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Episode 192: PAX East Takes A MAGFest Turn (News Show)

Release Date: 05/30/2025

Episode 210: An Industry in Peril with Mat Piscatella

Virtual Economy

Joining us on this episode is friend of the show Mat Piscatella, Executive Director and Video Game Industry Adviser at Circana. Our discussion includes the state of the industry, the component crisis and hardware costs, first party’s changing strategy to focus on the biggest spenders, and just what the heck is going on at Xbox and PlayStation. Despite the worrying state of affairs, we also discuss our hopes for the future. Games will always be an art form, and as long as people are playing, artists will continue to pour their hearts into their craft. You can support Virtual Economy’s...

Episode 209: No One is Coming to Save Us (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Since 2022, the industry has slid into chaos and disarray, with developers and players abandoned by platform holders and publishers. Now, we’ve reached a tipping point, and only we can rescue ourselves. We’ll discuss Microsoft’s self-inflicted destruction, Sony’s anti-preservation attacks, and the ESA’s assault on consumers. Also: Steam Machine pricing, Krafton cowed, Ubisoft makes a catastrophic leadership hire amidst layoffs, and Ryan Cohen’s toilet thoughts become part of government record. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS ...

Episode 208: GameStop is Neither Credible nor Attractive (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Between GameStop and Ryan Cohen’s clownery and new Xbox leadership’s 100-day death march, it’s another grim moment for the game industry. Former OpenAI head (now Xbox CEO) Asha Sharma laments the hardware crisis caused by… AI. We’re all trying to find the guy that did this, after all. Look… Sharma is no doubt a sin eater, but as she perches herself on the glass cliff, how many people will suffer? Also: Ubisoft attempts to embargo news of studio closures and layoffs, Destiny 2 rides into the sunset, and… it’s earnings time, so we get to talk about why profits don’t save jobs....

Episode 207: GameStop is Too Fail to Big (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Ryan Cohen was only offered store credit as trade-in value for his time as GameStop CEO, so he’s trying to buy eBay in one of the most foolish business moves we’ve ever seen. Also: Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for March 2026, Microsoft, EA, Remedy, Earnings, the latest labor happenings, and Pearl Abyss dumps CCP for half of what it paid for it. Half Cash, Half Stock. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:01:41] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for March [00:15:42] - Microsoft Q3 FY26 Earnings,, and ...

Episode 206: Epic Fail (News Show)

Virtual Economy

With Epic laying off 1,000 people, the game industry job market has gone from “extremely chilly” to “nearing absolute zero.” Also: a recap of GDC’s challenged year, Circana Report on U.S spending for February 2026, some interesting new investments, NetEase divestments, and a heckin’ FAFO. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:00:50] - GDC 2026 Recap [00:25:51] - Circana Report on US Video Game Spending for February 2026 [00:35:02] - Nintendo Sues US Government Over Tariffs [00:36:55] - Pokemon Company v. US Government [00:38:24]...

Episode 205: Amy Hood Draws Blood - Spencer and Bond Out (Earnings Show)

Virtual Economy

This was supposed to be a show just about earnings. All we wanted to do was cover the earnings… but Sony closed Bluepoint, Nintendo is releasing $20 Pokemon ROMs, and Microsoft appears to have ousted Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. Every first party is stepping on rakes. Get your coffee… this is gonna be a thing. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:01:01] - Circana Report on US Video Game Spending for January 2026 [00:06:51] - Microsoft Earnings Report for Q2 FY2026 [00:16:39] - Sony Earnings Report for Q3 FY2026 [00:25:46] -...

Episode 204: Ubisoft’s Hail Mary (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Ubisoft employees are prepared to strike over a recent return-to-office mandate and extreme cost-cutting. Also: Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December 2025 and full year 2025, That’s No Moon at odds with former founder, Amazon Games suffers another blow, and Ashes of Creation dev Intrepid implodes. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:01:04] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December 2025 and Full-Year 2025 [00:12:00] - That’s No Moon Co-Founder Causes $1M Problem [00:21:09] - Valve Faces Down Another...

Episode 203: The Last Gasp of Virtual Reality (Season 7 Premiere)

Virtual Economy

2026 is putting us through our paces right out of the gate. We’re hanging onto hope, but layoffs, consolidation, and private equity loom over us like a shadow. On this episode: an update on Paramount’s desperate fight for Warner Bros. Discovery, Saudi Arabia moves video game holdings, and VR’s challenges get much larger. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS [00:02:35] - A conversation about hardware prices [00:10:16] - Paramount sues Warner Bros for Netflix deal details [00:15:39] - Investment Interlude [00:24:13] - Quick Hits [00:28:07]...

Episode 202: The Last Gasp of a Brutal Year (Season Finale)

Virtual Economy

2025 has continued the trend of layoffs, consolidation, and privatization. The gulf between AAA and everyone else is widening, as the AI bubble strains before an inevitable burst. With November’s Circana report coming in bleak after months of stronger performance, 2026 will continue to challenge us all. BUT... there is reason to hope. Unions are growing in number and reach and studios doomed by AAA mega-corps are finding a way to survive. We need to stick together to not only survive, but thrive. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also purchase! TIME STAMPS ...

Episode 201: No Matter Who Buys Warner Bros., We Lose (News Show)

Virtual Economy

Warner Bros. is selling itself like a $1.50 hot dog at Costco, and everyone wants a bite. Before the weekend, Netflix looked like it had a clear path to regulatory review. But now, New Paramount is taking a swing with a hostile takeover. Things are about to get ugly. Regardless of who wins, though, we lose. Consolidation continues and consumers pay the price. Also: Nintendo, Square Enix, Take-Two, Embracer Group, and Sony earnings; Circana’s report on U.S. video game spending for October 2025; and another grim labor report. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our and also...

More Episodes

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 Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

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] - Labor Report
[01:34:37] - Listener Questions

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

LABOR REPORT

TOPICS