# TWIG #390: Destiny Ends, Xbox's Biggest Layoff Ever, and Google Play's New Fee Chaos

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878/twig-390-destiny-ends-xbox-s-biggest-layoff-ever-and-google-play-s-new-fee-chaos
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878/twig-390-destiny-ends-xbox-s-biggest-layoff-ever-and-google-play-s-new-fee-chaos.md
Podcast: [Deconstructor of Fun](https://stenobird.com/podcast/deconstructor-of-fun-223878)
Published: 2026-07-03T17:03:30+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/deconstructoroffun/episodes/TWIG-390-Destiny-Ends--Xboxs-Biggest-Layoff-Ever--and-Google-Plays-New-Fee-Chaos-e3lkbpo
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/500026c/podcast/play/122350840/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-6-3%2F427308384-44100-2-f23a3d60ac468.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/deconstructor-of-fun-223878/episodes/twig-390-destiny-ends-xbox-s-biggest-layoff-ever-and-google-play-s-new-fee-chaos
Duration seconds: 3925

## Resource

Destiny is dead, Xbox is about to make the largest layoff in gaming history, and Google Play just completely changed how it charges developers.In this episode, we break down:• Why Sony's $3.6B Bungie acquisition was doomed from the start• What Destiny's gradual player decline actually looked like on the data• Where hundreds of laid-off Bungie developers go from here• Which five Xbox studios are being closed or sold• Why Xbox raising the Series X to $750 might be the final nail in the coffin• The unionization debate: is now the worst time to organize?• Google Play's new fee structure explained • Why Kress thinks Apple and Google wasted 20 years of developer goodwill• How a 2-person team sold 10 million copies of Mecha Chameleon in 16 days with zero marketing spend• Why the Adidas x Brawl Stars collab may have just hurt Supercell's brand• Ubisoft's surprising new hire from Amazon GamesCHAPTERS: 00:00 Mobile Giants Rant 00:16 Show Intro and Agenda 02:39 Soccer Sidetrack 04:03 Quick Shills and Corrections 07:04 Sony Cuts Bungie 13:15 Destiny Trends and Mobile 15:37 Where Talent Goes Next 17:25 Xbox Layoffs Rumors 19:51 Strategy Behind Closures 26:03 Unionization Debate 29:51 Xbox Price Hike Fallout 33:21 Console Pricing Speculation 34:24 Switch Sales And Price Hikes 36:09 Google Play Changes Breakdown 38:53 New Vs Existing Install Fees 40:33 Web Billing And Rankings 41:18 Why So Complicated 44:08 Level Up Program Requirements 45:26 Sidekick Overlay And Data 46:24 Rollout Dates And Reactions 49:20 Stores Value And 30 Percent 53:22 Steam Viral Hit Mecha Chameleon 55:49 VC Project Financing Debate 58:50 Ubisoft Hires Amazon Games GM 01:00:18 Adidas Brawl Stars Marketing Lesson 01:03:30 Wrap Up And Next Topics

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