Detailed Summary of "Ubisoft Shuts Down XDefiant, Closes Multiple Studios" Episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily

Podcast Information:

• Title: Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast
• Host(s): Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Tim Gettys, Blessing Adeoye Jr., and Andy Cortez
• Episode Title: Ubisoft Shuts Down XDefiant, Closes Multiple Studios
• Release Date: December 4, 2024

Introduction

In this episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily, hosts Blessing Adeoye Jr. and Andy Cortez dive into a series of impactful news stories shaping the gaming industry. From significant studio closures at Ubisoft to the cancellation of a long-anticipated Avatar: The Last Airbender game, the discussion is both comprehensive and insightful. The hosts also explore the latest nominees for The Game Awards' Players Voice Award, providing their predictions and analysis.

Story 0.5: Marvel Rivals Trailers – Cloak and Dagger / Wolverine

Before delving into the main stories, Blessing and Andy take a moment to discuss the newly released trailers for Marvel Rivals. They express excitement and curiosity about the character designs and abilities being showcased.

Notable Discussion Points:

• Character Identification: Blessing remarks, "I was trying to like, which one is Cloak and which one is Dagger?" ([14:20]).
• Ability Mechanics: Andy analyzes the gameplay mechanics, noting, "It's time for some News. We have 5.5 stories today, Baker's Dozen starting with 0.5." ([13:02]) and later discusses the ability cooldowns in the trailer.

The hosts highlight the need for clearer character designs and more engaging ability displays to attract players and fans of the Marvel universe.

Story 1: Ubisoft Shuts Down X Defiant and Closes Multiple Studios

The primary focus of the episode is Ubisoft's recent announcement to discontinue X Defiant, a free-to-play live-service shooter, and the simultaneous closure of three production studios in San Francisco, Osaka, and Sydney. This move affects 277 employees worldwide, marking over half of the X Defiant team.

Key Details:

• Official Statement: Ubisoft's Chief Studios and Portfolio Officer, Marie Sophie Dewbert, stated, “Despite an encouraging start, the team's passionate work and a committed fan base, we've not been able to attract and retain enough players in the long run to compete at the level we aim for in the very demanding free to play FPS market.” ([27:03])
• Impact on Employees: Dewbert added, “To those team members leaving Ubisoft, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your work and contributions. Please know that we are committed to supporting you during this transition.” ([27:03])

Hosts' Analysis:

• Industry Volatility: Andy comments, “This story is just so emblematic of everything happening right now.” ([28:53])
• Market Challenges: Blessing observes, “X Defiant seemed maybe at first like it was doing better than even what I expected it to be doing. That felt like a dead on arrival game.” ([30:01])

The hosts discuss the broader implications of Ubisoft's decision, emphasizing the precarious nature of the gaming industry's financial stability and the challenges faced by new entrants in crowded genres.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Cortez: “This is just such a summary of everything. Like this one news story, this one event is such a microcosm of all of the industry.” ([27:03])
• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: “It's a lot about ecosystems and it's about people already not wanting to maybe go play this newer X Defiant game.” ([28:53])

Story 2: Cancellation of Avatar: The Last Airbender Game

Maximum Entertainment has canceled the Avatar: The Last Airbender multiplayer fighting game, disappointing fans who awaited its release. The game was intended to be a competitive title set in the beloved universe of the original series.

Key Details:

• Cancellation Announcement: Reported by Matthew Murphy at Comic Book Bear, the cancellation affects the AAA action RPG version developed by Saber Interactive remains in active development.
• Developer's Challenges: Blessing notes, “Saber Interactive's avatar game, described as a AAA action RPG, seemingly remains in active development.” ([44:15])

Hosts' Discussion:

• Genre Viability: Andy expresses skepticism, “How sad is it that you talk about this game and you say that it's a multiplayer fighting game and my immediate thought is that would never survive.” ([45:25])
• Fan Base Overlap: Blessing elaborates, “Those people are playing Tekken. Those people are playing Street Fighters.” ([51:32])

The conversation highlights the difficulty of merging a strong narrative-driven IP like Avatar with the competitive nature of fighting games, questioning whether the resultant game could sustain a dedicated player base.

Notable Quotes:

• Andy Cortez: “It just doesn't seem like a great decision. Like, I don't know what, it's such a splintered turtles reference.” ([49:18])
• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: “They let anybody. Like, it's... They just do a shotgun spread and just like, it goes everywhere.” ([48:49])

Story 3: The Game Awards Players Voice Award Nominees Revealed

The hosts shift focus to The Game Awards, discussing the newly revealed nominees for the Players Voice Award. This fan-selected category includes a diverse range of games, from blockbusters like Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree to ongoing favorites like Fortnite and Final Fantasy 14.

Nominees Include:

• Astrobot: Rescue Mission
• Black Myth: Wukong
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
• Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Hosts' Predictions:

• Blessing: "My prediction, Black Myth will come." ([56:23])
• Andy: "Stellar Blade will likely be there as well." ([57:07])

The discussion revolves around the popularity and impact of each nominee, with hosts debating which titles have the strongest support from the gaming community.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Miller: “That's not a different player.” ([55:52])
• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: “It's a different player's voice. We're not a monolith, Barrett.” ([55:53])

Story 4: Dragon Age Day Celebrations

Blessing highlights BioWare's celebration of Dragon Age Day, offering a free character creator and announcing upcoming updates. The event commemorates the enduring legacy of the Dragon Age series and engages the fanbase with new content.

Key Details:

• Free Character Creator: Available to players, allowing creative engagement with the game’s universe.
• Upcoming Updates: Announced updates are expected to enhance gameplay, although specifics remain under wraps due to a downed update page.

Hosts' Discussion:

• Blessing: “Happy Dragon Age Day.” ([61:09])
• Andy: “What does D4 stand for? Chad? Is that, like, in the lore?” ([61:12])

The hosts express enthusiasm for the ongoing support and development of the Dragon Age series, acknowledging its strong and loyal community.

Additional News: Studio Name Changes and Releases

Beyond the main stories, the episode covers several other news items impacting the gaming landscape:

• Umami Rebranding: Noble, the studio behind Chained Echoes, has rebranded to Umami.
• Sweet Bandits Closure: Developer Sweet Bandits is shutting down.
• Donkey Kong Land 3 Release: Now available on Nintendo Switch Online, sparking nostalgic reactions from the hosts.

Notable Quotes:

• Blessing: “Barrett is just shaking his head. One day we'll get 64. Not today.” ([62:53])
• Andy: “I have a year wrong for myself. This was as of June, though.” ([63:00])

Super Chats and Fan Interactions

The episode also features a segment where the hosts read and react to Super Chats from listeners, showcasing fan engagement and adding a personal touch to the discussion.

Notable Fan Comments:

• Alex Frazier: “I need incest by Andy Cortez.” ([65:56])
• Madognick96: “Minor clarification. The version of Tetris coming to nso. Use it from yesterday.” ([66:09])
• Oscar Navarro: “Loving the Kingdom Hearts rep from Blessing.” ([68:38])

Hosts' Reactions:

• Greg Miller: “I need it.” ([65:10])
• Andy Cortez: “It looks like Wolverine's a duo.” ([17:22])

The exchanges highlight the community's diverse interests and the hosts' ability to engage humorously with their audience.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts summarizing the discussions and encouraging listeners to support the podcast through memberships and social media engagement. They reflect on the volatility of the gaming industry, the challenges faced by developers and publishers, and the unwavering passion of the gaming community.

Final Remarks:

• Blessing: “I love you all so much. I made a shrine of your three heads.” ([66:26])
• Andy: “Thank you.” ([71:02])

The hosts sign off with a moment of Zen featuring the Stellar Blade soundtrack, leaving listeners with a sense of camaraderie and anticipation for future episodes.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Blessing Adeoye Jr.: “X Defiant seemed maybe at first like it was doing better than even what I expected it to be doing. That felt like a dead on arrival game.” ([30:01])
• Andy Cortez: “This is just such a summary of everything. Like this one news story, this one event is such a microcosm of all of the industry.” ([27:03])
• Greg Miller: “That's not a different player.” ([55:52])

This episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily offers a thorough exploration of recent significant events in the gaming world, underpinned by engaging discussions and insightful analysis from the hosts. Whether you're a dedicated gamer or someone interested in the industry's dynamics, this summary encapsulates the essence of the episode's content.