Geoff Keighley kicked off Summer Game Fest 2024 by commenting on the widespread layoffs and studio closures the video game industry has suffered over the past year-and-a-half.
Speaking on-stage, the creator of The Game Awards said the cuts that have devastated the development community had affected all, before pointing to how the industry was evolving, and highlighting that digital distribution had enabled small teams to reach large audiences. This, Keighley said, was “a reminder to big companies that they have to treat their developers right.”
Keighley failed to namecheck any companies in his statement, however, or point to any specific teams that had been affected, before launching straight into the announcements.
Earlier this year, Microsoft announced layoffs at its gaming business affecting 1,900 staff. It then shocked the video game world by announcing the closure of Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, Redfall developer Arkane Austin, and more Bethesda studios.
Sony, meanwhile, announced 900 staff at its gaming business would be let go, as well as the closure of its London studio. Elsewhere, Embracer Group has cut thousands of staff and closed multiple studios, and Take-Two has made staff redundant at the soon to be closed Roll7.
Today, many of these shuttered studios were honored by a Los Angeles billboard ahead of this week’s major summer showcases. Spotted by Stephen Totilo on X/Twitter, the electronic billboard was created by publisher New Blood Interactive in the wake of the layoffs.
“We love you. We miss you. We hate money.”
An electronic billboard from New Blood Interactive in downtown LA mourns the closure of Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Roll7, Sony’s London Studio, Volition and more
“Gone but not forgotten” pic.twitter.com/1zCeD4KEEw
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 7, 2024
“Gone but not forgotten,” the billboard reads, before listing affected studios and their 2024 closing dates: Arkane Austin, Roll7, Tango Gameworks, Volition, and Sony’s London Studio. It also shouts out “everyone laid off, downsized, and made redundant.”
“Thank you for your great games from your friends at New Blood,” it added. “We love you. We mss you. We hate money.”
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
