this post was submitted on 25 Oct 2024
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As the Prince of Persia Metroidvania team disbands, Baldur's Gate 3 dev says if Ubisoft wants "subs over sales" then "developers must get used to not having jobs" (www.gamesradar.com)
submitted 3 weeks ago by inclementimmigrant to c/pcgaming
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[–] [email protected] 45 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

This headline is... well, not great. Here's the entire quote from Larian Studios' publishing director:

The last notable game on their platform was arguably Far Cry 6 in 2021. The Crew, Mirage and Avatar came in 2023 and didn’t perform, so you can assume subscriptions were at a lull when PoP released by 2024. Which means people wouldn’t be launching their store all too much.

If it had released on Steam not only would it have been a market success, but there would likely be a sequel because the team are so strong. It’s such a broken strategy. The hardest thing is to make a 85+ game — it is much, much easier to release one. It just shouldn’t be done as it was. If the statement “gamers should get used to not owning their games” is true because of a specific release strategy (sub above sales), then the statement “developers must get used to not having jobs if they make a critically acclaimed game” (platform strategy above title sales) is also true, and that just isn’t sensible — even from a business perspective.

I dunno. That's hopefully less misleading and confusing? The article really doesn't bring much to the table imo.

Anyways, fuck Ubisoft.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 weeks ago

So Larian is calling attention to predatory employment practices, as they have done before, and this time they're doing it by comparing the situation to predatory sales practices, and criticizing them in the comparison

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 weeks ago

Still confusing as hell.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 weeks ago

it was time to unionize a decade or two ago

[–] Etterra 7 points 3 weeks ago

I hope they go start up indie studios. Fuck Ubisoft.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

The size of some of these game dev teams are ridiculous. Better games can be made with less than half the people working on it. Also, screw gaming subscriptions. Greedy fuckers.

[–] SendMePhotos 2 points 3 weeks ago

Indie ftw. Could developers negotiate for % of royalty/subs income?

[–] Sanctus 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Lol, lmao they deserve it for saying such asinine shit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

it's not the devs saying it, but it's the devs who are punished

[–] Sanctus 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Never said the devs did. Ubisoft execs said it and they deserve it.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

the quote is literally "developers must get used to not having jobs"

execs aren't the ones losing jobs with layoffs

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

If the statement “gamers should get used to not owning their games” is true because of a specific release strategy (sub above sales), then the statement “developers must get used to not having jobs if they make a critically acclaimed game” (platform strategy above title sales) is also true, and that just isn’t sensible — even from a business perspective.

The Larian guy isn't saying the quote seriously. He's saying it's the natural conclusion of the Ubisoft strategy and that it's bad for everyone, so Ubisoft better change their strategy.

[–] Sanctus 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Execs are the ones ordering the layoffs. The devs can make a worker co-op since they are the ones that actually produce shit.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

note that even in your fantasy the execs aren't losing out

[–] Sanctus 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Losing all their employees is not losing out, right.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

correct, because they'll just wriggle off to another company

you know you can just admit you read the title wrong and said something stupid, rather than doubling down? rather than pretending you meant something completely different

[–] Sanctus 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah I dont regret what I said. Ubisoft deserves to lose all its developers. Contrary to your belief, this will not kill the devs. Tech industries in general would benefit from alternative forms of management in business. They should all lose their jobs, and make a worker co-op that Ubisoft has no rights to. But go off, Pete, you sassy ancap.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

workers losing their jobs while executives keep theirs is bad

"go off sassy ancap" good lord it's like talking to a child

have a good one, mate

[–] Sanctus 1 points 3 weeks ago

Well as long as the workers have Stockholm syndrome and dont want to leave then yeah. But if you sap the talent out of a place, that talent wasn't rented by the worker from the company. They take it with them. You're under the impression these devs will go home and just sit on the floor. Not at all.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Of all the problems the industry has.
Needing to make ALL THE MONEY POSSIBLE, which make pretty much all sales look like they are underperforming