GameMaker says AI coding is inevitable, Sony clarifies DRM confusion, and how video games are helping Rikers inmates - Patch Notes #50
How many fingers does a monkey's paw have again? Because those digits won't stop curling. It feels like this is the first week in a long time where I haven't reported on multiple game industry layoffs (just the one studio closure this time around).
Instead, I've been writing about how 'vibe coding' is becoming increasingly expensive (thanks, GitHub) but is also apparently an inevitability we must simply accept (thanks, GameMaker).
In other news, an interview I conducted with Ustwo CEO Maria Sayans during London Games Festival went somewhat viral after she suggested the idea of long-term job security has become a "romantic" notion and that contractors are becoming increasingly vital. It's a point I suspect many studio bosses might agree with, but one that was made using some rather questionable phrasing.
Apropos of nothing, I am once again tapping The Sign.
Elsewhere, Xbox hardware revenue is still plummeting faster than a striker who felt a whisper of contact in the box, although monthly active Xbox users reached record numbers during Q3. Who that metric actually covers, mind, is anybody's guess.
A Virtual Escape for Rikers Inmatesvia The New York Times // "Video games may seem inconsequential in a place with a reputation for dangerous conditions and inhumane treatment," writes reporter Nicole Carpenter in this fascinating piece, which delves into the impact video games are having on some inmates at one of America's most notorious jails. If you only read one story this week, make it this one.
'We've been a little bit too romantic:' Ustwo CEO says lowering development costs is now paramountvia Game Developer // You might have seen out interview with Ustwo boss Maria Sayans doing the rounds this week, largely because of her extremely candid comments about the studio having perhaps been "a little bit too romantic" about the idea of long-term job security with the video game industry in crisis. The full interview is well worth your time (in my humble opinion).
GameMaker incorporates Claude Code to enable AI-assisted workflowsvia Game Developer // You might have missed it, but GameMaker is leaning into the world of 'vibe coding' by adding support for Claude Code. The company said AI-assisted coding is basically here to stay and so it must give users "who might benefit from AI" the option to do precisely that.
Sony clarifies recent PlayStation DRM updatevia Game File // After a few days of wild speculation and confusion, Sony confirmed that a recent DRM tweak won't require users to complete an online check-in every month to play digital titles offline. Instead, the company said the new system will only demand a single online check before functioning as a perpetual license. Crisis averted?
'The company as a whole no longer exists:' GreedFall developer Spiders confirms closurevia Game Developer // Parisian studio Spiders has closed its doors after parent company Nacon filed for insolvency earlier this year. In a brief note on Facebook, the company—which employed over 90 people according to its website—said it has been liquidated.
Xbox delivers record monthly active users, but hardware revenue is still in declinevia Game Developer // Microsoft released its financials and it's a case of 'as you were' for the company's video game division. Xbox hardware revenue fell by 33 percent year-over-year, while Xbox content and services revenue declined by 5 percent over the same period. Work to do for new division boss Asha Sharma.
Landfall and Aggro Crab team up for Make-a-Wish game bundlevia digiphile // The studios behind Peak have joined forces (once again) to raise money for Make-a-Wish. The pair are offering folks the chance to nab a bunch of their games on the cheap in support of the children's charity. Be sure to check out the bundle on digiphile.
GitHub Copilot is pivoting to usage-based billing after becoming unsustainablevia Game Developer // AI coding tool GitHub Copilot has been forced to switch to a usage-based billing model after realizing that its current premium request model is "no longer sustainable." The company said the switch isn't a price hike in disguise, but conceded some power users will see an increase in costs. Who knew generative AI is wildly expensive? That hasn't been widely publicized.
