Microsoft Cuts 100 Employees
According to multiple source including VenuteBeat and Gamasutra, Microsoft has laid off 100 employees from Massive, the in-game advertising company in bought in 2006. This is a continuation of the workforce reduction it announced earlier this year. In January the company announced that it would be cutting 5,000 jobs in the next 18 months. Microsoft had already cut 1,500 of those 5, 000 jobs prior to today’s news, closing Microsoft Flight Simulator developers ACES studios in the process and finally closing Ensemble Studios
“As part of the plan we announced in January to reduce costs and increase efficiencies, today we are eliminating additional positions across several areas of the company,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Gamasutra. “Microsoft is not breaking out layoff figures by divisions.”
“While job eliminations are always difficult, we are taking these necessary actions in response to the global economic downturn,” the rep told Gamasutra in a separate statement.
World in Conflict: Soviet Assault Released
Ubisoft’s World in Conflict: Soviet Assault for PC is now available at retail and at select digital download content providers. The retail version of this add-on for the popular strategy game will include the entire original World in Conflict title, as well as the Soviet Assault add-on and other new features. Players that already own World in Conflict will have the option to download the Soviet Assault expansion pack exclusively online.
The premise of the add-on is that the Soviet Union does not collapse, instead deciding to make a military incursion into Europe. The result is a clash between NATO forces clash with the Red Army, with a second front opening up as the Soviets launch an all-out attack on the continental United States. Patrick Swayze and C. Thomas Howell would approve of this plot line (Red Dawn, anyone?)
Developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft, World in Conflict: Soviet Assault is available online and at retail. More information can be found at www.worldinconflict.com.
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Category Genres, PC, Platforms, Strategy | Tags: add-on,Digital Distribution,Expansion,Massive,PC,Retail,RTS,Ubisoft,World in Conflict: Soviet Assault
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Ubisoft Gains ‘Massive’ Growth
Late in the day yesterday, Ubisoft announced that it was picking up one of the casualties of the Activision Blizzard merger, and has acquired the assets and all of the personnel of Sweden- based studio Massive Entertainment, as well as the World In Conflict RTS brand.
“We are delighted to welcome the talented team of creators at Massive into the Ubisoft family,” said Christine Burgess-Quemard, executive director of worldwide production studios at Ubisoft. “Ubisoft is growing at an intense pace and our strategy is to ensure the strength of our global creative teams. Massive has put together a group of some of the most confirmed and recognized creators in the industry and I know that their talent and innovation will allow them to seamlessly integrate into our worldwide network of production studios.”
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