Defining Duke, Episode 161 | MASSIVE Layoffs Hit Xbox - What's Next?
Added 2024-02-01 17:00:18 +0000 UTCThe moment we’ve long anticipated since Xbox began gobbling up various publishers has arrived and indicated a change in direction for the brand. On January 25th, a day after Microsoft was named the second $3 trillion company, Microsoft laid off 1,900 employees (accounting for 8% of their gaming division) across Activision, Blizzard, Xbox, and Bethesda. This pushes the industry as a whole beyond the 5,000 mark for total layoffs in 2024. For comparison, 2023 saw a total of 10,500 layoffs in its entire year and we’re halfway there already by January. Embracer continues to offload staff as their company falls through the floor, Riot just laid off 11% of its staff, SEGA 10% of its own, Unity another 1,800 people, and Twitch another 500. That’s just accounting for the mass contributors as over a dozen other companies have laid off hundreds of their own. From Toys For Bob all the way to the Call Of Duty workshop, many teams within Activision were impacted in a substantial way. With a new president atop Blizzard who once served as Call Of Duty's GM, Satya Nadella's blatant call for publishing games beyond Xbox, and a physical game division laid off within Xbox, the reality is clear that Xbox is no longer being gentle about the digital future they intend to charge toward. It was Phil Spencer who saved Xbox in its death throes during the Xbox One generation. Should we fear what Xbox will become?
Timestamps:
0:00:00 - Intro and Follow Up Questions
0:07:49 - Black Forest Game has laid around around 50 people
0:14:33 - MLB The Show 24 is coming to Game Pass March 19th
0:16:57 - PlayStation State of Play
0:57:04 - Palworld is officially the biggest third party launch in Game Pass history
1:03:41 - The Xbox 720 was real
1:12:42 - Limited Run Games on Xbox releases
1:17:34 - Shapeshifter Games is co-developing on an Xbox Game Studios project
1:22:22 - Assassin’s Creed Red rumored to be fully revealed in May 2024
1:25:10 - What We’re Playing
1:58:28 - Major layoffs at Microsoft Studios
3:00:32 - Games Pass is coming to the iPhone App Store
3:05:38 - Game Pass Pick of the Week
Comments
Great episode. Brad is a perfect fit with the dukes
Keith Mc Carthy
2024-02-06 12:50:26 +0000 UTCPerma brad let’s gooooo
Carter Evenson
2024-02-05 22:28:37 +0000 UTCSo, Palworld a game that was one of Steam’s most wishlisted games, one of Twitch’s top streamed games and received massive media buzz due to its Pokemon controversy. Was made popular due to its inclusion in Game Pass and not the other way around. I stand corrected I guess.
Link
2024-02-05 05:40:53 +0000 UTCThe exact sentiment brought up about people dropping their dreams of being in games is me. I'm glad I got to work at a studio once and fulfill that, but I sharply pivoted away in 2022 and just have a side project while I work on something more stable. Sad, but I'm just one of many many growing examples
David P
2024-02-04 21:09:47 +0000 UTCYou’re such a fanboy that you’re ignoring how bad Blizzard has been lately
My most hated race is the 400m dash
2024-02-04 02:03:15 +0000 UTCI really hope Brad can become a permanent member of this podcast. One of my favorite things about the ACG era of Duke was that it wasn't just another Xbox fan podcast, and was actually more of a gaming podcast with a general focus on Xbox. The last couple years have been fine, but nothing makes the podcast stand out. Brad is the truly agnostic voice this podcast needs.
Daniel
2024-02-03 15:22:28 +0000 UTCI really enjoy the show but it can be frustrating to hear “I’ve always said” so many times. I always wonder if it was actually said and I don’t have time to go back and look into it myself. I’d rather not hear about what was always said and just hear what your current take is. I assume it is consistent, I don’t need that to be reaffirmed.
Thursday-Lane
2024-02-02 16:54:39 +0000 UTCGonna need chapter and verse when you guys were clear-eyed about merger layoffs.
ByWatterson
2024-02-02 16:10:22 +0000 UTCNeed Brad as an official Duke! 😎
Diddy’s Dong Quest
2024-02-02 14:52:09 +0000 UTCGents. You are great with just you 2, and if that's how you want to carry on, perfect. But a third person really did bring an energy to the show and takes the burden off just you 2 to come up with talking points. Just saying ;) Peace Dukes x
Phil Walker
2024-02-02 14:39:18 +0000 UTCJust redundancies? Nah man micro$oft has a 18-month contract rule for their employees. They are replacing health insurance employees with contract workers. M$FT. Yes the rest of the industry is trying to settle from the pandemic but only one platform holder decided to spend 100 billion to not get anywhere but 3rd party. Even if Xbox is really just eliminating redundancies they should fire their Xbox staff instead of Activision Blizzard employees. Look at what they put out in comparison to Xbox studios. Perfect (help) Dark? Fallen from grace Forza and literally DROWNED Halo.
Otacon_Ocelot
2024-02-02 13:42:26 +0000 UTCYou guys just got me to order Tekken 8.
john spatta
2024-02-02 13:38:33 +0000 UTCPause on this thumbnail. You can't have beefy Lord Cog standing that close Matty. That's the danger zone. 🤣
Mysterious (xo) Narrator
2024-02-02 12:01:39 +0000 UTCXbox Civil War #TEAMyoungodin or #TEAMdominus
Justspartan
2024-02-02 09:34:42 +0000 UTCBrad is killing it once again. #DDBlizzard
NeO JD
2024-02-02 07:00:58 +0000 UTCChris “The Creator” And Matty “The Destroyer”
Tacoyaki
2024-02-02 02:08:14 +0000 UTCBrad needs to be the third DD co-host. He adds a lot to the conversation.
Thursday-Lane
2024-02-02 00:56:42 +0000 UTCI would not be upset if Brad joined DD more often. Maybe he could join permanently? You three work well together. Thanks for a great episode!
PsychCoffee
2024-02-01 23:51:59 +0000 UTCYes, please!
Matthew Cooper
2024-02-01 23:23:45 +0000 UTCI don't consume much gaming related content outside of LSM, so I kindly disagree with this. I'm sure there are a lot of podcasts that talk about the same things, so I just pick the best podcast network and go with it. Just because the Dukes won't be first to talk about something doesn't mean they should gloss over it..
Matthew Cooper
2024-02-01 23:22:17 +0000 UTCGgwp
Joshua
2024-02-01 22:50:53 +0000 UTCBrad should be on DD every week. Like Sacred Symbols, 3 people make for a more interesting and stimulating conversation.
Bart Van Geert
2024-02-01 22:35:17 +0000 UTCI think it was where he got to he was surprised at. I don’t think he cared that he wasn’t a fan.
Garry
2024-02-01 21:24:42 +0000 UTCOh shit we got Brad here today!!
Tristan Kimball
2024-02-01 20:59:47 +0000 UTCMost of the games were 3rd party.
Bambi_Cobblestone
2024-02-01 20:19:57 +0000 UTCYo am I the only one that thinks it’s crazy that “THE XBOX PODCAST” is covering a PlayStation direct?! 🤣🤣🤣
Zachary
2024-02-01 20:02:24 +0000 UTCI hope Brad becomes a permanent fixture on DD! I love having three people sounding off and I especially love having someone to push back on Matty when he starts babbling incoherent about Sekiro
Zac
2024-02-01 19:29:27 +0000 UTCEspecially since Colin loves skipping numerous GOTY contenders every year
Zeke the Plumber
2024-02-01 19:10:01 +0000 UTCI’m glad Cog is alive after his mysterious absence from Stelly lol
SnipaMasta
2024-02-01 18:55:50 +0000 UTCBrads reaction to matty saying he doesn’t like sekeiro was funny and encapsulates why I don’t really like souls fanboys. Dustin does this too with elden ring and it is beyond fucking annoying. Like souls fans don’t want to accept ANY criticism of these games or even accept that people have a preference in the style of game that they like may lead them to not wanting to play or enjoy a souls game. They will literally try to force the game on you , which is ridiculous lol. This is coming from a huge sekiero lover btw
Big titty drinker
2024-02-01 18:53:04 +0000 UTCLove having Brad on this week!
Mattveego
2024-02-01 18:47:19 +0000 UTCLmao LSM ain’t used to that EZA energy where they straight up accost you if you skip a beloved game. And honestly I love it. Keep bringing that Huber grabbing you and shaking you until you play it energy
Bogey
2024-02-01 18:43:19 +0000 UTCI have a mild suggestion that you can kindly ignore, but I think when DD or even Sacred misses a major news beat like this, I am not sure there is a need to dedicate the main topic to it a week later. Again I REALLY do appreciate DD and the hosts. I am just not sure why the all podcasts need to talk about the same things. I appreciate both of you guys, but most folks who are following game podcasts have already heard the entire industry talk about this for a week now. It is BIG news, and it should be mentioned, but is anyone really brining anything new to the layoff conversation at this point?
Bambi_Cobblestone
2024-02-01 18:35:44 +0000 UTCTime to Duke it out Did anyone else get Scarlet Nexus vibes from the Steller Blade combat/enemy design?
Zeke the Plumber
2024-02-01 17:58:59 +0000 UTCYo love Brad being on DD
GameSimp
2024-02-01 17:38:43 +0000 UTCBack in the realm of the Dukes!
Kelzilla
2024-02-01 17:31:55 +0000 UTCOooo Brad on DD whattup
Tom Gentry
2024-02-01 17:21:09 +0000 UTCSup fellas ✌️
Michael Mashpotato
2024-02-01 17:01:16 +0000 UTC
