Industry Realities Hit Worker-Run Studios: KO_OP Lays Off 13 Employees Amid Severe Indie Funding Drought

By Chris Kerr, Senior Editor, News, GameDeveloper.com September 14, 2026 Executive Overview The ongoing financial crisis within the global video game industry has claimed another notable victim. KO_OP—the acclaimed, worker-run independent development studio recognized for narrative-driven titles such as Goodbye Volcano High and the recently launched multiplayer life simulator Young Suns—has announced the layoff of…

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Crisis at Don’t Nod: Life is Strange Developer Faces Severe Restructuring, Threatening 90 French Jobs and Future Viability

By Chris Kerr | September 8, 2026 Estimated Reading Time: 5 Minutes (Expanded Investigative Feature) Executive Overview Don’t Nod, the celebrated French video game developer renowned for narrative-driven titles such as the Life is Strange franchise, Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, and the upcoming Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, has announced a critical juncture in…

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Podcast Host Amanda Hirsch Faces Severe Backlash Over "Grossly Inappropriate" Polymarket Ad Tied to Lindsay Clancy Mistrial

Executive Overview In the modern landscape of digital media, the boundaries separating personal commentary, true crime sensationalism, and corporate brand partnerships have grown increasingly blurred. This precarious intersection was thrown into sharp relief when prominent podcaster and digital influencer Amanda Hirsch—creator of the popular Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast and host of Hulu’s Get…

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