Hathora’s Post

Spot on! It's not the first time a successful game has faced difficulties managing its multiplayer backend and it will not be last. Every team goes through this challenge at some point in their product. We did too! - You can't hire too many people only to let them go later. - You can't build everything in-house. - You can't allocate all your resources to fixing the issue, as it requires specialized skills. The issue is common across all types of games, whether AAA or casual. You simply can't build and maintain every aspect of the product yourself. It's essential to find someone who can work alongside your team when things go awry. Article: https://lnkd.in/gA-fQ6Yd #gamedev #multiplayer

This week Arrowhead Game Studios, the developer of the popular title Helldivers 2, has experienced unexpected success with the game, leading to persistent matchmaking and login issues. It’s hard to truly know where the challenges in the process lie (likely with matchmaking in PlayFab), but I was most struck by CEO Johan Pilestedt remarks about the situation. 1️⃣ He has praised the studio's backend engineers for preventing the game from completely collapsing under the demand. 2️⃣ He acknowledged the challenges of onboarding new developers. Even if Sony sends devs today, it'll probably be a few days before they're effective. In the meantime onboarding new devs would take current devs away from fixing the issues at hand. 3️⃣ He warned against “over-hiring to then do layoffs,” tipping his hat to the current gaming environment and making an important point about hiring teams that you can keep. I respect Johan's healthy approach to managing his team & their focus in this stressful time. One of the advantages studios get with working with 3rd party platforms that offer white glove support, is that we augment your team in your time of need without having to have the expertise on hand at all times. I’ve got plenty of friends who have gone through these challenges, are there parts that I’m missing? What would you add? #gamedev #launchday #prep

This just in - It's important to keep a balance here.  🔴 Kaedim is the platform that every game developer needs. It’s a platform that lets you create 3D assets from 2D images in minutes, with no 3D skills needed. You can use any image, from drawings to screenshots, and get a 3D model that’s ready to use in your game. Kaedim is optimized for usable, production-ready 3D assets, and works with your team’s tools. 🟢 Get Started Today: Kaedim3d.com or Check out our Showcase: app.kaedim3d.com/showcase #GDC #GDC2024 #a16z #Gaming #Kaedim #VideoGames #VideoGameIndustry #mobilegames

Check this out -Several developers reported that they were laid off, while others shared that the studio was a toxic place.🔴 Imagine creating 3D assets for your game with just a few clicks. That’s Kaedim. The AI-powered platform that transforms 2D images into 3D models in minutes. 🟢 Get Started Today: Kaedim3d.com or Check out our Showcase: app.kaedim3d.com/showcase #GDC #GDC2024 #a16z #Games #GameDevelopment #Gamers #gamedev #GameIndustryUpdates

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁? 🚨 The video game industry, a pillar of modern entertainment, is facing an unprecedented crisis that goes far beyond the normal dynamics of corporate restructuring. 2024 began with an 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀 affecting giants such as Unity Software, Twitch, Riot Games, Microsoft, and many others, with a total of 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟲❟𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯𝘀. This situation has not only eclipsed the negative records of 2023, but has also raised questions about the 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, especially that of AAA titles, whose increasingly expensive and risky productions put a strain on finances and employment stability. The contradiction lies in the fact that, in spite of an economically prosperous 2023 for the industry, with revenues reaching around $184 billion, we are witnessing a wave of redundancies that seem to presage a deeper crisis, one that cannot be attributed solely to a 'settling' of the market. To address this crisis, we believe it is essential for the industry to 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹, one that does not depend exclusively on AAA blockbusters, but also values 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀❟ 𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀. This could not only help to distribute economic resources more fairly within the industry, but also to offer gamers a richer and more diverse experience. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗲 🤝 Gamers have immense power in this dynamic, supporting games and platforms that reflect their values of inclusivity and diversity, and choosing to 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹. As Keycense, we are committed to promoting a gaming experience that is 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹, valuing diversity and providing personalised support. We believe that only through a collective effort is it possible to overcome this crisis, reinventing the gaming industry to make it more 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. The crisis in the video game industry is a wake-up call that we cannot afford to ignore. Together, we can build a future for gaming that is as bright as the worlds we love to explore in our favourite games. 💬 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠? #Keycense #GamingInclusive #FutureOfGaming

Here is an example of true leadership and strong principles: Hidetaka Miyazaki of FromSoftware is committed to preventing studio layoffs ‘whatever it takes.’ The sentiment by Satoru Iwata, former president of Nintendo, echoes this philosophy: ’People who are afraid of losing their jobs are afraid of making good things.’ This quote truly encapsulates the fearlessness needed in leadership within the gaming industry. What are your thoughts on how leadership can influence creativity and job security in gaming? #LeadershipInGaming #GameIndustry #JobSecurity #InnovationInGaming #TrueLeadership #FromSoftware #GamingCommunity #CreativeCulture #BusinessStrategy #EmployeeWellbeing https://lnkd.in/drAMuDdv

Here's something interesting - Life Is Strange: True Colors developer Deck Nine Games has cut 20% of its total workforce. As reported by Eurogamer, approximately 30 employees have lost their jobs as a result. "Like many others in the games industry right now, Deck Nine has been affected by the games industry's worsening market conditions," the studio wrote in a statement on X. Read more 🔴 Kaedim lets you generate high-quality 3D models from any 2D image in minutes. No 3D skills required. Join the hundreds of studios using Kaedim and save time and money on your game development. 🟢 Get Started Today: Kaedim3d.com or Check out our Showcase: app.kaedim3d.com/showcase #gdc #gdc2024 #a16z #GameNews #MobileGames #VideoGameIndustry #GameIndustry #VideoGames

As we witness yet another series of layoffs, not only within the gaming industry but also across the broader technology sector, it raises important questions about communication, resilience, and the evolving landscape of game development. One notable aspect of these layoffs is the apparent surprise expressed by many employees in the affected studios. This begs the question: Is there a shortfall in communication between management and staff? Clear and transparent communication is crucial during times of transition, helping employees better understand the rationale behind decisions and enabling them to plan for their futures. Moreover, as more studios close their doors, we're left to ponder the long-term implications for the industry. Does this trend result in a strengthening of core developers, as resources become more concentrated in fewer hands? Or does it simply represent a slimming of the competitive field, with only the largest AAA studios deemed safe from such upheavals? As the landscape evolves, it's essential to consider how these changes impact innovation, creativity, and the diversity of voices within the gaming community. Ultimately, navigating through these challenges requires a collective effort from all stakeholders in the industry. By fostering open communication, supporting affected employees, and investing in sustainable growth strategies, we can work towards building a more resilient and inclusive gaming ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/gDBNK8UP

"'Survive until 2025.' The phrase still echoes around the games industry as it faces ongoing layoffs and studio closures. At Develop:Brighton this year, GamesIndustry.biz invited an array of developers, studio heads, managers, and more to share their advice on how to endure the turbulent times we're experiencing. Here's what they had to say' https://lnkd.in/ejiw-anA #gamimgindustry #gamedevelopment #surviveuntil2025

Check this out -Life Is Strange: True Colors developer Deck Nine Games has cut 20% of its total workforce. As reported by Eurogamer, approximately 30 employees have lost their jobs as a result. "Like many others in the games industry right now, Deck Nine has been affected by the games industry's worsening market conditions," the studio wrote in a statement on X. Read more🔴 Imagine creating 3D assets for your game with just a few clicks. That’s Kaedim. The AI-powered platform that transforms 2D images into 3D models in minutes. 🟢 Get Started Today: Kaedim3d.com or Check out our Showcase: app.kaedim3d.com/showcase #gdc #gdc2024 #a16z #MobileGames #IndieGameDev #GamingIndustry #GameIndustryUpdates #gamedev