/Thread - 11/10/23
Happy Indiecade on Steam!
Greetings, traveler, and welcome to /Thread, a weekly roundup of what’s happening in the game industry, for game industry professionals, just like you.
Today’s Densely Daily Dosage
If it’s anything like Teams, we’re all gonna die. Microsoft is partnering with Inworld AI to provide AI-based tools to studios in their portfolio. They claim their “design co-pilot” can create quest lines based on a designer’s prompt. Going to be odd when the next WoW expansion sends you to Stranglethorn Vale to install the Edge browser.
And another one. Esports team/brand 100 Thieves laid off 20% of their workforce this week and are divesting themselves of their sports drink brand Juvee. They’re also spinning their game development studio out of the corporate structure. This is 100 Thieves’ second round of layoffs this year.
Skylines 2 goes to the dentist. Colossal Order announced that they won’t publish DLC for Cities: Skylines 2 until its technical issues get sorted. Great way to show players that they’re committed to getting things right.
Embracer’s COO: Out. Egil Strunke, Embracer’s now-former COO, departed the company this week. He leaves the company amid a massive “restructuring” (read: laying off everyone in sight) phase caused by a well-documented $2b deal that fell through right when interest rates went up. Strunke’s forming a consulting agency.
By The Numbers
44.7MM - The number of players who signed in to play Fortnite’s original map last Saturday.
$549 - What you’ll pay for the OLED Steam Deck.
11/2024 - When Season 2 of Arcane drops on the ‘Flix.
Looking For More
Brought to you by our friends at gamejobs.co
31st Union (San Mateo, CA) - Principal Frontend Engineer
2K (San Mateo, CA) - Senior Systems Designer
Ubisoft (Barcelona) - Junior Community Manager
Better Know An Indie
Citizen Sleeper is a game about Roleplaying in the ruins of interplanetary capitalism. Live the life of an escaped worker, washed-up on a lawless station at the edge of an interstellar society. Inspired by the flexibility and freedom of TTRPGs, explore the station, choose your friends, escape your past and change your future. It’s on sale for $11.99 on Steam.
Have a Great Weekend
As always, thanks for stopping by. We’ll see you next week!