Gait Games

### Recent Job Cuts at Xbox and Bethesda: Memorial Tribute Sparks Controversy

Earlier this week, Microsoft launched another substantial round of layoffs across its different divisions, with notable reductions occurring at Bethesda Game Studios. This action is part of a wider corporate restructuring that has impacted thousands of employees across Xbox and its subsidiaries, including id Software, Obsidian, and Activision. The layoffs, which have become a frequent occurrence at Xbox, continue to elicit concerns among staff and industry analysts alike.

On Monday, Microsoft revealed that it would be cutting thousands of jobs, impacting positions at several studios, a pattern that is anticipated to continue in the upcoming year. The downsizing has left many employees feeling anxious about their prospects within the organization, driving some teams to find methods to pay tribute to their colleagues who were dismissed.

In response to these layoffs, the Austin branch of Bethesda Game Studios hosted a “Celebration of Service” memorial on Tuesday. This tribute showcased photographs of the laid-off employees and aimed to cultivate unity during this challenging period for the team. Motivated by this initiative, employees at the main Bethesda Game Studios in Rockville, Maryland, established a comparable memorial shortly thereafter.

However, the Rockville memorial encountered immediate opposition from Human Resources. According to the Bethesda Game Studios Union, HR requested the removal of the memorial on the basis that it was situated in a common area. The union conveyed their disappointment, sharing that they had utilized common areas for various team initiatives in the past, contending that a tribute to departed colleagues should be acceptable.

The union’s statement emphasized the dissatisfaction with HR’s action: “Regrettably, HR compelled our office manager to dismantle this almost immediately… They claimed that since it’s in a common area, it needed to be taken down. We’ve employed common areas for numerous activities as a team, including fan creations, but HR appears to consider a Celebration of Service to be unsuitable.”

This incident prompts critical inquiries regarding corporate culture and employee support during periods of substantial organizational transition. While Xbox had previously pledged its commitment to unionization and a collaborative atmosphere, employees have expressed concerns regarding the speed of negotiations for enhanced protections and job stability amid the ongoing layoffs.

As events progress, the repercussions for employee morale and corporate reputation remain significant. Many are closely observing how Microsoft and Xbox navigate these delicate topics in the wake of the layoffs and how they interact with their workforce moving forward.

Can I clock off yet?

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Remember the 90s? Oasis were unavoidable, Tony Blair stalked the halls of power, and Dracula sat on the English throne. Wait, what was that last one? Turns out I’m thinking of Vampirium: 1997, a fanged immersive sim Tron: Catalyst and John Wick Hex devs Bithell Games are launching into Steam early access soon.

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**Uwe Boll’s *Citizen Vigilante*: From Controversial Movie to Video Game Connection**

The realm of movie adaptations into video games is fascinating and frequently riddled with difficulties, yet the recent revelation of a video game connection for Uwe Boll’s *Citizen Vigilante* has attracted noteworthy attention due to the film’s contentious persona. This polarizing piece, infamous for its alleged racism and dependence on shocking themes, has incited public reactions that vary from astonishment to outright disapproval.

**Film Background**

*Citizen Vigilante*, helmed by Uwe Boll, has catapulted into the limelight for several prominent factors:

1. **Racist Elements**: The film is under fire for its blatantly racist rhetoric that supposedly urges audiences to confront and assault immigrants, a storyline that has ignited backlash and discourse regarding its cultural ramifications.

2. **Controversial Cast**: The film stars Armie Hammer, who has encountered his fair share of controversies, including accusations of cannibalistic desires. His participation has raised concerns and added to the movie’s infamy.

3. **Surprising Viral Marketing**: In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk uploaded the entire film to his platform X (formerly Twitter) for a fleeting two-day span, which unintentionally thrust the movie into the public consciousness and secured it an international distribution contract.

Reports indicate that Hammer himself voiced regret after viewing the film for the first time, calling it “hateful” and “repulsive.” This revelation introduces another layer of difficulty to the film’s contentious reception.

**Video Game Adaptation**

Set to launch next week on the PlayStation platform, the *Citizen Vigilante* game is crafted by German studio Polygon Art, under the leadership of Daniel Wengenroth. This game signifies a notable departure from the typical media adaptation dynamic, as it arises from a film rather than the other way around.

The trailer for the game displays impressively designed visuals, a sharp contrast to the film’s lackluster quality. However, critiques have noted that artistic coherence and lighting leave much to be desired. Furthermore, the game incorporates strange re-recordings of Hammer’s narration, seemingly adding another layer of peculiarity to an already bewildering venture.

Polygon Art’s earlier projects and reputation have also faced examination. With a past characterized by games that garnered mostly negative reviews, including titles like *United Assault* and *Beyond Enemy Lines*, the studio’s history raises doubts about this game’s likely success.

**Gameplay Anticipations**

Marketed as a “story-oriented vigilante adventure,” *Citizen Vigilante* pledges exhilarating action, gritty combat, and a degree of bloodshed and dismemberment that sharply contrasts with the film’s limited and static portrayal of violence. The movie features few action scenes, leaning heavily on dialogue and implications of violence instead of visual representation. This establishes high hopes for the game, which appears to adopt a more engaging and dynamic expression of its themes.

As gamers gear up for the launch, the contrast between the movie and the game presents challenges regarding narrative adaptation. Will the gameplay fulfill the promised excitement, or will it stumble like the film? Considering its roots, it seems that *Citizen Vigilante* intends to establish its own identity, delivering a more intense experience that highlights the narrative of its vigilante lead—likely in stark contrast to the film’s slow and tedious flow.

With the unusual path of *Citizen Vigilante* from a widely condemned film to a highly anticipated video game, this scenario underscores not only the obstacles that adaptations face but also the cultural dialogues that emerge alongside them. Whether the video game can redeem or further damage the film’s legacy is yet to be determined.

MY PHONE STILL WORKS

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**Square Enix Announces Closure of Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis**

Square Enix has announced that *Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis*, a gacha title featuring stories from the *Final Fantasy VII* saga, will terminate operations on October 6, 2023. This news was revealed in a statement on the official website of the game by producer Shoichi Ichikawa, who attributed the closure primarily to difficulties in aligning production expenses with player interest in character equipment and items.

Released in 2023 for mobile and PC, *Ever Crisis* offered a simplified iteration of the classic *Final Fantasy VII* gameplay while also exploring new paths with original narratives and characters. The game notably expanded on Sephiroth’s lore and placed the cherished characters of *Final Fantasy VII* into whimsical alternate universe situations, including a high school theme among others.

*Ever Crisis* marks not the first mobile release in the *Final Fantasy VII* series to encounter an early shutdown; Square Enix previously introduced *Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier* in 2021, which also concluded within two years due to reduced player engagement and rising competition in the gaming market.

In spite of the upcoming shutdown, the development team remains dedicated to providing a wealth of content as the game approaches its end. Players can look forward to the revival of prior events and a concluding story chapter, which Ichikawa assures will serve as a suitable farewell for the game’s community.

A bejeweled Evomon.

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I love to hold a stranger’s post. Letters are good. Though, those padded protective envelopes are better – what’s inside that needs that extra level of protection?. But a box, especially one whose contents move a little inside when you tilt it. Oh, that mystery is the most marvelous. It could be anything in there. Stolen jewellery, returned love letters, coffee maker pods. Anything.

Given the chance to run a post office, I’d like to think I would be a responsible guardian for everyone’s mail, faithfully transiting it to its destination, but I know that I would be doing everything in my power to work out what was in the parcels, so long as I could do it in a way no one would ever know.

So I am desperately sad to report that Cat Mail Co., a cosy game where you run a post office for cats, gives you very few opportunities to pry into the private lives of felines.

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**Subnautica 2: Adaptive Measures Update Summary**

Unknown Worlds, the studio renowned for the highly praised Subnautica franchise, has returned with a major update for Subnautica 2, named “Adaptive Measures.” This update responds to player input regarding the aggressive tendencies of certain sea creatures, a persistent issue within the game. Following a June hotfix that mitigated some problematic species, Adaptive Measures brings new features intended to improve player engagement with the underwater environment.

### Main Features of the Adaptive Measures Update

#### Improved Creature Interaction

A key highlight of this update is the revised interaction mechanics with hostile aquatic life. Players can now utilize the Survival Multitool to strike aggressive creatures, prompting a recoil animation that drives them away. This addition offers measurable feedback to players, enhancing the dynamics and satisfaction of combat scenarios.

Moreover, the Sonic Resonator has been upgraded into a weapon with the capability to stun fish. This new feature allows players to temporarily incapacitate aggressive entities, leading them to become unconscious and drift away. This modification not only refines combat systems but also alleviates earlier frustrations where players had limited options to deter hostile wildlife.

#### New Discoveries and Challenges

In addition to combat improvements, Adaptive Measures introduces fresh abandoned Biomods for players to uncover in the early stages of the game. These Biomods possess DNA-altering powers, broadening the customization choices available. Furthermore, players can anticipate more slots for equipping these abilities, with assurances of additional scanning technologies in subsequent updates for even greater customization.

The update enhances the exploration experience of wrecks in the game as well. New puzzles have been incorporated into these areas, enriching the exploratory dimension of Subnautica 2 and encouraging deeper player engagement with the surroundings.

### Enhancements to Quality of Life

The update incorporates several quality of life improvements too. The Player Data Assistant (PDA) has undergone a significant revamp, enabling players to listen to past recordings at their leisure. Furthermore, players now have access to an expanded storage option for their bases, although it is important to note that this new storage does not automatically link to fabricators.

### Future Development Roadmap

In preparation for the game’s Early Access phase, Unknown Worlds has released a roadmap outlining forthcoming features. Version 1.2 aims to enhance the cooperative gameplay experience, bringing in voice chat, emotes, and player interaction features like trading and resurrecting teammates. Players can also anticipate upgrades to the HUD and base-building tools, alongside corrections for the pinned recipes UI.

### Looking Forward

While fans eagerly anticipate an expansive world and story that has yet to be fully revealed, Unknown Worlds assures the community that development is moving swiftly. The Adaptive Measures update serves as a reflection of the developer’s dedication to refining gameplay and addressing player feedback.

With these new features, players can engage with the aquatic ecosystem more interactively, ensuring encounters with aggressive fish involve strategic choices instead of frustration. As development progresses, excitement grows for what awaits in the vast world of Subnautica 2.

Full map is inside!

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