Kalakshar US

We’re just a couple of weeks into 2024, but the layoffs that plagued the gaming industry last year are back. An undisclosed number of employees at Lost Boys Interactive have been laid off across seemingly “all disciplines at all levels,” terminated producer Jared Pace told Aftermath. Lost Boys Interactive is responsible for games like Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands — which is launching on PlayStation Plus.

The news was initially reported by both terminated and remaining employees. Lost Boys Interactive eventually released a statement to Eurogamer confirming the news, blaming “headwinds facing the industry right now.” It continued, “Unfortunately, this does mean we will separate from some of our team members and we’re working closely with those affected. We know this is a hard time for this talented and experienced group of people and will provide support and assistance through this transition to those leaving.”

These layoffs are just the latest set from its parent company, Embracer (Gearbox technically owns Lost Boys Interactive but is, itself, owned by Embracer). In September, Embracer laid off about 900 employees, equal to about five percent of its staff. Only two months later, it laid off another 50 or so employees at Fishlabs, developers of Chorus. The company has also shuttered some of its studios and is rumored to be selling Gearbox, which it bought in 2021 for $1.4 billion. Embracer blames the tremendous restructuring and layoffs on the dissolution of a potential deal that would have brought $2 billion in revenue over six years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/tiny-tinas-wonderlands-developer-faces-layoffs-in-latest-embracer-cuts-153054773.html?src=rss 

Engadget readers like yourself are probably more tech savvy than the average person. That means you may get roped into helping older family members with email woes, new phone setups, or deciphering if a message is legit or a phishing scam. In my family, I’ve become my mother’s unofficial IT support hotline, which makes me wonder about older adults with adult kids who are short on time. Turns out there are a number of resources staffed with actual people who will calmly walk seniors through just about any tech trouble they may face. Many local libraries and senior centers host classes and even one-on-one tech assistance to seniors for free, but if they can’t make it to a live session or there aren’t offerings in their area, phone hotlines and online services may be the answer.

For the past couple weeks, I used my mom and her frequently asked questions to try out a few of the senior tech hotlines out there and found three services that are refreshingly helpful, two of which are completely free and a third that includes a free option. If you know a senior who could use help with their tech, directing them to one of these services won’t feel like pawning them off, but rather like you’re sending them to an IT pro with endless patience.

Top three free senior tech support companies

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/best-tech-support-helplines-for-seniors-according-to-my-73-year-old-mom-140013739.html?src=rss