In this episode, Eric Kress, Jen Donahoe, and Laura Taranto debate the merits of VR, discuss Zynga's match-three strategies, and evaluate market trends in the mobile gaming sector. Plus, the crew takes a look at the dreadful reception of the Borderlands movie and the ongoing challenges in launching successful game franchises. To cap the episode off, we take a deep dive into the reason behind Bungie's recent layoffs.

00:00 Intro

02:34 Economic Insights

03:17 Transmedia Failures

4:48 College Tours and Family Updates

06:41 Gaming Events and AWS Support

16:01 Market Reports and Industry Growth

30:32 Exploring Match-Three Puzzle Games

31:27 Harry Potter Hogwarts Mystery

32:42 Playtika's Strategic Shift

35:28 Bungie's Layoffs and Sony's Acquisition Strategy

42:54 Nexon's Earnings and Market Strategy

45:32 Take-Two Interactive's Performance and GTA VI

54:40 Zynga's Portfolio and Market Performance

64:11 Concluding Thoughts and Future Episodes