When it all gets a bit much, I like to stick on a Masakatsu Takagi record. The Japanese maestro and visual artist, who you might already know for scoring movies like Wolf Children and The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (the Studio Ghibli doc everybody adores), has dedicated his recent career to an series of improved performances dubbed ‘Marginalia.’
Recorded at his rural studio in Hyōgo, Marginalia splices together Takagi’s flowing performances with nature’s own symphony. The warbles and chirps of a feathered familiar. The soothing ruminations of the cicada. A harmonious coalescence of key and consciousness that is nothing short of transformative. Want to forget the world? Sometimes that means letting it in.
Why don’t you hit play before digging into this week’s headlines? I suspect it’ll take the edge off.
via Game File // Netflix is shutting down two more internal video game studios. Night School and Moonloot have been put to the sword by the U.S. streamer, despite the former having just launched horror title Unhinged, which was recently lauded by Netflix co-CEO Greg Peters for delivering one of its most successful cloud game launches ever. Good work, team. Don’t forget your pat on the back on your way out of the door.
via Game Developer // This week, Twitch rather brazenly confirmed plans to harvest user data to train the generative AI models of parent company Amazon. Everyone will be opted-in to sharing their content for training purposes by default, because, in the words of Twitch chief product officer Mike Minton, “if it was opt-in nobody would opt-in.” I couldn’t agree more.
via Game Developer // Earlier this week, Xbox boss Asha Sharma dropped by Bethesda’s office in Rockville and began tweeting about how good the next Elder Scrolls title is shaping up. Those posts were presumably timed to distract people from all the headlines about the giant inflatable rat (known as ‘Scabby’) erected outside the studio by CWA union workers in protest of the company’s latest round of mass layoffs. The union also raised a sea of red flags to represent individuals laid off by the Xbox maker. You have to imagine that would be hard to ignore.
via Panic // Sensory stroller Big Walk has topped 1 million sales in six days. Sometimes, there is justice in the world. The latest title from Untitled Goose Game developer House House invites players to dodder around the great outdoors while having the craic with their pals. I’m still (rather desperately, at this point) trying to find a group who’ve yet to wander, so if that sounds like you hit me up on Bluesky.
via Game Developer // Horror video game specialist Supermassive confirmed it plans to make up to 75 people redundant. The UK studio said its latest round of layoffs—its third in the same number of years—will “ensure the sustainability of the company.” When approached for more information as to how many people will remain at the studio following the cuts, a company spokesperson declined to comment.
via Game Developer // Finally, some legitimately good news. A preservation project focused on making digital titles accessible through public libraries has regained some much needed momentum after initially being stopped in its tracks by funding cuts implemented by U.S. president Donald Trump. Nicole Carpenter has the scoop!