it only makes us wonder what other surprises Nintendo and Microsoft could bring to the table together. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is currently available on PS4 and Xbox One, with the Switch port slated for sometime in Spring of this year.
Tetris 99 available now as free Switch Online bonus
A new Tetris game was dropped today, although this one is a take on the popular Battle Royale genre. You might ask how that works with a puzzle game, but it actually translates pretty well to the genre. Tetris 99 pits you against 98 other players in a battle to become the last player standing. You can send garbage blocks to competing players to try and gain the advantage, although they can also send them to you. In addition, they plan to run special online events in the future. Tetris 99 is available right now as a free bonus for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers. No word on whether or not it will ever become a paid title for non subscribers. https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/tetris-99-switch
