Gamedev News Digest. Fourth Week of July

Contents:

• Ubisoft is accused of toxicity again
• And Activision Blizzard is accused of sexual assault
• Tencent is buying up everything that moves
• Nintendo Switch could become the best-selling console in the world
• What's up with Steam Deck?
• New World breaks RTX 3090
• EA presented the Dead Space remake on EA Play
• Pokemon mania continues in Pokemon Unite
• Details about Project 007 were found in the job descriptions.
• Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's X-Defiant.

Ubisoft is again accused of toxicity

The publisher of the popular Assassin's Creed and Far Cry franchises continues to ignore the problems of a toxic atmosphere within the company. Once again, the situation has escalated, and the case has reached court. The lawsuit was filed by the French trade union Solidaires Informatique and two former Ubisoft employees. Toxicity in the work environment remains a serious problem that requires immediate attention and solutions from the company's management.

Half of the company's management, including CEO Yves Guillemot, are accused of institutional abuses, including harassment, abuse, and psychological pressure. Solidaires Informatique names Guillemot as the main culprit, claiming that, as the head of a toxic company, he has failed to take the necessary steps to address these problems.

The company is experiencing an exodus of talented developers, which is causing serious concerns. This week, Assassin's Creed series art director Raphaël Lacoste left the company and joined Haven Entertainment Studios. Most employees accuse the studio's founder, Jade Raymond, of being too lax in her management, which may explain Lacoste's desire to find a more relaxed working environment. Meanwhile, Ubisoft saw a 17% drop in sales in the first quarter of 2021, which also highlights the company's ongoing problems.

And Activision Blizzard - in sexual violence

The California Department of Fair Employment and Housing has filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard for violating civil rights and equal pay laws for women. The investigation uncovered serious violations indicating discriminatory practices within the company. The situation at Activision Blizzard demonstrates the need to uphold standards of equality and fairness in the workplace, a hot topic in labor law and corporate social responsibility.

The document details the "bro" culture at the company, which contributed to an unfavorable environment for women, where instances of harassment and discrimination occurred. Female employees face inappropriate jokes from colleagues, while their career advancement opportunities are significantly limited compared to men.

The lawsuit cites the suicide of one female employee, which was allegedly triggered by harassment from a colleague during a business trip. This incident highlights the serious problems with workplace harassment and the need to protect employees from such behavior.

Representatives of Activision Blizzard continue to deny the allegations, maintaining that the company's corporate culture is healthy. They insist that career advancement to top management does not depend on the gender of employees.

Tencent buys up everything that moves

The Chinese gaming holding company continues to actively acquire promising companies in the video game market. This week, it was announced that Sumo Group, a studio known for developing games such as Sackboy: A Big Adventure for Sony and Crackdown 3 for Microsoft, has joined its portfolio. Tencent offered $1.27 billion for Sumo Group, and the studio's management responded positively to this offer. This acquisition underscores Tencent's growing strategy to expand its influence in the gaming industry and strengthen its position in the international market.

Tencent, which is actively developing in the game development industry, acquired a controlling stake in Stunlock Studios, known for such projects as Bloodline Champions, Dead Island: Epidemic, and Battlerite Royale. As part of its strategy, the company decided to open a new studio in Montreal and entrusted its management to its most successful subsidiary, TiMi. This move underscores Tencent's commitment to strengthening its position in the video game market and expanding its range of high-quality gaming titles.

Nintendo Switch could become the best-selling console in the world

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Valve has announced a competition to create the best skin for the game CS:GO. The authors whose works are deemed the most original and high-quality will receive cash rewards. Participation in the competition is open to everyone, providing a unique opportunity for talented designers to showcase their skills and creativity. This project not only supports the player community but also promotes the development of gaming art. Make sure your design meets the requirements and stands out from the crowd to increase your chances of success.

Despite the impressive announcement of Steam Deck, the Nintendo Switch continues to hold its ground in the market. Analysts predict that this console could become the best-selling console of all time. While it will take time to achieve this status, and the Switch is expected to reach this goal by 2025, it is still worth noting that success requires patience and perseverance. The Nintendo Switch, with its unique features and extensive library of games, continues to attract the attention of both new and loyal fans.

Sales of this book are rapidly approaching 90 million copies. It is expected to exceed 155 million by the deadline. All that remains is to wait the remaining four years to see the final results.

Nintendo has denied all accusations that it is profiting from Switch OLED sales. The company responded to recent journalists' claims that the new product's production cost is $40 below the recommended retail price. The Japanese giant confidently stated that these figures are false. Moreover, Nintendo noted that it does not plan to release a new console in the near future, except for the already announced OLED model.

What's going on with Steam Deck?

Valve realized it would not be able to meet the high demand for its new portable console and has postponed shipments to the second and third quarters of 2022. This decision was not unexpected, as the company's website experienced several outages and frequent errors when pre-orders opened, causing dissatisfaction among both real gamers and resellers.

Some lucky speculators who managed to pre-order before the shipping date change have already begun posting their offers on online auctions. For example, they are asking $5,000 for a pre-order of the 512 GB version. This indicates high demand for limited resources, which creates additional opportunities for resale and investment in new technology.

Gabe Newell has already given instructions to prepare Steam for the launch of Steam Deck. Big Picture, which was previously used to display digital store inventory on smart TVs, will be transformed into a dedicated interface for Steam Deck. While a release date for Big Picture has not yet been announced, Valve representatives have confirmed that it will be happening. This was announced on the Steam community forum.

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The main problem with Warcraft III: Reforged was the unclear understanding of the project in the early stages of development, as well as disagreements about whether the game was a remaster or a full-fledged remake. These uncertainties led to many other problems related to the scope of the project, its features, leadership, and communication within the team. All of these factors accumulated and worsened as release approached, ultimately impacting the quality of the final product and player reception.

Blizzard developers reached out for support, but bug fixing and other development-related issues prevented the more serious issues from being addressed.

An Activision Blizzard representative commented on the existing issues in Warcraft III: Reforged. The discussion addressed the main flaws and shortcomings players encountered after release. Activision Blizzard acknowledges that user expectations were not fully met and promises to work on fixing the bugs. The company also plans to implement updates that will improve the gameplay and address existing issues. Players can expect regular updates and patches aimed at improving the game's quality and fixing bugs, which will help restore the community's trust in Warcraft III: Reforged.

New World breaks RTX 3090

New World is the first successful game from Amazon. On June 20th, closed beta testing of the game on Steam began, with 190,000 players participating. This event attracted over 730,000 viewers on Twitch. The new MMORPG offers a unique gaming experience and is actively developing a player community, making it one of the most talked about new titles in the world of video games.

New World is causing serious issues for users of RTX 3090 and RTX 3080 graphics cards. According to reports on Reddit and official forums, the RTX 3090 may fail immediately after launching the game, entering the main menu, or after a few minutes of gameplay. RTX 3080 owners are also experiencing issues, most often manifesting as severe overheating. These situations are causing concern among gamers and highlight the need to carefully consider system requirements and hardware compatibility.

An investigation has revealed that this annoying issue occurs exclusively on EVGA graphics cards. Many gamers faced with this situation have begun actively submitting refund requests. At the same time, Amazon has not commented on the matter, leaving users in the dark about what to do next.

EA presented the Dead Space remake at EA Play

On June 22, Electronic Arts held its annual EA Play Live conference, where it unveiled a number of significant announcements. Gamers can rejoice, as EA announced a remake of the iconic Dead Space franchise. Motive Studios will be developing the game, promising modern graphics, improved audio, and updated controls. The remake will be available exclusively on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game's release date will be announced soon.

At the EA Play event, important announcements were made, including the launch of the Battlefield Portal platform, details on the second season of Knockout City, the new Rebirth season for Apex Legends, the racing arcade game GRID Legends, and the Country Living expansion pack for The Sims 4. These updates promise to diversify the gameplay and attract the attention of both new and experienced players. Each announcement reflects EA's commitment to innovation and creating unique gaming experiences for its audience.

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Pokemonomania continues in Pokemon Unite

Pokemon Unite has finally arrived on Nintendo Switch. This mobile Pokemon MOBA offers players the chance to enjoy the game with the free hero Zeraora, who will be available on August 31st. The game combines elements of strategy and teamwork, making it appealing to fans of both Pokemon and the MOBA genre.

Mobile gamers will soon join Nintendo Switch owners. In September, the game will be available on iOS and Android with full cross-play support. This will allow players, regardless of the device they are using, to battle each other, for example, pitting Pikachu against Slowpoke.

With the first season, the game will introduce a battle pass, offering improved rewards and unique character skins. This will create an opportunity for experienced players to show off their rare collections obtained at the start of the game to newcomers. A variety of rewards and exclusive style elements make the Battle Pass attractive to all players looking to stand out and gain additional advantages in gameplay.

Details about Project 007 were found in the job descriptions.

Developer IO Interactive remains silent about its James Bond game, but enthusiasts are not remaining idle. They conducted their own investigation and discovered interesting details about Project 007 in the studio's job descriptions. These findings provide insight into the game's capabilities and concept, which is piquing interest among fans of the series. We can expect more details about the project soon, which promises to be a significant addition to the James Bond universe.

This is a third-person stealth action game that offers a unique gaming experience. The game features open-world narrative elements, allowing players to explore and interact with the environment. The storyline will evolve depending on the player's actions, creating a unique experience. Players will be able to enjoy a variety of combat mechanics, including both shooting and close-quarters combat. A new animation system will add dynamism and realism to the gameplay. In addition, built-in AI technology will provide interesting challenges and make each opponent unique.

We look forward to the story of the rise of the legendary agent 007.

Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's XDefiant

The publisher continues to develop new games in the Tom Clancy’s universe, despite external problems. This week, a new product was presented – a free-to-play multiplayer arena first-person shooter Tom Clancy’s XDefiant. One of the key features of the game will be the faction system, which will add variety to the gameplay. At launch, users will have four factions available: “Wolves”, focused on the role of tanks; “Outcasts”, providing healing; “Purifiers”, performing the functions of assault; and “Echelon”, specializing in support. XDefiant promises dynamic gameplay and unique mechanics, which makes it an attractive choice for fans of shooters and the Tom Clancy’s universe.

Gamers will be able to enjoy competitive 6v6 arenas, as well as a variety of game modes. Shooting enthusiasts won't experience boredom as the game offers a wide selection of uniquely designed maps. Each map is designed to provide players with new tactical options and interesting battle scenarios.

The beta test for the new game will begin on August 5th. Residents of the US and Canada will be the first to experience it in action. The official release is planned for the following platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series.