Staff at Ubisoft Barcelona, co-developers of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, have gone on strike over the company's "below reasonable standard" severance pay offer, following the announcement of up to 51 job eliminations. The strike highlights the contrast between the game's commercial success—selling 2 million copies in 24 hours—and the treatment of its developers. Employees are fighting to secure fair severance pay and potentially save some roles.
Paddle Paddle Paddle, a praised Steam game, faces a 21% refund rate despite its 90% Very Positive reviews, prompting developer Zoroarts to urge a change in Steam's refund policy. The game's short playtime of ~4 hours is cited as the primary reason for refunds, sparking debate on the policy's impact on smaller experiences. Zoroarts argues the policy punishes developers of shorter games.
Sony has reportedly introduced stricter guidelines for PlayStation games, aiming to reduce the presence of shovelware titles on its platforms. This move is expected to impact developers and players alike, potentially leading to a more curated gaming experience on PlayStation consoles. The new guidelines are seen as a response to the growing concern over low-quality games flooding digital stores.
The developers behind the long-awaited survival game, boasting an impressive 1.2 million Steam wishlists, have issued a caution to potential players, advising them to ensure the game aligns with their expectations before diving in, as anticipation can escalate rapidly. This move comes as the community eagerly awaits the game's release. The warning highlights the challenges of meeting lofty player expectations.
In a bizarre turn of events, Game Storms Steam unexpectedly dominated Steam's charts after being mistakenly distributed for free. The sudden surge in popularity has now led the developers to announce the game's impending removal from the store. Players who claimed the game during the error period are advised to enjoy it while they can.
Valve's Gabe Newell has publicly commented on accusations that Steam operates as a monopoly in the digital game distribution market. Newell's response comes amid increasing industry scrutiny and debates over platform fees and developer treatment. The comments shed light on Valve's stance but leave some questions unanswered for developers and consumers alike.
A new antitrust lawsuit accuses Valve of abusing its market dominance by enforcing price parity on Steam, impacting developers like Ubisoft and Warner Bros. Emails reveal Valve threatened to delist games for cheaper alternatives elsewhere. The lawsuit sheds light on Valve's aggressive tactics to maintain pricing control.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 breaks from the series' recent trend of excessive crossover skins, promising a more authentic experience. The game's developers have explicitly ruled out "clowny" skins, citing a desire to "stay true to Modern Warfare." This shift comes after fan backlash against previous titles' numerous and often absurd crossovers.
