Square Enix is having a time of it, as its Web3-loving CEO is leaving and Luminous Productions is no more. Also: Ubisoft and Activision messing up labor issues again, and the US is investigating extremism in online games. Also, Manda is going to talk to you about The Lord of the Rings, and Mike will do his best Gollum impression. Maybe.

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:04] - Square Enix Needs to Sort Itself Out
• [00:05:41] - The US Government Wants to Know About Extremism in Online Games
• [00:09:21] - Epic Lays Out Its Plans for the Future of Epic Games Store
• [00:13:29] - Investment Interlude
• [00:17:04] - Quick Hits
• [00:33:06] - Labor Report
• [00:42:54] - FAFO!

SOURCES

• An Update from Luminous Productions | Luminous Productions (@LumiPro_EN) on Twitter
• Reorganization within the SQUARE ENIX GROUP | Square Enix
• "FINAL FANTASY XVI" Trial Review & Interview! Overwhelming presence of the summoned beast felt in full-scale action! | PlayStation Blog JP
• Yuji Naka admits to insider trading | Square Enix
• Notification of Changes in the Representative Director of the Company and a Consolidated Subsidiary | Square Enix
• Exclusive: U.S. rep mulls legislative action to press games industry on extremism | Axios
• Epic Games Store Launches Self-Publishing Tools for Game Developers and Publishers | Epic Games
• Beyond Good And Evil 2 Studio Head No Longer At Ubisoft | Kotaku
• EA Lays Off Over 200 Apex Legends Testers Over Zoom Call | Kotaku
• Activision fired two testers for 'profane' language, now a major tech union is filing charges | PC Gamer
• Take-Two confirms layoffs following 'exponential growth in recent years' | PC Gamer
• Gameloft closes Budapest studio as it shifts focus to console and PC | GameDeveloper
• Lince Works is Shutting Down | Lince Works (@LinceWorks) on Twitter
• Destiny 2 cheat maker AimJunkies ordered to pay $4.4 million to Bungie | Game Developer
• Bungie seeks $6.7m default judgment in case against LaviCheats | GamesIndustry

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Canadian Gaming Leader Behaviour™ Interactive Acquires Award-Winning SockMonkey Studios | GamesPress
• EMBRACER GROUPS'S MIDDLE-EARTH ENTERPRISES AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN FORCES TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE CINEMATIC UNIVERSE OF "THE LORD OF THE RINGS" AND "THE HOBBIT" | Embracer Group