Dune: Awakening studio faces layoffs as it restructures following console release

eurogamer.net Oct 19, 2026

Dune: Awakening studio faces layoffs as it restructures following console release

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 19, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Norwegian game studio Funcom announced a restructuring plan that will include layoffs following the release of the console versions of its flagship title Dune: Awakening on 22 September. The company also confirmed a leadership change: long‑time CEO Rui Casais, who led Funcom for 11 years, is stepping down after 22 years with the firm, and veteran executive Scott Junior, who oversaw Dune: Awakening’s development, will assume the role. Funcom said the shift from full‑scale production to a live‑service operating model reduces the need for a large development staff, prompting the downsizing. Despite the cuts, the publisher pledged continued support and expansion for Dune: Awakening and its other live‑service title, Conan Exiles, emphasizing a focus on long‑term community growth.

💡 Why It Matters

· The transition highlights how even successful live‑service launches can force studios to trim staff once major development ends, reshaping workforce expectations in the gaming industry.

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Musk pledges to give ‘every kid in America’ one of his SpaceX…

Elon Musk announced on X that he will give one share of SpaceX to every child in America by 2027, a distribution valued at over $10 billion at the current $146 price and roughly 1 % of his estimated $1 trillion net worth. The plan follows Musk’s reply to Anthropic’s pledge to allocate 5 % of its IPO shares to a public‑benefit fund, with Musk urging “directly to the public” distribution. SpaceX has two classes of stock; Musk controls about 849 million Class A shares and more than 5.5 billion Class B super‑voting shares, giving him ample supply. The logistics are unclear, though a Trump‑initiated Treasury “Trump Accounts” system could accept such gifts. Musk did not comment when contacted. The proposal has sparked debate over implications and equity.

💡 Turning private aerospace equity into a mass‑gift creates a novel avenue for wealth redistribution that sidesteps conventional philanthropy.

eurogamer.net · Oct 19

PlayStation founder Ken Kutaragi says discs became “metaphor for ‘owning’ games”, and…

Ken Kutaragi, the creator of the original PlayStation consoles, told Video Games Chronicle at the Game Republic New Horizons event that the backlash over Sony’s decision to cease production of physical game discs is largely a “mentality issue.” He acknowledged that many gamers view discs as a symbol of ownership, but argued that continuing to print them is not economically viable for a networked platform. Kutaragi, who retired from Sony in 2007 and now leads Ascent Robotics and Cyber AI Entertainment, suggested Sony is moving toward an all‑digital model similar to smartphones, a shift that has sparked friction with enthusiasts. He also warned that rising component costs are inflating console hardware prices, citing reports that the PlayStation 6’s memory and storage alone may exceed $680.

💡 The comment underscores a pivotal industry pivot from tangible media to subscription‑driven, cloud‑based gaming, forcing consumers to reassess what “ownership” means in the digital age.

techcrunch.com · Oct 18

Everyone’s watching the Elizabeth Holmes documentary ‘You Can See Everything’

‘You Can See Everything’ opened to a $15 million weekend, the second‑largest debut for any documentary, despite playing in just 855 theaters. The three‑hour film, unveiled at Telluride, chronicles Elizabeth Holmes’s ascent and collapse at Theranos and was filmed with unprecedented access to Holmes and her family shortly before her imprisonment. Co‑directed by comedian Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, the documentary holds a 99 % approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic and has sold out roughly 2,000 screenings nationwide. Its buzz contrasts sharply with the modest performance of other tech‑focused releases, such as “The Social Reckoning,” which earned $5.5 million, and Alex Gibney’s four‑hour “Musk,” which made just $306,702. Ticket demand remains fierce, with many cities reporting near‑full houses for each showing.

💡 Holmes’s unprecedented access turns a well‑trod scandal into a fresh cultural artifact, proving that even exhausted tech narratives can still command blockbuster‑level attention.

techcrunch.com · Oct 18

No agenda, no rush, no leaving San Francisco: Benchmark’s partners on investing…

Benchmark announced a $2 billion raise across two funds—the first time in its 31‑year history it has launched a vehicle larger than its traditional core fund. At TechCrunch Disrupt, the firm’s five general partners emphasized their deliberately slow investment tempo, targeting only two to three new bets per partner each year, and maintaining agenda‑free partner meetings despite a rapidly accelerating market. The core fund, held at $500 million for two decades, was modestly inflated to match current economic conditions, while a new $1.25 billion growth fund expands Benchmark’s mandate beyond early‑stage deals, aiming for a handful of high‑impact investments that could generate the bulk of returns. Partners highlighted the firm’s tight‑knit culture, low hierarchy, and founder‑first ethos as the differentiators that attract talent like Ev Randall and Jack Altman.

💡 Benchmark’s restraint‑focused model offers a counterpoint to the industry’s sprint for scale, suggesting that deep founder relationships and concentrated portfolios can still thrive in a climate of abundant capital.

gamesradar.com · Oct 18

Red Dead Redemption and Bully “nearly didn’t happen,” Rockstar Games co-founder Dan…

Rockstar Games co‑founder and former lead writer Dan Houser told IGN that two of the studio’s most celebrated original titles, Red Dead Redemption (2010) and Bully (2006), were almost cancelled during development. Houser explained that new IPs face far greater hurdles than sequels, with “happenstance moments” or a single solid build often deciding a project’s fate. He recalled Red Dead’s “difficult periods,” attributing its survival to a core team that stayed focused and methodically solved design problems, while Bully never received a sequel despite its success. Houser emphasized that the struggle to bring new franchises to market makes their eventual release especially noteworthy, contrasting the precarious nature of original AAA projects with the relative safety of established series.

💡 The near‑cancellation of these titles reveals how fragile the pipeline for innovative AAA games is, underscoring the pivotal role of dedicated teams in turning risky concepts into industry landmarks.

appleinsider.com · Oct 17

Apple nabs Meta VP for global litigation chief role

Apple has appointed former Meta executive Scott Tucker as its new Vice President of Global Litigation and Financial Services. Tucker will oversee commercial and patent litigation, as well as financial legal matters, joining SVP and General Counsel Jennifer Newstead, who left Meta in March. The move follows Apple’s 2026 leadership overhaul, including CEO John Ternus. Tucker’s prior experience at Meta and Morgan Stanley equips him for the dual legal and financial focus. Apple’s commercial litigation VP Heather Grenier will now report to Tucker, while VP Kyle Andeer expands his remit to international legal matters.

💡 The appointment signals Apple’s intent to strengthen its legal posture amid growing regulatory scrutiny and high‑profile patent disputes. By bringing in a seasoned Meta veteran, Apple positions itself to navigate complex cross‑border litigation and financial compliance challenges more effectively.