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 Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!
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 48% off your first subscription at https://www.magicmind.com/VECONOMY20 using the code VECONOMY20.
TIME STAMPS
- [00:01:43] – A Quick Chat about PAX West
- [00:11:27] – The PS5 Pro Defies Logic
- [00:25:43] – Concord’s Short-Lived Life
- [00:35:41] – Take This is in Danger of Closing
- [00:39:54] – OpenAI and Microsoft are Scraping Game Dev Work
- [00:45:11] – Unity’s Road to Redemption
- [00:51:30] – Gamestop Q2 FY25 Earnings
- [00:56:40] – Investment Interlude
- [01:09:55] – Quick Hits
- [01:14:45] – Labor Report
SOURCES
- Welcome PlayStation 5 Pro, the most visually impressive way to play games on PlayStation | PlayStation Blog
- An important update on Concord | PlayStation Blog
- Take This is in Danger of Closing Forever | Take This
- This was essentially a two-week long DDoS attack’: Game UI Database slowdown caused by relentless OpenAI scraping | Game Developer
- A message to our community: Unity is canceling the Runtime Fee | Unity
- GameStop Discloses Second Quarter 2024 Results | GameStop
- Microsoft lays off 650 more Xbox employees | The Verge
- Tilting Point making layoffs that could impact 20 percent of global workforce | Game Developer
- Rocksteady hit by layoffs after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League underperforms | Eurogamer
- Helldivers 2 support studio Toadman Interactive to shut offices in Sweden and Norway | Games Industry
- Tencent, NetEase Rethink Japan Approach as Game Strategy Stalls | Bloomberg (Paywall)
- Lost Boys Interactive has Initiating Another Round of Layoffs | Lost Boys Interactive on LinkedIn
- Merge Games closes Chelford office and announces layoffs | Games Industry
- Until Dawn remake studio Ballistic Moon lays off staff ahead of the game’s release in October | Eurogamer
- Incubator Dutch Game Garden shuts down in January 2025 | GamesBeat
- 3 months after firing Dr Disrespect, Deadrop developer Midnight Society confirms ‘significant’ layoffs | PC Gamer
INVESTMENT INTERLUDE
- Remedy and Annapurna announce a strategic cooperation agreement on Control 2 | Remedy
- Annapurna Video-Game Team Resigns, Leaving Partners Scrambling | Bloomberg (Paywall)
- Hopoo Games (Risk of Rain) Developers Join Valve | Hopoo Games (@hopoogames) on Twitter
- Some Good News for Timbre Games | Joe Nickolls on LinkedIn
- Nexon to Establish MINTROCKET Corporation | Nexon
- Urgent Call for Strategic and Structural Changes at Ubisoft Entertainment | AJ Investments
- Embracer Group receives early payment for sale of Saber assets. | Embracer Group