Actor from Final Fantasy 16 questions game industry’s job security amidst mass layoffs: “Shouldn’t we take this seriously?

Final Fantasy 16's Clive looks bashfully at Jill, who is off screen
(Image debt: Square Enix)

Ben Starr, the voice behind Final Fantasy 16’s major male Clive, called out the video clip game market’s current instability in a viral clip.

Ahead of his Golden Joystick win for Best Lead Performer, Ben Starr was inquired about whether 2023 was the very best year for games. Considering the number of first-class games generated from this year, in both the smash hit and indie room, it’s not a surprise to see Starr concur that this was an “astonishing year for the video games that have been made, but not necessarily for the industry that it reflects.” 

“Honestly, are we going to get serious?” the star asks in the meeting clip listed below. “It’s not a great year for video games in so far as all of the layoffs – it’s not great for that, and that needs to be spoken about at an event like this. Maybe there is something missing because a lot of people who made those games are no longer working at those companies and I think that also has to be respected.” 

Starr proceeds: “Hopefully this is the worst that it gets – I fear that it isn’t – but I hope the industry figures out a way of course correcting and allowing those people who made these games we’re celebrating today to celebrate them as well and not be on the unemployment line.”

Layoffs and work instability have actually constantly been concerns in the market, yet in 2023, the issue appears to have actually swollen as practically every significant technology business made cuts. Embracer Group – the megacorp that’s gotten on an investing spree for many years – shut down the Saints Row studio, given up team at the Tomb Raider studio, and is considering up extra workshop closures prior to the vacations. 

Microsoft laid off 10,000 staff throughout all divisions. CD Projekt Red experienced three rounds of layoffs. Epic Games let go of 830 employees in spite of Fortnite’s record-breaking efficiency. BioWare and Bungie given up team that had actually been with the particular firms for over 20 years, reportedly delaying Destiny 2’s next expansion and the Marathon reboot. And those instances just scrape the surface area of just how alarming 2023 has actually been for designers, in spite of the market’s development. 

GTA 6’s publisher blames the layoffs on “the enthusiasm of the pandemic,” and believes that some companies overextended themselves during lockdown.

 

Source: gamesradar.com

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