Defining Duke, Episode 186 | The Games Industry Is Deteriorating

AI, layoffs, restructuring, and so on. Indeed, we're in the midst of interesting times for our beloved industry, but the clash between creator and executive has never been greater. Jobs are being lost to AI as we expected, but it's happening now. Not later, but now. Every publishing label is claiming that times are tough, but no adjustments on spending has been made. As the industry continues to bleed talent, who will want to join it? This subject matter is the very heartbeat of this episode as the Dukes collectively recognize the missteps being made. So, how do things get better? What can be done to improve an industry controlled by misers? The Dukes have thoughts and hopes such as unionization which is what Bethesda Game Studios has recently done. We also hear from our old friends again at the FTC on how Game Pass Standard is losing its value and what the source of Xbox's faltering marketing initiative is.

Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro/Patron Write-Ins

0:34:02 - Quiet: Level One kickstarter from Jonah Lobe

0:37:12 - Elder Scrolls VI has a strange leak

0:42:39 - Xbox working on cloud only version of Game Pass?

0:47:15 - MW3 officially on Game Pass

1:07:27 - Dungeons of Hinterberg dev needs your help

1:14:57 - Halo TV Show canceled by Paramount+

1:25:24 - Halo Combat Devolved gameplay

1:27:13 - Tales Of Xillia Remastered leaks

1:32:00 - Heihachi announced for Tekken 8 at EVO

1:41:12 - First Player Games has been acquired by Warner Bros Games

1:49:12 - Multiple games are skipping Xbox

1:56:11 - Shadows Of The Damned: Hella Remastered returns this Halloween

1:57:03 - Humble Games is undergoing restructuring

2:01:57 - What We’re Playing

2:25:40 - The FTC criticizes Game Pass changes

2:36:13 - Xbox's Marketing isn't blessed like Sony... Says Xbox...

2:52:37 - Bethesda Game Studios has unionized

2:58:15 - Game Pass Pick Of The Week