Episode 191: Who Can Even Afford to Be a Gamer Anymore? (News Show)
Release Date: 05/02/2025
Virtual Economy
Krafton’s response to the Unknown Worlds lawsuit hinges on one key element: the interpretation of the Equity Purchase Agreement. Also, lots of earnings, Roblox is under fire from the state of Louisiana, an update on the growing censorship of Steam and Itch.io, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:00:48] - Correction: Thunderful Share Price at Time of Atari Purchase [00:02:35] - Sony Q1 FY25 Earnings [00:05:24] - Paradox Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:07:26] - Take-Two Q1 FY26 Earnings [00:08:54] - Remedy Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:11:25] -...
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INT. POSH HOTEL SUITE - DAY TENCENT: Hey, Sony. Can we make a Horizon game? SONY: Nah. We good. TENCENT: Oh okay. Bummer. <ONE YEAR LATER> SONY: WHAT THE F—- <fin> So yeah… Sony is suing Tencent for what it calls a “slavish clone” of Horizon: Zero Dawn. Bold move! Also: EA, Microsoft, Capcom earnings, an update on the Mastercard/Visa censorship of legal game content, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:00:30] - Some News From Us! [00:05:21] - An Update on the Conservative Assault on Steam and ...
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In 2021, Krafton splashed huge cash on Subnautica dev Unknown Worlds. Now, the publisher may find out that buyer’s remorse isn’t a reason for violating a contract. Also… Ubisoft Earnings Circana Reports for May and June 2025 Sony takes a bite out of Bandai Namco On this episode, we discussed a serious attack on artist freedom being perpetrated by payment processors Mastercard and Visa. This attack is motivated by an Australian Christofacist group called Collective Shout that, among other things, does not believe adults should have bodily autonomy. If you would like your voice...
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Following strong financial performance in its gaming division, Microsoft is taking a machete to its work force and its future as a serious competitor. Is this the brand’s Red Ring of Death? Also, Bungie runs from Marathon, Warner Bros. goes all-in on safe IP, and the labor report hurts even more than usual. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:03:59] - Sony Games & Network Services Update [00:16:09] - Marathon Delayed Indefinitely [00:27:51] - Sony Brings Four Games Back to 177 Countries [00:30:18] - Cleer Arc 3 Gaming Review...
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With our Switch 2 in-hand, we’re ready to give you our early feelings about the console in this challenging market. Also: SO many earnings. Like… SO many. Nintendo, Sony, EA, Take-Two, Remedy, Embracer Group, Paradox, Square Enix, Capcom, and Sega. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:05:02] - Switch 2 Impressions [00:41:28] - Nintendo FY25 Earnings [00:47:16] - Sony FY24-25 Earnings [00:51:17] - EA Q4 and FY25 Earnings [00:56:43] - Take-Two Q4 and FY25 Earnings [01:04:24] - Remedy Q1 FY25 Earnings [01:07:57] - Embracer Group Q4 and...
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PAX East isn’t the show it was 10 years ago. With most AAA developers staying away, indies take center stage. Also: Circana report for April 2025, GameStop sells off its Canadian holdings, Curve Games has a new owner, the SAG-AFTRA voice performer strike enters the endgame, and much more. We’ve also got a pair of great listener questions! You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:03:10] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for April 2025 [00:17:36] - PAX East Recap [00:52:48] - Investment Interlude [01:09:12] - Quick Hits [01:17:15]...
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Microsoft is jacking prices on hardware, software, and peripherals. With costs going up while interest in Microsoft’s offerings declining, we have to wonder if Microsoft is applying pressure to push Game Pass. Also: Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for March 2025, Apple scores an own-goal and pisses off the Court, the tabletop industry is in freefall, and EA lays off another 300 to 400 people. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:1:31] - GTA 6 Delay [00:12:06] - Circana for March 2025 [00:17:43] - Devolver Digital Investor...
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The original Nintendo Switch launched at $300 USD. The Switch 2 price was absent from the huge Nintendo Direct, only to be quietly revealed at $450. As for game prices, Mario Kart World is a whopping $80. Costs are on the rise, and the latest tariffs have spiked the price of accessories. So… where do we go from here? Also… Ubisoft slices off its most profitable franchises, lots of layoffs, and a huge game publisher strike. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:02:53] - Nintendo Switch 2 and The Return of Paul Rudd, Gamer Dude [00:43:22]...
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Warner Bros. continues to chip away at its infrastructure and consumer confidence with the closure of three more studios. Also: Circana reports for Jan and Feb, a recap of GDC and developers’ feelings about the industry, a curious period for investments, a new union looks to cover the entire industry, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:03:00] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for January 2025 [00:11:59] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for February 2025 [00:21:39] - GDC 2025 Recap [00:54:29] -...
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Despite mounting evidence that Games as a Service are struggling, executives continue to go back to that empty well. Also: A ton of earnings reports (Nintendo, EA, Paradox, Square Enix, Sega, Ubisoft, Remedy, Embracer Group, and Sony), the labor picture worsens, and Niantic may be exiting the gaming space. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:01:58] - Nintendo Q3 FY25 Earnings [00:16:07] - EA Q3 FY25 Earnings [00:30:18] - Paradox FY24 Earnings [00:34:40] - Take Two Q3 FY25 Earnings [00:36:46] - Square Enix Q3 FY25 Earnings [00:40:17] -...
info_outlineMicrosoft is jacking prices on hardware, software, and peripherals. With costs going up while interest in Microsoft’s offerings declining, we have to wonder if Microsoft is applying pressure to push Game Pass. Also: Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for March 2025, Apple scores an own-goal and pisses off the Court, the tabletop industry is in freefall, and EA lays off another 300 to 400 people.
You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!
TIME STAMPS
- [00:1:31] - GTA 6 Delay
- [00:12:06] - Circana for March 2025
- [00:17:43] - Devolver Digital Investor Presentation
- [00:24:36] - Microsoft Q3 FY25
- [00:45:36] - Investment Interlude
- [00:56:59] - Quick Hits
- [01:06:42] - Labor Report
- [01:24:58] - FAFO
SOURCES
- Earnings Release FY25 Q3 | Microsoft
- Investor Presentation - 2024 Results | Devolver Digital
- Devolver Digital lays off almost half of Reigns studio Nerial | Eurogamer
- A judge just blew up Apple’s control of the App Store | The Verge
- New Epic Games Store Webshops and Revenue Share Update | Epic Games
INVESTMENT INTERLUDE
LABOR REPORT
- Online board game seller Boardlandia shuts down after tariffs add “unsustainable burden” to company’s existing challenges | BoardGameWire
- CMON announces layoffs, will stop ‘all future game development’ and crowdfunding efforts | Polygon
- Report: Meta has laid off over 100 Reality Labs employees | Game Developer
- Mighty Yell Undergoes Layoffs | Mighty Yell on Bluesky
- Respawn Layoffs | Respawn on Twitter
- Electronic Arts Lays Off Hundreds, Cancels ‘Titanfall’ Game | Bloomberg (Paywall)