This Week A Studio Was Shut Down, Rumble Rescued A Pariah, And Water Remained Wet

Image: Humanoid Origin, Double Barrel Games / 6side Studio / Moonsaurus Games / VEA Games / Z. Bill / Kotaku, Xbox / Kotaku, Wachiwit / Fox / Nintendo / Kotaku (Shutterstock), Meta / Kotaku / Gleb Kosarenko (Getty Images), Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff (Getty Images), Rich Fury (Getty Images), Sony, Screenshot: Tencent / Kotaku, Lucasfilm / Kotaku

This may have been a short workweek, but the chaotic world of gaming never rests. Read on for Kotaku’s top stories from Thanksgiving week.

Image: Humanoid Origin

In 2021, former BioWare general manager Casey Hudson announced a new studio called Humanoid Origin. It was working on a sci-fi blockbuster and hiring for an ambitious future. On Monday, however, the studio announced it was shutting down just a few years later, having failed to acquire the funding needed to continue. – Ethan Gach

Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff (Getty Images)

In mid-2019, then-President Donald Trump threatened to extend existing tariffs on industrial components and other goods to popular consumer products like iPhones, laptops, and video game consoles. The big three—Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo, long-time competitors in the gaming space—rallied together to try and fend off the incoming import taxes. – Ethan Gach

Screenshot: Tencent / Kotaku

As Nintendo gears up to take down Palworld for its aping of Pokémon game design elements, another high-profile court case seems inevitable with Tencent’s announcement of Light of Motiram (thanks Gematsu), a game that looks uncannily similar to Sony’s Horizon Zero Dawn. – John Walker

Photo: Rich Fury (Getty Images)

Controversial video game streamer Guy “Dr Disrespect” Beahm is officially joining Rumble, the right-wing streaming platform online personalities like Russell Brand go to when no one else will have them. The “alt-tech” platform announced the former Twitch star will receive equity and be an advisor despite admitting earlier this year to having “inappropriate” conversations with a minor several years ago. – Ethan Gach

Image: Double Barrel Games / 6side Studio / Moonsaurus Games / VEA Games / Z. Bill / Kotaku

Once upon a time, the United States of America would enjoy a holiday called “Thanksgiving.” However, over time, as culture shifted and the country changed, it eventually evolved into the day of celebration we now all know and love. That’s right, Thanksgaming! It’s the day of the year when everyone in America—and all around the world—gets together to celebrate unknown indie games. – John Walker

Image: Xbox / Kotaku

Microsoft has quietly confirmed that it is ditching avatars on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles next year after a decade of support. You might have assumed avatars had already been killed off in the past, but nope. Apparently they were still around, but not for much longer. – Zack Zwiezen

Screenshot: Lucasfilm / Kotaku

Earlier this year, Star Wars: Hunters landed on mobile devices and Switch. The free-to-play third-person hero shooter was a very fun and good game that was trapped on mobile devices. Well, except for Switch, but that port wasn’t great. Now, Hunters is finally making the leap to PC, alongside some visual upgrades, too. – Zack Zwiezen

Image: Wachiwit / Fox / Nintendo / Kotaku (Shutterstock)

Nintendo, currently predicting 2024 net sales of $8.4 billion and operating profits of $2.4 billion, is continuing its furious crackdown on those modding or emulating its systems and games. Its latest target, via a story by Game File, is the Reddit sub SwitchPirates, while also asking to subpoena information from a vast array of companies, including Reddit, to identify those involved in so-called “Pirate Shops.” – John Walker

Image: Meta / Kotaku / Gleb Kosarenko (Getty Images)

A whole bunch of Oculus VR headsets were allegedly stolen by a group of men who would wait for truck drivers to leave their vehicles to get some food or go to the bathroom and then would hop in and drive them away. – Zack Zwiezen Read More

Photo: Sony