Nintendo has changed it's tournament community rules to exclude gamers with accessibility requirements, and more stories today on Thursday 26th October 2023.INDUSTRYNintendo’s new tournament controller rules are ‘a huge step back for accessibility’, it’s claimed | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)Nintendo is shaking up its Community Tournament Guidelines to lock down issues it has with the current protocols, but it has had an unintended consequence to a large sub-section of the gaming community.New rules added to tournaments with Nintendo games are a 200-participant cap on events, banning the sale of goods, banning third-party compensation after sponsorship and players can no longer use third-party controllers.It's this last stipulation that has the accessibility community in uproar. You might be aware the Nintendo Switch joycons aren't the easiest controllers to handle - this is significant for players with accessibility needs and without third-party modifications, this will exclude them from competition.Arevya on Twitter has spoken out strongly about this change to advocate for the accessibility community in games.I'm sure we all understand, and aren't surprised, that Nintendo are pushing for their own products to be the only valid tourney standards but inclusion is an extremely important aspect of games and community today. They may not see it as such, but hopefully there's a change coming to enable accessibility in community tournaments soon.Nintendo details more aggressive social media guidelines | GamesIndustry.bizBut the Nintendo news doesn't stop there! They've also changed their social media guidelines. This shift means that they will be able to target unauthorised content with DMCA takedowns.Unauthorised now means "[Content that] features unauthorised game consoles and/or software not licensed by Nintendo or features video, images, sound sources, etc. that cannot be used in regular gameplay, extracted through game software via data mining and other methods".So they want to come after emulators, mods and other content displaying Nintendo IP. Like they needed a bigger legal team anyway…Here's everything featured in the Xbox Partner Preview showcase | Eurogamer.netThe Xbox Partner Preview aired yesterday, and here's a quick rundown of what we saw.Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a side-release from the popular series, and seems to be like Animal Crossing.Futurlab, developer of Powerwash Simulator, has announced Iakro: Will Not Die - a staisfying flow-state rogue-lite action title.Developer The Chinese Room announced "Still Wakes the Deep": a spooky first-person horror title set on a 70s North Sea oil rig.RoboCop: Rogue City saw some fresh gameplay before its release on the 2nd November.Ark: Survival Ascended is the remake of its predecessor, Survival Evolved and it's currently in Steam Early Access.Honorable mentions also include The Finals, Manor Lords, Spirit of the North 2, Dungeons of Hinterberg and, of course, Alan Wake 2.For trailers and more, jump into the show notes.GTA 6 age listing is fake, launch date a mystery, ratings board says | PCGamesNThe Australian Classifications Board makes the news again, but this time it wasn't their fault....

INDUSTRYNintendo Accounts will ‘help ease the transition’ to Switch’s successor, says platform holder | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)Nintendo is back in the headlines again after Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser reiterated the importance of Nintendo accounts to ease the transition between console hardware - still teasing the existence of the upcoming "Switch 2".In several reports over the last few months, the "Switch 2" so-called has been rumoured to release in the second half of 2024. Video Games Chronicle claims to have sources on this, but Bowser has confirmed nothing so far.Stories back in July mentioned that there were Switch 2 development kits sent to key partners, and in August a showcase behind closed doors at Gamescom, though these all still remain unconfirmed. There have also been leaked reports of GPU files for the new hardware that indicate development requirements for the new console.The ransomware group that hacked Capcom has been taken down by international police | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)According to Europol, the criminal group responsible for the Capcom data breach in 2020 has been "taken down" and a key member arrested.Ragnar Locker has been targeting critical infrastructure globally but has had its ransomware disassembled and is rangling up all members across the planet.Originally targeting Capcom, they reportedly stole 1TB of data and demanded $11 million in bitcoin as ransom. The hack is also reported to have affected business and personal data of up to 390,000 people.Sony donates $2m to support Israel and Gaza aid | Eurogamer.netIn light of the conflict in Gaza and Israel, games companies have sent donations to humanitarian causes to show their support. Innersloth, developer of Among Us, has donated to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and Sony has donated $2 million dollars to Japanese Red Cross and UNICEF.Xbox's latest third-party digital showcase airs this Wednesday | Eurogamer.netXbox will air its latest third-party digital showcase on Wednesday 25th October in the Xbox Partner Preview. Adequately timed, we will be shown DLCs, additions and new trailers for games in the pipeline, including Alan Wake 2.There will also be info on what is coming to GamePass, though it should be noted that last week we reported there being no Activision Blizzard King additions to come on GamePass this year.The Partner Showcase shouldn't be any longer than 20 mins and is streamed on Twitch and YouTube.Roblox tells most employees to return to the office part-time or take a severance package | Eurogamer.netRoblox has dropped the remote work hammer on its employees and said that they must return to the office for work three days a week or take a severance package.CEO David Baszucki said in an open letter that employees affected by the announcement have three months to decide if want to relocate for the new office work protocol or they will  no longer be working for Roblox.The justification is the lack of social contact for junior staff, and that they are...

Industry News:Bandcamp dismisses 50% of its staff amid Epic Games mass layoffs | GamesIndustry.bizHalf of the workforce in Bandcamp is affected by a mass of layoffs by parent company Epic Games.Bandcamp was acquired in March last year, but in September this year Epic announced that they would be laying off 16% of the total workforce in the company.Epic Games is also finalising the sale of Bandcamp to Songtradr, announced at the same time as the layoffs. Songtradr has said that Bandcamp became too bloated to manage and needed to "be adjusted".Kotaku has reported that dismissed employees will receive 6 months severance while the Bandcamp United union is still negotiating better terms.Analyst expects Sony to react to Xbox’s Activision deal with a major acquisition of its own | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)Xbox says not to expect surprise Activision Blizzard Game Pass drops this year | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)We are back on the news-recycling train again with Microsoft confirming the Activision Blizzard acquisition, so here's what we're seeing already.Industry consultant Dr. Serkan Toto believes that Sony will be considering an acquisition of a similar size after the conclusion of Microsoft's merger. It's acquired Bungie and a bunch of other studies in the interim, and let's not pretend that these reports have been popping up ever since the ActiBlizz merger last year. Likelihood? Who knows, but let's take this with a grain of salt!Phil Spencer says not to expect new games from ActiBlizz on GamePass any time soon, and yet Video Games Chronicle tantalises us with the Bethesda Games drop upon the purchase of their company in 2021.Papa Phil also says that the timed exclusives for Call of Duty across consoles will no longer be the case - there will be content parity across all manufacturers in future.CEO claims Nintendo couldn’t deliver a better modern N64 than Analogue 3D | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)The spicy CEO of Analogue, a company making an N64-alike console, has been quoted as indicating that Nintendo itself couldn't make a better experience of the classic console if it tried.His quote: "To me, it's either this, or buy a fucking original N64 and a CRT. End of Story."Despite Christopher Taber's posturing, there is still no price point and a release window in 2024 for the Analogue 3D console.Players frustrated with Nintendo's emulated experience on Switch may be delighted to hear his confidence, though!The UK games industry pays juniors more but seniors less than other tech sectors | GamesIndustry.bizGamesIndustry.biz and XpertHR have been working on data analysis of salaries in UK Games Studios, and found that the average salary for an entry-level position is almost 20% higher than in tech, but senior directors are paid 15% lower.While the data set is small, across 25 studios and 3000 employees, the data will become available in summary for free, and in-depth by paywall, to companies interested in the...

Industry NewsActivision Blizzard is officially part of Microsoft | GamesIndustry.bizMicrosoft announced on the 13th October of this year that the Activision Blizzard deal has finally been confirmed and completed.The final obstacle we mentioned last week, the UK Competition and Markets Authority, has finally given the green light and the acquisition can continue.Now the big questions we've long awaited answers to:Will Microsoft's promises of a less toxic culture be realised? Phil Spencer says as much in his statement on the Xbox Wire site confirming the transition: "We'll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone."Will Bobby Kotick stay on board after the sale? In a letter to employees, he said Phil asked him to stay on until the end of 2023, reporting directly to him. I'm sure many can't wait until his gone, though.And the big question: what about my Call Of Duty?! Cloud streaming rights for Ubisoft confirm the availability of it and other titles for the next 15 years at least.As always, for  all the details I haven't mentioned, check out the link to the article in the shownotes. Ubisoft exec says physical sales may continue to fall, but they’re not going away | VGC (videogameschronicle.com)Ubisoft executive Chris Early has mused in a Ubisoft website blog that physical discs for games will not be going away any time soon.The subject arises again with rumours of an all-digital Xbox Series X and a new PlayStation 5 iteration including the same. Ubisoft has also bought cloud gaming rights from Microsoft Activision Blizzard for their titles over the next 15 years.Early is quoted in the blog: "Some people will always want to own the physical disc. I just don’t think it’s going away. Do I think physical sales might get lower over time? Sure, but will it ever completely go away? I don’t think so."The soon to release Alan Wake 2 will be sold as a digital-only game to save on development costs. Do you think we'll go disc-less in the near future?Diablo 4 takes down a Season 2 teaser after players point out it was full of mistakes | Eurogamer.netBlizzard release a new teaser trailer for Season 2 of Diablo 4, only to have fans find mistakes in what is mentioned as "quality of life updates".The mistakes are too numerous to detail here but include inverted map footage, horse speed comparisons that are actually the same, and a new XP calculation formula with incorrect working.See the show notes for Eurogamer's article and a link to their hilarious source material from YouTuber Raxxanterax.This also comes before Diablo 4 arrives on Steam with a "Steamdeck Verified" category on Tuesday 17th October.Peter Molyneux's new game is set "in the land of Albion" | Eurogamer.netPeter Molyneux has lit the Internet on fire again by announcing a game dev project in the works, code-name MOAT, that will be set in the same location as the Fable games.Molyneux announced the title in development alongside a blog of his "crazy" development practice. Many are quizzical about how two separate IP set in Albion, the originally announced Fable...

INDUSTRYUbisoft says it's "on the right path" following sexual harassment allegations | Eurogamer.net Ubisoft is now claiming that they've improved their workplace culture after allegations of sexual harassment against long-time employees and senior staff in 2020. Their Chief People Officer, Annika Grant, has been in place since 2021 and remarked last month that they've been navigating the "misconduct crisis" and that "HR was part of the problem". Ubisoft has now improved their internal reporting system, code of conduct AND yearly mandatory training for all employees. Though this wasn't all, as five former employees of Ubisoft were arrested shortly after Grant presented this information at the GamesIndustry HR Summit.  ‘Off to the job center!’ Kamiya leaves Platinum in a Lamborghini and says he’s not retiring | VGC (videogameschronicle.com) Hideki Kamiya left his CEO position at Platinum Games last month after founding the company 15 years ago, and now he has a YouTube Channel! Responsible for the Bayonetta series and Wonderful 101, he says he's not planning to retire, but has moved on from Platinum to pursue his own game development ideals. At least, when his inferred non-compete agreement runs out. Historically, he has been fairly outspoken and secretive. Of particular note is the Bayonetta 3 voice actor scandal not long ago where he responded quite savagely on Twitter with seemingly no remorse. I'm sure he will do great things with his new career prospects, but joking about receiving unemployment while driving off in a Lamborghini might be a bit more than the gaming public can bear. Disney’s boss is reportedly being urged to consider acquiring a big game publisher like EA | VGC (videogameschronicle.com) Disney is apparently considering turning the company from a licensing giant into a first-party development studio. With Marvel, Star Wars and other massive Disney IP available to them, and with highly successful games out there already, Bob Iger is hearing from senior executives that internal development makes sense. Unfortunately, Video Games Chronicle has reported this as Disney considering buying EA - though this is a tenuous link to a story months ago about EA actively pursuing a merger and taking calls with other companies in the wake of the Microsoft Activision Blizzard acquisition. Bit of a bait and switch there, team. Sony unveils "smaller" PlayStation 5 and PS5 Digital with £100 disc drive add-on | Eurogamer.net Sony has revealed new, smaller form-factor PS5 Disc and Digital-only consoles that will be available for purchase in November of this year. Optional extras for the announcement include a disc drive for the Digital-only model and a vertical stand , but both will still have 1TB internal drives. The disc version will start at €550 and digital at €450 (I'm in Ireland now, so you've got EU prices). GAMESActivision CEO...

Thanks for joining me again on the Dead Drop for your secured delivery of game news headlines!The stories for today:Unity Software CEO exits after pricing backlash | NYSE:U (proactiveinvestors.com.au) CEO of Unity Software John Riccitiello is retiring from his position at the company following the backlash to the new pricing structure for game developers last month.He is quoted as being proud of his 9 years with Unity and the impact he had on the company, and yet it was leadership that fell under scrutiny after the announcements of the pricing change.For the uninitiated, the new model would be a "payment per install" model for games made with the engine, which would create costs for developers of new games and existing ones. The tracking and action of charging for this sounded insane - especially as pirated games would count towards these costs.Unity has since changed the policy, though it doesn't seem to be to any great impact. ChatGPT was used to write Gollum game apology, it’s claimed | VGC (videogameschronicle.com) In interviews with GameTwo, an outlet from Germany, former Daedalic staff have implied that that the developer for the recent Gollum game wrote their apology to fans with AI.Daedalic had apologised to fans for the disappointing addition to the franchise, pledging to do better in coming months.Sources have said that the apology was made using Chat GPT AND that it was handled by the publisher - Daedalic had no oversight on the apology at all. This information has yet to be confirmed.There are also reports of crunch, lack of funds and lack of expertise as reasons for the underwhelming game. Over 6,000 games industry jobs lost in 2023 so far | GamesIndustry.biz GamesIndustry.biz reports that Farhan Noor, a technical artist in games, has been tracking layoffs this year and it’s a staggeringly large number.With over 6,000 jobs lost in the industry so far, and September the worst month with 17 companies losing staff, the economic environment is stated primarily but all reasons revolve around money.Unionisation in the games industry has been a top subject for years, and the job security for devs has never been so important. If you want to check out the details, the link to videogamelayoffs.com is available in the show notes. CD Projekt staff form union for Polish developers | GamesIndustry.bizIn similar news, the Polish Gamedev Workers Union has been established after three rounds of layoffs in CD Projekt Red over the summer period.Founded by Lev Ki and Pawel Myszka, who are still working with CDPR, its set to represent all game devs in Poland and is a sign of progression in the industry for Polish developers. Microsoft reportedly aiming to complete Activision Blizzard acquisition next week | GamesIndustry.biz Word on the grapevine is that Microsoft is looking to lock up the Activision Blizzard acquisition as early as...

Dead Drop Game News is back, baby!It's been too long since I've been making episodes, so its time for a return and a refresh of the game news podcast that you know and love!In this episode I talk about: What I've been up toWhat is coming for the podcastWhat will change and, How you connect with the new show.I'm so happy to be back, and looking forward to delivering you the no-fluff, succinct and informative gaming news updates again! ❤️*****Do you have a gaming podcast you'd like featured on the Dead Drop?I'm offering to feature the trailer for your podcast at the end of an episode of the Dead Drop! If you're interested in being featured on the show, send your trailer to deaddroppod@gmail.com with the following:Audio file of your trailer (.mp3, no longer than 90 seconds)Name of your PodcastOne sentence as a message for the Dead Drop listeners*****Do you hate editing your podcast? Want to get your time back?MB Podcast Services, run be me (Matthew Bliss), can help you edit and produce your show! I've helped several creators launch and improve their podcasts, and I am available to help you as well.If you'd like to purchase my services, head to https://www.mbpod.com/ or email directly at blisserypodcasts@gmail.com.

//DeadDrop{FEED-DROP}: Jay of The Waffling Taylors podcast has allowed me the privilege of sharing his episode on gatekeeping, mental health and video games. The subject matter in this episode is important for all gamers who wade out into the world of social media and communities - give it a listen and learn how to protect your own mental health as a gamer or if you care for someone who is.Dead Drop Game News is a video game news show, but I love spotlighting other podcasters who do great work in the realm of video games and technology. If you enjoyed this episode of The Waffling Taylors, make sure you subscribe to their podcast via the links in the show notes.The Waffling TaylorsHead to their website for details about the show: https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/our-podcast/Subscribe where you get your podcasts: Click here to find your platformFollow them on Twitter: @WafflingTaylors*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi: deaddroppodcast.com/supportContact Blissery.FM if you’d like help with your podcast or to outsource your editing and production.

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”27th Feb, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: Everything from Sony’s February State of Play; Suicide Squad is live service, online-only and disappointing fans; Valve traps cheaters with memory honeypot; Embracer bringing back Lord of the Rings; Rez creator announces bonkers new title; Nintendo WILL NOT be at E3; and even more!Welcome to Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_DROP*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:EVERYTHING ANNOUNCED AT THE FEBRUARY 2023 PLAYSTATION STATE OF PLAYSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League is always online, even in single-playerGod of War Ragnarok wins big at the DICE Awards, whilst Elden Ring scoops the Game of the Year awardValve used secret memory access “honeypot” to detect 40K Dota 2 cheatersUkraine’s government wants ‘toxic’ Atomic Heart pulled from sale over Russia linksCalendar app company confirms The Day Before trademark disputeNintendo confirms it will not attend E3 2023Embracer signs major Lord of the Rings movie dealHumanity, the next game from Rez’s Tetsuya Mizuguchi, is coming in MayElden Ring has now sold an astonishing 20m copiesHogwarts Legacy sales ‘hit 12 million copies and $850 million’ in two weeksEA wants to know if you're interested in a Dead Space 2 or 3 remakeSons of the Forest is an Instant Success, Selling Millions in the First 24 HoursSome of March 2023’s PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium games have been revealedValve confirms every major Steam game sale and event for 2023*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi:

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”23rd Feb, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: Microsoft has made deals with Nintendo and Nvidia to bring Xbox games to their platforms when the Activ-Blizz deal goes through; Northern Territory government creates fund for game dev; Activision hacked in Dec 2022; Bungie wins suit against Destiny 2 cheat software; Mario Movie Direct coming on March 9th; and even more!Welcome to Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_DROP*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:Microsoft announces ‘legally-binding’ 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platformsMicrosoft Signs 10-Year Call Of Duty Deal With NvidiaPlayStation has a 70% share of the global console market versus Xbox’s 30%, Microsoft claimsNorthern Territory government announces funding for video gamesDestiny 2 cheat seller ordered to pay Bungie $4.3 million in damagesActivision staffers learn of December data breach months laterShocking but not surprising: The average price of a GPU at retail has doubled since 2020Ampere Analysis: UK console, PC and mobile games revenue declined in 2022M3gan, Insidious movie production company Blumhouse sets up horror game divisionMarvel's Avengers: Former Creative Director of Support Studio Apologizes For the GameCitybuilder removed from Steam allegedly due to DMCA from disgruntled playerSony announces 10 more PSVR 2 launch window gamesAfter more than 2 years of updates, Assassin's Creed Valhalla's final patch is out todayLies of P will begin spinning its tall tales this AugustTrine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy rumoured to be in development*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs:

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”20th Feb, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: CDPR forgot to remove an uncredited nudity mod for Witcher 3; CMA report reveals GamePass cannibalises game sales; Nintendo won’t consider reducing the cost of Switch console; Square Enix releases details of blockchain-base game; Metroid Prime Remastered now available; and even more!Welcome to Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_DROP*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:CD Projekt Red To Remove "Unintended" Realistic Nudity In The Witcher 3Witcher 3 Vagina Modder Claims CDPR Used Mod Without Permission [Update]Microsoft confirms Game Pass cannibalizes salesUK regulators suggest Microsoft choked Google Stadia out of the cloud gaming marketBlizzard workers furious after ‘demoralizing’ Q&A meetingDays after its last increase, Saudi Arabia yet again ups its Nintendo stakeFresh details on Square Enix's blockchain experience Symbiogenesis revealedZelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Gets Largest File Size Of Any First-Party Switch GameNintendo rules out Switch price cut for now, despite flagging salesNintendo: $70 USD Won't Be A Trend, Games Priced On "Case-By-Case Basis"Double Fine PsychOdyssey is a 20+ hour series documenting the development of Psychonauts 2A Metroid Prime remaster is officially coming to Switch todayEA Sports is "closing in" on a £500m deal with the Premier LeagueXbox Game Pass: February 2023 games revealed*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi: deaddroppodcast.com/supportContact Blissery.FM if you’d like help with your podcast or to outsource your editing and production.

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”9th Feb, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: A Nintendo Direct dropped today with tonnes of game trailers, including Zelda; Hogwarts Legacy reviews well, but the trans community speaks out; Bobby Kotick squares up against UK CMA; Sony’s PS Plus collection disappearing; Super Mario Bros movie poster confirmed; and even more!   Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:And the first Grammy for video game music goes to… - EuroGamerWhat’s happening with Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard - PolygonBobby Kotick warns UK risks ‘becoming Death Valley’ if it blocks Microsoft deal - VGCHogwarts Legacy breaks Twitch record amid streamer boycott - DexertoHogwarts Legacy Introduces Harry Potter Series’ First Transgender CharacterHogwarts Legacy does not deserve to be reviewed on its own merits - Games HubJudge tosses Joy-Con drift class action because of Switch’s pop-up EULA - ArsTechnicaNintendo Switch hardware sales pass Game Boy, PlayStation 4 - EuroGamerSony confirms it will remove the PS Plus Collection library in May - VGCEVERYTHING ANNOUNCED AT THE MASSIVE FIRST NINTENDO DIRECT FOR 2023 - PressStartHere’s the final poster for the Super Mario Bros. Movie - VGCThe latest Steam Next Fest is now live and it features hundreds of game demos - VGCStar Wars Jedi: Survivor will feature "both fast travel and rideable creatures" - PLAYBioShock creator's next game, Judas, to be released by March 2025 - EuroGamerDragon Age Dreadwolf gameplay leaks, showing ‘God of War-style’ combat - VGC*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs:

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”6th Feb, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: Marvel’s Midnight Suns director calls Gunn’s DC plans “a nightmare”; Redfall requires an internet connection; Activision Blizzard to settle with SEC; EA cancels unannounced Titanfall title; The Day Before gameplay trailer disappointment; and even more!   Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:Marvel's Midnight Suns director calls DC's plans "a nightmare" for gaming crossovers - GamesRadarRedfall requires always-online connection to play, Bethesda confirms - PCGamesNOverwatch 2 will punish you if you're friends with cheaters - GamesRadarEA reportedly cancels unannounced single-player Titanfall/Apex Legends project - EuroGamerActivision Blizzard will pay $35m settlement following SEC's workplace misconduct probe - EuroGamerNew Nintendo Direct Will Arrive Next Week - Report - GameSpotThe Day Before gets baffling 10-minute-long gameplay trailer - Games HubDiscord voice chat is finally coming to PS5 - Games HubOver 12 minutes of new Resident Evil 4 remake gameplay released - Video Games ChronicleInsomniac’s Wolverine game is reportedly targeting a mature rating - Video Games ChronicleThe Last of Us has been delayed on PC, Naughty Dog confirms - Video Games ChronicleTurtle Rock Studios is ending support for Back 4 Blood (Blog)Free Epic Games titles this week: Dishonored: Death of the Outsider & City of Gangsters*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi: deaddroppodcast.com/supportContact Blissery.FM if you’d like help with your podcast or to outsource your editing and production.

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”2nd Feb, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: EA cancels mobile games and closes Industrial Toys studio; Tess actor from The Last of Us pass away; Xbox, Nintendo and Sony not at E3; PSVR2 shipping half the units; Australian Government games fund to return; and even more!   Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:EA cancels mobile Apex Legends and Battlefield games, shutters Industrial Toys studio - GamesBeatActress Annie Wersching, who played Tess in The Last of Us, has passed away - EuroGamerAustralian Government to re-establish Interactive Games Fund - Games HubExclusive: Xbox, Nintendo, and Sony Won't Be Part of E3 2023 - IGNMicrosoft says Sony isn't telling the truth to EU regulators about Call of Duty - PC GamerSony’s new PS5 ad could be teasing Uncharted 5 - Video Games ChronicleSony has reportedly cut its PlayStation VR2 launch forecast in half - Video Games ChronicleThe Twisted Metal TV show will seemingly air this year - Video Games ChronicleAround 40 Ubisoft Paris staff attended strike for better working conditions - GamesIndustry.bizTomb Raider film and TV series reportedly in the works at Amazon - EuroGamerEpic’s Rumbleverse is shutting down after just six months - Video Games ChronicleFinal Fantasy 7 DLC coming to PowerWash Simulator - EuroGamerStar Wars Jedi: Survivor has been delayed - Video Games ChronicleUbisoft has announced The Crew Motorfest for release this year - Video Games Chronicle*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi: deaddroppodcast.com/supportContact Blissery.FM if you’d like help with your podcast or to outsource your editing and production.

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”30th Jan, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: Everything announced at the Xbox Bethesda Developer Direct; Proletariat studio dropping their union election; The Last of Us renewed for Season 2 at HBO, D&D licence now open and free again; Justin Roiland resigns from Squanch Games; and even more!   Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:“EVERYTHING ANNOUNCED IN THE XBOX + BETHESDA DEVELOPER DIRECT” - Press Start“Activision Blizzard studio drops its union vote, claiming 'free and fair election impossible'” - PCGamer“Naughty Dog says it’s ‘moved on’ from Uncharted and could do the same with The Last of Us” - Video Games Chronicle“HBO’s The Last of Us has officially been renewed for a second season” - Video Games Chronicle“Episode one of The Last of Us is free to watch on YouTube” - EuroGamer“Wizards of the Coast fully retreats from D&D license changes after community outrage” - PCGamer“Stolen League of Legends source code being ransomed, and Riot Games won’t pay” - Ars Technica“Justin Roiland Resigns From High On Life Dev Squanch Games Following Domestic Abuse Charges” - Game Informer“The Day Before developer forgets to trademark game, delays release for nine months” - EuroGamer“The FTC sued Microsoft to stop the EU accepting a settlement over Activision deal, it’s claimed” - Video Games Chronicle“GoldenEye 007 arrives on Nintendo Switch Online this week” - Nintendo Everything“EA confirms Dead Space has a secret ending and New Game Plus” - Video Games Chronicle“Far Cry 7 and Far Cry multiplayer reportedly in development at Ubisoft” - EuroGamerFree Games on the Epic Store this week: “Hell is Others” & “Adios”*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and...

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”26th Jan, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: Forspoken has entered the discourse and opinions are critical; Manager at Blizzard leaves after being forced to give a good employee a bad performance review; Nintendo warns of Switch condensation; Riot Games is hacked, game source stolen; Resetera bans discussion of Hogwarts Legacy.Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:“Forspoken | Critical Consensus” - GamesIndustry.biz“Blizzard Manager Departs In Protest of Employee Ranking System” - Bloomberg“Blizzard lead quits company in protest of ‘toxic’ staff appraisal system” - Video Games ChronicleBrian Birmingham’s Blizzard stack-ranking Twitter thread“Riot Games hacker has stolen League of Legends source code and anti-cheat program” - TechSpot“Nintendo warns Switch users of condensation effects” - TechSpot“Microsoft wants Sony to divulge confidential business details in FTC lawsuit” - EuroGamer“Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is "massive" so Peter Parker's voice actor still has "a little bit of work" to do” - Gamesradar+“Major gaming forum issues total ban on discussion of Hogwarts Legacy” - Gamesradar+“Microsoft says Xbox monthly active users hit a record 120 million” - Video Games Chronicle“Crystal Dynamics reportedly gearing up to announce new Tomb Raider game” - Kit Guru“Dead Space Remake is so terrifying even the dev team struggles to play it” - EuroGamer“The Last Of Us Episode 2 Broke A Massive Record For HBO” - GameInformer“Google is hiding a fun and fungal The Last of Us surprise that really grows on you” - EuroGamer“Life Is Strange 2 Jumps To Switch Next Month” - GameInformer*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”23th Jan, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: More layoffs hit games, including Jess O’Brien and Jason Oestreicher of Giant Bomb; 343 confirms they’ll continue Halo series; The Last of Us ex-staffer bemoans lack of credit on TV show; Sony confirms PSVR2 launch game catalogue; Ubisoft CEO apologises; PowerWash Simulator getting an update.Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:“GameSpot and Giant Bomb latest affected in wave of media layoffs.” - GamesIndustry.biz“Google laying off 12,000.” - GamesIndustry.biz“Riot Games lays off 46 staff as part of "strategic shifts." - GamesIndustry.biz“Phil Spencer tells Xbox employees layoffs were ‘painful’.” - Video Games Chronicle“Former Halo developers criticise Microsoft for 343 Industries layoffs.” - Video Games Chronicle@Halo 343 Industries tweet confirming ongoing Halo development.“Majority of game devs see harassment from players as major problem, survey claims.” - Eurogamer“In its 7th year, Nintendo is reportedly planning to increase Switch production.” - Video Games Chronicle“Marvel's Avengers reportedly announcing end of development "as early as next week".” - Eurogamer“The Last of Us co-director calls for unionisation after not getting HBO credit.” - Video Games Chronicle“Sony confirms full PlayStation VR2 launch games, including Rez and Tetris Effect.” - Video Games Chronicle“NetEase publicly tears down World of Warcraft statue following Blizzard rift.” - Video Games Chronicle“Ubisoft CEO apologises for placing his foot so deeply into his mouth.” - PC Gamer“I can't believe I'm saying this again but Skull and Bones is delayed again.” - PC Gamer“Ubisoft confirms its PvP game ‘Project Q’ has been cancelled.” - Video Games Chronicle@SifuGame tweet showing footage of Sifu Arenas“PowerWash Simulator is getting a free Tomb Raider...

//DeadDrop{NEWS}:”10th Jan, 2023”// Encrypted in this episode: Ubisoft Paris staff to strike after comments from CEO; Blizzard games to go offline in China; Starfield rumoured to be delayed even further; Nvidia, Google & EU opposing Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard; The Last of Us TV show premiere wows everyone! Welcome the Dead Drop Game News, your quick source for gaming news.$CLEAR_CACHE*LOG_OUTNews Sources in this episode:“Blizzard is blaming NetEase for its games going offline in China next week.” - PC Gamer“Ubisoft Paris employees are going on strike to protest CEO's 'catastrophic' comments.” - PC Gamer“Microsoft is reportedly set to announce thousands of layoffs on Wednesday.” - VGC“Nvidia and Google come out against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard buyout.” - PC Gamer“EU will reportedly object to Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal.” - GamesIndustry.biz“Starfield May Have Been Delayed To The 2nd Half Of 2023.” - Twisted Voxel“NPD: US game spending dipped 5% to $57bn in 2022.” - GamesIndustry.biz“Valve's "entire asset repository" leaks online, including cut content for Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life games.” - Eurogamer“Stadia's Bluetooth controller tool now live so users can connect to other devices.” - Eurogamer“Google Launches One Final Stadia Game Before Shutdown.” - Gamespot“God of War: Ragnarok and Horizon Forbidden West lead this year's DICE awards nominations.” - Eurogamer“The Last of Us TV series’ viewing figures are off to a great start.” - VGCHBO's The Last of Us PodcastListen to “Zagreus” by Periphery for a Hades Easter Egg!*****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi: deaddroppodcast.com/supportContact Blissery.FM if you’d like help with your podcast or to outsource your editing and...

The Dead Drop has been on hiatus for a while, but now is our triumphant return! Among the return of the podcast are format changes, a sprucing-up of podcast art and titles, new segments, a new website URL and plenty more! Listen to this bonus episode for all the details, and make sure you're subscribed to get a notification of the first episode of 2023 coming this Thursday. *****Instagram || Twitter || YouTube || WebsiteCheck out deaddroppodcast.com for transcripts, news sources and more.Send questions & community shout-outs: network@deaddroppodcast.comDonate to the podcast via Ko-Fi: deaddroppodcast.com/supportContact Blissery.FM if you’d like help with your podcast or to outsource your editing and production.

//DeadDrop{TRANSFER}:"12th December, 2022"// Today's transfer includes my summary and thoughts on Geoff Keighley’s The Game Awards plus all the announcements, a Loot Box bill submitted to Australian parliament, the FTC sues Microsoft to block Acti-Blizz acquisition, Sifu gets a movie adaptation, and plenty more! Welcome to The Dead Drop, your secret cache of game news delivered safely and securely to your podcast player.Pre-show Promo:I was lucky enough to guest on the “Crossed Wires” podcast talking about gaming news and the industry! Give the episode a listen when it releases tomorrow and if you love getting nerdy with tech, subscribe to their show as well: https://crossedwires.net/.Sources for the stories in this episode:The Game Awards winners: https://www.ign.com/articles/the-game-awards-2022-winnersAnnouncements List:Death Stranding 2Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty DLC with Idris ElbaFromSoftware’s Armored Core 6: Fires of RubiconFinal Fantasy 16 Release Date: 22/06/2023Diablo IV Release Date: 06/06/2023Star Wars Jedi: Survivor coming 17/03/2023Judas from Bioshock Creator Ken LevineHades II from SuperGiant coming in 2023Last of Us Part 1 on PC 03/03/2023Returnal on PC early 2023For all Game Awards content, check out The Game Awards YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thegameawards*****Quick Headlines:QH 1: Loot box bill filed in Australiahttps://www.gamesindustry.biz/loot-box-bill-filed-in-australiaQH 2: FTC sues Microsoft to block Activision Blizzard acquisitionhttps://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-says-its-ready-for-a-court-battle-after-ftc-sues-to-block-activision-deal/QH 3: Reports of crunch and low pay at FromSoftwarehttps://www.pcgamer.com/report-highlights-underpay-and-some-level-of-crunching-at-fromsoftware/QH 4: Riot sues NetEase for copying popular game “Valorant”https://www.eurogamer.net/riot-sues-netease-for-its-alleged-valorant-copy-hyper-frontQH 5: Microsoft games to begin at $70 USD next year