It’s another week of gaming news, while some of the mighty have fallen, a more humble crowd of others will be remembered.
Content Warning: This Bulletin features a news item that discusses allegations of harassment and sexual assault.
E3 2023 is canceled. Following a trickling of waves in which numerous major developers have announced their intentions to pull out of the show, one by one, the Entertainment Software Association concluded that this year’s E3 “did not garner the sustained interest necessary to execute it in a way that would showcase the size, strength, and impact of our industry.” Some figures are happily reaping this opportunity. E3 was folded under ReedPop in 2022 last year.
That is not the only thing that is getting the plug pulled, as Player First Games has decided to take MultiVersus offline, anticipating to relaunch it next year. This has understandably met the ire of many, paired with the confusing messages of whether or not the game was in “beta” this whole time—despite the fact that MultiVersus had readily purchasable microtransactions upon release and a “Founder’s Pack” billed at about 100 USD.
MVPs, thank you for the support during Open Beta! The feedback and inspiration has been amazing. Open Beta will close on June 25 as we prepare for full launch in early 2024. #MultiVersus will be back better than ever with new content, features, modes & more when we return. pic.twitter.com/6NOCMRDBrp
— MultiVersus (@multiversus) March 27, 2023
The Wii U and Nintendo 3DS eShops have officially shuttered. As of today, any previous purchases made in the eShops are still re-downloadable, but no new purchases can be made. There are many digital-only titles still currently not legally accessible outside of these venues, and Nintendo has yet to provide any intentions to bring them elsewhere.
Electronic Arts has laid off about 6 percent of his staff. This is estimated to be about 800 employees affected.
Pokémon GO is facing criticism and call for boycott by its playerbase due to new changes to the Remote Raids mechanic, accompanied by pricing increases. Remote Raids were introduced in the midst of the total COVID-19 lockdown measures that were taken when the pandemic first started, meant to accommodate gameplay to ensure players do not have to be at a physical location to participate. In the game’s next update, Remote Raids will be nerfed, and prices to participate will be raised among other features. As of now, Niantic has no plans to revert these changes.
The Game Developers Conference 2023 has closed out about last week and is followed up by a disturbing series of reports that allege incidents of sexual assault and harassment that have occurred at off-site events. The event saw an attendance of about 28,000 people. Guy Blomberg, vice-president of video game PR agency Stride, notes that he has been informed of one such grouping of instances occurred at karaoke even his company hosted. As of this date, the San Francisco Police Department has issued a statement stating that no reports have been filed.
Every year, there are stories about groping, drugging, harassment, and even more stories of countless attempts to create opportunities for assault at games industry events like #GDC23. It's heartbreaking and infuriating that this feels so normalized…
Text SUPPORT to 23368. pic.twitter.com/XGpwcO8nvt
— Games and Online Harassment Hotline (@GamesHotline) March 25, 2023
President Biden is invoking the Defense Production Act for circuit board production. Although the move is primarily motivated by mobilizing the technological sector of national defense, it may possibly impact the supply chain and boost domestic production of effects that would benefit various electronics and technologies as a whole.
Vampire Survivors wins Best Game at the BAFTA Game Awards. God of War Ragnarök ended up becoming the most awarded game title in the show’s history, taking home six awards.
Creator of the Bubsy series, Mike Berlyn, has passed away.
Shattered to hear that game designer, programmer and writer Mike Berlyn has passed away. Suspended, Cutthroats, Infidel (Infocom) as well as games like Bubsy, and Busy 3D. Oo-topos, Tass Times in Tonetown, and many more games. RIP. pic.twitter.com/vAIJlQPe4D
— Mike Mika (@MikeJMika) March 29, 2023
