Ep 110: Mass Xbox Layoffs Begin, Id Software Decimated, Obsidian Focusing on Fallout

This week, Niki, Lotus, and John address the sweeping, disastrous layoffs and closures stemming from the "reset" Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has started.

00:00:00 Intro & Cup Talk

00:11:40 Xbox layoffs by the numbers

00:14:55 Id Software decimated by the moves

00:18:52 Obsidian loses staff and shifts focus to Fallout (a previous report that Avowed 2 has been canceled has been refuted by the developer since this recording)

00:25:32 Zenimax loses over 350 employees

00:29:11 350 others are left without jobs from divested and sold studios

00:32:47 IOI closes Istanbul studio after Xbox divestment

00:41:18 Hardship fund created for laid off developers

00:47:35 Bethesda union holding protests at different cities July 15

00:55:00 Niki proposes an analogy to the US Men's Soccer Team

01:02:08 Do average gamers know or care that this is all happening?

01:14:45 Niki has returned to NBA 2K26 and is having fun now

01:24:55 HIVE QUESTIONS

02:05:00 Outro & Interview Shows

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VGBees is a weekly games media podcast hosted by Niki, John, and Lotus.