The Human Cost Of Game Developer Layoffs | Spot On

2023 has been a rollercoaster for many reasons, but the video game industry in particular has hit some soaring highs and real tragic lows. This year has been fantastic for game releases in terms of quality, as we've had incredible experience across all platforms, from big-budget blockbusters and fascinating role-playing games to thoughtful, innovative indie titles. At the same time, however, the business of video games has been harsher than ever, with layoffs impacting many developers and studios.

It's easy to lose sight of the broader and lasting impact that this can have on the health of the video game industry, especially when so much of it is discussed in terms of business factors. On this episode of Spot On, Lucy and Tamoor talk about what's going on in the industry as it pertains to layoffs, but they focus on the human element, what it does to people, and how it could result in hurting the industry long-term.

Spot On is a weekly news show airing Fridays in which GameSpot's managing editor Tamoor Hussain and senior producer Lucy James talk about the latest news in games. Given the highly dynamic and never-ending news cycle of the massive video game industry, there's always something to talk about but, unlike most other news shows, Spot On will dive deep into a single topic as opposed to recapping all the news. Spot On airs each Friday.

Thank you to Crowsmack for providing the artwork used on the Spot On set. Find more of his work on his website.