Geoff Keighley Speaks on Mass Layoffs at Summer Game Fest 2024

Geoff Keighley kicked off Summer Game Fest 2024 with a poignant message addressing the extensive layoffs and studio closures that have hit the video game industry over the past 18 months. Keighley emphasized how the industry needs to evolve, especially due to digital distribution, allowing smaller teams to reach larger audiences, serving as a crucial reminder for big companies to treat their developers right. However, he did not name any specific companies affected by these layoffs.

In the past year, major layoffs have impacted companies like Microsoft, with 1,900 gaming staff affected, and the closure of Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks, as well as Arkane Austin and other Bethesda studios. Sony has also cut 900 staff and closed its London Studio. Embracer Group and Take-Two have both reduced staff and shuttered studios, showing the widespread impact of these layoffs across the industry.

Ahead of the Summer Game Fest showcases, publisher New Blood Interactive honored these shuttered studios with a heartfelt billboard in Los Angeles, commemorating the closure of studios like Arkane Austin, Roll7, Tango Gameworks, Volition, and Sony's London Studio. The billboard contained the touching message: "We love you. We miss you. We hate money."

Recent layoffs have resulted in the closure of notable studios such as Arkane Austin, Tango Gameworks, Roll7, Volition, and Sony's London Studio, among others.

The Summer Game Fest 2024, an annual event spearheaded by Geoff Keighley, is a significant moment in the gaming calendar, serving as a showcase for upcoming games, industry trends, and key announcements. It highlights the vital and sometimes harsh realities facing developers in the gaming industry, while also celebrating the creativity and innovation that drives it forward.