Gamedev News Digest. Last Week of September

Contents:

• Netflix bought a game studio
• Activision Blizzard pays off charges
• Tim Sweeney against NFTs
• Microsoft Store is open to competitors
• Bluepoint Games became an internal studio of Sony
• First tests of Steam Deck
• Schrödinger's Switch Pro
• Dolby Vision in Xbox Series
• eFootball's terrible start 2022
• Wonderful release of New World

Netflix bought a game studio

The main sponsor of our procrastination will take its first step into the gaming industry by acquiring Night School Studio, famous for its games Oxenfree and Afterparty. This event opens new horizons for development and attracts attention to the studio's unique projects. Interest in Night School Studio's games is only growing, and this acquisition underscores its strategic approach to expanding its portfolio in the video game industry.

The studio currently employs 21 people. However, thanks to the financial resources of Netflix, the number of employees will increase. At the same time, the deal with the streaming service will not affect Night School's current plans to develop Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, the release of which was postponed to 2022. It is important to note that the partnership with Netflix opens new horizons for the studio, allowing it to implement ambitious projects and expand its team of game development professionals.

Recently, it was announced that Netflix acquired Night School Studio. In this context, Mike Verdu, head of gaming at Netflix, announced that the games offered to users will not contain microtransactions or ads. This decision is based on the fact that subscribers have already paid for access to the content through their subscription. Thus, Netflix aims to provide users with a pure and uninterrupted gaming experience without additional financial costs.

Activision Blizzard pays off charges

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission intervened in Activision Blizzard's case, resulting in a compensation award to employees who suffered discrimination. The total amount of compensation will be $18 million. This decision underscores the importance of upholding the principles of equality and protecting workers' rights in the gaming industry. Activision Blizzard will continue to work to improve its corporate culture and eliminate discrimination in the workplace.

Representatives of the major union, Communications Workers of America, expressed dissatisfaction with recent events, noting that the proposed compensation represents only 0.03% of Activision Blizzard's market capitalization, which is $72 billion. The union believes that US authorities should impose a more significant fine on Bobby Kotick's company, given the scale and seriousness of the situation.

The president of Activision Blizzard maintains that labor relations at the company are in order, and that the widely discussed cases of discrimination are isolated incidents. Despite this, public opinion and numerous accusations continue to raise questions about the corporate culture and working conditions at the company.

Tim Sweeney vs. NFT

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Over 700,000.

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On the day of the New World game's release, thousands of players were simultaneously participating. This multiplayer online game attracted attention due to its exciting mechanics, rich world, and opportunities for interaction between players. From the moment the server launched, players could immerse themselves in a unique atmosphere, exploring new locations, completing quests, and battling opponents. The high level of interest has generated significant player traffic, marking a significant milestone for the gaming community. New World offers players the opportunity to not only battle but also build their own settlements, making it even more appealing to fans of the MMORPG genre.

The CEO of Epic Games expressed his preference for distancing himself from NFT technology on Twitter.

Sweeney claims that the number of NFT scams currently outnumbers genuinely interesting tech projects. He emphasizes that he sees no practical value in owning non-fungible tokens. He cites movies on Amazon Prime Video and Fortnite skins as examples, which he can own without using NFTs. This raises questions about the actual utility and functionality of NFTs in modern digital ecosystems.

Tim Sweeney's rhetoric suggests that non-fungible items in Fortnite and NFT technology on the Epic Games Store are not expected in the near future. This indicates a possible change in the company's strategies regarding digital assets and their integration into the gaming ecosystem. Users can look forward to other aspects of Fortnite and the Epic Games Store that will shape the future of these platforms.

Microsoft Store is open to competitors

Microsoft has announced the ability for third-party companies to host their stores on its platform. Amazon and Epic Games will be pioneering this initiative. This innovation opens new horizons for developers and users, offering a wider selection of content and services. Cooperation with major market players will allow Microsoft to strengthen its position and improve the user experience in its store.

To enhance its image, the corporation emphasizes that it will not charge additional commissions to competitors' stores. This statement is especially significant against the backdrop of recent legal proceedings, which highlight the importance of transparency and fair competition in business. This approach can help build trust with partners and customers, as well as improve the company's reputation in the market.

With the release of Windows 11 and the improvements to the Microsoft Store, integrations will become more useful for users. However, currently, it is easier to download the Epic Games Store (EGS) client and launch it directly from the desktop. This allows you to avoid unnecessary complications and focus on your favorite games without additional steps.

Bluepoint Games has become an internal Sony studio

The news of Bluepoint Games joining PS Studios, which appeared in July, turned out to be not entirely wrong, but rather premature.

After many years of successful collaboration with Sony, which resulted in the creation of high-quality remakes of Demon’s Souls and Shadow of the Colossus, a team of 70 experienced developers has taken their place among such legendary studios as Naughty Dog, Santa Monica, and Insomniac. These achievements confirm the high level of professionalism and creativity of the team, which makes it a valuable partner for PlayStation and a guarantee of high-quality gaming content.

Currently, Bluepoint is actively developing its own original game, abandoning the usual practice of creating remasters and reimaginings of famous projects. Creating new game franchises is associated with greater risks compared to using proven concepts, so the support of financial resources from Sony could prove very beneficial for the team. This will not only strengthen Bluepoint's market position but also bring fresh ideas to the gaming industry, attracting the attention of both old and new fans.

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I want to address my beloved fandom and inform you that the delay in the release of Ragnarok was my fault. In August 2019, I underwent back, hip, and knee surgery, which left me unable to move. The team waited until my rehabilitation was complete to continue working on the project.

First Steam Deck Tests

Previously, you could only find general opinions about Valve's portable console online, accompanied by vague descriptions such as "fast," "comfortable," and "cool." However, thanks to the efforts of Chinese specialists, we now have more detailed tests and specific data on the device's performance and features.

The Steam Deck demonstrated impressive results in games: Shadow of the Tomb Raider launched at 30 FPS at maximum settings, Doom 2016 showed 60 FPS at medium settings, and Dota 2 reached 80 FPS at low settings. As expected, Cyberpunk 2077 created the greatest difficulties for the console, where the frame rate fluctuated between 20 FPS and 30 FPS at high settings.

During three hours of testing, the temperature of the Steam Deck did not exceed 42.6 degrees, and the battery level dropped from 100% to 46%. However, it is worth noting that the obtained data on temperature and power consumption are approximate, since the tests were conducted on a pre-production sample of the device.

Schrödinger's Switch Pro

Bloomberg journalists confidently assert that the OLED version of the Nintendo Switch console is not the final model in the company's line of portable devices.

According to the publication, citing sources from 11 gaming companies, developers have already received devkits for an improved version of the Nintendo Switch console that supports 4K. Anonymous sources also reported that the release of the new portable console could take place in the second half of next year. However, it is possible that Nintendo may cancel these plans, as the company frequently revises its hardware developments.

Nintendo actively denies the information published by Bloomberg, stating that it has no plans to release new versions of the Switch console. The company emphasizes that rumors about possible devkits for an improved version, known as the "proshka", are untrue. This announcement confirms Nintendo's commitment to the current generation of Switch and removes uncertainty around future updates.

Dolby Vision in Xbox Series

The enhanced Dolby Vision image processing algorithm is now available to all Microsoft console owners. This intelligent enhancer delivers significantly greater color depth and contrast than traditional HDR. With Dolby Vision, users can enjoy more realistic and vibrant images, making gameplay even more immersive.

At launch and in the coming months, over 100 games will support the new technology. In the future, it will be integrated into Xbox Series X titles without requiring additional effort from developers.

Experience the high-quality Dolby Vision imagery and immersive Dolby Atmos sound in games such as Psychonauts 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Borderlands 3, Gears 5, Metro Exodus, and many others. These technologies significantly enhance the gaming experience, creating vibrant visuals and realistic audio, making the gameplay more immersive and engaging.

This Week in Video: Highlights and Highlights

In this section, we present the videos of the week that stand out from the crowd. We've collected the most interesting and important videos to help you stay up-to-date on the latest news and trends. From cutting-edge reports to compelling stories, we've got everything you need to keep up. Stay tuned and don't miss the week's highlights in our video review.

Alan Wake Remastered's 4K gameplay offers an immersive experience that allows players to immerse themselves in the game on a new level. High 4K resolution delivers incredibly detailed graphics, making every scene more realistic and lifelike. Players will enjoy improved environmental textures, lighting effects, and sharper characters. Alan Wake Remastered not only updates the visuals but also preserves the original storyline, which attracts fans and new players alike. Immersion in the game's dark world is even more intense thanks to the high-quality visuals, making Alan Wake Remastered a must-have for all fans of high-quality video games.

A gameplay trailer for God of War: Ragnarok with a Russian localization has been released for fans of the series. In this trailer, players can see exciting gameplay moments, as well as get acquainted with the new Russian localization. God of War: Ragnarok promises exciting adventures, interesting characters, and improved combat mechanics. The game is expected to offer players a unique experience in exploring mythology and developing the story. Details about the game's gameplay elements and features will be available soon. Don't miss the opportunity to enjoy this outstanding game with high-quality Russian voiceover.

Terrible start to eFootball 2022

The release of Konami's free-to-play reboot of the popular football series, eFootball 2022, was a source of disappointment for many fans. The project failed to live up to user expectations and only strengthened FIFA's position as the leader in the interactive football market. As a result, despite Konami's efforts to revive interest in its game, FIFA remains a monopoly in the football simulation segment.

On Steam, the game has hit a record low, receiving 92% negative reviews. The main criticism concerns the project's technology, which, after switching to the Unreal Engine, failed to live up to expectations. Instead of the promised next-generation graphics, it offers only a poor port from mobile platforms. eFootball demonstrates poor performance even on powerful computers and modern consoles, frequently freezing, losing connection, and exhibiting numerous amusing bugs. Screenshots of such errors can be used as the basis for memes.

Many users were disappointed by the limited content in the free-to-play launch version of the game. However, this isn't such a critical issue for the first version. It's important to note that with a launch like this, additional content may be unnecessary.

A wonderful release of New World

The launch of the MMO New World was a surprise for Amazon's gaming division, demonstrating results opposite to those of Konami's soccer series. These disappointing results negatively impacted the game's reception and its future, which came as a surprise to many players and analysts.

New World launched with impressive results, reaching 700,000 concurrent players on its first day and receiving 70% positive reviews on Steam. However, despite its success, the servers couldn't handle the load, turning the game into a "queue simulator." As a result, reviews of New World became mixed, and users began actively expressing dissatisfaction.

Despite endless queues and reports of damaged video cards, player interest in the new MMO New World remains strong. The online game continues to gain popularity, attracting more and more users. The issue with hardware overheating has been observed since the alpha version, but the developers assure that they are working on optimizing the game. They promise to lower hardware requirements and limit the frame rate in the start menu, which should improve the gaming experience.

China is introducing stricter game censorship measures, which could significantly impact localized versions of popular titles. LGBTQ+ activists are calling for the removal of transphobic elements from GTA V, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in gaming content. Xbox Series console supplies will not resume until 2022, which could limit the device's availability. The UK plans to regulate donations and loot boxes in video games, which could change developers' approaches to monetization. Learn more about the latest news and trends in game development.