Microsoft’s In-Game Ad Company Hit By, Ahem, Massive Layoffs
We’ve heard today that, as part of Microsoft’s already-announced round of 5000 job cuts, up to 75% of the workforce at Microsoft’s in-game advertising service, Massive, have been laid off.
With advertising down across the board thanks to the economic slowdown – and with the opportunities presented by in-game advertising perhaps not as great as was once believed – the cuts are hardly a surprise.
While this won’t be as gut-wrenching to you as the loss of, say, a development studio, it still sucks when people wake up to find themselves out of a job.
We’ve contacted Massive to confirm this, and will update when/if we hear back from them.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@jazzBRO:
I'd use it every game
PhoenixDog
so will i stop seeing ads for McCoffee on my dashboard?
otis123
@Rey Rodrigues: Sadly as the world get more fucked up...I say never? overpopulation, less natural resources, war....
Ok Ill shut up now.
if they wanna advertise in games, then they should give em out for free... i didnt pay 50$ for that...
urbanturban666
@Kenny: Right, because what works for GTA IV will work for. Shit, why not just put a "Bertuzzi Button" in NHL.
This is a grim day for Massive. I was shocked and frustrated to hear so many how many people got laid off. I've worked with a lot of great people there. I wish them all the best during these difficult times and I hope the economy will bounce back soon...
Aly Hawana
@Kommissar Kayce: They need to make satirical fake brandnames ala GTAIV.
What's the best kind of advertising? The kind that makes a mockery of IRL advertising.
@Kenny:
I cant argue with ads in sports and driving games though. Like, along the sidelines and on city billboards. Feels weird to not see anything there.
@MoeB:
The golden age when playstation commercials made sense and could give a chuckle.
Ahhhh.
I wouldn't wish unemployment on my worst enemy. I am not fond of product placement in general, but when done well it can actually enhance some experiences. Such as having a McDonalds in a virtual city rather than having a MacReynolds.
Of course, I don't want cut scenes that play the McDonalds jingle or be told about new burgers they are selling. I just don't mind when I am in a world that more closely resembles reality. It's a tricky balance to strike, but I don't mind it when it's done well. Simply put, when I watch a movie or play a game I shouldn't notice the product placement, when I do it breaks the experience.
I hope all that have lost their employment in these times finds another job soon. Things well get better, but we are not out of this yet. There will be more pain in the short term, recovery doesn't happen over night, but we will recover and be stronger and wiser from it.
isoar
@MoeB:
lulz
notquitedeadyet
@LllusionX now has Valkyria Chronicles, bringing sales count...:
Awesome that you got VC...sad that you didn't have a massive PUN...:(
@psxman: Yes, but its hilarious and lightens the mood for everyone who loves Arrested Development.
Damn.. now I need to go get my AD dvd's out.
Combine
@Hey_Blinkon: Win +1
I lol'd. I shouldn't have, but I did.
Ken
Massive has been slowly letting go of people due to budget for almost a year now. I guess now was just the right time to let go of everyone whose spot wasn't guaranteed all at once. Wonder how many of my old co-workers just lost their jobs... I'll have to find out, cuz every time someone leaves we all get together and "celebrate" by getting drunk. Woot!
dgonchild
And I thought we had heard the last of the major layoffs and closures (Midway being the obvious last to die...).
Well, hope they find meaningful employment soon!
Ken
Good riddance I say.
Less ads in my games, crampin' my gameplay.
Prepare for a flood of in-game resumes
Hey_Blinkon
Oh noes! But how will I know when the next fragrance of Axe body spray will be available without in-game advertising?!
Yah, sad to see more jobs lots, less sad it's coming from that division instead of, ya know, developers.
Massive FAIL
:(
Wow. What an old article.
I don't recall ever seeing ads in games anyway... At least outside of racing games. I suppose they really were expendable.
StevenRafael
@RuthLoose: Unfortunately it's happening more and more.
Not that I don't love seeing the 'Black Friday', it's just the meaning behind it.
I feel bad for all those who lost their jobs today at Microsoft.
Here's a commercial to soothe your pains.
+ Watch video
MoeB
*inserts Massive PUN<< here.*
@RuthLoose: However, I hate when people lose their jobs.
when are things gonna get better??
Rey Rodrigues
I love when this picture gets recycled.
And we're advertising this fact because?
haha get it...no? tough crowd.
Fire those ass hats that run that shit on xbox live in the uk. Mr POinty Head and Super Kaylo. There shit makes me wanna rip my eyeballs out and stuff em up my ass so i can see what i had for breakfest the day before. My memorys bad you see.
AceyBongo's, your alright, you can stay.
Chris Taylor
@StevenRafael: It's mostly on the dash board from what I hear. Never pay attention to those ads myself though. Hopefully this will mean less ads in the end.
xxXX_Insanities_Birth_XXxx
@Kenny: You think a bunch of people getting laid off is funny? I do.
I highly doubt in-game ads have any significant impact on sales, so these jobs are unneeded waste. At least they have some marketing skill under their belts.
Delano_J
@RuthLoose: Maybe Kotaku laid off their in house art department...
NoHoldsBarred
I feel bad for those who lost their jobs...
however...
I still pay 60+ dollars a game regardless if it has ads or not so.....yeah.
sogmasta
@sogmasta: Yea I remembered when publishers briefly saying in game advertisement could lower the prices of games that uses them.
Game publishers who wanted to sell their games digitally said the same thing.
We're still waiting and no I don't consider STEAM sales count since it's a sale not a price cut.
Sucks that the people lost their jobs but come on if the consumers didn't get anything out of the deal in the first place (as in cheaper pricing on games with in game advertisements and the natural selection of time and low sales that made the price goes down don't count) so good riddance on IGA I say!
Neko_Tech
@urbanturban666:
Ahh what an AMAZING argument. Because advertising = free right? In what world do you live in? Do you get free TV because of advertising? How about free movies? Or what about magazines? Newspapers? Yea, that's what I thought.
While I'm not fan of in-game advertising, it's sad to see so many people getting laid off, good night and good luck.
Massive may have cut a bunch of people but they have contracts with major publishers, it's not gonna hinder their business much. Getting rid of all those people just means more profit for Massive. The company will be fine, I'm sure, but the people are who I'm concerned about.
I'll miss them all. I wish nothing but the best for all those who got let go. We'll all hang out sometime soon!
Erin Disselhorst
I thought it was gonna say "massive damage"
@isoar: I see your point, but I have a real problem with being forced to watch ads in a product I've paid good money for, i.e. video games and movies. At that point, ads aren't doing anything but lining the pockets of publishers with windfall revenue. Making people pay to watch ads is shady.
Free stuff, bring on the ads, though. I get that.
prototype beta