Gait Games

Epic Games have announced that they’re laying off over 1000 staff today, March 24th. In the wake of that news, the publishers have announced that three Fortnite modes are being permanently sunsetted. Meanwhile, one of the studios Epic own – Horizon Chase developers Aquiris – have announced plans to pull downloads for the first two games in their arcade racing series offline later this year.

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**Investigating AI’s Impact on Game Creation: Perspectives from Erik Wolpaw**

Erik Wolpaw, a celebrated writer known for classic games like *Portal* and *Half-Life*, recently expressed his views on the possible roles of artificial intelligence (AI) in video game creation during his guest appearance on the *MinnMax* podcast. While recognizing the contentious aspects of generative AI, Wolpaw conveyed a cautious optimism regarding its potential applications within the gaming sector.

**AI in Game Creation: An Innovative Method**

Wolpaw noted that a small, committed team at Valve has been “experimenting” with AI technologies, although this effort does not reflect the entire organization. He stressed that this investigation aims to enhance, rather than substitute, existing creative workflows. His view on AI’s present capabilities is realistic; he doesn’t anticipate AI creatively superseding human writers anytime soon, stating, “I’m currently not worried about AI taking over creative writing because it is pretty bad at it.”

Despite his doubts regarding AI’s creative abilities, Wolpaw perceives promise in employing generative tools such as ChatGPT to improve gameplay. One of the thrilling possibilities he highlighted is the potential for characters in games to dynamically respond to player choices in real time. This flexibility could greatly enhance the gaming experience, particularly in open-world settings where unpredictability reigns, comparing it to situations seen in games like *Grand Theft Auto*.

**A Fresh Perspective on Interactivity**

Wolpaw elaborated that game writing has always involved simulating character responses to player choices. He proposes that AI may shine in this particular area. “It’s one thing we’ve found is that…it’s kind of interesting in an imagined *Grand Theft Auto* where you’re going around creating a lot of physical chaos,” he described. The AI’s ability to serve as a straight man, reacting to the unpredictable mayhem initiated by players, could introduce an intriguing layer of interactivity.

Wolpaw’s enthusiasm is rooted in AI’s potential to accommodate scenarios that would be challenging to handle with only human resources. “It will allow you to do something that is impossible, no matter how many humans you throw at it,” he remarked, suggesting that AI could provide new dimensions to narrative and gameplay.

**Clarifying Valve’s Commitment to AI**

Throughout the podcast, Wolpaw made it a point to clarify that Valve is not making significant investments in AI technology for all its endeavors. He indicated that their AI exploration has not been involved in creating high-profile titles like *Portal 3* or *Half-Life 3*, a distinction he made clear: “Let it be known far and wide that this is not a concerted Valve thing.”

Wolpaw insists that the initiative is fueled by curiosity rather than a motive to cut costs or replace human contributions. “This is nothing other than…just some people sitting around being like ‘This is a crazy technology,’” he stated, highlighting that his team’s approach is one of exploration rather than directive.

**In Conclusion**

As Erik Wolpaw continues to explore the crossroads of AI and game design, his insights provide a window into the future of interactive storytelling. While the technology may not yet be poised to supplant human creativity, its potential to enhance gameplay and develop more immersive experiences for players is an exciting avenue worth pursuing. Wolpaw’s reflections serve as a reminder that, at this point, AI is a tool for amplifying human creativity rather than replacing it.

It sounds like Sony are continuing to do what they presumably coldly view as cost cutting. According to Jason Schreier, often known for his insider information, and a leak shared in a ResetEra thread, Dark Outlaw Games, a studio set up by former Call of Duty lead Jason Blundell, is being shut down. It’s unclear how many people this includes at this time.

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**The Ayaneo Next 2: A Cautionary Chronicle in Gaming Hardware**

The Ayaneo Next 2, unveiled earlier this year, set out to transform handheld gaming with its robust features as a premium Windows PC gaming device. With elite specifications, it pledged to provide an outstanding gaming experience while maintaining portability to conveniently fit into a backpack. However, the initial asking price of $2,000 rapidly became impractical amid the rising expenses linked to the ongoing AI hyperscaling competition.

In an unexpected disclosure on March 23 through its IndieGoGo page, the manufacturer disclosed that the overall expenses incurred in producing the Ayaneo Next 2 had significantly surpassed their projected selling price—almost hitting double the original amount. This revelation prompted the company to determine that continued sales were unfeasible under such financial pressure.

Fitted with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, the Ayaneo Next 2 featured a standard of 32GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive, although it was designed during a timeframe when component costs were already increasing. The company initially assumed that prices had peaked by mid-February, shortly after the device’s announcement. Nevertheless, they were astonished by the persistent rise in storage costs, which exerted unexpected financial strain.

Ayaneo indicated a readiness to proceed with the launch even if it entailed minimal profitability or the risk of losses. However, the swift inflation in component costs exceeded their expectations. This unfortunate situation posed a dilemma: consistently modifying prices would neither advantage consumers nor support long-term business viability.

The discontinuation of the Ayaneo Next 2 highlights a larger trend affecting the gaming hardware sector, revealing that no tier—be it low-end or high-end—is shielded from the ongoing PC component crisis. Adding to these struggles are the uncertainties regarding forthcoming devices from major companies like Valve, Sony, and Microsoft, all of which may encounter similar hurdles if supply challenges persist.

To conclude, while the vision behind the Ayaneo Next 2 was admirable, the present economic environment presents considerable obstacles to the gaming hardware industry, necessitating a reassessment of pricing strategies and ultimately resulting in the product’s discontinuation.

Fancy forming your own opinion of Peter Molyneux’s supposed final ever game, Masters of Albion? Outside of just commenting on a trailer that plays all the hits, that is? Well, you can, maybe, if you’re lucky enough, as Mr. Molyneux himself has put out a call for you to sign up to beta test the game ahead of its release next month.

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**Sony Shuts Down Dark Outlaw Games Established by Jason Blundell**

Sony has confirmed the ending of Dark Outlaw Games, a PlayStation studio founded by Jason Blundell, a prominent figure from Treyarch recognized for his impactful work in the *Call of Duty* Zombies series. The studio’s termination was shared internally on Tuesday, representing a disappointing shift for Blundell, who had joined after a prior partnership with Deviation Games was called off.

In a discussion from just one year ago, Blundell conveyed his excitement about the chance to launch a new studio within PlayStation Studios, describing it as a “privilege.” He noted that Dark Outlaw was in its infancy and promised to share more details when they had something significant to showcase. Blundell emphasized the uniqueness of Sony initiating new first-party studios, which made the birth of Dark Outlaw a remarkable milestone.

However, the dissolution of Dark Outlaw Games aligns with a concerning trend for Sony, which has seen a rise in studio closures, including the recent shutdown of Bluepoint Games. This trend raises red flags regarding the stability and long-term strategy for new acquisitions and studio initiatives under the PlayStation 5 era.

Prior to establishing Dark Outlaw Games, Blundell co-founded Deviation Games, which sought to create a live-service title supported by Sony. Reports indicate that the project’s initial funding surpassed $200 million, but Sony chose to retract financial support due to difficulties in the development timeline, resulting in Deviation Games’ closure in 2024.

As the gaming landscape continues to shift, the closing of Dark Outlaw Games highlights the hurdles that new studios encounter, especially in an atmosphere that necessitates both innovation and economic sustainability. This situation is still evolving, and additional information may arise regarding the consequences of this closure for the PlayStation brand and its upcoming endeavors.

Sintopia, the very Bullfroggy strategy management game from developers Piraknights and publishers Team 17, will release on April 16th. I compared this one to The Screwtape Letters back at announcement, but the more obvious, gamer-brain pitch is that it’s Black & White sitting on top of Dungeon Keeper. That is, a god sim parked on top of a management game, albeit with a greater emphasis on automation than you might recall from Bullfrog’s heyday.

In Sintopia, you are the middle manager of Hell. Above you, there is a bucolic, self-sufficient realm of weirdly plant-based humans, all going about their lives farming, building and searching for treasure. And sinning. The Humus (Humusians? Humusings?) do love to sin. Which is where you come in. When the Humus die, they are swept away to the underworld by a toothy hellbus, and must be purged of moral stains before they can be safely granted a new body.

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**Epic Games Confronts Significant Layoffs Amid Falling Fortnite Participation**

Epic Games, celebrated for its wildly successful game *Fortnite*, has recently revealed plans to lay off over 1,000 staff members. This move is in response to what CEO Tim Sweeney labels a substantial “decline in Fortnite participation,” resulting in financial difficulties for the game. Although *Fortnite* has generated billions, the firm claims it is now spending more than it is earning, raising concerns about the organization’s financial oversight.

Sweeney, who a year ago expressed belief in Epic’s financial strategies and ongoing litigation against tech giants Apple and Google, is now facing considerable criticism for the company’s abrupt pivot. Many employees were left astounded by the layoffs, especially those who had played key roles in *Fortnite’s* development and success.

Among those affected was Evan Kinney, a principal engineer who had been with Epic since 2017. Kinney, lauded by fans as the “foundation and essence” of *Fortnite*, disclosed on social media that despite recent accolades for his work on the game’s new Rivalry system, he was still let go. Kinney voiced his disappointment over the years of commitment he offered to the company, which included long hours and substantial contributions to various game events.

Likewise, other employees shared their experiences and job-hunting efforts on social media after the layoffs. Devon Adesso, a test lead on *Fortnite*, recounted how she was gearing up for new projects just before her position was cut. George Sokol and Stephen Thompson, both long-term employees, also shared the surprise of their job searches, illustrating the distress and uncertainty many in the gaming community are experiencing.

In a somewhat ironic turn, some employees not directly impacted by the layoffs expressed their sadness for their coworkers. Comments on social media reflected a sense of survivor’s guilt, with one employee highlighting the tough state of the industry and the emotional burden of watching talented colleagues lose their jobs.

The broader gaming community’s response has not been supportive of Epic’s management. Numerous fans and former employees have criticized Sweeney’s stance, suggesting that the financial challenges could be due to mismanagement rather than external market forces. Dissenting voices pointed out the potential folly of heavily investing in a platform that suffers from low user engagement while still spending generously on revenue-sharing agreements with creators of user-generated content.

The recent layoffs follow shortly after Epic wrapped up a major legal confrontation with Apple and Google regarding the fees linked to in-game purchases. Sweeney has positioned Epic as a champion for developers’ rights, indicating that the case’s outcome would ultimately benefit the greater industry. However, this new development casts doubt on the efficacy of such strategies if they jeopardize employee job security.

As Epic Games maneuvers through this difficult period, the future of *Fortnite* and its employees hangs in the balance. The company’s ability to oversee resources and connect with its skilled team will be vital as it aims to bounce back from this downturn and restore its place in the competitive gaming arena.

The year is 2026, and a new-but-not-really EverQuest is on the way. Announced today, EverQuest Legends is the same MMO some of you have been playing for coming up to 30 years, just without all the years of expansions. And the graphics look as they did upon launch. And there’s a few modern upgrades. Don’t ask me what the word same means.

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# The Fall of Fortnite: Effects on Game Modes and Epic Games

Fortnite, previously a giant in the gaming realm, has experienced a significant drop in its popularity, prompting serious concerns for its developer, Epic Games. This decline in player engagement was noted as a key reason behind the recent layoffs of over 1,000 staff at Epic. Furthermore, the company is taking steps to reduce expenses by eliminating three lesser-known game modes from Fortnite.

## Upcoming Removals: The Game Modes Affected

On March 24, the Fortnite Status account revealed that three game modes—**Rocket Racing**, **Ballistic**, and **Festival Battle Stage**—are scheduled to be removed from Fortnite later this year. This decision emphasizes Epic’s recognition of its failures in delivering compelling content that keeps a large player base engaged.

### 1. Rocket Racing

Rocket Racing is the oldest among the three modes poised for removal, with its final day set for October 2026. Epic intends to eliminate all official tracks and user-generated islands linked to Rocket Racing. Although this mode will be discontinued, creators will have the chance to transfer some content to new standalone islands prior to its removal. Moreover, cars and customization items acquired for Rocket Racing will still be usable in Fortnite and compatible user-created maps.

### 2. Ballistic

This mode aimed to encapsulate the spirit of a competitive FPS, similar to Counter-Strike, and was launched in December 2024. Ballistic will be offline by April 16, but players may still engage with it and level up until then. Epic is focused on enhancing its creative tools for FPS game development moving forward, showing a commitment to fostering player-generated content that replicates the experience provided by Ballistic.

### 3. Festival Battle Stage

Unlike the more well-known Fortnite Festival and Jam Stage modes, Festival Battle Stage was a PvP-centered rhythm game experience introduced in 2024. It is slated to be discontinued on April 16, coinciding with Ballistic’s closure. Epic clarified that this cancellation should not be seen as a retreat from music-related content in Fortnite. The company has assured fans that music will remain a key component of the game, with intentions to improve features related to Festival Main Stage and Jam Stage.

## Tackling Engagement and Cost Reduction

Epic Games has significantly invested in evolving Fortnite into a platform similar to Roblox, aiming to facilitate a diverse range of user-generated and developer-created games. Nonetheless, this effort has not yielded the expected results, with many new game modes failing to draw players in comparison to Fortnite’s primary battle royale gameplay.

As player involvement wanes, Epic’s need to cut costs and improve profit margins has resulted in these mode removals. While this may enhance Epic’s financial health, it poses a dilemma for creators dedicating time to develop content for modes with uncertain long-term viability.

In summary, the elimination of these game modes highlights a broader concern for Epic Games about Fortnite’s longevity in the gaming industry. As the company navigates these changes, the effects on creators and fans remain a precarious element of Fortnite’s changing landscape.