The 10 Biggest Video Game News Stories of 2024

As a seasoned gaming enthusiast who has witnessed the ebb and flow of the industry for decades, I must say that 2024 was a year filled with contrasting emotions. The highs were undeniably exhilarating; the lows, heart-wrenching.

2024 has proven to be an enchanting year for gaming enthusiasts, with a steady flow of groundbreaking, well-crafted, and exhilarating titles such as Astro Bot, the anticipated Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Metaphor Refantazio. These games have kept audiences captivated with their consistent delivery of top-notch entertainment. However, in many aspects, 2024 has mirrored 2023 – both in its positive and negative aspects.

2024 saw an abundance of top-notch games emerge over the past year, yet it’s been as notable for ongoing challenges within the gaming industry, significant setbacks for cherished studios, and missteps across the board as it has for its triumphs. Some troubling trends from 2024, such as persistent layoffs at major developers, are extensions of last year’s news stories, while others, like the sudden closure of massive gaming corporations, have felt more startling and unforeseen. Despite the mixed bag of events, one thing has become clear: the video game industry remains unpredictable in its entirety.

Akira Toriyama’s Death Sends Shockwaves Through the Gaming Industry

2024 experienced one particularly challenging moment when Akira Toriyama, the brilliant creator behind groundbreaking manga like “Dragon Ball” and numerous influential JRPGs, passed away. He played a significant role in designing various games, with his most memorable contributions being to titles such as “Chrono Trigger,” “Blue Dragon,” and the “Dragon Quest” series.

Although his demise was deeply felt across the realms of gaming, manga, and anime, it also served as a solemn gathering and tribute. It’s no surprise that the gaming community is known for its disputes, but Toriyama’s passing surprisingly united video game developers and enthusiasts in commemoration of his life. Across digital platforms and physical gatherings, fans and peers shared heartfelt condolences and admiration for a man whose work significantly impacted countless childhood memories and a considerable portion of the game industry. Reflecting on Toriyama’s influence has undeniably marked 2024, and while his departure is a sorrowful event for many, it serves as a testament to the immense power that individual creators wield in this domain.

Concord’s Release and Shutdown

2021 additionally witnessed the unforeseen and catastrophic debut of Sony’s team shooter, similar to Overwatch, named Concord. Unfortunately, Concord was terminated just two weeks following its market launch. The reasons behind this massive flop have sparked numerous discussions, ranging from criticisms on its suboptimal art design, marketing strategies, to its high price point. In truth, the swift closure of Concord can be attributed to a combination of these factors and others. Despite being mocked for its dismal performance in the past, Concord serves as an educational tool for the gaming industry, highlighting crucial topics like monetization strategies, following trends, and overspending.

Disney Invests $1.5Bn in Epic Games

In February, it was revealed that Disney would be investing a substantial $1.5 billion into Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and Unreal Engine. This partnership comes after several years of less formal collaboration between the two companies, with Fortnite frequently integrating cosmetics and in-game events inspired by Disney’s popular franchises like Marvel and Star Wars. The specific details of this partnership are yet to be fully disclosed, but both companies have suggested that it will contribute to creating a brand-new universe for games and entertainment. As such, it seems likely that Disney will assist Epic Games in expanding the ever-growing virtual world of Fortnite.

Game Informer Shuts Down After 33 Years

One surprising development this year was the unexpected closure of Game Informer, a prominent print and online publication, in August. This sudden shutdown took many by surprise, as Game Informer had long been recognized for its high-quality reporting, attracting top journalists and writers, and serving as a significant representation of the gaming industry and video game media. For over three decades, Game Informer was one of the most influential gaming outlets globally. Its closure is a significant loss to the entire industry.

The abrupt ending to the closure of Game Informer makes it even more painful because their online content wasn’t properly archived or preserved. Normally, when an online publication ceases operation, its website remains active for a while, either saved by those in control or by its readers. However, unlike most cases, the Game Informer site was abruptly taken down this year without any proper notice, leaving visitors only with a brief, vague message about the outlet being shut down. This means that all of its web content is gone forever.

Layoffs, Unions, and Strikes

Game industry layoffs in 2024: 14,600
Over 150 game companies have laid off employees in 2024.

Layoffs Surpass 14,000 in 2024

2024 has seen a persistent wave of conflicts between video game companies and their workers, much like in 2023. Last year witnessed a massive wave of layoffs that cost the industry more than 10,000 jobs. Shockingly, this was eclipsed in 2024 as approximately 14,600 video game employees have lost their jobs over the past year. The situation is aggravated by the fact that these job losses aren’t confined to a specific part of the industry, with both small, independent studios and giants like Sony and Microsoft experiencing significant staff reductions.

SAG-AFTRA Strikes Were Reignited

As a movie buff looking back at the past year, I’ve been following the Screen Actors Guild’s stand against Hollywood’s unjust pay and working conditions for actors. This year, the strike has taken on a new focus: fair treatment in AI-generated voice work. Over 2,600 video game voice artists have joined the fray, starting on July 26th. Currently, they are negotiating contracts with various game companies, aiming to establish more transparency and cooperation regarding AI voice work. One key demand is a clause that mandates these firms to secure explicit permission from actors before replicating their voices using artificial intelligence.

So far in this struggle, SAG-AFTRA has made some progress, reaching an agreement with prominent AI voice generation company Ethovox in October. This deal guarantees compensation for voice actors who allow their voice recordings to be used in creating a fundamental voice model. At present, SAG-AFTRA is still in negotiations with relevant gaming entities regarding this issue.

Video Game Unions Continue to Push Back on Exploitation, Low Wages, and Workplace Misconduct

Over the last few years, reports of widespread mistreatment, unfair labor practices, and substandard working conditions within the gaming industry have prompted calls for change from employees. In response, many are taking action by forming unions. Fortunately, there’s been a growing movement among video game workers to organize, with 2024 marking a significant milestone in this effort. For instance, staff at Blizzard established the largest union in the industry this year, and ZeniMax Online became part of the Communication Workers of America – these developments represent substantial advancements for those who create the games we enjoy. Let’s hope that this positive trend continues over the coming years, addressing the numerous challenges faced by workers in the gaming sector.

Nintendo Sues Palworld Developer Pocketpair

Japanese game developer Pocketpair is vigorously defending its hit game, Palworld, from a legal challenge. In September, Nintendo, together with The Pokemon Company, filed a lawsuit alleging that Palworld violates numerous design patents, such as the capturing of creatures in small balls – a key feature shared by both Palworld and Pokemon. The companies are demanding 10 million yen, approximately $64,000 USD, in damages but also an order preventing Palworld from being released to the public beyond its early access version. Essentially, Nintendo claims that Pocketpair should cease development and distribution of Palworld altogether. For now, Pocketpair plans to contest the lawsuit in court.

PS5 Pro Hits the Market

On November 7 this year, Sony faced a mix of mockery, applause, and everything in between when it unveiled the PlayStation 5 Pro. While the hardware update wasn’t entirely surprising, given that both Sony and Microsoft had introduced pro/enthusiast versions of PS4 and Xbox One before, public opinion on features like 60FPS and 4K has significantly shifted since then. These features are no longer considered revolutionary as they once were. However, the PS5 Pro has been met with criticism over its high price tag ($700) and absence of a disc drive and vertical stand.

Independent of debate, the PlayStation 5 Pro currently leads as the most technologically potent gaming console available, providing gamers with both high resolutions and frame rates concurrently, rather than making them choose between the two. Sony’s latest AI-enhanced software, known as PSSR, has significantly contributed to the PS5 Pro’s objective of delivering optimal performance and visual quality. However, we’ll have to wait and see how future games will appear, behave, and feel on this cutting-edge device.

Switch 2 Rumors, Leaks, and Hype Dominate the Year

In related console updates, Nintendo is continuing its stride with the upcoming, as-yet-unnamed sequel to the Nintendo Switch. Known informally as the Switch 2, Nintendo officially acknowledged its existence this year, hinting at an official unveiling before March 2025. Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa also reassured fans that the new console will be compatible with the original Switch games. Beyond these details, not much has been disclosed by Nintendo about the Switch 2. However, a flurry of rumors and leaks have offered a more comprehensive image of what to expect from this upcoming device.

The Biggest Nintendo Switch 2 Leaks and Rumors of 2024

Magnetic Joy-Cons
Mario Kart 9 will be a launch title
An 8-inch screen
Two USB-C ports
4K, 60FPS capabilities
Will launch in three different colors
Will launch in May, with preorders beginning in March

While it’s plausible that the leaked details about the Nintendo Switch 2 are accurate, considering they stem from prototype models, it’s important to approach these rumors with skepticism rather than accepting them without question.

Xbox’s Closure of Tango Gameworks and Arkane Austin

In a year marked by the passing of cherished creators and massive layoffs, the closures of Tango Gameworks and Arcane Austin may not be the most heart-wrenching events, but they certainly appear to be the most unfair to many fans. The closure of Tango Gameworks by Xbox came unexpectedly, only a year after the release of the critically acclaimed HiFi Rush, leaving many puzzled. The studio is renowned for its popular series, The Evil Within, and the captivating Ghostwire: Tokyo. However, just when all hope seemed lost, PUBG publisher Krafton stepped in to purchase Tango Gameworks, giving a glimmer of optimism for its future.

Despite not having yet achieved such a joyful conclusion, Arkane Austin – another esteemed studio under the Bethesda/Xbox banner that ceased operations this year – has faced its share of challenges. Renowned for timeless games like the Dishonored duology and the 2017 reboot of Prey, their latest release, Redfall from last year, was met with mixed reviews, which may have contributed to their closure. Regardless of the exact circumstances, the shutdown of Arkane Austin has left a profound impact on gaming enthusiasts worldwide, as they were widely admired as one of the top AAA developers in the industry, even following Redfall’s release.

Xbox Games Going Multiplatform

2024 marked a shift in Xbox’s approach, with a growing number of their games becoming available on multiple platforms rather than being exclusive. Although the specifics are still decided on a title-by-title basis, it appears that we can expect more multiplatform releases compared to exclusives. This spring, four Xbox exclusives – Pentiment, Sea of Thieves, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rush – were made playable on PlayStation 5, with Pentiment and Grounded also being released for the Nintendo Switch. Additionally, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, one of Xbox’s major releases this year, is slated for release on PS5 in 2025, as is The Outer Worlds 2, another Xbox-owned game.

Despite some uncertainty about its effectiveness for the company, this approach seems reasonable given the escalating expenses associated with video game production.

2024-12-22 18:24