Virtual Economy

With Microsoft and Sony falling short on subscriptions, is our future still an all-you-can-eat buffet? Also: Earnings for Microsoft, Sony, Capcom, Paradox, Remedy, and Sega; Embracer shutters recently acquired and rebranded Studio Onoma, and Marvel Snaps up huge mobile revenue. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00...

After two years, it seems like new-generation console supply is starting to meet demand. We discuss in our coverage of the September NPD report. Also: the latest Activision Blizzard shenanigans (including two big Ls for the publisher), more on the Bayonetta 3 story, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:0...

Bayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor shared troubling allegations of her treatment during negotiations, but new reports suggest things aren't quite what they seem. We discuss voice acting rates and what the $4,000 offer means for SAG-AFTRA union members. Also: Microsoft and Sony continue their war in the UK over the Activision acquisition, more troubling layoffs for games media, and Meta acquires...

E3 lives, Stadia dies, and Twitch continues to make bad moves that alienate its community. Also: Saudi Arabia and Tencent look to step up investments, and a beefy labor report. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:02:21] - Twitch Has a Child Predator Problem (That it Tried to Cover Up with Different Bad News) [00:...

Ubisoft leadership has all but given up on fixing the company's culture as Tencent increases its ownership stake. Also: NPD for August 2022, GameStop bleeds, 343 loses its leader, and Microsoft and Sony continue to butt heads in the UK over Activision acquisition. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:00:39] - Game...

A drama-filled Friday saw the huge news of a major acquisition… followed by a debunking and walkback that we'll be talking about for some time. Also: Sony jacks the price of PS5, Chinese giants make investments in Quantic Dream and FromSoftware, and a discussion on how M&A is impacting smaller publishers. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy m...

Embracer Group's latest spending spree nets them one of the world's most recognizable IPs (and much more). Also: Unity slumps amid hostile takeover, Take-Two posts losses on Zynga acquisition, Nintendo is in the hot seat again, Activision commits to the union-busting bit, and NPD for July 2022 as spending continues its slide back to pre-pandemic levels. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via...

Call of Duty is in a slump, and Activision is waiting out the clock until the acquisition having reportedly canceled a long in-development mobile World of Warcraft game. Also: Earnings, GameStop's terrible NFT marketplace, Square Enix's bananas comments about its former Western teams, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise...

Minecraft is taking a hard line against those who would abuse the game with crypto and blockchain schemes. Also: Earnings season begins with Capcom, Microsoft, and Sony, ABK workers walkout again, Rockstar on the mend, and Meta jacks the price of the Quest 2 by $100. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:01:17] - C...

We talk a lot about diversity, equity, and inclusion on this show. Manda sat down with Code Coven's founder, Tara Mustapha, and marketing coordinator, Myleah Lofland, earlier this year to discuss how Code Coven is changing the industry for the better by helping to foster and develop the talent that will lead gaming to its fullest potential. Code Coven is definitely going to take over the world. Yo...

GameStop and Unity are making ugly moves, drawing the ire of consumers and developers. Also: E3 returns as the ESA gives up on being an event organizer, a surprisingly meaty list of new investments, NPD for June 2022, another Activision studio moves to unionize, and a double FAFO! You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS...

The Video Game Industry Celebrated Pride with a Bear Market (News Show): The pandemic boon is quickly becoming a memory as inflation, rising prices, and a thin release slate put pressure on developers and publishers. Also: Activision workers list demands for workplace safety, the Communications Workers of America back Microsoft's Activision acquisition, and Québec may be set to quash its local gam...

There was a lot to learn from the 2022 Keigh3 / Not-E3 / Game Mess showcases, and we've got beefy trend analysis for you! Also: NPD for May 2022, Microsoft takes more union-positive steps, EA and Ubisoft slash executive compensation, Activision shareholders do lots wrong (but one thing right), and a double FAFO! You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Ec...

GameStop revenues are up, but other indicators are looking ugly. Also, Microsoft takes steps toward supporting unions, Xbox cloud gaming evolves, EA tries to repair Pride damage and more.  You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:00:29] - GameStop Earnings [00:06:35] - Investment Interlude [00:10:15] - Quick Hits [00:...

This episode is a bit of all of your faves. We have some interesting earnings stuff to discuss (Embracer Group, EG7, Thunderful, and CD Projket), the labor report is getting saucy, and we get to talk about funding for indies! You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:01:41] - Embracer Group Earnings [00:15:12] - EG7 Ea...

There's a right way to respond to a civil liberties crisis. PlayStation boss Jim Ryan went a different way. Also: NPD for April 2022, Raven workers vote to unionize as Activision Blizzard draws the NLRB's ire, Sony discrimination lawsuit is back in play, developers revive anticompetition suit against Valve, Saudi Arabia takes a bite of Nintendo, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth v...

As the video game industry matures, it's important that we preserve our history to understand where we've been and where we're going. In this conversation with two preservation-minded organizations, we welcome Josh Fairhurst and Joe Modzeleski from Limited Run Games, as well as Jonas Rosland, the Executive Director of video game preservation non-profit, Hit Save. The conversation covers the work b...

No really. They've sold 165 million copies. Do you really need more? It's a busy earnings show, but we coast through it smooth as Strauss Zelnick's haircut. On this episode: Zynga, Nintendo, Sony, EA, Roblox, Bandai Namco, Starbreeze, Remedy, Capcom, Unity, Sega, Square Enix, and Take-Two. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIM...

The game industry loves to trot out its support for Women's History Month, but most companies are avoiding standing up for abortion rights. It's time for developers and publishers to take a stand. Also: Paradox earnings, Fortnite is back on iOS and Android (thanks to Microsoft), the war for Turtle Beach, NYC sues Activision, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and al...

Square Enix bids farewell to its western CEO and studios, but Embracer is ready to hug 'em tight. Also: Sony makes the new PS+ even more confusing, Activision shareholders sign-off on acquisition, and more. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:00:52] - Microsoft Q3 FY22 Earnings [00:10:58] - Sony Makes Life Harder...

QA workers at Activision-owned Raven Software have been given the go-ahead from the NLRB to unionize. Also: Hardware supply continues to be challenging according to latest NPD report, Nintendo is facing its own labor issues, and Sony scores a partial victory in court. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:00:46] -...

It's a rapid-fire episode, filled with nerdy chats about pen-and-paper RPGs, which $1-$2B company Jack Tretton is going to eat in a "SPACquisition", and Gov. Gavin Newsom selling out workers for Activision. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:01:47] - Investment Interlude [00:24:38] - Quick Hits [00:26:49] - Labo...

Chelsea Blasko returns to Virtual Economy to discuss Iron Galaxy's expansion into Tennessee and the studio's ongoing commitment to a healthy workplace. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise !

In our first of three bonus episodes from GDC 2022, we're joined by Odin Law's Brandon Huffman and DLA Piper's Ryan Black and Tyson Gratton to discuss labor issues, acquisitions, and the massive legal issues with the "play-to-earn" concept pushed by blockchain and NFT enthusiasts. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise !

We're back from GDC and we have a lot to discuss. This week: PlayStation Plus gets a makeover, Bobby Kotick's buddies accused of insider trading, indie studio bad behavior in the spotlight, and Sony's own labor issues mount as more women come forward. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our  Ko-Fi  and also purchase  Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME STAMPS [00:02:19] - GDC 2022 Recap [0...