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Happy Tuesday Creators!

I hope your week kicked off on a high note, filled with memorable moments and new opportunities. If you missed the latest scoop from Nintendo Direct, don’t worry—I've got you covered with all the juicy details. If you’re a big fan of 2010’s Epic Mickey, you’re in for a welcome surprise. That’s all I’ll say right now (read the update below!).

This week has not been kind to gaming studios. We received word of more layoffs at Supermassive Games and Sony PlayStation Studios. Seems like this trend isn’t ending any time soon.

Dive into this week's top stories in the realm of gaming, streaming, and content creation. And hey, don't skip out on the Tuesday To-Dos section. I've dropped some golden opportunities for you creators out there.

Keep those streams lively and your spirits high.

Happy streaming!

Dim

✅Tuesday To-Dos

Every week I curate 🖐️ actionable tasks to help you improve your content. See what’s new this week 👇

1. 🤑Opportunity - StreamBee is adding Free Game Keys and In-Game Rewards to its Live Stream Analytics product.

2. 🤑Opportunity - Love Dying Light 2? Join the Techland Creator Program!

3. 💸Impulse Buy - Get WobbleDogs, Loop Hero and 6 other titles as part of Humble Bundle’s IGN Fan Fest.

4. 🚨Plan - The Women-Led Games Showcase is right around the corner. Plan to catch it live on March 8-10!

5. 🥳Celebrate - Happy Pokémon Day! Catch the Pokémon Presents for the latest updates.

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🥇This Week’s Top Stories

Layoffs Continue Sending Shockwaves Through the Gaming Industry

Let's talk about the rollercoaster ride the gaming world's been experiencing the last few months. Supermassive Games and Sony's PlayStation Studios are joining the not-so-exclusive club of layoffs that's plaguing the industry, highlighting just how shaky things have been for the creatives making our favorite games.

So, Supermassive Games, the brains behind gems like "Until Dawn" and the "Dark Pictures Anthology," just dropped some pretty heavy news. They're having to say goodbye to about 90 of their 350 team members. It's a tough scene, especially since they've tried really hard to dodge this bullet. They're feeling the pinch from all the crazy stuff going on in the gaming world, just like everyone else.

And then there's Sony, hitting us with the news that they're trimming down their PlayStation squad by about 900 people, which is like 8% of their entire staff. This shake-up is stirring things up in some of the coolest studios around, including Insomniac, Naughty Dog, and Guerrilla. Plus, they're axing some games that were in the works. Jim Ryan, the big boss at Sony Interactive Entertainment who's on his way out, says this move is all about keeping up with the times and making sure Sony stays on top of its game.

But let's be real, this isn't just happening at Supermassive and Sony. The gaming industry's been on a bit of a job-cutting spree, with big names like Microsoft also slimming down their teams. It's a tough time with a lot of talented folks facing uncertainty, and it's all down to the industry feeling the heat from a bunch of different angles – be it money issues, changing tastes, or just trying to stay relevant.

What really hits hard is how these layoffs shake up the creative side of things. Game making is all about creativity, innovation, and bringing cool new ideas to life. But with studios having to scrap projects and tighten belts, we're risking the loss of what makes gaming so special. Plus, it's a bummer for everyone working in games.

As we navigate through these choppy waters, it's super important for gaming companies to strike the right balance. They've got to keep the lights on while also making sure they're a place where creativity can flourish. These recent layoffs are a wake-up call, reminding us how fragile things can be in the gaming world. But, it's also a chance to reflect on how the industry can bounce back stronger, staying true to its roots of pushing boundaries and bringing us the amazing gaming experiences we all love.

Missed Nintendo Direct? Here is Everything That Was Announced!

Nintendo's latest Direct was a smorgasbord of gaming goodness, dishing out a mix of nostalgia and fresh adventures. For those who missed the live stream, let's break it down and chat about the highlights.

First up, Obsidian's Grounded and Pentiment are making the leap to the Nintendo Switch. Pentiment is available now, with Grounded following in April. It's a big deal seeing Xbox titles finding a new home on the Switch. It seems like exclusives are not as great for business.

Now, let's talk about Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. This June, we're getting the first new entry in over ten years, and it's bringing multiplayer mayhem for up to 16 players. Adventure Mode is also getting juiced up with 200 new stages.

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is like a love letter to fans of the original games. This March, we're getting both games bundled with new maps, characters, and a mode called Hero Assault. It's a blast from the past with a fresh coat of paint, ready to lure in both veterans and newcomers.

On the quick hits side, classics like Killer Instinct and Battletoads in Battlemaniacs are now on Switch Online, Epic Mickey Rebrushed brings back the 2010 hit with new tricks, and Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance offers an enhanced version of the 2021 RPG. Endless Ocean Luminous is diving in this May, and South Park: Snow Day is confirmed for the Switch, too.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist promises a dark fantasy adventure, while Monster Hunter Stories is getting a remaster. As for Gundam Breaker 4, it's shaping up to be a mecha fan's dream, allowing players to craft their ultimate Gundam from over 250 Mobile Suits. And let's not forget, Mother 3 is finally hitting the Switch Online in Japan, a move sure to spark envy and hope among fans worldwide.

If you’re like me and have some great memories with some of these classic titles, you’re eating real good this year. And if you’ve never played these titles before, I hope you pick one or two of them up to see what all the buzz is about!

Esports legends Scump & H3CZ (and other Call of Duty league owners) are taking Activision to court over a whopping $680 million, alleging it has a "unlawful 100% monopoly over" Call of Duty League (CDL).

The lawsuit refers to many restrictions that CDL had on teams including "exclusive rights to contracts with the most lucrative sponsors" and "restricting teams from participating in or supporting any other Call of Duty leagues or tournaments other than Activision CDL.

One example of these restrictions includes forcing participating teams to pay $27.5 million just for the privilege of entering CDL. This not only sounds like a scam, but also prevents other teams who can't pay that fee from entering tournaments.

Activision has since responded to the lawsuit sharing their intent to defend themselves against these claims. This lawsuit is a HUGE deal. The outcome could set precedents for how companies like Activision engage with esports teams and its players.

OpTic is essentially the face of professional Call of Duty, being a main draw to these events. It will be interesting to see how Activision chooses to combat these claims while maintaining a amicable relationship with team OpTic. Because if they lose OpTic permanently...well lol.

• Australia, Canada, and the UK see increases, with Turkey facing a quadruple jump. Learn More

• Following a series of blocks, Turkey's National Lottery Administration has now restricted access to Twitch. See how its already effecting viewership.

• South Korea slapped a $327,000 penalty on Twitch for suspending VODs, breaching the Telecommunications Business Act. Learn More

• Twitch introduces a dedicated shelf for the Drum and Bass music category. Browse Twitch Music

• Secure your spot for the TwitchCon Rotterdam event now!

• This Black History Month, YouTube is spotlighting incredible content from talented Black creators. See full article.

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🎙️ Creator News

• Dive into a revealing 50-minute interview with YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, hosted by Ludwig.

• Ludwig launches a new show called "Intern" through his company OFFBRAND – catch the teaser trailer here.

• Valkyrae, Fuslie, and Ylona Garcia team up to release a captivating song titled "Echoes".

• Hasan Piker gets roasted after claiming that streaming is harder than a 'real job'. Here’s the clip.

• Marques Brownlee secures a lucrative $1M partnership with Ridge, marking a significant milestone.

• YouTube channel Easy, Actually hits the ground running, surpassing 100K subscribers with just THREE videos in a month.

• Parenting YouTuber Ruby Franke faces a 30-year prison sentence after admitting to physically and emotionally abusing her children.

• Twitch shares some inspiring words from Gamer of the Year winner, Jynxzi. Check it out if you need a little encouragement today!

🔴Streaming News

• Aaron Bushnell, an active-duty senior airman, livestreamed his protest against US-Israeli military action against Gaza. Bushnell filmed his self-immolation in front of a Israeli Embassy in D.C. and succumbed to his injuries shortly after. [The link does not show any footage of the livestream]

• TikTok published a white paper covering current trends in mobile gaming. Victoria Tran (Among Us, Wholesome Games or InnerSloth) has a handy Twitter thread outlining the most important takeaways from the white paper.

• ESL/FACEIT Group unveils FACEIT Watch, a new home for esports content, launched on February 8th.

• Livespace introduces custom emote slots, now with animated GIF support. Check it out.

• Livespace's live studio gets a major update! Learn more.

• In a bid to boost user engagement, Instagram tests new live-stream games. Read the details.

🎮 Gaming News

• IGN Fan Fest's is covering exclusive interviews, movie trailers, game trailers and more! Watch the 2-part Game Trailer Showcase on their YouTube channel. View Part 1 / View Part 2

• Today is the last day to unlock exclusive in-game items for Nightingale via Twitch Drops

• Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection is now available on the PS4 and PS5. See the trailer here.

• If you’re a fan of Lethal Company, you can try the Lethal Company Fortnite map in UEFN

• The Gayming Awards return for its fourth year. Catch it on April 7th, 2024 at 2pm PT! See this year’s nominees here.

• NVIDIA is launching a new app beta that will merge Control Panel and GeForce Experience. The new app will help you manage driver updates, fine tune game and driver settings, and give you access to apps like GeForce NOW and NVIDIA Broadcast. Learn more on the NVIDIA blog post.

• Riot Games’s Executive Producer, Tom, announces the official name of their upcoming 2v2 tag-based fighting game, 2XKO (formerly Project L).

• Someone modded Cyberpunk 2077 to make it the most photorealistic game ever made Watch Video

• Sony announces the closure of PlayStation London Studios as part of a 900 employee lay off, around 8% of its global headcount. This will impact PlayStation Studios including Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, Guerrilla Games, and Firesprite.

🥳You Made It To The End!🥳
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Thank you so much for reading and I hope to see you next week!

-Dim

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