Patch Notes #18: Arkane union brands Microsoft an ‘accomplice’ to genocide, Krafton hits back at Unknown Worlds founders, and is collective action the answer to miscrediting?

Character artwork via Arkane / Logo via Game Developer

I’ll level with you. I’m keeping this intro brief because I’m currently plonked in the middle of a Manchester cafe that presumably doesn’t realize the words ‘air’ and ‘conditioning’ can be combined to create a majestic climate control device.

 Fear not, dear reader, it’s only a heatwave.

This will be my final Patch Notes for a couple of weeks. I’ll be jetting off to Cologne next Tuesday for my annual pilgrimage to Gamescom in pursuit of industry insights, decadent hummus (if you know, you know), and perhaps even a bit of juicy gossip.  I’ll be taking a much needed vacation when I return, so the next couple of editions will be penned by another member of our talented Game Developer team. 

Who exactly? No spoilers yet (mainly because we haven’t decided).

Oho. You almost got me rambling. Nobody needs that today—least of all you. In fact, I suspect what you really need is a concentrated dose of NEWS, and as luck would have it we have just the thing…

Embracer will deploy ‘targeted cost initiatives’ and AI tech to unlock more value

via Game Developer // You might not realize it from the headline, but layoff connoisseur Embracer Group recently switched out its CEO, Lars Wingefors, for a new chief executive in Crystal Dynamics veteran Phil Rogers. Alas, it seems the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree. Rogers this week told investors that Embracer will deploy ‘targeted cost initiatives’ in relation to underperforming business. He confirmed that could mean additional divestments are in the offing. Will we also see layoffs? Who knows, but Embracer has been rather trigger happy in that regard previously. Rogers also explained that Embracer is keen to use AI technology to streamline its processes and support its teams. I’m sure they’ll be thrilled.

Related: Godforge dev Fateless raises $14M through community driven investments

Stripe Says Support Team Reps Were ‘Totally Wrong’ About LGBTQ Content Ban

via Aftermath // Payment service provider Stripe has denied it is prohibiting the sale of LGBTQ+ content, including video game and media on platforms like Itch. The company spoke to Aftermath about the situation after its support team reportedly told anti-censorship campaigners that it won’t be processing payments related to LGBTQ+ content. Stripe apologized for the conduction and claimed those employees were “mistaken.” The full story is well worth a read, and comes after both Itch and Steam began heavily moderating the sale of adult content, reportedly at the behest of payment providers.

Valve explain why using PayPal for Steam purchases isn’t currently an option in a whole bunch of countries

Related: Valve says PayPal support is no longer available in some regions due to content concerns

via RockPaperShotgun // In related news, Valve recently told RPS that PayPal support for Steam has evaporated in some regions due to concerns over the type of content being sold on the platform. Valve previously confirmed that one of PayPal’s acquiring banks axed support in some regions in early July, impacting consumers attempting to make Steam purchases via PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD and USD. On its support page, Valve said it is “uncertain” when the situation will be remedied. It then told RPS the withdrawal is “regarding content on Steam, related to what we’ve previously commented on surrounding Mastercard.”

Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development team has unionized

via Game Developer // Another week, another union. We could get used to this. Blizzard’s Story and Franchise Development (SFD) is the latest Microsoft-owned team to unionize in tandem with Communications Workers of America (CWA). SFD is the World of Warcraft maker’s in-house cinematic, animation, and narrative department—and became the first union of its kind to form n North America. Parent company Microsoft has already recognized the union, whose members will join CWA Local 9510 in Orange County, Calif.  One member of the SFD organizing committee said the unionized workers intend to preserve what makes Blizzard special. 

Related: Blackbird Interactive reacquires ownership of Hardspace: Shipbreaker

Video games have a serious crediting problem, but unions can help

via Game Developer // Speaking of unions, freelance reporter Nicole Carpenter this week laid out how the power of collective acton could enable the video game industry to address a longstanding miscrediting issue. It’s not uncommon for developers (both in-house and external) to be omitted or improperly credited on projects they’ve worked on. It’s a deeply harmful practice that can stall careers and create uncertainty as to who is actually making the games we play, but what is the solution? According to some people, unions might just hold the answer.

‘We would be in development for 30 years:’ Krafton reiterates that Unknown Worlds founders ‘abandoned’ Subnautica 2

via Game Developer // In what must be one of the game industry’s most outrageous legal tit-for-tats, Krafton has responded to the lawsuit leveled against it by Unknown Worlds’ former executive team with a series of claims that paint former studio leaders Charlie Cleveland, Max McGuire, and Ted Gill as cash-grabbing truants. The South Korean publisher once again insisted that all three downed tools as soon as it purc