Stuff Worth Knowing for the Week of October 17, 2022
G4 TV shuts down, Elon Musk wants to gut Twitter, and Netflix finds good news in its financial earnings report.
Welcome back to Stuff Worth Knowing! Each week, I'll round up news related to tech, video games, film, television, anime, and more. At the end of each newsletter, there will be a section called On The Calendar, which will include some of those notable dates that are near-term.
Sorry about the delay. Busy week. Without further ado, let's get into the news.
Video Games 🎮
G4 TV Shuts Down Again
Just a year after its initial relaunch, Comcast's G4 TV has been shuttered again. The network launched with a huge studio, big names, and a lot of resources. Those resources dwindled away as the year continued and G4 TV simply didn't find an audience to keep it sustainable. The Washington Post's Launcher has an excellent story about what happened behind the scenes, citing terrible management, a lack of vision, and dwindling support for the employees.
Why It's Worth Knowing: This is the second time in recent memory that a ton of money has been spent on gaming coverage with nothing to show for it. The previous false start was VENN, an esports startup that launched back in 2019 and essentially closed in 2021. It also established a mega-budget studio space — in Playa Vista, instead of Burbank where G4 TV's studio is located — and spent a ton on popular hosts and creative talent.
"Even though G4 has a lot more going for it than VENN. It is going to run into the exact same problems. I do not see a future for them," Rod 'Slasher' Breslau told Input in a story about VENN's failure published earlier this year.
It has to be said that VENN and G4 TV probably started too big and too hot. KindaFunny Games recently moved into its larger studio, the Spare Bedroom, but that was years into a successful operation. These things take time to build properly.
G4 TV's closure also follows a general contraction in available games media positions. Future laid off staff at TechRadar Gaming, Android Central, Windows Central, and iMore, while Tencent cut most of the editorial staff at my own site, Fanbyte. Vice slashed a number of positions at its tech-focused Motherboard vertical and GameInformer also cut employees in July of this year. And that's not even counting the industries that this sector of media is covering: there have been layoffs at Microsoft, a planned staff reduction at Intel, hiring freezes at Meta, and a report that potential new owner Elon Musk is going to gut Twitter staff when he takes over. The recession is a bad time for labor.
Netflix Says It Has 55 More Games in Development For Its New Service
Earlier this week, Netflix released its financial earnings for the third quarter of 2022. In a letter to investors, the company also touted its new focus on video games. While the gaming offerings haven't really taken off with Netflix's existing subscribers, Netflix is still looking forward.
The company says that in addition to the 35 games already available on its service, it has another 55 games in development. "With 55 more games in development, including more games based on Netflix IP, we’re focused in the next few years on creating hit games that will take our game initiative to the next level. More generally, we see a big opportunity around content that crosses between TV or film and games," said the company in the letter.
It also pointed to cross-media synergy, noting how the Netflix anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners revitalized Cyberpunk 2077 on consoles. It's hoping that there's potential to make that happen with its own games in the future.
While at TechCrunch Disrupt 2022, Netflix VP of Gaming Mike Verdu said that the company hopes "over time that the balance is like 50% Netflix IP." Verdu also stated that Netflix was looking at cloud gaming, chalking Google Stadia's failure up to "some issues with the business model."
Why It's Worth Knowing: When the biggest streamer steps into gaming, it's always worth keeping an eye on. Even if the initiative is dead within a year or two, there's still a ton of disruption within the industry. With Netflix buying up some smaller studios and building its own, the company will suck up a sizable chunk of the gaming industry.
The Sims 4 Goes Free as EA Announced Project Rene
On Tuesday, Electronic Arts held The Sims Summit, where it made a number of announcements related to the life simulation franchise. The first major announcement was that The Sims 4 would be going entirely free. This is the base game only, of course, with all the additional expansions still requiring further purchases.
EA will still be creating new expansions for The Sims 4 and it announced that a future expansion coming in 2023 would add infants. It also announced Project Rene, the "next generation game" in The Sims franchise. "This name was chosen to be reminiscent of words like renaissance and rebirth to represent the team’s renewed commitment to The Sims’ bright future. Project Rene will fundamentally evolve how Sims think and behave, how players create and customize their worlds, and innovate in entirely new ways," said EA.
Why It's Worth Knowing: The Sims is absolutely huge for Electronic Arts. Finding new ways to expand its very enthusiastic fanbase is clearly on the publisher's mind. We don't know what shape Project Rene will take, though the fact that it’s not just called "The Sims 5" is interesting.
Microsoft Is Building a New Mobile Game Store
Microsoft is fighting tooth and nail to win the regulatory approval needed to acquire Activision Blizzard. The acquisition is currently under review by the UK Competition & Markets Authority, though the organization seems to be against it. In its response document to the UK group, Microsoft revealed that it is attempting to build a "next generation game store."
"The Transaction will improve Microsoft’s ability to create a next generation game store which operates across a range of devices, including mobile as a result of the addition of Activision Blizzard’s content. Building on Activision Blizzard’s existing communities of gamers, Xbox will seek to scale the Xbox Store to mobile, attracting gamers to a new Xbox Mobile Platform. Shifting consumers away from the Google Play Store and App Store on mobile devices will, however, require a major shift in consumer behaviour. Microsoft hopes that by offering well-known and popular content, gamers will be more inclined to try something new."
The Xbox App is already available on Android and iOS devices, but it sounds like this would be a further expansion of that offering. This would also not be Microsoft's first attempt at an app store. The Microsoft Store still exists, there's just not a preponderance of users that really use the store on a regular basis. Trying to court users and third-party vendors is a huge uphill battle for Microsoft.
The War For Premium Controllers Heats Up
Premium controllers are a space that's normally ceded to independent third-party vendors like Scuf, Nacon, and Turtle Beach. Microsoft has offered the Xbox Elite controller for some years now, but it's starting to expand on the product recently.
The Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 Core just released for PC and Xbox Series S/X and Microsoft just announced that the controller will be available on the Xbox Design Lab. The lab lets users design controllers with unique color combinations, with the Elite 2 Core controllers costing $149.99 through the service. (The base Elite 2 Core is $129.99 with additional Elite accessory packs costing up to $69.99.)
Sony is also getting into the premium controller space with the upcoming launch of the DualSense Edge for PlayStation 5. The wireless controller is modular and features additional rear triggers. The DualSense Edge is going on pre-order on October 25 for $199, with a global launch on January 26.
Why It's Worth Knowing: Current generation gaming consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X generally sell to enthusiasts first, and those enthusiasts are also the folks that'll buy premium controllers. At $150-200, these controllers are a third of the price of the consoles they work with, which is not a great value. But for some enthusiasts, price is no barrier and this is a way for hardware manufacturers to make some profit.
Tech ⌨️
Elon Musk Reportedly Looking to Cut Twitter Workforce by 75%
We are still in the throes of whatever's going on between Elon Musk and Twitter. With a legal battle looming, Musk decided to recommit to buying the social media giant for $44 billion. That deal is expected to close next Friday, but nothing can be simple in this situation. The Washington Post released a report this week noting that Musk told investors that he planned to cut nearly 75% of the company's current workforce: going from 7,500 employees to around 2,000. Twitter was already planning some cuts to infrastructure and workforce, but Musk's slashing has been called "unimaginable" by former Twitter employee and data scientist Edwin Chen.
The report didn't help with the current morale at the company. Hard to keep being productive if you're afraid your job will be gone in a week. Twitter executives apparently released an internal memo addressing the concerns. "We do not have any confirmation of the buyer’s plans following close and recommend not following rumors or leaked documents but rather wait for facts from us and the buyer directly," said Twitter general counsel Sean Edgett in the memo, according to a story by The New York Times. It didn't help.
Why It's Worth Knowing: You can't really run a proper social media company without infrastructure and moderation. It really sounds like Musk is ready to gut the company just to reach any sort of profitability, meaning it's likely he'll kill Twitter to save his bottom line. Terrible.
Microsoft Lays Off Around A Thousand Employees
Microsoft laid off a large number of employees this week, across multiple divisions. The first indication of these layoffs came from a report by Axios, but this report was quickly followed by many employees noting their unemployed status on Twitter. A source told Axios that the company parted ways with under 1,000 employees. This marks another major tech company contraction, following Meta freezing future hires and Intel also laying off a significant chunk of its workforce.
Lead Hardware Designer Evans Hankey is Leaving Apple
It looks like Apple needs to find a new design boss. Evans Hankey, the current industrial design vice president at the company, is leaving in six months. Hankey replaced long-time Apple design boss Jony Ive when he left the company to start his own design firm. There is currently no stated replacement for Hankey, nor any indication of where she's going.
Why It's Worth Knowing: This is the person who handles the look of Apple devices from top to bottom, and aesthetic is one of the company's primary exports. Sure, they'll likely promote someone internally, but those are some big shoulders to fill within Apple.
Apple Announces 2022-2023 iPad Pro With M2 Chip
Apple is bringing the M2 chip and Wi-Fi 6E to the iPad Pro this year. The company just announced the sixth-generation refresh of its top-line tablet. The new iPad Pro is available today for online sales, with an in-store release coming October 26. The 11-inch model starts at $799, while the 12.9-inch model begins at $1,099. The new iPad Pro comes alongside the launch of iPadOS 16.1, which is scheduled for launch this month.
As a tangent, two weeks ago Google's announced of a dock that would turn the Pixel Tablet into a home smart display. It seems Apple is planning something similar, according to Bloomberg. Apple's rumored dock would be ready for release in 2023. That would represent Apple's bigger push into smart home devices, as the company currently only offers the HomePod.
Film, Television, and Streaming 🎞️
Netflix Boasts a Positive Quarter, Adding New Subscribers
After a drubbing in the media due to a loss of subscribers in the last two quarters, Netflix has finally bounced back with a positive quarter. On Tuesday, the company released its financial results for the third quarter of 2022. Netflix added 2.4 million subscribers during the quarter, which was actually ahead of projections of 1 million subscribers. The streamer also offered projections of 4.5 million new subscribers for the fourth quarter.
In response, Netflix as a whole breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, thank God, we're done with shrinking quarters. That's a big feeling of — we're back to the positivity. Obviously, this quarter and the guidance for Q4 are reasonable, not fantastic but reasonable. And then we got to pick up the momentum," said Netflix CEO Reed Hastings during the earnings call.
Why It's Worth Knowing: Netflix's essentials haven't really changed a ton over the past few quarters. Revenue and net income are only slightly fluctuating. What did change over the last two quarters was the story of Netflix's invincibility and infinite growth. Growth in subscribers, alongside the massive success of Stranger Things Season 4 and Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story, puts that story back in place. Combined with an expansion in operations — both a new focus on video games and the upcoming launch of the ad-supported plan — and Netflix now has a better story to tell investors.
House of the Dragon Season Finale Leaks Online
If you're hotly anticipating the season final of House of the Dragon on HBO and HBO Max this Sunday, you should watch yourself online. The episode has already leaked! HBO says that the leak came from a distribution partner in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa (EMEA).
"We are aware that the tenth episode of House of the Dragon has been posted on illegal torrent sites. HBO is aggressively monitoring and pulling these copies from the internet," an HBO spokesperson told Variety.
Why It's Worth Knowing: If it wasn't for Netflix's hold on streaming, House of the Dragon would be one of the biggest shows airing right now. Everyone is watching it, so knowing that leaks are floating around is just me giving you a Public Service Announcement.
BTS Continues Hiatus As Members Enter South Korean Military Service
BTS is the biggest k-pop music act and probably one of the biggest musical groups worldwide. This week, its agency announced this week that members of the group would be entering military service. South Korea has a mandatory period of two years of military service for all men, something most elder k-pop boy groups have to contend with.
Management agency Big Hit Music announced that Jin, the eldest member of the group, would be starting his military service after his solo album release in October. Other members will enter the service after Jin, on their own schedules. Big Hit says that it expects the full group to return around 2025.
Why It's Worth Knowing: Again, BTS is probably one of the biggest musical acts in the world. While in military service, members cannot promote their music, meaning for a few years, the full power of BTS will be slightly muted. Expect more solo albums that will probably sell very well, but for a moment there will be a void. Filled by… I don't know… Stray Kids?
Superhero Watch: DC Films Looking For New Leadership and Harrison Ford Joins the MCU
DC Films boss Walter Hamada has left Warner Bros. Discovery, even as a film he produced, Black Adam, lands in theaters. Hamada has run the division since 2018 and had a contract that was supposed to take him to 2023, but following WBD's cutting of Batgirl, Hamada decided he didn't want any part of the new regime. According to Deadline, current studio chiefs Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy convinced Hamada to at least stay long enough for Black Adam's launch. Despite being a part of the production, Hamada did not attend the red carpet for the film.
That leaves Warner Bros. Discovery still hunting for a replacement for Hamada, if they replace him at all. Warner Bros. Motion Pictures co-chief Michael De Luca is a comics fan — he helped produce the first Blade and both Ghost Rider films — so it's been floated that he might take over control of DC Films.
Also, Harrison Ford is joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe as General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross, the role left vacant by the death of actor William Hurt. Deadline reports that Ford will pick up the role for Captain America: New World Order, followed by an appearance in Thunderbolts. Ford is famous for hating the Star Wars press junkets, so it’s surprising that he's signing on for Marvel ones, but the paychecks are probably great.
On The Calendar 📅
Here's the interesting stuff that's coming over the next week or so.
Gamescom Asia 2022 - October 20-23
Steam Halloween Sales - October 28-November 1
AMD RNDA 3 Event - November 3, 1:00 PM PDT / 4:00 PM EDT