As a seasoned game developer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of dismay and disappointment upon hearing Chris Deering’s recent remarks about the industry layoffs. While I understand that business is a complex beast and sometimes tough decisions have to be made, his cavalier attitude towards the plight of many dedicated professionals in our field is nothing short of appalling.
In 2024, there were significantly high dismissals in the video game industry, affecting around 11,500 employees from companies like Ubisoft, Bungie, and numerous others. However, Chris Deering, a former executive at Sony, is facing criticism for asserting that these job losses are not due to corporate avarice.
In a recent interview on Simon Parkin’s Eurogamer podcast, titled “My Perfect Console,” Deering – a past president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe – expressed his viewpoint regarding the widespread job cuts shaking up the gaming sector.
Deering stated, “It seems unfair to imply that the layoffs were caused by greed. If our latest game didn’t generate sufficient income from consumers, it will be challenging to continue investing in the next one.
It appears that there is a kernel of truth in Deering’s statements. The flop of Sony’s hero shooter Concord has resulted in an estimated eight years of development costs being non-recoverable. This setback could lead to job losses at Firewalk Studios, the team responsible for the game, due to its unsuccessful launch. However, after making his initial point, Deering went on to make further comments that might not present him in the most favorable light.
Deering expressed that while the managers might be experiencing significant discomfort, he doesn’t believe mastering this skill set in game development equates to a life of financial struggle or constraints. He emphasized that this field is still thriving and compared it to navigating through a pandemic – one must adapt, find ways to cope, perhaps take on additional jobs like driving for Uber, move to a less expensive location, and even consider taking a break at the beach. However, he advised staying informed about the industry, as stepping away can make it harder to rejoin later on.
Suffice to say, driving an Uber or going “to the beach for a year” aren’t viable options for everyone, especially skilled professionals who have dedicated themselves to this industry. Executives may be able to more easily weather the turbulence in their careers than the rank-and-file workers, but that doesn’t mean they can simply dismiss what everyone else is going through. That’s why Deering is currently being roasted on social media. Warning: There is some very strong language used in the following posts.
Advice from former @PlayStation boss Chris Deering @chrisdeering for when you get laid off:
– move to a cheaper place
– go to the beach
– drive Uber
– most importantly, get over it 👍— The Layoff Tracker 🚨 (@WhatLayoff) September 10, 2024
It seems that Chris Deering is utterly unchangeable. One might wonder, given his behavior, why individuals like him continue to hold leadership positions in video game companies.
— Ashley Kampta (@ashley_kampta) September 10, 2024
I found myself disagreeing vehemently with some of Chris Deering’s quotes in this article. His advice to “go off and find a cheap place to live” is simply baffling, given the current housing market. It’s hard not to get frustrated by such out-of-touch suggestions.
— Harún Ali (@RetroAli93) September 10, 2024
22,000 video game developers have been let go. Chris Deering suggests, “Take a trip to the beach or drive for Uber.
— IWGB Game Workers (@IWGB_GW) September 10, 2024
People sometimes make careless comments during casual conversations that they might reflect more on under normal circumstances. However, if Chris Deering genuinely believes that greed is irrelevant to layoffs and suggests that those impacted should work for Uber instead, then I suspect he could be contributing to the issue at hand, folks.
— Ryan T. Brown 🎮🩷 (@Toadsanime) September 10, 2024
As a fan, I can’t help but imagine myself spending an entire year at the beach, if Chris Deering were to cover the costs personally. To me, it just seems like a fair deal given his resources and my love for the sea!
— skrunkly (@skrunkled) September 10, 2024
The backlash from this discussion may follow Deering around for a long time. But in the interim, no one knows how many more layoffs will arrive in 2024, or when the industry will reverse that trend.
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2024-09-10 16:39