Wizards of the Coast has released a new FAQ addressing the use of generative AI (GenAI)in Dungeons & Dragons and admitting it "made mistakes" in its lack of transparency regarding this use in its art.
24.04.2024 - 19:28 / pushsquare.com / Lars Wingefors / Matthew Karch
Following the collapse of a «verbal agreement» reportedly worth $2 billion with the Saudi-funded Savvy Games, Embracer Group entered into a brutal nine-month restructuring programme that resulted in the loss of some 1,400 employees and the cancellation of dozens of unannounced games. CEO Lars Wingefors, whose actions were recently defended by Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch («give Lars a break»), in a new interview, says: «As a leader and an owner, sometimes you need to take the blame.»
That restructuring is reportedly complete, separating the company into three presumably less-risky entities. Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, the CEO used the opportunity to defend Embracers teams and their leaders: «It's been painful. But I still believe in what we do, in my teams, and in the vision we set out. I also believe the public markets, if we do it right, are a fantastic place to finance your business and tap into both investors and the debt market.»
Wingefors says he has been dealing with many hits and criticism in Sweden and internationally. At the DICE Awards in February, Kinda Funny CEO Greg Miller joked from the stage that one thing people in the video game industry never want to hear is «The Embracer Group are here», before adding: «They've really f***ed up this place, haven't they?»
When asked how he deals with this kind of mainstream criticism, the CEO said: «As a leader and an owner, sometimes you need to take the blame, and you need to be humble about if you've made mistakes and if you could have done something different. I'm sure I deserve a lot of criticism, but I don't think my team or companies deserve all the criticism. I could take a lot of that blame myself. But ultimately, I need to believe in the mission we set out, which is still valid, and we are now enabling that by doing this [new] structure.”
No reasons, only more questions
What do you think? Could Lars Wingefores take some of the blame for the state of the Embracer Group and perhaps the impact its implosion has had on the industry? Let us know in the comments section below.
Khayl Adam is Push Square's roving Australian correspondent, a reporter tasked with scouring the internet for the most succulent PlayStation stories. With five years of experience as a freelance journalist and mercenary wordsmith, RPGs are his first great love, but strategy and tactics games are a close second, genres in which he is only too happy to specialize.
Put your money where your mouth is, literally. Give yourself a pay cut. As CEO, ensuring that this kind of thing doesn't happen is your sole responsibility and you failed spectacular. Saying „sowwy evwywone“ isn't enough.
»I take the blame but 1400 workers have the honour of falling on the sword for me"
E
Wizards of the Coast has released a new FAQ addressing the use of generative AI (GenAI)in Dungeons & Dragons and admitting it "made mistakes" in its lack of transparency regarding this use in its art.
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Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors is taking the brunt of responsibility when it comes to the company's most recent round of layoffs, studio closures, and game cancelations.
The CEO of troubled Swedish games firm Embracer Group, Lars Wingefors, has admitted that he is deserving of criticism for the current state of his company.
Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors has suggested he must shoulder much of the blame for a “long list” of mistakes that led to a “painful” restructuring of the company.
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Swedish game and media holding company Embracer Group has announced its plans to split into three separate entities.
Sony loves filing patents for gaming ideas that'll, more than likely, never come to fruition. It's done it again with a recent listing that focuses on the idea of «auto-playing portions of a video game».
Famed mass-layoff-manufacturing corporation Embracer Group are dividing into three companies, which will be listed separately on Sweden’s stock exchange. Those companies are: Asmodee Group, which comprises Embracer’s tabletop games biz; Coffee Stain & Friends, an evolution of the existing Coffee Stain publisher, who will pursue "a dual focus on indie and A/AA premium and free-to-play games for PC/console and mobile"; and Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends, “a creative powerhouse in AAA game development and publishing for PC and console, as well as the stewards of The Lord of the Rings and Tomb Raider intellectual properties, among many others”.
This morning, the Embracer Group announced a major transformation of the company, which will be split into three separate publicly listed companies: Asmodee Group, Coffee Stain & Friends, and Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends. The existing Embracer Group listing on Nasdaq Stockholm will be renamed to Middle-earth Enterprises & Friends, and shares of Asmodee Group and Coffee Stain & Friends will be distributed as dividends to shareholders of Embracer Group. The listing and distribution of Asmodee Group shares is expected to occur within 12 months, and Coffee Stain & Friends shares during calendar year 2025.