Microsoft傘下のゲームスタジオであるDouble Fineの従業員は、5月7日に労働組合を結成するため、全米労働関係委員会（NLRB）に申請書を提出した。正規およびパートタイムの従業員42名からなるこのグループは、会社側に対して選挙の実施および自主的な承認を求めている。この動きは、全米通信労働組合（CWA）が支援している。
この発表は、同スタジオの最新ゲーム『Kiln』がGame Passでリリースされた直後に行われた。Double Fineは『Psychonauts』などのタイトルで知られ、2018年にMicrosoftによって買収された。今回の申請は、Asha Sharma新CEOの下での独立したXboxスタジオにおける初の労働組合結成の動きとなる。
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Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and chief content officer Matt Booty announced the gaming division is reverting from 'Microsoft Gaming' to simply 'Xbox.' In a memo shared on Xbox Wire following an all-hands meeting, they addressed player frustrations and pledged to reevaluate the approach to game exclusivity. The move signals a renewed focus on console as the foundation amid broader platform ambitions.
Double Fine, the studio behind Psychonauts and Keeper, has revealed a release date for its multiplayer online party brawler Kiln. The game launches on April 23 across Xbox Series X/S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, PlayStation 5 and Steam, with day-one availability on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
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Xbox's chief content officer Matt Booty revealed that studios under the Xbox umbrella collaborate by sharing skills and technology. Examples include Blizzard assisting with cinematics for Playground Games' Fable reboot and Rare's Sea of Thieves team helping Double Fine with its upcoming game Kiln. Booty described this as a 'culture of cultures' where teams support each other without altering their identities.
Ubisoft has reached a confidential settlement with 61 former employees from its Halifax studio, who unionized before the studio closed. The union members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the deal, as announced by CWA Canada. Developers praised the company for respecting the union during negotiations.
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Subsidiary studios of publisher Nacon, including GreedFall: The Dying World developer Spiders, have filed for insolvency this week amid unpaid bills. French video game union Syndicat des Travailleuses du Jeu Vidéo blames Nacon's management for mismanagement and sabotaging viable teams. The crisis follows recent game launches and Nacon's own debt proceedings.
Microsoft has appointed Asha Sharma as CEO of Microsoft Gaming following the retirement of Phil Spencer and the departure of Sarah Bond. The move comes amid concerns over Xbox's direction and a focus on AI integration. Sources suggest varying interpretations, from a potential turnaround to a gradual wind-down of the division.
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Xbox CEO Asha Sharma stated she has not yet decided on returning to console exclusives, opting for a data-driven approach. In an interview and open letter released on April 24, Sharma and content chief Matt Booty outlined plans to fortify Game Pass, invest in hardware affordability, and establish a predictable content cadence. The announcements coincide with a new Xbox logo and leaks of a Game Pass Starter Edition.