Libsyn Directory

Episode 170: Embracer Group Fire Sale Burns Labor (News Show)

Release Date: 03/29/2024

Episode 187: When A Publisher Won’t Use the Word ‘Layoff’ (News Show)

Virtual Economy

There are few things worse than yet another company laying people off… and EA has committed the sin of obfuscating job losses. Also: Earnings season is underway, the Circana report for December 2024 and the full year, a recap of the GDC State of the Industry report, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:00:49] - EA Takes a Tumble [00:12:58] - Microsoft Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:19:38] - Capcom Q3 FY25 Earnings [00:25:39] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December 2024 and Full Year 2024 [00:35:25] - Learnings from the...

Episode 186: Unalive Service (Season Premiere - News Show)

Virtual Economy

The year has begun, and the industry is already off to an intense start. On this episode, we discuss the business decisions behind the Switch 2’s departure from “Weird Nintendo,” Ubisoft’s precarious position, the U.S. ruffling Tencent’s feathers, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s move to regulate premium game currency. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:03:27] - The Switch 2 has finally been announced [00:19:11] - The United States labels Tencent a military asset [00:22:16] - The U.S. Consumer Financial...

Episode 185: Survive Through ‘25 (News Show)

Virtual Economy

34,000. That’s how many jobs have been lost in our industry since the start of 2022. We recap the year, discuss PAX Unplugged and The Game Awards, and look ahead at what to expect in 2025. We did a deep dive on tabletop card game trends and the looming tariffs for all of our fellow tabletop gaming nerds, too! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:05:17] - Reflecting on PAX Unplugged 2024 [00:27:44] - Our Time at the TGAs [00:32:54] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for November 2024 [00:39:23] - Gamestop Q3 FY24 Earnings...

Episode 184: Call of Duty Saves the Month… On PlayStation (News Show)

Virtual Economy

We now know that Microsoft wasn’t kidding when they said they had no intention of pulling Call of Duty from PlayStation. Whether the Game Pass Gambit pays off or not, Black Ops 6 is selling great on Sony’s console. Also: the rest of the Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for October, a pair of Mass Effect alums run into funding trouble, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:] - Ubisoft Shutters Three Studios and Ends XDefiant Development [00:] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for October 2024 [00:] -...

Episode 183: The Cold Embrace(r) (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Another bad quarter for Embracer could have ripple effects throughout the industry. Also: Sony, Nintendo, Sega, and Square Enix earnings, legal trouble for NetEase executives, a strike at Activision Blizzard, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:01:12] - Sony Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:08:11] - Nintendo H1 FY25 Earnings [00:23:09] - Sega H1 FY25 Earnings [00:27:17] - Square Enix H1 FY25 Earnings [00:31:18] - Embracer Group Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:34:27] - Investment Interlude [00:35:50] - Quick Hits [00:41:10] - Labor Report [00:46:22] -...

Episode 182: We Carry On… Together (News Show)

Virtual Economy

It’s earnings season, so we’re digging into the numbers to help us understand if “Survive until ‘25” is still realistic or if things are going to remain difficult through next year. Also: Circana report on U.S. video game spending for September 2024, a few bright investment items, and a labor report that still shows bumpy roads ahead. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! This episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system. You can get 20% off your...

Episode 181: Roblox Remains Icky as Heck (News Show)

Virtual Economy

A scathing report from Hindenburg Research surfaces shocking realities about Roblox’s investor relations and massive failures to protect youth on the platform. Also: Circana Report U.S. video game spending for August 2024, Google is now required to make external app stores more viable, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! This episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system. You can get 20% off your one time purchase of Magic Mind or up to...

Episode 180: Ubisoft in Freefall (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Ubisoft has been under fire since a failed hostile takeover attempt in 2018. Since then, a toxic culture of misogyny and harassment was revealed in 2020 leading to an exodus of talent and a string of underperforming releases. Now, a critical game delay, a board review of operations, and a looming strike in France have tanked the share price as the company is fending off an activist investor bent on forcing the company to eject the Guillemot family and take private equity to save the ailing publisher. Also: Another very bad time for labor, another story reveals a power struggle inside...

Episode 179: The $700 PS5 Pro Is An Act of Desperation (News Show)

Virtual Economy

The PlayStation 5 Pro defies all logic, reaching deeper into diehards’ pockets in the worst economy we’ve seen in 15 years. We break down the challenging economics (while also admiring Mark Cerny’s ASMR-style presentation). Also: GameStop earnings tumble, more Microsoft layoffs, Unity reverses a terrible decision, and can AI companies just stop stealing our stuff? You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! This episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system....

Episode 178: EA Sports College Football Saves the Month (News Show)

Virtual Economy

We had a hunch that EA Sports College Football was going to be big, and it seems to have single-handedly swung the U.S. video game spending report in a positive direction. Also: Lots of earnings, PS5 price hikes, some acquisitions, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:01:46] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for July 2024 [00:09:36] - Square Enix Q1 FY25 Earnings [00:16:53] - Nintendo Q1 FY25 Earnings [00:26:38] - Sony Q1 FY25 Earnings [00:36:43] - Remedy Q2 FY24 Earnings [00:44:59] - Sega Q1 FY25 Earnings [00:49:19] -...

More Episodes

We’ve come full circle. Embracer Group just took a massive loss to get some much-needed cash in hopes of filling a seemingly bottomless hole of debt. Saber is gone. Zen is gone. 4A is gone. Gearbox is gone. Also, SAG-AFTRA may strike against video game companies, some new studios are popping up, but many others are still laying off and closing.

You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

[00:00:30] - GDC and PAX East Recap
[00:11:27] - Gaming Safety Coalition
[00:14:53] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for February 2024
[00:29:57] - GameStop Q4 FY24 Earnings
[00:33:03] - Investment Interlude
[00:47:40] - Divestment Dinterlude
[01:03:42] - Quick Hits
[01:16:04] - Labor Report

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