Mass Effect fans have mobilized a boycott of all EA products and services following the publisher's decision to shut down BioWare and cancel the next Mass Effect game. A petition demanding EA sell the franchise IP or transfer development to another studio has surpassed 76,500 signatures, while a leaked trailer for the canceled project has intensified community outrage.
Fired Rockstar developers and the IWGB Game Workers Branch are asking fans to skip a GTA 6 boycott and instead buy T-shirts to fund their legal fight against the studio. The final hearing in Glasgow begins next month as 34 dismissed workers challenge their terminations, which they say were retaliation for union organizing while Rockstar claims they leaked confidential GTA 6 information.
Warner Bros. sparked widespread outrage by using an AI-generated dog podcast to promote The End of Oak Street, a sci-fi film starring Ewan McGregor and Anne Hathaway. Viewers across social media have called the marketing tactic cheap and embarrassing, with many pledging to boycott the August 14 release.
Microsoft has restructured its Israeli office after an internal investigation into ethical violations, including the use of its cloud technology by the Israeli military. The move follows calls to boycott Xbox and other Microsoft subsidiaries. The company's Xbox brand is now under scrutiny as it prepares to relaunch under new leadership.
Microsoft Israel's general manager was removed amid an investigation into potential use of Azure technology to spy on Palestinians. The probe follows revelations that Microsoft's cloud services might have aided the Israel Defense Forces in targeting operations in Gaza. Xbox, in particular, faces an ongoing BDS boycott calling for divestment from Israel.
Unity Technologies faces significant backlash from hundreds of game developers over its new game engine licensing model. Find out more about the protest and its implications.
