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Microsoft’s gaming layoffs include 86 jobs at Skylanders studio Toys for Bob
Microsoft’s post-acquisition layoffs at Activision Blizzard have already caught the FTC’s eye. Now we know more about which subsidiary studios will take the hit. First reported by the San Francisco Chronicle (via Eurogamer), California WARN notices list 86 upcoming scheduled layoffs at Skylanders maker Toys for Bob and 76 cuts at Call of Duty: Vanguard developer Sledgehammer Games.
California requires companies to notify the state of upcoming layoffs, thanks to a 1988 law mandating 60 days’ notice about staffing cuts (if they reach specific thresholds). The latest WARN alerts for Activision Blizzard report 86 upcoming cuts at an address in Novato, CA — matching Toys for Bob’s offices — effective March 30. In addition, the San Francisco Chronicle reports on a California state filing indicating Toys for Bob’s offices will close.
Toys for Bob is known for spearheading the “toys-to-life” concept, which Nintendo later embraced with its Amiibos. The Activision Blizzard subsidiary’s most successful projects include the Spyro the Dragon series, Skylanders and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time. The Gamer reported in late January that Toys for Bob would cut 40 percent of its staff, which would have only been around 35 jobs.
In addition, another 76 Activision Blizzard employees will lose their jobs (also on March 30) at an address in San Mateo, CA, matching the headquarters of Sledgehammer Games. The studio has developed or contributed to several Call of Duty games, including CoD: Modern Warfare 3 (2011), CoD: Advanced Warfare (2014), CoD: WWII (2017) and CoD: Vanguard (2021). The studio was founded in 2009. Insider Gaming reported in January that Sledgehammer Games would close its offices and go fully remote.
In late January, Microsoft said it would slash 1,900 jobs across its Xbox, Activision Blizzard and ZeniMax (Bethesda) teams. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a complaint in a federal appeals court on Wednesday, arguing that the substantial round of layoffs “contradicts Microsoft’s representations in this proceeding.” The government agency asked for a temporary pause of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition, which appeared all but locked up after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority approved the $69 billion purchase in October.
An estimated 10,500 gaming industry workers fell victim to layoffs in 2023. We’ve already seen 6,000 more in 2024, only slightly over a month into the new year. It’s been part of a devastating year-plus of broader tech-industry layoffs.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsofts-gaming-layoffs-include-86-jobs-at-skylanders-studio-toys-for-bob-182241293.html?src=rss
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Buying sex toys on Amazon can be sketchy, but we vetted some top picks for you
Dupes may be all the rage, but sex toys are one shopping category where you need to make sure you’re getting the real deal.
Just because you can buy nearly anything under the sun on Amazon doesn’t mean you should, especially if you’re not trying to pick up a counterfeit or poorly-made sex toys.
Because you’re reading this, you’re very much not trying to do that, but it isn’t uncommon to find illegitimate sex toys sold by third-party sellers like Amazon, that can stop working at best, and be actually dangerous to use on your body at worst.
Still, we get that buying sex toys can be intimidating, and going to Amazon instead of a full-fledged sex shop or a manufacturer’s website (though we are big fans of both) can make the process much easier. To help make sure you’re getting the quality product you deserve, we researched what brands are actually selling on Amazon, tested out some toys ourselves, and compiled a few tips on how to shop safely.
Why is it sketchy to buy sex toys on Amazon?
When you go to a sex toy brand’s website or a reputable sex shop, you’re basically getting a vetted selection of toys. There won’t be random knock-offs or dupes that don’t have your best interests in mind. You’re also buying from people who know what they’re talking about when it comes to sex toys.
Amazon, on the other hand, pretty much lets anyone sell anything.
“Purchasing from third-party stores like Amazon doesn’t guarantee an authentic product,” Mashable Sex and Relationships Reporter Anna Iovine wrote in her guide on how to buy sex toys. “Considering that the toy will be in or around your genitals, it’s imperative to make sure it’s legit.”
It wasn’t that long ago that the drop-shipped rose toy went viral on TikTok, despite its dubious quality. If you search “Hitachi Magic Wand,” on Amazon, you’ll get plenty of results, despite the fact that the website is not listed as one of Magic Wand’s trusted retailers. In fact, Magic Wand’s website explicitly warns consumers to “be particularly careful of counterfeit Magic Wand products in places like e-Bay and Amazon.”
The good news? Amazon is starting to take more serious measures in preventing the sale of counterfeit products. And in the meantime, there are still plenty of legitimate products on Amazon from brands’ storefronts — you just have to know how and where to look.
How to safely buy sex toys on Amazon
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Start from the storefront. Unauthorized sellers can be sneaky on Amazon. Just because the product links back to a legitimate storefront doesn’t mean that the product itself is legit (we experienced this first hand ourselves, it’s easier than you think to get tricked!) To make sure you’re actually looking at a genuine product, always start from a brands’ storefront and work your way out. If you have a brand you like, it’s a good idea to check out their website to see if they have their storefront linked rather than going straight to Amazon’s search bar. For each of our product selections below, we’ve also linked the Amazon storefront so you can safely check out the rest of the brands’ offerings.
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Double check the seller. While this isn’t a hard and fast rule, 99% of the time, a quick glance at the seller will help you determine if you’re buying a legit product or getting duped.
The seller can be found to the right side of the page, not right under the product name.
Credit: Screenshot / Amazon -
Be aware of anything that’s suspiciously cheap. If that $120 sex toy you’re looking at is only $65 at Amazon and Amazon alone, there’s more than a decent chance you’re getting a knockoff. We understand the excitement of finding a good deal, but it’s always good to approach markdowns with a healthy dose of skepticism.
We reached out to LELO, one of the brands on this list that has two Amazon storefronts, to ask how consumers can be sure to safely purchase sex toys on Amazon. Their chief marketing officer, Lukas Matutinović, shared the following three bullet points via email to Mashable:
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Read the seller ratings. Think of the seller as you would think of a product on Amazon. Would you feel confident buying a product that only has 10 reviews or a low general rating? The chances are pretty low. Look for a reasonable amount of reviews and a positive general rating.
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Find the warranty and/or guarantee. Most sexual wellness companies stand behind their products and aren’t afraid to share that. Look in the product images, product pages, and storefronts for each company’s policy. Some products, like LELO, even include a warranty in the product packaging.
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A tamper-proof sticker is your final safety check before use. Once you have found your product, personally verified your seller, and the product has arrived, there is one more step to help ensure you have safely purchased your toy. Before opening the product packaging, double-check for a tamper-proof sticker to make sure you are the first one to open and enjoy your toy. If the sticker is removed or damaged, be sure to immediately reach out to the seller.
Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable
As a final reminder before you go forth and shop, there are plenty of budget-friendly sex toys you can get without shopping at Amazon, but if you’re really looking to get the most out of your Prime subscription, here are our picks for the best sex toys on Amazon: