The year 2023 was filled with disappointments and challenges in the video game industry. From leadership issues in major companies, controversial policy changes, to poorly executed game ports, players and developers faced numerous obstacles throughout the year. Job layoffs also became a recurring problem, leaving many talented individuals unemployed. Additionally, despite the growth of digital games, trust in the digital marketplace was undermined for various reasons. As the year comes to an end, we reflect on these disappointments and hope for better times in 2024.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick managed to retain his position despite a history of mistreatment of women within the company. Despite numerous lawsuits and investigations, Kotick remained in his position until the end of 2023. However, changes are expected as he plans to step down in the early part of the upcoming year.
In one of the most surprising events, Unity, a leading game development platform, faced significant criticism in September following the introduction of controversial fees. Developers were outraged as it appeared that fees would be charged for every game installation, including free-to-play productions. Subsequent policy changes alleviated some concerns, but the resignation of Unity CEO John Riccitiello as a result of this incident left a sour taste in the developer community.
Nintendo Switch, despite its popularity, struggled with porting larger AAA titles. For example, Mortal Kombat 11 suffered from low performance and graphical quality on the Switch. Hogwarts Legacy, known for its open world, had to make certain concessions in the Switch version, leading to segmented gameplay areas and a decrease in frames per second. These cases revealed the limitations of the Switch when it comes to running newer and more demanding games.
Job layoffs affected the video game industry in 2023, with over 6,000 developers losing their jobs, and studios such as Volition and Free Radical Design shutting down. The frequency of layoffs reached an alarming level, making it increasingly difficult for those affected to find new employment in an already competitive industry. Unfortunately, it seems that this trend of instability and job loss may continue in the future.
Finally, trust in the digital game market was undermined due to various reasons. Although digital game purchases have become the norm, issues such as security breaches and questionable practices by some platforms have raised doubts among players. As the industry moves towards an increasingly digital future, it is important to maintain trust and transparency to ensure a positive gaming experience for all.
We bid farewell to the year 2023, hoping that the video game industry learns from these disappointments and strives for improvement in the coming year. May 2024 bring positive changes, greater inclusivity, and brighter prospects for developers and players.
The source of the article is from the blog cheap-sound.com