In between some very prominent releases for the tail end of the year, we’ve got you covered with some of the latest updates in the gaming landscape this week!
On November 15th, SMITE will be collaborating with RuneScape! Truly no better indicator of how the cycle of nostalgia has changed in recent memory. The event itself offers skins that replicate RuneScape’s iconic low-poly aesthetic, including the famous Gnome Child with rainbow socks.
ZA/UM confirms allegations of misconduct and gender discrimination from dismissed employees. This news comes after the dismissal of Disco Elysium designer Robert Kurvitz, writer Helen Hindpere, and art director Aleksander Rostov last year. Kurvitz has filed a lawsuit against ZA/UM and as of this week Rostov and Kurvitz have released a statement in regard to their own perspective of the situation at ZA/UM. Kurvitz’s own lawsuit against the company is still set to occur later this month.
In news about failed attempts to set trends in tech that don’t involve one social media website, Google is starting to issue refunds for Stadia. The service itself will be shuttering completely in January 2023 and refunds will be processed through the payment method used for subscription purchase. If you don’t have that, Google will reach out to your Gmail but if that’s gone then you’ll have contact Stadia customer service yourself.
Unity and IronSource have officially completed their merger as of this week. When first announced, the merger has come under scrutiny from Unity users due to IronSource’s own concerning history.
Meanwhile, Hideo Kojima has his own thoughts on mergers—and he says “No!” to them. On the latest episode of his podcast, “Brain Structure”, Kojima at some point stresses that he has no intentions of ever selling his studio and wishes to remain independent, claiming that he has been approached with heavy offers who want him to do otherwise.
If you’re looking for a new gig, then you’re in luck because SEGA is in need of a Sonic Lore Master. The listing itself is for an Associate Manager however the description does in fact go to detail about the opportunity to “. . . be immersed in the organizing and shaping of Sonic lore, canon, characters, and universes, helping to bring consistency, connectivity, and creativity to all things Sonic. . .” It’s a hybrid position so if you’re able to commute to Irvine, California on Tuesdays and Wednesdays then make sure to brush up on your Sonic facts and send in that resume!
The long-running, Japanese variety show GameCenter CX is celebrating their 20th anniversary, commemorating it by finally revitalizing their Youtube channel. Also known as Retro Game Master, the series has often been cited to be ahead of it time and largely owed to the culture of game playthroughs and game streaming today.
Get ready trainers, Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet is coming out next week, on November 18th. We don’t have to listen to Ed Sheeran against our will for longer.
Finally, but most unfortunately, it has been reported that Kevin Conroy has passed away at the age 66. Conroy is famous for his portrayal of the caped crusader Batman in Batman: The Animated Series and in various video games including the first three games of the Rocksteady Arkham series and most recently MultiVersus. As part of DC Comics’ 2022 Pride Anthology, Conroy wrote “Finding Batman,” a story detailing his lived experience as a gay actor amid the AIDS epidemic and how the role of Batman ultimately became an extension of his self. Suffice to say, the impact can be felt by everyone who would consider him the definitive voice of the character.
