2024 Gaming: Layoffs, Disney’s Fortnite Deal, and More

2024 Gaming: A Year in Review

2024 proved a momentous year in gaming, marked by significant events and trends. This post summarizes the biggest news stories.

Industry-Wide Layoffs

Layoffs significantly impacted the gaming industry in 2024, affecting major players like Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft’s cuts followed its Activision Blizzard acquisition, while Sony’s impacted Bungie. Other developers, including Riot, Unity, and EA, also experienced reductions. Contributing factors are complex, but the second half of 2024 saw a decline in layoffs compared to previous periods. Concerns remain about the potential impact of AI.

Disney’s Massive Fortnite Investment

Disney invested $1.5 billion in Epic Games to build a Disney metaverse within Fortnite. The partnership aims to create a virtual Disney World, integrating characters from various franchises. Disney views this collaboration as crucial for adapting to evolving consumer preferences.

Other notable events included a video game actors’ strike, Palworld’s controversial launch, the failure of a PlayStation exclusive, and the growing role of AI in game development.