Carzy Zarx’s PC Gaming Emporium - Catch Up on All the Latest PC Gaming Related News

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The second part of the Tuesday gaming news:

Arkane temporarily spared in Xbox bloodbath thanks to French law, but its future is up in the air
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/arkane-temporarily-spared-in-xbox-bloodbath-thanks-to-french-law-but-its-future-is-up-in-the-air/
In today's announcement of a staggering 3,200 layoffs at Xbox, the fate of one fan (and PC Gamer) favorite studio was left up in the air. Arkane Lyon, the remaining half of the modern immersive sim maestros, appears to be entering negotiations for an indie exit similar to other former Xbox studios.
"In France, Arkane's management is beginning required consultation with its Works Council to review potential strategic options," Xbox CEO Asha Sharma wrote in her missive on the mass layoffs. Former Kotaku editor Stephen Totilo has more context in his newsletter, Game File.

Bethesda Game Studios and ZeniMax hit hard by Xbox layoffs, says union
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/bethesda-game-studios-and-zenimax-hit-hard-by-xbox-layoffs-says-union/
Today's Xbox layoffs may have hit Bethesda and ZeniMax particularly hard, as reports of "significant" cuts have begun to surface and the Bethesda Game Workers Union says that "many" employees at Bethesda Game Studios have been let go.
>> Zenimax Online seems to have been hit quite hard (link).

It looks like Blizzard's escaped Xbox's grim reset scythe for now, though there's still time to be caught in the second 1600-strong layoff wave coming 2027
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/it-looks-like-blizzards-escaped-xboxs-grim-reset-scythe-for-now-though-theres-still-time-to-be-caught-in-the-second-1600-strong-layoff-wave-coming-2027/
The Xbox reset is afoot, and while there aren't strictly speaking any studio closures yet, with multiple developers in the process of moving elsewhere, the shockwaves from its impact are still being felt across Xbox's continually-shrinking staff. (...)
The evidence points towards Blizzard escaping the reaper's scythe, for now. First up is this Windows Central article, which both quotes anonymous sources to the affirmative and has an email from Blizzard President Johanna Faires that reads: "While you can expect to hear more details regarding the day's events and what they mean for Blizzard in further communications."
>> Sadly, Obsidian hasn’t been so lucky (link).

IO Interactive says Project Fantasy isn't dead, but confirms that layoffs are happening
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/io-interactive-says-project-fantasy-isnt-dead-but-confirms-that-layoffs-are-happening/
Hitman and 007 First Light developer IO Interactive announced last week that it had lost funding for Project Fantasy, an "online fantasy RPG" first announced in 2023, and that as a result, "we have to adapt to this new reality and its short-term consequences, including staffing decisions." That sure sounded like layoffs were incoming, and today, the studio confirmed it, saying that it is closing its studio in Istanbul and beginning the layoff process for an unspecified number of employees.
"Following the end of our external finance partnership on Project Fantasy, IOI has regained full ownership of the project and our IP," the studio wrote on X. "We will continue to develop and fund it independently amongst our other projects.

Arc Raiders has finally added 'one of the most requested matchmaking features' meaning players can now Jekyll and Hyde their way through lobbies
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-has-finally-added-one-of-the-most-requested-matchmaking-features-meaning-players-can-now-jekyll-and-hyde-their-way-through-lobbies/
Understanding matchmaking in Arc Raiders has been something of a white whale for players, especially since we first got confirmation that aggression-based matchmaking did actually play a part in creating lobbies. Since then Embark has been more open about what actually goes into its matchmaking and is more responsive to players who asked for changes, with its latest update adding perhaps the most sought after change.
Following on from the matchmaking survey Embark put out in May Arc Raiders has "implemented one of the most requested matchmaking features," according to the latest patch notes for Arc Raiders. "We now track your playstyle separately for Solo, Duo, and Trio rounds, and match you accordingly.