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505 Games' parent company lays off 30% of its workforce, says gamers really only want sequels so that's what it's going to make (www.pcgamer.com)

submitted 11 months ago by stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to c/games@lemmy.world

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Digital Bros joins the chorus of game companies putting people out of work in the name of "operational efficiency."

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[-] Catpurple@lemmy.blahaj.zone 46 points 11 months ago

Cheaper development budgets, no room for QA, rushed out the door; still sold for 70 bucks.

[-] Wes_Dev@lemmy.ml 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I feel old. Remember when a brand new, highly anticipated, AAA game was like $40?

Not they are $70, plus $20-40 for preorder deluxe directors cut extra content bonus versions. Plus $10-30 for "season passes". Plus online subscription services for the game itself, the online service the game runs on, or both. Oh, and don't forget ad placement in the game. A giant billboard for house insurance in every cutscene. Drink your monster energy to refill your sprint meter...

That doesn't include greedy mobile games that require vast amounts of money to remove artificial restriction, such as daily energy meters to act. Or cosmetic DLC that costs half the price of the game itself.

And don't even get me start on the constant tracking, spying, or actual malware some publishers implement in their games.