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. 

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:26] – Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for August 2024
• [00:13:02] – Google Suffers Key Loss in Epic lawsuit
• [00:18:53] – Roblox Accused of Investor Malfeasance and Failing to Protect Kids
• [00:37:58] – Investment Interlude
• [00:47:58] – Quick Hits
• [01:06:01] – Labor Report
• [01:18:16] – Listener Question

SOURCES

• Google must crack open Android for third-party stores, rules Epic judge | The Verge
• Roblox: Inflated Key Metrics For Wall Street And A Pedophile Hellscape For Kids | Hindenburg Research
• Bandai Namco Cuts Jobs, Culls Titles as Game Sector Woes Deepen | Bloomberg (Paywall)
• More Embracer Group layoffs: Star Trek Online developer Cryptic Studios is cutting jobs for the second time in a year | PC Gamer
• Don’t Nod admits “challenging times” as “reorganisation project” puts up to 69 jobs at risk | GamesIndustry
• An Update on How We’re Evolving League | Mark Merrill (@MarcMerrill) on Twitter
• Tequila Works lays off “small number” of staff, cancels unannounced game | GamesIndustry
• Surgent Studios Puts Games Division on Hiatus | Surgent Studios (@surgentstudios) on Twitter
• NCSOFT spins off 4 subsidiaries for AI, game development | The Korea Times
• Scoop: Netflix shuts down ‘AAA’ Team Blue gaming studio, amid gaming shake-up | Game File

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Ex-Disco Elysium devs announce two rival studios | Game Developer
• Saudi Arabia trims stake in Nintendo | GamesIndustry
• Keywords Studios to acquire US-based studio Certain Affinity | Keywords
• IOI Partners and Leslie Benzies’ Build A Rocket Boy enter a Worldwide Publishing and Distribution Agreement for AAA New Console and PC Game, MindsEye | IOI