Humanoid Origin, the studio founded by former Mass Effect director Casey Hudson in 2021, is ending development of its untitled sci-fi game and shutting its doors, after an “an unexpected shortfall of funding left [it] unable to sustain operations.” Hudson, who also served as BioWare general manager before departing the studio in 2020, announced the establishment of Humanoid Origin (initially Humanoid Studios) in June 2021, teasing it was working on an “all-new IP”. A year later, Hudson shared a little more information on the “multi-platform AAA game”, as well as early concept art, calling it a “character-driven narrative in an all-new science-fiction universe”. Today, however, Hudson released a statement announcing the project’s termination and the closure of the studio. “Earlier today, we informed our staff that Humanoid Origin will be shutting down,” he wrote. “Despite efforts to shield the studio from broader challenges in the industry, an unexpected shortfall of funding left us unable to sustain operations.” “We’re heartbroken that we will not be able to bring our new science-fiction universe to completion,” Hudson continued. “Our main concern at this time however is for our team, and we are committed to supporting them in their transition to new employment. “In our time together, the team achieved incredible progress, and demonstrated that it’s possible to do amazing work while fostering a culture of fun and creativity. We thank them for their talent, courage, and friendship. “Thank you to everyone who supported us throughout our journey.” Humanoid Origin is the latest studio to be impacted in what continues to be a devastating year for games industry employees, with over 14,000 people estimated to have lost their jobs so far. That’s compared to the 10,500 games industry workers who were laid off across the entirety of 2023. Back in March, GamesIndustry.biz’s Chris Tring, writing for Eurogamer, took a closer look at the circumstances leading to such massive numbers of job cuts over the last few years.
Category: Nintendo Wii U
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Watch Miyamoto take a tour of Super Nintendo World’s new Donkey Kong Country theme park expansion
After a six month delay, Universal Studios Japan’s Donkey Kong Country themed Super Nintendo World expansion finally has an opening date. It’ll be barrel-blasting open its doors from 11th December, and if you’re curious to see what’s in store, you can now watch Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto take a tour of the area, with a brief pause to bonk on some bongo drums. A Donkey Kong themed expansion to Universal’s Super Nintendo World theme park area was officially announced in September 2021, just months after the opening of its main Mushroom Kingdom-themed area (although it had been spotted on mock-ups long before). At the time, Universal teased it would feature “interactive experiences and themed merchandise and food”, alongside a new coaster – and we’ve now had our best look yet at the finished thing. Miyamoto toured the Donkey Kong Country expansion in special ten-minute-long Nintendo Direct, beginning by whisking players through the now unsealed warp pipe toward the rear of the Mushroom Kingdom. As park visitors navigate its length, its red brick walls transition to rocks before the pipe opens out into a jungle-themed expanse of swaying palms, faux wooden walkways, and even Donkey Kong’s iconic treehouse. And looming over the whole area is its imposing centrepiece, the Golden Temple, housing a new coaster ride. Miyamoto takes of tour of Universal’s new Donkey Kong Country land.Watch on YouTube Before getting to that, though, Miyamoto spent some time showing off the area’s (admittedly not especially enthralling) other features, including the Jungle Beat Shakes shop where visitors can buy hotdogs and other assorted food; Funky’s Flay ‘n’ Buy, where a range of Donkey Kong themed merchandise can be perused and purchased, plus Donkey Kong’s Treehouse, where patrons can grab their Donkey Kong photos ops. Additionally, there’s a three-player bongo-themed rhythm game where players must follow along to blinking lights in order to rouse Rambi the rhinoceros from his slumber inside a crate. “If there isn’t a place to play bongo drums,” Eurogamer’s Tom Phillips wrote back in 2021, “I’ll be disappointed.” Tom’s bongo-based dreams have finally come true. Elsewhere, Universal’s Donkey Kong Country area utilises the same Power Band system seen in the Mushroom Kingdom part of the park, and band wearers can explore their surroundings in search of Donkey Kong’s familiar orange letter blocks, collecting them all in the Universal app. All of which finally took Miyamoto to the sprawling Golden Temple, where – as detailed by a couple of Cranky Kong and Sqawks animatronics – visitors can ride its Mine Cart Madness coaster in a bid to help protect the Golden Banana from Tiki Kong. Unfortunately, today’s Nintendo Direct didn’t show much of the coaster at all, beyond brief peek at its barrel-themed lift hill, but we do know – thanks to various theme park fan sites over the years – it features a unique ride system designed to give riders the illusion their carts are leaping over sections of broken track, while the real track is concealed below. You can take a virtual tour of Universal Studios Japan’s new Donkey Kong Country expansion in video above, and those able to attend in person can do so from 11th December this year. Alternatively, the area will be included as part of Universal’s new Epic Universe theme park in Florida, which opens on 22nd May 2025.