With prices skyrocketing this generation, Microsoft has increased costs on Game Pass’ top tier while cutting offerings on others. We discuss the broader implications as price-sensitive players get boxed out. Also: Unity security alert sends devs scrambling, Tencent fires back at Sony’s Horizon: Zero Dawn lawsuit, and private equity rears its head once more.

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:40] – Game Pass Price Hike Hits Hard
• [00:29:53] – Unity Security Flaw Alert
• [00:32:53] – Tencent Hits back at Sony’s Horizon: Zero Dawn lawsuit
• [00:50:13] – Investment Interlude
• [00:57:46] – Quick Hits
• [01:01:19] – Labor Report

SOURCES

• Updates to Xbox Game Pass: Introducing Essential, Premium, and Ultimate Plans | Xbox
• Unity Platform Protection: Take Immediate Action to Protect Your Games and Apps | Unity
• SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT LLC v TENCENT HOLDINGS | United States District Court, Northern District of California

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Ubisoft Launches Brand-New Subsidiary – Vantage Studios | Ubisoft
• Splash Damage breaks away from Tencent | GamesIndustry
• Fragbite sells Playdigious to Griffin Gaming Partners for €10.5 million | Game Developer

LABOR REPORT

• Dune: Awakening developer Funcom announces redundancies | GamesIndustry
• The Outsiders is closing | David Goldfarb on Bluesky
• Testronic makes 4.8 percent of its total workforce redundant, closes Madrid and Belgrade studios | Game Developer
• Digital Extremes layoffs | Justin Kranzl on LinkedIn
• A Studio Update from Avalanche Studios Group | Avalanche