Halo is in a hostage situation - Redux

The eighth issue of Letter to a Gamer features lots of interesting news, a compact yet insightful review, and a comprehensive feature on Devolver Digital, one of the most reputable publishers on the market. I'd like to remind all readers that the Telegram group (join here) is now open to all members, as I'd like to create an even larger and more active community and jointly shape the future of this newsletter. As I do every week, I reiterate my thanks to my subscribers, whose contributions allow me to continue this project. Those who choose to support the newsletter financially not only get access to the full version (with the review of Digimon Story Time Stranger, tips of the week, and an in-depth analysis of the new Xbox Game Pass pricing), but also support independent journalism that remains ad-free, sponsor-free, and AI-free.

News index

+ Halo is in a hostage situation
- Hyperlight Breaker cuts 250 jobs
+ 63% of American gamers purchased two games or fewer in 2024 - Is this the dawn of the mainstream era for extraction shooters?
+ The Sims Mobile shuts down
- Two million-dollar games at opposite ends of the spectrum
+ Remedy CEO leaves the company after nearly 10 years
- Ubisoft Massive downgraded to a support studio

Halo Infinite art director Glen Israel has left 343 Industries (Halo Studios) after 17 years working on the franchise. His resignation is concerning because now that he's also jumped ship, nearly the entire nine-person art team that worked on Infinite has left 343.

His first project was Halo 3 ODST, and he's worked on every game in the franchise since. His farewell message on LinkedIn is not gentle, suggesting deep discontent with the leadership throughout the studio: "As of today, after seventeen long years, I will no longer officially contribute to the Halo universe. There's not much more I can say for now, though I intend to share this story in its entirety when it's absolutely safe to do so next year."

"I know the state of our industry seems dire, but never forget that you have the freedom to choose," he continues. "No illusion of security, no promise of wealth, fame, or power is worth trading your health, your dignity, your ethics, or your values ​​for, and no one can force you to do so. Be strong, gather evidence when necessary, and find your place."

The tone and content of the message do not bode well for the future of the franchise, even though a big announcement is planned for this weekend's Halo World Championship finals in Seattle. Speaking of good news, this final will be the last in the history of the HCS which will close for good after the event. Let's hope the announcement is one that can revive the series' fortunes.

Hyperlight Breaker cuts 250 jobs – Heat Machine, known for its unexpected indie hit Hyper Light Drifter, has laid off a significant number of those working on Hyperlight Breaker, the prequel to Drifter currently in early access. The game failed to innovate on the previous formula or attract a new fan base: just read the reviews on Steam to get an idea. Now the studio, which already cut dozens of jobs in 2024, has its hopes pinned on Possessor(s), a 2D beat 'em up published by Devolver, coming out November 11th.

63% of American gamers purchased two games or fewer in 2024 – Given that the video game market has never been so healthy, it's unclear whether the findings of the report by American polling firm Circana are bad news. If nothing else, it puts things into perspective and demonstrates how enthusiasts (not the masses) are the backbone of an increasingly specialized industry. Finding a niche is a strategy that works, and aiming to win over hardcore gamers is the strategy to follow when the developer doesn't have a million-dollar budget.

Is this the dawn of the mainstream era for extraction shooters? – The Arc Raiders server slam I mentioned last week recorded a peak of 180,000 concurrent players on Steam alone. Against all odds, hype for the game has remained high, despite it being a premium experience that will cost $40 at launch. Furthermore, Embark has already announced that wipes (the mechanic shared by all extraction shooters for resetting inventory and progression) will be optional and will reward those who choose them with cosmetics. If the game is successful, especially on the console market, it could be the genre's chance to break into the mainstream.

The Sims Mobile shuts down – EA will shut down The Sims Mobile on January 20, 2026, to make room for "two new projects". Launched in 2018, the game wasn't a huge success but has always held its own in terms of market share and profitability. The last update came out on October 21, and with it, the app was removed from the stores. As a thank you, users who own it now have everything unlocked "to build their dream home before the shutdown". When the servers shut down, microtransactions will not be refunded, so everything players have purchased will be irretrievably lost.

Two million-dollar games at opposite ends of the spectrum—Sonic Racing Crossworlds, the Mario Kart-esque title about the blue hedgehog's universe, and Escape From Duckov, an extraction shooter parody of Escape From Tarkov—have sold a million copies. The former in a month, the latter in a week.

Remedy CEO is leaving the company after nearly 10 years—Tero Virtala, at the helm of Remedy since 2016, has announced his resignation effective immediately; company co-founder Markus Mäki will temporarily replace him. The company recently released a decidedly negative earnings report due to the lack of success of FBC Firebreak, the team-based PvE live service, which generated profits only through licensing agreements with Sony and Microsoft's subscription services.

Ubisoft Massive demoted to a support studio – After the less-than-enthusiastic reception of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Rebels, Ubisoft Massive has been effectively demoted to a support studio, tasked with focusing on the Snowdrop Engine, Ubisoft Connect (the PC launcher), and The Division. The company has also initiated a series of initiatives to reduce staff, currently on a voluntary basis. This latest move is part of a restructuring initiated in partnership with China's Tencent, which must be implemented by the end of the year.

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See you at the next letter,
Riccardo "Tropic" Lichene