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The Joys of Gaming: A Look Back at 2023's Notable Releases

As the year comes to a close, it's clear that 2023 will be remembered as one of the most impressive years for video games in recent memory. With the COVID-19 pandemic still affecting many industries, game development and release schedules were significantly impacted, leading to a plethora of high-quality titles hitting the market. This was particularly evident with the ninth generation of consoles becoming more entrenched, allowing developers to create even more innovative and engaging experiences.

One of the standout features of 2023's gaming landscape was the sheer number of highly praised releases. By October of this year, no less than 25 games had received aggregate scores of 90 or better on Metacritic, making it the best year for acclaimed titles since 2004. This is a testament to the dedication and hard work put in by developers across the industry.

Some notable award winners include Baldur's Gate 3, which swept the five major awards: the Golden Joystick Awards, the Game Awards, the D.I.C.E. Awards, the BAFTA Games Awards, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. This achievement is a testament to the game's exceptional quality and immersive gameplay.

However, despite the many positives within the gaming industry, 2023 was also marked by significant layoffs across various companies. This trend began early in the year, with Unity, Amazon, ByteDance, Epic Games, Bungie, Ubisoft, and others announcing major job cuts. These layoffs resulted in over 9,000 jobs being lost in the industry, making it a difficult year for many professionals.

In a related development, Embracer Group's attempted $2 billion acquisition deal fell through, leading to widespread layoffs and studio closures within their organization. Microsoft also made headlines with its completion of the US$69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, solidifying its position as one of the world's largest game publishers.

As we look back on 2023, it's clear that the video game industry has faced significant challenges but has also produced some truly exceptional titles. With the dawn of a new year comes hope for continued innovation and growth within this beloved medium.

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