The second-ever episode of the Dead Game Podcast is here. This week I’m joined by The Verge’s Ash Parrish and Kotaku’s Zack Zwiezen to discuss an already terrible year for the gaming industry after shockingly deep cuts across Activision Blizzard which already followed mass layoffs at Riot Games and other companies. Zwiezen has been keeping track of them all in a running list right here. Over 5,000 game makers have already been laid off in 2024.
We also offer a brief hype check on Avowed and Indiana Jones from the recent Xbox Developer Direct showcase and the new trailer for Nintendo Switch’s Princess Peach: Showtime! before breaking down the circus around “Pokémon with guns,” AKA Palworld, and whether it’s actually any good or not.
You can send questions, comments, feedback, hate mail, and suggestions for future guests to deadgame@substack.com.
The Dead Game Podcast is produced in association with the Dead Game newsletter, a weekly roundup of gaming news, analysis, and oddities published over at deadgame.substack.com. Subscribe today!
Musical intro: "Jaza Balade" by Birocratic and G-Mills (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
Outro: "T-Me We-Me" by Birocratic and G-Mills (http://birocratic.lnk.to/allYL)
The Price Of Video Game Layoffs After Xbox Axes 1,900 Staff