As is tradition, Geoff Keighley kicked off last week’s Game Awards with a speech. Defying the show’s established norms, he took things in a personal direction, informing the audience that in 2025 his house burned down in the LA fires, and his father passed away. He found solace, however, in games: “Games have this incredible ability to hold us when we’re hurting, to lift us up when we feel small, to give us somewhere to go when the real world feels unsteady,” he said. “That’s why we’re all connected in this moment: We’re here to celebrate the artists, technicians, and storytellers who help this medium soar to new heights.” But outside the show’s gilded walls, many felt ignored rather than celebrated.

Last month, Game Developer broke the news that the Game Awards’ Future Class – a program meant to honor and facilitate annual cohorts of industry professionals who “represent the bright, bold, and inclusive future of video games” – has effectively been put on ice. This followed a prolonged period of silence from the organization after Future Class members began demanding more from Keighley and those running it: travel, resources, funding, and networking opportunities more in line with the way the program had been presented over the years, as well as public statements acknowledging ills those in the world of games and beyond could no longer afford to ignore, like layoffs and the genocide in Palestine. 

Outside the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Thursday, anger around the Future Class’ dissolution – as well as the callousness with which many companies handed shimmering trophies at The Game Awards continue to cast aside thousands of workers – coalesced into a protest organized by United Videogame Workers, the union anyone, even laid-off workers, can join announced by Communications Workers of America (CWA) at GDC earlier this year.

"The moment we actually tried to ask for something better – or for them to put their money where their mouth is – they just quietly killed the program.”

The theme of the protest was “The Industry Is Dead,” and many of the 50 or so developers who showed up took that to heart. A handful dressed in grim reaper outfits, while others carried signs shaped like tombstones. One read “RIP Future Class, Died Of Performative Allyship.” The UVW chair who made it, freelance writer and narrative designer Anna C Webster, was a former Future Class member.

“You’d think that we as the Future Class would at least know what the future of our program looks like,” she told Aftermath. “But they basically did not communicate that at all until we got together and said ‘Hey, what’s going on?’ To say that we’re disappointed is probably an understatement. It’s very disappointing that someone with the platform Geoff has is not using it for good. The moment we actually tried to ask for something better – or for them to put their money where their mouth is – they just quietly killed the program.”

Younès Rabii, a former Future Class member who organized an open letter urging Keighley and co to acknowledge Israel’s inhuman treatment of Palestinians, expressed a similar sentiment. 

"The way that Future Class members were treated by The Game Awards, it feels like we outlived our usefulness of diverse faces smiling for the camera,” Rabii, who did not attend this year’s Game Awards, told Aftermath. “Once we tried to ask the structure to put money where its mouth was, the facade crumbled. I vividly remember that during the only meeting we had after the 2023 show, when I asked Geoff Keighley why he ignored our open letter, he angrily replied ‘This is my show, and nobody gets to tell me how I should use my platform.’ What else is there to say?"

Despite the outcry that followed the initial headlines last month, Webster said that she and other Future Class members haven’t heard a peep from Keighley or program organizers since: “Nope. Nothing.”

The protest outside The Game Awards focused on far more than just the Future Class, with pro-union and anti-CEO chants filling the air. “Our industry is dead, lay off CEOs instead,” protesters shouted at various points. “No more layoffs, no more lies, no more playing with our lives.” A pamphlet handed out by UVW members summed up the grim truth of the day: “In 2025 alone, upwards of 3,500 video game workers have lost their jobs, healthcare, and security. That number skyrockets to more than 40,000 workers when you include all tech and game workers laid off in the past three years.”

Kaitlin “KB” Bonfiglio, a writer and designer who also serves as UVW's local secretary, pointed to recent reporting that suggests a Game Awards trailer spot can cost between $450,000 and over $1 million.

"There's a lot of pomp and circumstance around it," she told Aftermath, "so we wanted to make sure that we were here representing game workers – the people who make these games – raking in millions for these executives."

This was not an entirely hassle-free process. Security attempted to prevent protesters from claiming a spot outside the theater. "We had to produce our own statutes regarding this particular terrace, which is part of LA Live," said Webster. "We also have legal council, and we had them prep the information we'd need to say 'Hey, we're allowed to be here.' Eventually, they let us in, but they were trying to turn us away."

There is a history of protests outside The Game Awards, with SAG-AFTRA leading two in 2023 and 2024 as part of the since-concluded voice actor strike. Members of SAG, though not representing the guild at large, were among those who attended Thursday’s protest. Sherveen Uduwana, a freelance game developer and treasurer with UVW, said others’ past efforts served as inspiration for this year’s protest.

"This is an escalation. People have shown up in previous years to push these issues forward,” Uduwana told Aftermath. “We want to make it clear to the bosses that this is not a problem they can just wait out. We're gonna be prepared to speak to these issues: mass layoffs, taking away healthcare, generative AI. And make sure we win on those issues and workers have protections."

Midway through the protest, a procession of developers gave speeches into a megaphone.

"We are the ones who poured our blood, sweat, tears, sanity, and health into these games,” shouted one who paid tribute to a friend who’d just passed, who he said loved video games and hated corporate exploitation. “The ones who made the games are outside. [Bosses and executives] are inside patting themselves on the back. ... And what was our reward? Many of us were cast aside as soon as the products were created because we weren't needed anymore. And those who were lucky enough to stay [now] find themselves debugging ChatGPT code."

Some present had direct personal experience with the video game industry’s current layoff-centric strategy. Earlier this year, Timothy Staton-Davis, who attended the protest dressed in a grim reaper cloak and holding a plastic scythe, was part of a small round of layoffs at Brass Lion Entertainment, which is currently working on Wu-Tang: Rise Of The Deceiver. 

“There were a few of us they had to let go of because of monetary issues,” Staton-Davis told Aftermath. “It’s their first game. They’re trying to pull through. They’ve been negatively affected by the current industry situation in a lot of ways because of mismanagement of money. It’s not the studio’s fault, but from our partners and all that kind of stuff.”

“My first studio gig was at Monolith,” he continued. “Now they’re gone. Unfairly so. All these studios I’ve been connected to have been negatively affected in some way, shape, or form by people not doing the right things with their money and taking advantage of folks.”

Others were there to show solidarity.

“I’ve had so many friends affected [by layoffs],” said a developer doing organizing work with UVW named Audrey, who declined to provide their last name or place of employment, but who noted that they’ve yet to be laid off despite four years working in games. “I’m out here for the industry. I’m afraid that if I lost my job, I’m not gonna be able to find another one. The amount of power that gives our employers is just insane. I’ve had to work three crunches so far. The last one sent me to the hospital. I was in some of the most excruciating pain of my life. I thought my appendix had burst. Turns out, it was just stress.”

There are silver linings, though. Webster views UVW as a more authentic attempt at paving the way for a better games industry than Future Class ever was.

“We are disappointed in Geoff,” she said. “We are building the future of the games industry with or without his branding, and if he wants to join us, he can anytime.”

“UVW as an organization, a lot of the stuff that benefits Future Class members – whether it’s visibility or financial support or community – we have resources to also do all those things,” added Uduwana. “We’re looking to actually be able to make that kind of tangible change that The Game Awards and Geoff have shirked the responsibility of.”

“They decided that’s too hard,” said Webster, “so we’ve gotta do it ourselves.”

Webster and Uduwana also noted that as of now, UVW boasts 560 members.

"I’m afraid that if I lost my job, I’m not gonna be able to find another one. The amount of power that gives our employers is just insane."

"The main thing [UVW] has done for me so far is build connections – and not in a controlled forum, where we can actually be honest and have real conversations about the industry," said Aubrey. "Especially as a queer person, companies will have affinity groups and stuff like that, but HR is always there. If you say something too out there, you never know. You can't be too honest in those spaces."

Emma Kidwell, one of the Future Class members who ultimately forced an answer about the program’s fate out of The Game Awards, likes what she’s seen so far of UVW. 

"I think UVW-CWA and the solidarity they've shown the [Future Class] alumni has been really great," Kidwell told Aftermath. "They're doing good, important work and using their platform to make the industry a better place."

In addition to supporting UVW, Staton-Davis is taking matters into his own hands. This year he opened a worker-owned studio called Melanated Game Kitchen.

“I’m also trying to contribute to the work of a more sustainable, equitable industry by starting a co-op studio myself,” he said. “We focus on fun gameplay, obviously, but narratives as well that tell cultural stories. It’s BIPOC-led, and we’re trying to bring that to the forefront. We don’t see enough of those stories in the industry, so we want to do more of that – and collaborate with everyone else who’s also trying to do that same thing.”

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With The Future Class On Hold, The Game Awards’ Attempts At Doing Good Produce Mixed Results [Update] - Aftermath

This year The Game Awards introduced a new distinction: “Game Changer,” which went to Amir Satvat for his efforts to help laid-off workers. The audience ate this up. But online, a few observers couldn’t help but ask “What happened to the Future Class?”

AftermathNathan Grayson

NEW YORK – Much like a storied sports franchise, Rockstar Games intends on taking home hardware for Grand Theft Auto VI until they can’t anymore.

“It’s just so easy,” says President of Rockstar Games Sam Houser. “Think about it. You can only win ‘Game of the Year’ in the year that your game releases. But people anticipate a game year after year. They anticipated last year when we won, they are still anticipating now, and they will keep anticipating for years to come. Yes, I said years. If we want to be the most successful game of all-time, as our modest projections predict, a head start won’t hurt.”

Many gamers shared the same sentiment when hearing this news from Rockstar. If they only want the game to be anticipated, will it ever release?

“I get where they’re coming from,” said local gamer Frank Peterson. “Everybody loves to win. But ‘Game of the Year’ is the big cheese, the cream of the crop. Winning “Most Anticipated” every year would be like continuously beating a four year old in Street Fighter. Yeah, you’re winning. But c’mon, at least give the little guy a few.”

Following the outcry from fans, Geoff Keighley also stepped up to share his thoughts on the matter.

“I personally hope the game never comes out,” Keighley said. “It would really kill my favorite joke, ‘we got blank before we got GTA VI’. Am I supposed to start saying ‘we really got chips and queso before we got Beyond Good and Evil 2’? No, it just doesn’t roll off the tongue the same. Plus, if I get one of their trailers for my show, it’s going to set the world on fire.”

At press time, Silksong creators Team Cherry were reportedly planning to delist their game and compete in the “Most Anticipated” category again next year.

The post Rockstar Says They Will Release GTA VI After Just a Few More “Most Anticipated Game” Wins appeared first on Palette Swap.

FORT DODGE, Iowa — In the midst of giving a usual list of recommendations, one local dentist switched things up at a recent appointment to plug his personal game of the year—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

“So you’re definitely going to want to get an electric toothbrush,” Dr. Neal, DDS was heard saying. “That will help mitigate the risk of those receding gums. You’ll want to start flossing more regularly too, as that will reduce the bleeding during these appointments. Also, you’ll want to check out Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 when you get time. It’s available on PlayStation 5, Steam, and Xbox Series X and S. It comes with a subscription to Xbox Game Pass. I know they just raised the price, but if you beat the game fast enough it’s still a great value you’re getting. Otherwise it’s still only $49.99, much lower than the price of your average triple-A game.”

Patients were confused by the change to the usual rigamarole.

“I’m sure it’s great and all,” patient Ted Sampson said, following the appointment. “It just caught me off-guard. I’m not usually expecting to hear what the hottest new game on Game Pass while getting my teeth cleaned. I try not to even mention that I play video games outside of my friend group. Did she just clock me as a gamer by the way I look? Maybe I need a new wardrobe.”

Reactions from other office staff have confirmed that this straying from the path is not a one-time thing.

“It’s all she’s talking about anymore,” one employee, who asked to remain anonymous out of concerns of retribution from their employer, said. “She’s doing voicelines from the game all the time, too. The other day, she said ‘let’s carve a path’ while she was filling a patient’s cavity. And every day when she leaves, she stops by my office and says ‘tomorrow comes.’ Recommending it for a while after you play it is one thing, but it’s essentially been her personality for the whole year.”

At press time, Dr. Neal was seen replacing all the waiting room’s Highlights magazines with Prima strategy guides.

The post Dentist Recommends Electric Toothbrush, Frequent Flossing, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 appeared first on Palette Swap.

I don't know if I've laughed more at a headline this year than when I sat down with a coffee this morning and saw "Meta Plans to Shift Spending Away From the Metaverse".

It's from a Wall Street Journal story, which reports that Meta is going to make some big budget changes in 2026, slashing spending on its metaverse efforts and redirecting that cash towards the company's AI and AI-powered wearable divisions instead.

In 2021, just four years ago, Zuckerberg was so into the idea of the metaverse that he changed his company's name from Facebook, one of the most recognisable brands on the planet, to Meta. He said within the next decade--so by 2031--one billion people would be hanging out in these virtual spaces, which were a key selling point for Quest headsets.

Facebook rebrands as Meta as it chases ‘metaverse’ vision

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg says his company is rebranding itself as Meta in an effort to encompass its virtual-reality vision for the future.

ABC NewsABC News

And investors and shareholders believed him! He said something that had no basis in reality, which was never going to happen and--surprise--has not happened, and sunk billions of dollars into a quixotic quest. Now he's stuck with a company named after something he's making a humiliating retreat from.

In 2022, he was so into the idea of NFTs that he spoke openly about a vision that one day soon users of his metaverse would be able to buy clothing items as NFTs, and announced plans to bring them to both Facebook and Instagram. This received widespread news coverage! Because he was CEO of Meta, he must know about this tech stuff!

Just one year later, those plans were cancelled as the ass fell out of the NFT market, with regular human people proving they did not want or care about that bullshit.

Earlier this year he said Meta was looking into crypto. Sigh.

And now we're supposed to believe that AI and its associated wearables, who you may remember from their disastrous press event, are the future? That somehow AI is going to be writing all the code for Meta within months? To the point where he's planning on spending $600 billion on it over the next three years? My guy, everything you've said was the future over the last decade (remember the phone!) has turned out to be a useless piece of shit! Nobody in their right mind should believe you!

And yet! This man, whose only true success is in building a pervy website in the early 2000s then tricking the world into thinking it was a viable social media platform, is repeatedly allowed to say whatever bullshit comes to mind into a microphone and millions of people will not just lap it up, they will give him billions of dollars to keep doing it, then give him billions more when whatever he's working on is a bust and he decides to do something else. 

Example: Meta shares were up 4% today. Investors looked at a man who had spent billions chasing something nobody wanted and, instead of punishing his repeated hubris and failures, simply made the line go up again. It’s the definition of insanity. 

I'm wrong all the time, why won't anyone give me billions to invest in something. At least I'd build something cool.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Last week, local gamer Sulaiman Dean played the highly regarded 2020 roguelike Hades for the first time and was reportedly astonished to have an enjoyable experience. 

“Hades is an absolute masterpiece,” said Dean. “How has nobody talked about this? I was absolutely blown away by how fun it was, it’s honestly a bit of a hidden gem. I knew I was treading new ground when I read some listicles of underrated games from the past few years and it wasn’t on a single one.”

Lindsay Pham, a close friend of Dean’s, gave him a copy of Hades as a birthday gift after years of trying to persuade him to give it a chance.  

“Our Discord server was constantly raving about Hades after it was released, but Sulaiman still refused to play it,” recalled Pham. “He mainly heard about it from Twitter, so he kept telling us that he ‘doesn’t care that we want to have sex with Thanatos’ and that he’s instead looking for ‘a satisfying hack-and-slash dungeon crawler set on a beautifully-illustrated and voice-acted interpretation of classic characters’. I finally just coughed up six dollars during a Steam sale event to buy it for him so that we could shut him up in time for Hades II.”

Janet Miller, another member of Dean’s friend group, revealed that his rejection of current trends extended beyond video games. 

“Sulaiman has always been a little behind on the times,” explained Miller. “I can play along and have fun when he’s pushing a year-old friendslop game on us every once in a while, or maybe sending an unironic Impact font meme here and there. But it sucks that we can’t go out to eat as a group without him complaining that there’s no app that lets you easily pay people directly from your bank account.”

At press time, Dean was seen reposting the Hades II announcement in r/Hades, a subreddit dedicated to Hellenic paganism. 

The post 5-Year-Old Critically-Acclaimed Game Actually Pretty Fun appeared first on Palette Swap.

SUNYSHORE CITY — Gym Leader Volkner gave a public statement that a recent gym battle where his entire team was curbstomped by a level 16 Diglett was “The greatest battle” he had ever had.

“That battle was absolutely electrifying! It was the exact jolt I needed to get me out of my depressive funk,” Volkner, who is mandated by the Sinnoh Pokémon League to include an electric pun every other sentence, said of the battle where all five of his fully trained Pokémon were taken out by a Diglett that only used Magnitude. “I’ve been on and off Zoloft which didn’t help, but this battle was what I need to rewire my brain. This kid had more skill than I’ve ever seen in 23 years of being a Pokémon trainer.”

When reached for comment, Pokémon Trainer Purple said that his secret strategy to defeating Volkner was to “Just catch a Diglett in a nearby cave like two miles outside the city.”

The battle came on the heels of a twenty-six month period where Volkner remained undefeated, which brought the Gym Leader into a well-documented depressive spiral. The leader was often seen standing outside the cliffs staring Bryonically out towards the sea. Some speculated this led to helping him maintain his streak, as he was never around to actually accept any new challengers.

“Y’know I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad that Volkner lost. He really needed that kick in the rear to start managing the gym again.” said Sunnyshore City resident Julia. “He spent last year completely rewiring the city’s solar panels to power his gym’s elaborate gear and Tesla coil puzzles. We tried to tell him that it was a waste of money and power. Over in Vermillion City, Lt. Surge just scattered some trash cans around a big room and called it a day, but Volkner wouldn’t hear it. Like, you know that thing runs 24/7 and goes through 5 million gallons of water a day, right?”

At press time, Dragon-Type Gym Leader Clair criticized Volkner for his lack of preparation for unfavorable type matchups while taking questions outside Ice Path.

The post “That Was the Greatest Battle I’ve Ever Had” Says Electric Gym Leader Who Got Swept By Lone Diglett appeared first on Palette Swap.