Today’s Top Gaming News: Crytek Layoffs, Thailand’s Casino Ambitions, New Minecraft Attraction, Lenovo’s Gaming Handheld, and Sony’s Profit Surge
February 12, 2025
Crytek Announces Layoffs and Puts Crysis 4 on Hold
Crytek has announced that it will lay off approximately 15% of its 400 employees, affecting both development teams and shared services, following The Verge. This decision follows the suspension of development on Crysis 4, which was put on hold in the third quarter of 2024. The company cited challenging market dynamics as the reason for the layoffs, which impact around 60 employees. Crytek is now focusing its efforts on Hunt: Showdown 1896, its growing multiplayer extraction shooter, to maintain financial sustainability. Crysis 4 was initially announced three years ago and was in early development stages. These layoffs occur amidst a difficult period for the gaming industry, with widespread job losses and several failed big-budget live-service games over the past two years.
Thailand’s Ambitious Casino Plans Hinge on Regulatory Details
Thailand is aiming to become a major global gaming hub with plans to develop a casino industry that could generate significant revenue and boost its tourism sector, following Reuters. Experts caution that success will depend on implementing appropriate regulatory measures, an area where Thailand has had mixed results. To attract leading casino operators like Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts, and Galaxy Entertainment, the Thai government must ensure a competitive and transparent development process while balancing concerns about domestic gambling and household debt. A draft law to legalize gambling in entertainment complexes has already been approved, and projections suggest Thailand’s gaming revenue could surpass Singapore’s, with potential sites in Bangkok, Phuket, and other locations. While the government hopes the initiative will significantly boost foreign investment and tourism, public and political support is limited, with concerns about potential gambling problems and increased household debt. Strong social safeguards will be crucial to maintaining investor interest without overly restrictive regulations.
New Minecraft Attraction Set to Open in London
Minecraft fans in the UK can look forward to experiencing the popular video game in real life with the launch of Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue, set to open in London on April 4, 2025, following The Sun. Located at Corner Corner in Canada Water, the immersive attraction consists of seven themed rooms and an interactive 45-minute quest. Visitors, led by characters Tobin and Dayo, will use the ‘Orb of Interaction’ to rescue a village from zombies. The attraction is part of a collaborative effort between Experience MOD, Mojang Studios, and Microsoft. Tickets go on presale from February 12 and general sale from February 14. Additionally, Merlin Entertainments plans to launch more Minecraft-themed attractions in the UK and US, including potential theme park rides and city center venues by 2026-2027.
Lenovo to Unveil New Gaming Handheld with Valve’s Collaboration
Lenovo is set to reveal its first SteamOS handheld, potentially the Legion Go S, at the CES 2025 event in Las Vegas by January 7th, following The Verge. The event, titled “Lenovo Legion x AMD: The Future of Gaming Handhelds,” will feature Valve’s SteamOS and Steam Deck co-designer Pierre-Loup Griffais as a special guest. Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem, will also be part of the panel. Lenovo is expected to present a revamped larger Legion Go with detachable controllers and a smaller Windows version of the Legion Go S. Both devices may feature AMD’s new Z2 Extreme chips. The event promises insights into the future of handheld gaming and showcases Lenovo Legion’s latest innovations advanced by AMD Ryzen.
Sony’s Gaming Division Drives Significant Profit Increase
Sony’s profit surged nearly 70% in the last quarter due to robust sales in image sensors, games, music, and network services, following The Times. The company reported a profit of 338.5 billion yen for the quarter ending in September, up from 200 billion yen the previous year. Significant growth was seen in its game and network services division, with sales rising by 12.3% to 1,071.5 billion yen, driven largely by third-party games and PlayStation Plus services. The release of the video game Black Myth: Wukong by Chinese developer Game Science contributed to these strong sales. The company upheld its PlayStation 5 sales target of 18 million units for the fiscal year. Sony’s music and imaging divisions also saw increases, with popular releases and strong demand for smartphone cameras boosting sales. However, Sony Pictures’ revenue declined due to the aftermath of the 2023 Hollywood strikes, though this was partially mitigated by higher revenues from Crunchyroll and Alamo Drafthouse.
Industry Layoffs Continue Amidst Market Challenges
The gaming industry has been experiencing significant layoffs over the past two years, with over 10,500 jobs lost in 2023 and an additional 14,600 in 2024, following Wikipedia. Major companies such as Embracer Group, Microsoft Gaming, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Electronic Arts have all announced substantial staff reductions, citing factors like challenging market dynamics, underperforming titles, and the need to restructure operations. These layoffs have led to the closure of several studios and the cancellation of multiple projects, reflecting the broader challenges faced by the industry in adapting to evolving market conditions.
