On this episode we discuss the Playstation layoffs, the 2/21 Nintendo Partner Direct, and the 2/27 Pokemon Presents.
[00:00:00] And with that, I want to welcome everybody to Crashing Game Night.
[00:00:19] My name is Matt Diorio, your host.
[00:00:21] As always, tonight we're going a little OG style. There we go. There he is. What up, what up, what up? And joining Fashionably Late is the Maytridia services, the man with the couch, the man, the myth, the legend, the lion's man, Jason Ballerio. You know, that's how we do, you know, Fashionably Late. You minutes and going to see what's messed up about this.
[00:01:40] Right. Is here I am channeling my best.
[00:01:43] You know, Nathan Drake, right?
[00:01:46] Rocking the tan Henley. Hey, yeah.
[00:02:43] which is nowhere close to what the new head of PlayStation wants, which is no in terms of an operating margin.
[00:02:46] Unfortunately,
[00:02:48] Sony got hit hard in the last quarter.
[00:02:51] PlayStation wasn't doing what it's doing.
[00:02:53] It's normally its best division.
[00:02:54] The chip division was down 29%,
[00:02:58] which is huge because their camera chips are used in iPhones.
[00:03:03] They're used in androids, you know,
[00:03:07] but yeah, higher their camcorders, their cameras, mini discs, like CD changes, like they were all always priced higher. But I think what's awful about the news today, and we've been hearing about this, you know, back end of 23 this year. The layoffs already amounts to 70% of what was happening in last year.
[00:04:25] Across the board.
[00:05:22] Definitely gonna say, well, that's a big gesture. That's a nice gesture.
[00:05:24] Well, I mean, you know, like, you know.
[00:05:26] That's unheard of, I think.
[00:05:27] Hey, man, the difference between 5 million and like 4.5 million,
[00:05:32] dude, do you know how much that is?
[00:05:34] Do you know how much it is?
[00:05:35] That is a private chef, sir.
[00:05:37] That is a private chef.
[00:05:38] That is a bunch of private chefs.
[00:05:41] You know, like, I don't know how many chefs you need,
[00:05:43] but, you know, like, for one person,
[00:05:46] for one executive to have that, it was like an hour or two when everybody started posting, hey, I've been laid off and whatnot. And first I do want to say that the CGN fam that does work at PlayStation that we've had on the podcast are fine. Like they've all either checked in with me
[00:07:01] when I messaged them or they were posting,
[00:07:05] helping out trying to get some of their folks
[00:07:08] that were laid off jobs. Maybe Because they might have just been blindsided as well. He made just been like hey, I'm here celebrate. Okay. Bye, you know But that's insane dude. Um, that's ridiculous when you look at The blog post this now this is from sony interactive comms website. This is not PlayStation the PlayStation blog or anything
[00:08:23] So this is from Jim Ryan. It was posted this morning like first thing this morning Like I woke up to all of this happening, you know, and I'm sharing a copy of the email I sent out to the company this morning. This went out this morning. Okay, you know what I have to say as a company. It's a pretty smart play to really I mean with his exit. They could put all of all of the blame on him.
[00:09:41] Yeah.
[00:09:42] Oh, yeah, but here's the thing is right.
[00:09:44] You're you're sending out an email to tell your employees about this. and launch products and ensuring our organization is future ready in its rapidly changing industry, we have concluded that tough decisions have become inevitable. The leadership team and I made the incredibly difficult decision to restructure operations, which regrettably includes a reduction in our workforce impacting very talented individuals who have contributed to our success.
[00:11:00] After careful consideration and many leadership discussions
[00:11:03] over several months has become clear,
[00:11:05] changes need to be made to continue to grow the business
[00:11:08] and develop the company. America's EMEA, Japan and APAC, several PlayStation Studios are affected. I know that receiving this news will be hard on selling and you are wondering what this means for you. Timelines and procedures for how we approach this will be very based on your location due to local laws. For those in the US, all impacted employees will be notified today.
[00:12:21] Damn.
[00:12:22] So, email went out and then he said, by SIA, you're leading a company with our deepest respects and appreciations for all your efforts during your tenure. Oh, shit. For those who will be staying at SIA, we'll be saying goodbye to friends, colleagues
[00:13:40] that we cherish during this process, and this will be
[00:13:42] painful. Your resiliency, sensitivity and adaptiveness
[00:13:45] will be critical in the weeks and boards to answer to.
[00:16:05] Kind of thing but those two sent those two paragraphs pretty much says free leaving peace out
[00:16:10] Yeah, those are you staying you gonna have to take on their work now? That's right
[00:16:16] Let's let's be real let's be real so like if we lose 8% Oh, you know what everybody else got a cover that 8% that's all it is
[00:16:20] Well, I mean when you look at games like spider-man 2 right it costs 300 million to make that game
[00:17:23] They're physical disc versions. The $500 systems are making are now being sold at a profit.
[00:17:27] They're no longer being sold at a deficit.
[00:17:29] The all-digitals on the other hand are still being sold at a slight loss,
[00:17:33] but they're recouping that through, you know, game sales and stuff like that.
[00:17:38] But this is crap.
[00:17:42] Sony PlayStation is the number one console right now. And now look at look at what happened like Well, I think to that point right each Let's let's do that because they continued making cross generational games Right, and we've been saying in this for a while Jason was you know, really going after Xbox with this, right? Yeah, and I mean look look what happened. Look what happened. Look what happened. Yes
[00:20:04] And then let's look at this right Herman Hulse, who's the head of PlayStation Studios, right? We all know Herman is he's he was the former head of Gorilla. So I think this hits him a little bit
[00:20:09] probably because he was the former head. That really sucks. That that's gonna that's gonna make
[00:20:14] that's gonna break like a lot of timelines for PlayStation fans and our global community for studios represent some of the most creative and talented teams within the gaming industry.
[00:21:45] PlayStation 5 is in its fourth year and Studios committed to continuing, continually discovering ways to
[00:23:00] work together, collaborating, combining our efforts to ensure
[00:23:03] that we are able to craft games that push the boundaries of play
[00:23:06] and deliver what you expect from us. Hey, I'm done. You know, this is like, yeah, I'm in on the other hand You can tell I mean he's he's a leader. He's he's still saying hey this sucks, right? I don't want this to happen and he's kind of like Pointing out. Hey, this is kind of a little bit at a higher level why we did it, right? Because we need to do things
[00:24:22] So it is it is sad understandably, but it still feels like too little too late like
[00:25:23] They're never going to be able to compete with Nintendo that has all the family games. They're never going to be able to...
[00:25:25] I mean, they will be able to now compete with Xbox, with shooters and stuff, and quick,
[00:25:33] fast action-paced things.
[00:25:35] But I think that's where they need...
[00:25:38] They are going to refocus themselves, and I've been saying it from the get-go.
[00:25:42] Yes, it will take a lot longer because you have now less people Rebirth for, you know, like four of the three, four years now. And- Since 2020? Four years? Yeah, three, four years. And we're fine waiting. I mean, hell, we got Rebirth 10 years or something like that after it got announced. And we finally have it and everyone still loves it.
[00:27:03] There was a few games I wish I could say I could do,
[00:27:06] had the same thing while we can wait for, but you know. Yeah, because what is bungee making right now? Destiny that's it and destiny is dropping off badly. You look at actually with what? How does to just come out? Oh, yep, you look at Final shape apparently is not even close to half the number of pre-orders that they even
[00:28:21] forecasted
[00:28:22] It is doing worse
[00:28:24] than the the previous
[00:29:22] already abysmal when they were acquired.
[00:29:24] So I mean,
[00:29:27] you can only apologize. You know, it's hard so much.
[00:29:28] And I just so I just put this out there.
[00:29:30] OK, so when they were acquired in July of twenty two.
[00:29:34] Around July, twenty.
[00:29:36] Yeah, twenty two.
[00:29:37] Three point seven billion.
[00:29:41] It's how much they bought Bungie for.
[00:29:44] And yeah, so like my but you know, that's where they're at now and it sucks because Yeah, you're right that that could all of it allocated to the rest of the company and I think what it is is Microsoft started the arms race
[00:31:05] They went by Bethesda, yeah, it's so stupid because one
[00:32:20] day they only have five main items on their menu.
[00:32:25] And it's so popular because they do it right. at your console 10 years. So do you guys agree and agree with like the whole unionizing of? Yes, absolutely. Okay. Agreed as well. Yeah, I do too. But I think to Jason's point, really. I think there are more pros and cons to it now because look at what's happening.
[00:33:42] They're just getting more protected by this.
[00:33:45] I think it's yeah, it's just more for protection rather than making sure they believe. I still have I still have Nintendo. I still have a bunch of Sega and Rare games that make kids ask games that are easy to play, that everyone loves, that everyone knows. I'm going to charge 60 dollars forever on these games or ever on these games. We're going to talk even Black Friday. I can't get five dollars off.
[00:35:01] Good Lord. Jason, Luigi's Mansion 2.
[00:35:06] They announced it's going to be 60 dollars. Uh andrea and then everybody's caught, you know, we're all talking about this spring awareness that this is all bullshit Yet the biggest voice in gaming Jeff cheeley is quiet Like I just you have such he has such a big platform I mean again, he doesn't want to burn some bridges because he speaks out against playstation or
[00:36:24] You know xbox. He's never getting those guys on
[00:37:23] But I mean, this game is the second one that was a flagship game for the switch.
[00:37:29] It's like, it's how old and it's still.
[00:37:33] They did drop it for Black Friday though.
[00:37:35] That's why, I mean, Nintendo never changes prices
[00:37:39] because why?
[00:37:40] Because everyone still has to buy it.
[00:37:42] Everyone's gonna love it.
[00:37:43] Everyone's still gonna be family with it.
[00:37:46] Of course, they're gonna be hit and misses.
[00:37:48] Of course, they them under contract like an individual. They'll be contractors versus employees, right? Because still that benefits the. But here's the thing though, that doesn't actually benefit the company because I, from my job, I have a couple of contract employees and it costs my company more to have that, to have a contractor because you're paying some higher weight.
[00:39:02] It's, it's really dumb, but so let's talk about it.
[00:39:05] That sucks. Yeah. Let's talk about Nintendo though.
[00:40:03] So Grounded is coming out in April. They also announced Ender Magnolia Bloom in the Mist,
[00:40:07] which that one's going to be coming out in sometime this year.
[00:40:12] They had a unicorn overlord, which is kind of like a strategy based game.
[00:40:18] There's a demo out for I haven't downloaded it yet.
[00:40:20] Monster Hunter Stories was announced.
[00:40:25] I'm down.
[00:40:26] That's getting a it-op action game. That was funny. That looks fun. Sort of our online is getting another game. Gundam Breaker four is coming out. Super Monkey Ball is coming back. Then you have World of Goo two, fantasy life.
[00:41:44] Another crabs treasure, which Snake Rattle and Roll,
[00:43:02] I played the Everlink crap of as a kid on's also a square screen. So it's a tinier screen too. So you're not getting. Oh, so it's like original, original. So an that's old school game. But yeah, that's cool though. So and then with that, then we also got the the Pokemon presents today, which they announced, you know, today is Pokemon Day, which, which I didn't know the history behind it. But today is the day that red and green released originally. Way way back Pokemon. Yeah. So what they're doing, though, is you're going to get two packs of cards every day that you can open for free as part of this. You collect it, build your decks, which is kind of really cool. They were saying they put a lot of thought into it and whatnot.
[00:47:01] So that's supposed to be coming out this year,
[00:47:05] but you're going to be able to battle people, you know, and Every now what they're saying is the switch to is gonna launch March of 25 at its earliest So Well, it wouldn't be that big of a stretch to see
[00:48:23] That launching at the at the end so
[00:49:22] and what sort of. So I've got brilliant Pearl and sword.
[00:49:27] Oh, that I that I've got really and I do have scarlet,
[00:49:30] but scarlet is just like, so
[00:49:33] it'll be interesting to see what happens.
[00:49:34] You know what we see next year.
[00:49:36] I'm glad personally that
[00:49:41] we've got all these delays and games not really happening this year.
[00:49:45] I need the time.
[00:49:46] I need the time so we can clear my back.
[00:49:47] Yeah, I want to clear my back. Okay. Because kind of some guest announcements for everybody. So in two weeks, the reason I say he needs to be at Gold Saucer in two weeks is because Paul Tinto, the voice actor for Kate Sith in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will be on the podcast. That day specifically,
[00:51:02] we're going to be recording at 3 Eastern instead going to be movie and television related. Hey, hey. But yeah, there's a lot of good things happening, guys. And I think this is a long time coming for getting us guests back on, because frankly, we all know the writer strike and the actor strike hit hard. We weren't able to have people on
[00:52:20] that we normally would have,
[00:52:22] because we actually supported the strikes
[00:52:24] and did not have anybody join I wish I was better at shooters, but it's okay. Other than that, I've been trying to get the last push. I'm having a Jerry moment where I just need that last push on Stray because I'm at the end. I just, well, I mean, I've just been watching TV.
[00:53:41] I've been watching movies or like-
[00:53:44] See, it's tough when you get distracted.
[00:53:47] No, it's not even bad.
[00:53:48] It's just like, always It's so funny man. I'm like it's like it's endless endless quotes of like Starship Troopers and Terminator it's just it's so funny
[00:55:06] Yeah, it's great. It's so much fun, but that's pretty much it. That's all I can say I've been I've been playing heldovers, too
[00:55:07] Yeah Matt what about you? It's fun. It's fun to go back to it really is. And I keep mentioning I love going to the museum. I always I always like making a museum. I like the detail that they put in right with just the different little scenario like scenes from PlayStation game. Like my favorite is the beach when you catch. Yeah, all the Easter eggs there.
[00:56:21] Like it's so fun.
[00:56:23] So yeah, there's been a bit of that a little bit of playing modern warfare at night.
[00:56:28] Sweet. Oh cool. just watching stuff. So, and the fact that spring training's here for baseball and I can watch all the games I want right now, it's been kind of great. Nice. No, it's good to take a break. Like, that's what I did on Sunday. I actually didn't do anything on Sunday. I didn't play anything on Sunday. It's good to take a break, good to take a rest, yeah.
[00:57:43] So folks, I want to thank everyone who crashed came out with us tonight.
[00:57:45] If this first time crashing, thank you.
[00:57:47] Thank you for giving us that chance
[00:57:48] to kind of give you a little bit of distraction In the end, it's just a game, right? It'll come out when it'll come out. Just, we need to support the devs that lost their jobs today. The community managers, the studio directors, all of that, right? And just please, please, I can't stress this enough,
[00:59:00] like I close out every show,
[00:59:01] but it raises more importance today
[00:59:04] is just be excellent to each other.
[01:00:03] I don't have a deal here tonight with us, but it's okay. But it's we're two months in.
[01:00:07] Hopefully you guys will have a you had a good lunar new year.
[01:00:11] Hopefully you guys are able to enjoy the rest of Black History Month.
[01:00:17] We have a leap year this year.
[01:00:19] So, you know, you get one extra day of February.
[01:00:24] Hopefully you enjoy that for all you that are born on leap day.
[01:01:26] Yeah, exactly. But I mean, technicalities like technically if they were born like on the leap year, you know They would be like five years old, but really they either choose the 28th or the 1st of March
[01:01:32] Yeah, realistically. I don't know. I don't have that. I don't have that. I don't have that birthday. So I don't know
[01:01:40] But other than that, you know, like stay safe out there it's so we're hopefully everybody that's in the West Coast
[01:01:47] you know