This week in gaming: Resident Evil mobile ports require online access, Nintendo’s content rules stir controversy, and Hopoo Games cancels Snail as founders join Valve. Here’s the latest.
Resident Evil Mobile Ports Now Require Online Connection, Sparking Backlash
Capcom’s update requiring an internet connection to start Resident Evil mobile ports on iOS has sparked backlash, with some gamers seeking refunds. Critics argue the change limits the portability of mobile gaming.
Resident Evil requires internet | Source: Reddit
New Nintendo Guidelines Restrict Unedited Gameplay Content for Creators
Nintendo’s updated content guidelines prohibit unedited gameplay footage and allow the removal of offensive content. This has led to backlash, with critics accusing Nintendo of overstepping by requiring creators to add “creative input.”
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Beta ‘Unplayable’ on PC Due to Multiple Bugs
The Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 beta faced backlash due to crashes, restart loops, and unjustified bans. Despite these issues, many players rated the beta positively, with scores averaging between 6.5 and 8, ahead of the game’s October 25th release.
Seems like many players have been given "temporary" bans in Call of Duty after playing the Black Ops 6 beta, including pro players, despite the players not cheating.
Shadow ban system in Call of Duty has always been problematic, and Activision still refuses to talk about it. pic.twitter.com/4SMVf9g1Rp
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) September 1, 2024
Suicide Squad’s Poor Performance Leads to Layoffs at Rocksteady Studios
Rocksteady Studios has cut nearly half its QA team after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League underperformed, raising concerns about future game quality. The layoffs, coupled with a 41% drop in gaming revenue for Warner Bros. Discovery, highlight the impact of the game’s poor performance.
Another Round of Games Industry Layoffs: Tilting Point Cuts 20% Jobs
Tilting Point also has reduced its workforce by about 20%, laying off up to 90 staff members due to challenging industry conditions. Known for titles like Star Trek Timelines and SpongeBob: Krusty Cook Off, the company will support affected employees with job placement and establish an alumni network.
Layoffs Hit Ballistic Moon Team as Game Industry Faces Job Cuts
Ballistic Moon has laid off several staff members across various departments, including developers, programmers, and animators, amid widespread industry cutbacks. Despite the cuts, the Until Dawn remake is set for release on October 4th.
Risk of Rain Founders Cancel Project “Snail” as They Join Valve
Hopoo Games is joining Valve, leading to the cancellation of their project Snail. Co-founders Duncan Drummond and Paul Morse, along with key staff, are making the move, but the projects they will work on at Valve remain unknown.
Today, we have an exciting update: Duncan and Paul, alongside many other talented members at Hopoo Games, will now be working on game development directly at @valvesoftware !
— Hopoo Games (@hopoogames) September 3, 2024
Concord Pulled From Sale Just Two Weeks After Release
Firewalk Studios was set to pull their 5v5 shooter Concord from sale and take it offline on September 6 due to a disappointing launch. The game, which had sold about 25,000 copies since its August 23 release, was to be refunded to all purchasers, with details varying by platform.
Black Myth: Wukong Xbox Delay Not Due to Technical Issues
Microsoft confirmed that the release of Black Myth: Wukong on Xbox is due to external platform and developer deals, not technical issues with Xbox hardware. The postponement is likely related to exclusivity agreements with other platforms, though details remain unconfirmed.
Ubisoft Stock Drops 10% After Star Wars Outlaws Release
Ubisoft’s shares have dropped to a decade-low of €15.34 following the weak launch of Star Wars Outlaws and ongoing issues with XDefiant. This decline, contributing to a 30% drop in stock value this year, has reduced the company’s market cap to €1.97 billion.
Amazon Reveals September Prime Gaming Lineup
Amazon Prime Gaming offers 28 free games in September 2024, including Borderlands 2 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. New titles, such as GreedFall: Gold Edition and Eternights, will be released every Thursday, with upcoming releases like Moonlighter, Golfie, and Cursed to Golf.
Free Prime Gaming titles for September (20+ titles) https://t.co/KU6MbkYzY0
Today:
-Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition (GOG)
-LEGO The Lord of the Rings (GOG)
-Borderlands 2 (EGS)
-Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (EGS)
-GreedFall: Gold Edition (GOG)… pic.twitter.com/9uT9mrXnHX— Wario64 (@Wario64) September 5, 2024
Sony Seemingly Reveals PS5 Pro Design in 30th Anniversary Poster
Sony may have accidentally revealed the PS5 Pro’s design in its 30th anniversary announcement. The poster shows the PS5 Pro with three stripes on the faceplate, unlike the single stripe on the PS5 Slim. The Pro, anticipated later this year, is expected to be thicker and include significant upgrades.