➀ Amazon is reportedly downsizing its game development division significantly, with over 14,000 layoffs including major role reductions in the video games department. ➁ The company has decided to halt a significant amount of its first-party AAA game development work, particularly around MMOs. ➂ Despite the layoffs, Amazon is still working on some titles, including the next Tomb Raider and Maverick Games' upcoming racer.

➀ Marc-Alexis Côté, the former boss of Assassin's Creed, claims that Ubisoft asked him to 'step aside'; ➁ Côté worked at Ubisoft for over two decades and was in charge of Assassin's Creed for years; ➂ Ubisoft claimed that Côté left on his own accord, but Côté now says he was asked to leave.

➀ Marc-Alexis Côté, the head of the Assassin's Creed franchise, has announced his departure from Ubisoft after 20 years. ➁ His departure comes amidst a transition period for the franchise, following the formation of Vantage Studios in a partnership with Tencent. ➂ The future of the series, including the recently-cancelled post-civil war AC project, remains uncertain.

➀ The Stop Killing Games petition has gained over one million signatures in the EU; ➁ A lobbying group backed by major publishers has spoken out against the petition; ➂ The group argues that discontinuing online services is a necessary option for companies when online experiences are no longer viable.

➀ The voice actor for Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag hints at the upcoming remake; ➁ The game was first mentioned in 2023 and is now in early development stages; ➃ Despite starting later than other remakes, it may release before the Prince of Persia or Splinter Cell remakes.

➀ A writer sued Bungie for copyright infringement, claiming that Destiny 2's Red War campaign copied from his stories. ➁ Bungie tried to have the lawsuit dismissed, but the Red War missions are locked in the Content Vault, making it impossible to demonstrate differences. ➂ Bungie submitted YouTube videos and Wiki articles as evidence, but the judge ruled that they are not admissible as evidence.

➀ Assassin's Creed Shadows has become the second-best-selling game of the year in the US so far, trailing only Monster Hunter Wilds. ➁ The game reached 1 million players within hours of its launch and 3 million by the end of the first week. ➂ Despite being behind Monster Hunter in sales, Shadows is seen as a significant success for Ubisoft.

➀ The article discusses the increasing budgets for game development, particularly in the AAA space, with titles costing over $200 million. ➁ Ex-Insomniac Games CEO Ted Price shares his thoughts on the issue, emphasizing the need for creative solutions to rising costs. ➂ Price suggests that studios should identify the root causes of high costs and commit to finding real answers rather than just accepting rising costs.

➀ WB Games Montreal has had a rough couple of years with cancelled projects; ➁ The studio's latest release, Gotham Knights, followed by several rejected game pitches; ➂ Recent cancellations include a '1.5' version of Gotham Knights, Constantine, Joker, Flash, and a Game of Thrones game.

➀ Ubisoft is facing pressure with key executive Cameron Lee leaving Rainbow Six; ➁ The departure comes amidst financial struggles and a review of Ubisoft's core business; ➂ The impact on Rainbow Six content and Ubisoft's future projects is uncertain.

➀ Ex-Activision CEO Bobby Kotick expressed his desire for a new Guitar Hero release every month; ➁ His plan was revealed in Jason Schreier's book 'Play Nice'; ➂ The frequency of Guitar Hero releases between 2008-2010 contributed to the series' decline in popularity.

➀ Bungie decided to make Marathon a buy-to-play game last year due to the performance of 'The Finals'; ➁ Bungie hopes its prestige and experience in multiplayer games will convince players to buy Marathon; ➂ Despite being too far along to switch to a F2P model, Bungie plans to introduce cosmetic skins and premium battle passes.

➀ Diablo IV has earned over $150 million in microtransactions since its launch; ➁ The game's monetization strategy includes store cosmetics, pricing, bundle offers, and personalized discounts; ➂ Despite the controversy, microtransactions are a staple in the video game industry and are likely to stay for the long term.