It’s earnings season, so we’re digging into the numbers to help us understand if “Survive until ‘25” is still realistic or if things are going to remain difficult through next year. Also: Circana report on…
Ubisoft has been under fire since a failed hostile takeover attempt in 2018. Since then, a toxic culture of misogyny and harassment was revealed in 2020 leading to an exodus of talent and a string…
After 33 years, GameStop has shuttered Game Informer. Also: Earnings time is here, more Bungie layoffs, Circana report for June 2024, voice actors on strike and more.
Atari has finally driven its mortal enemy, Intellivision, and heard the lamentations of its pixels. Also: So. Many. Earnings. We’re covering Sony, Square Enix, Ubisoft, Take-Two, and Embracer. Also, a number of new studios were founded as the labor winter trudges on.
The Microsoft/Activision deal is still alive. And now, Ubisoft has been folded into the conversation with control of cloud streaming rights. Also: Earnings (Square Enix, Sony, Take-Two, Embracer Group), The July 2023 Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending, Xbox’s new moderation system, and a listener question about the Xtra Small Small.
We’re back for Season 4! Good thing we’re not on HBO Max, amirite? The ghosts of Ubisoft’s failure to care for its employees are now haunting its financial performance. Also: Let’s talk about D&D and Hasbro’s huge, shortsighted missteps with the OGL, Epic has been slapped with a fine over Fortnite, Zenimax QA workers unionize, while Activision Blizzard moves to make things hard for workers at recently acquired Proletariat.
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, Square Enix reconsiders how it approaches studio ownership, 343 loses its leader, and Microsoft and Sony continue to butt heads in the UK over Activision acquisition.
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…