It’s not often the days match up when we can do a show on Halloween, but here we are. And we don’t really devote it to scary games (what a novel idea that would have been), but nonetheless, it’s scary news indeed.
Because it’s mostly AI and job losses. You’ve got Microsoft cutting 60,000 people, Epic practically forcing their developers to use AI in both coding and art (Microsoft stepping a bit in that direction as well with Labs), Sucker Punch letting people go (after having the most successful selling game of last year), and the list goes on.
Companies can’t make the big headline games anymore. I mean, what we’re currently getting were things started long before it became difficult. GTA 6 has been in development for MANY years as has the games we’ll get next year. We won’t see the results of how this is affecting our hobby until a few years from now, even though we can see hints of it from studio closures and job losses, but also from the rise of AI implementation – and that will also have an effect as far as reception and, possibly, sales.
It’s going to get worse before it gets better. Likely a slogan for every year to come for the next few years or more. Because whatever you think it is now, it’ll be worse a year from now. Regardless of when you read this.
Unless that AI bubble bursts. And even then, I’m not sure what will happen.
But I bet we won’t have a Splinter Cell even at that point. Ubisoft…it’s been 4,822 days since a new Splinter Cell game (non-animated series or guest spot in another game franchise, remake, BBC radio drama, or VR exclusive) was released.
Also, there’s been 12,242 job losses in the gaming industry since January 1, 2026.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS