After two years, it seems like new-generation console supply is starting to meet demand. We discuss in our coverage of the September NPD report. Also: the latest Activision Blizzard shenanigans (including two big Ls for the publisher), more on the Bayonetta 3 story, and more.

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:02:06] - NPD US Video Game Spending Report for September 2022
• [00:18:25] - Investment Interlude
• [00:25:07] - Quick Hits
• [00:27:48] - Labor Report

SOURCES

• NPD US Video Game Spending Report for September 2022 | Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella) on Twitter
• Why G4 failed | Washington Post
• Hellena Taylor Issues New Statement on Bayonetta 3 Allegations | Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) on Twitter
• Blizzard Albany, formerly Vicarious Visions, gets union vote greenlight | Washington Post
• CODE-CWA Announces Unfair Labor Practice Charges Against Activision Blizzard | CODE-CWA (@CODE_CWA) on Twitter
• Court of Appeal Denies Request to Dismiss CRD's Case Against Activision Blizzard | California Civil Rights Department

Bayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor shared troubling allegations of her treatment during negotiations, but new reports suggest things aren't quite what they seem. We discuss voice acting rates and what the $4,000 offer means for SAG-AFTRA union members. Also: Microsoft and Sony continue their war in the UK over the Activision acquisition, more troubling layoffs for games media, and Meta acquires a trio of studios while announcing absurd pricing for its next headset.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:51] - Listener Question
• [00:09:14] - Investment Interlude (CD Projekt, Riot, Microsoft / Activision)
• [00:35:49] - Quick Hits
• [00:49:47] - Labor Report (Activision Blizzard, Twitch, Bayonetta 3, and more)

SOURCES

• Activision Blizzard facing another sexual harassment suit | GamesIndustry
• Activision Blizzard Board Member Lulu Cheng Meservey Joins Executive Leadership Team | Activision Blizzard
• Labor board says Activision withheld raises from union activists | Washington Post
• Twitch responds to controversial revenue split, says 70/30 is "not viable in the long term" | Eurogamer
• Why Amazon won't foot the bill to pay Twitch streamers better | Washington Post
• Twitchcon Recap | @astraharaa on Twitter
• Microsoft lays off employees in Xbox, wargame simulation divisions | Washington Post
• Take-Two is shutting down the developer behind the mobile hit 'Two Dots' | Engadget
• Playtika closes Best Fiends maker Seriously after clash over studio direction | Mobile Gamer
• Nintendo settles labor dispute with game tester over unions | Axios
• Comcast Pulls Plug On G4 TV, Ending Comeback Try For Gamer-Focused Network | Deadline
• The Other Side of the Bayonetta Voice Actor Switch | Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) on Twitter
• SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Wage Table | SAG-AFTRA
• A Tense Pay Dispute Overshadows Nintendo's Upcoming Bayonetta 3 | Bloomberg (Paywall)

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• A message from Marcin Iwiński ― co-founder and Joint CEO of CD PROJEKT. | CDProjekt (@CDProjekt) on Twitter
• GAMES AT CONNECT 2022: 'MARVEL'S IRON MAN VR,' XBOX CLOUD GAMING, AN 'AMONG US VR' RELEASE DATE, AND MORE | Meta
• Riot games acquires Wargaming Sydney Studio | GamesIndustry
• Brazil approves Microsoft/Activision acquisition | Tom Warren (@tomwarren) on Twitter
• More detail on Brazil's Microsoft/Activision decision | Antitrust Lawyer "Idas" on Resetera
• Microsoft has offered a glimpse at how much Xbox Game Pass actually makes | Windows Central
• Full Text of UK CMA Decision (Phase 1) on Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision | UK CMA
• Microsoft's Views on the CMA's Full Text Phase 1 Decision | Ars Technica
• PlayStation eyes new investment for PC, mobile push | Reuters
• PlayStation to broaden line-up, but won't abandon roots, studio chief says | Axios

E3 lives, Stadia dies, and Twitch continues to make bad moves that alienate its community. Also: Saudi Arabia and Tencent look to step up investments, and a beefy labor report.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:02:21] - Twitch Has a Child Predator Problem (That it Tried to Cover Up with Different Bad News)
• [00:28:39] - Investment Interlude (Netflix, Saudi Arabia, Tencent, Fandom)
• [00:44:10] - Quick Hits
• [00:50:56] - Labor Report (Activision and OSHA, Respawn, Nintendo Tester Speaks Out, Studio ZA/UM)
• [01:05:41] - E3 Lives!
• [01:12:04] - FAFO Award

SOURCES

• Child Predators Use Twitch to Systematically Track Kids | Bloomberg (Paywall)
• A Letter from Twitch President Dan Clancy on Subscription Revenue Shares | Twitch
• Twitch loses VP after revenue split controversy | Eurogamer
• Respawn Speaks Out in Defense of Harassed Developers | Respawn (@Respawn) on Twitter
• Activision QA worker warns OSHA about the devastating impact of crunch | Polygon
• THE DISSOLUTION OF THE ZA/UM CULTURAL ASSOCIATION | Martin Luiga on Medium
• Exclusive: Fired Nintendo worker speaks out, alleging union-busting | Axios
• A message about Stadia and our long term streaming strategy | Google

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Building Our Internal Games Studios | Netflix
• HRH Crown Prince announces Savvy Games Group strategy | Saudi Press Agency
• Tencent shifts focus to majority deals, overseas gaming assets for growth | Reuters
• Fandom Acquires Leading Entertainment & Gaming Brands Including GameSpot, TV Guide and Metacritic | Fandom

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, 343 loses its leader, and Microsoft and Sony continue to butt heads in the UK over Activision acquisition.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:00:39] - GameStop Earnings
• [00:15:31] - NPD for August 2022
• [00:26:12] - Investment Interlude
• [00:45:33] - Quick Hits
• [00:58:44] - Labor Report
• [01:30:21] - The GTA6 Hack
• [01:41:43] - FAFO Award

SOURCES

• GameStop Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2022 Results | GameStop
• GameStop Rewards Employees For Sticking Around With 50-Cent Raise | Kotaku
• NPD for August 2022 | Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) on Twitter
• Interview: Ubisoft CEO on company's scandals and attempts to reform | Axios
• ABetterUbisoft members discuss state of company ahead of Ubisoft Forward | Eurogamer
• Electronic Arts Form 8-K | SEC
• Exclusive: Sea Ltd shuts operations in some Latin American countries, cuts Free Fire staff in Shanghai | Reuters
• G4TV reportedly lays of up to 30 staff less than a year after relaunch | GamesIndustry
• Rockstar Acknowledges Massive GTA6 Asset Theft | Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) on Twitter

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• AppLovin abandons effort to acquire Unity after $20 billion bid was rejected | CNBC
• Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise plans: New pricing coming soon | Unity
• FOCUS ENTERTAINMENT announces the acquisition of Dutch studio WW1 Game Series B.V. | Focus Entertainment
• Ex-Gearbox and Riot devs raise $5.5M for Ruckus game studio | GamesBeat
• Tencent takes minority stake in Mordhau studio Triternion | GamesIndustry
• CMA recommends second phase of Microsoft Activision investigation | GamesIndustry
• Gaming for everyone, everywhere: our view on the Activision Blizzard acquisition | Xbox Wire

A drama-filled Friday saw the huge news of a major acquisition… followed by a debunking and walkback that we'll be talking about for some time. Also: Sony jacks the price of PS5, Chinese giants make investments in Quantic Dream and FromSoftware, and a discussion on how M&A is impacting smaller publishers.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:16] - PS5 Price Increase
• [00:07:43] - Investment Interlude
• [00:29:43] - Quick Hits
• [00:40:37] - Labor Report (GameStop, Rogue Games)
• [00:44:30] - Amazon, EA, and the importance of care when reporting on business

SOURCES

• PS5 price to increase in select markets due to global economic environment, including high inflation rates | Sony
• Warner Bros. gaming division is on a well-timed hot streak | Axios
• GameStop Increasing Store Staff Wages | Stephen Totilo (@StephenTotilo) on Twitter
• Rumor: Amazon set to buy Electronic Arts | USA Today
• CNBC Debunks Amazon / EA Acquisition Rumor | CNBC (@CNBCNow) on Twitter

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• EMBRACER GROUP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF CRYSTAL DYNAMICS, EIDOS-MONTRÉAL, SQUARE ENIX MONTRÉAL AMONGST OTHER ASSETS | Embracer Group
• Saudi Arabia voices "no objection" to Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition | GameDeveloper
• Welcoming Savage Game Studios + Expanding Our Community | PlayStation Blog
• Notice Concerning Consolidated Subsidiary's Capital Increase through Third-party Allotment of Shares | Kadokawa
• NetEase Acquires Leading French Game Developer & Publisher Quantic Dream | PR Newswire
• Bandai Namco: M&As are "affecting some of the smaller publishers in their capacity to access the best studios" | GamesIndustry

Embracer Group's latest spending spree nets them one of the world's most recognizable IPs (and much more). Also: Unity slumps amid hostile takeover, Take-Two posts losses on Zynga acquisition, Nintendo is in the hot seat again, Activision commits to the union-busting bit, and NPD for July 2022 as spending continues its slide back to pre-pandemic levels.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:42] - Unity Q2 FY22 Earnings
• [00:14:54] - Take-Two Q1 FY23 Earnings
• [00:27:21] - Thunderful Group H1 FY22 Earnings
• [00:32:51] - Remedy H1 FY22 Earnings
• [00:35:21] - Embracer Group Q1 FY23 Earnings
• [00:42:03] - Investment Interlude (Embracer Group Spending Spree)
• [01:00:53] - Quick Hits
• [01:07:51] - Labor Report (Nintendo, Activision)
• [01:11:38] - NPD for July 2022

SOURCES

• Unity Announces Second Quarter 2022 Financial Results | Unity
• Unity sets up joint venture in China | GamesIndustry
• AppLovin offers to buy video game software maker Unity in $17.5 bln deal | Reuters
• First Quarter Fiscal 2023 Results & Guidance Summary | Take-Two
• Thunderful Group Interim Report January–June 2022 | Thunderful
• Brjann Sigurgeirsson leaves the position as CEO of Thunderful Group | Thunderful
• Half-Year Report | Remedy
• EMBRACER GROUP PUBLISHES INTERIM REPORT Q1, APRIL-JUNE 2022 | Embracer Group
• EMBRACER GROUP ANNOUNCES THE 11[TH] OPERATING GROUP: EMBRACER FREEMODE | Embracer Group
• Second labor complaint filed against Nintendo | Axios
• Aston Carter and Nintendo of America as Joint Employers | NLRB
• Nintendo Of America's Testers Say They Faced Years Of Sexual Harassment | Kotaku
• Activision Blizzard is using 'Diablo IV' to argue against unions | Washington Post
• Activision Blizzard accused of trying to stop workers communicating about pay and working conditions | Fortune (Paywall)
• NPD for July 2022 | Mat Piscatella (@MatPiscatella) on Twitter

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE LIMITED RUN GAMES | Embracer Group
• EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AN AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE SINGTRIX | Embracer Group
• EMBRACER GROUP ACQUIRES TUXEDO LABS | Embracer Group
• EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE TRIPWIRE INTERACTIVE | Embracer Group
• EMBRACER GROUP ENTERS INTO AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE IP RIGHTS TO THE LORD OF THE RINGS AND THE HOBBIT LITERARY WORKS BY J.R.R TOLKIEN | Embracer Group
• Spin Master Expands Digital Games Ecosystem with Acquisition of Nørdlight | Spin Master
• [From the industry] SOEDESCO acquires Superlumen development studio | MCV/Develop

Call of Duty is in a slump, and Activision is waiting out the clock until the acquisition having reportedly canceled a long in-development mobile World of Warcraft game. Also: Earnings, GameStop's terrible NFT marketplace, Square Enix's bananas comments about its former Western teams, and more.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:02:06] - Activision Q2 FY22 Earnings and News
• [00:19:59] - Paradox Q2 FY22 Earnings
• [00:23:08] - EA Q1 FY23 Earnings
• [00:27:54] - Investment Interlude
• [00:35:34] - Quick Hits
• [00:39:47] - Nintendo Q1 FY23 Earnings
• [00:44:52] - Square Enix Q1 FY23 Earnings
• [00:54:26] - Sega Q1 FY23 Earnings
• [00:59:24] - Labor Report
• [01:07:10] - GameStop's Mismanagement of its NFT Marketplace

SOURCES

• Activision Q2 FY2022 Earnings | Activision
• Blizzard, NetEase Scrap Warcraft Mobile Game After Financing Dispute | Bloomberg (Paywall)
• Paradox Q2 FY2022 Earnings | Paradox
• Electronic Arts Reports Q1 FY23 Financial Results | EA
• Consolidated Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2021 and 2022 | Nintendo
• Financial Results Briefing - Three‐Month Period Ended June 30, 2022 | Square Enix
• Consolidated Financial Results for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2022 | Sega
• Court ruling reveals more details about death threats against Destiny 2 developers | PC Gamer
• Activision Will Not Voluntarily Recognize Blizzard Albany Union | We Are GWA Albany (@WeAreGWAAlbany) on Twitter
• Jam City lays off staff as part of 'restructuring' | GamesBeat

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Acquisition of Mighty Games and the completion of the acquisition of Forgotten Empires | Keywords Studios
• Tencent seeks bigger stake in 'Assassin's Creed' maker Ubisoft - sources | Reuters

Minecraft is taking a hard line against those who would abuse the game with crypto and blockchain schemes. Also: Earnings season begins with Capcom, Microsoft, and Sony, ABK workers walkout again, Rockstar on the mend, and Meta jacks the price of the Quest 2 by $100.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:17] - Capcom Earnings
• [00:10:38] - Microsoft Earnings
• [00:16:55] - Sony Earnings
• [00:22:22] - Investment Interlude
• [00:33:22] - Quick Hits
• [00:39:08] - Labor Report (Activision, Ubisoft, Riot, Rockstar, Tender Claws, Card Kingdom)
• [00:53:29] - Meta Raises the Price of Quest 2

SOURCES

• Capcom Q1 FY 2022-23 | Capcom
• Earnings Release FY22 Q4 | Microsoft
• Q1 FY2022 Consolidated Financial Results | Sony
• A Better ABK Walkout Demands | ABetterABK (@ABetterABK) on Twitter
• Activision Blizzard workers walk out, protesting loss of abortion rights | Washington Post
• Court gives green light to Riot Games $100 million settlement | Axios
• Indie company Tender Claws is the next game studio to unionize | Polygon
• Rockstar Games Cleaned Up Its Frat-Boy Culture — and Grand Theft Auto, Too | Bloomberg (Paywall)
• One Year Later, Ubisoft has Met No Demands Made by A Better Ubisoft | A Better Ubisoft (@ABetterUbisoft) on Twitter
• META QUEST 2 PRICING CHANGES | Meta

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Wizards of the Coast Announces New Studio - Skeleton Key | Wizards of the Coast
• CEO Buys 3BlackDot, Making It One of the Few Black-Owned Media Companies | WSJ (Paywall)
• Square Enix's Western studios were a "train wreck in slow motion" | GamesIndustry.biz

We talk a lot about diversity, equity, and inclusion on this show. Manda sat down with Code Coven's founder, Tara Mustapha, and marketing coordinator, Myleah Lofland, earlier this year to discuss how Code Coven is changing the industry for the better by helping to foster and develop the talent that will lead gaming to its fullest potential. Code Coven is definitely going to take over the world.

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

GameStop and Unity are making ugly moves, drawing the ire of consumers and developers. Also: E3 returns as the ESA gives up on being an event organizer, a surprisingly meaty list of new investments, NPD for June 2022, another Activision studio moves to unionize, and a double FAFO!

You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise!

TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:10] - The Return of E3
• [00:14:59] - NPD for June 2022
• [00:24:37] - Investment Interlude
• [00:45:56] - Quick Hits
• [01:06:36] - Labor Report (Nintendo, esports media, GameStop, and a new Activision union)
• [01:19:03] - Double FAFO (Bungie sues harasser, Developer smacks down NFT and Crypto shills)

SOURCES

• NPD for June 2022 | Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella) on Twitter
• Nintendo Labor Suit Amended | Nicole Carpenter (@sweetpotatoes) on Twitter
• 'Our entire industry is dying': In esports media, layoff season is in full swing | Digiday
• GameStop Form 8-K, June 9, 2021 | US SEC
• GameStop Form 8-K, July 7, 2021 | US SEC
• GameStop CFO out as company announces layoffs | Axios
• Blizzard Albany QA Moves to Unionize | GWA Albany (@WeAreGWAAlbany) on Twitter
• Bungie Sues Destiny 2 Streamer For Repeatedly Cheating And Harassing Its Employees | TheGamePost
• Developer turns 'future of gaming' talk into a surprise attack on convention's NFT and blockchain sponsors | PCGamer
• Game Developers of Color Expo - Speaker List

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Unity Announces Merger Agreement with ironSource | BusinessWire
• Welcome, ironSource! | Unity
• Nekcom raises $8m, opens new US studio | GamesIndustry.biz
• NetEase Invests in Polish VR Startup | Piotr Goguś on LinkedIn
• FaZe Clan, a Leading Gaming, Lifestyle and Media Brand, Completes Business Combination with B. Riley Principal 150 Merger Corp. | BusinessWire
• Sony has closed its $3.6B acquisition of Bungie | PlayStation (@PlayStation) on Twitter
• Sony has completed its acquisition of Haven Studios | PlayStation (@PlayStation) on Twitter
• Repeat to be acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment | Repeat
• Spotify To Acquire Music Trivia Sensation Heardle | Spotify
• Microsoft / Activision Blizzard merger inquiry | UK Competitions and Markets Authority
• Notification of the Acquisition of Dynamo Pictures, Inc. | Nintendo
• Nordisk Games acquires Supermassive Games, award-winning creators of The Quarry and The Dark Pictures Anthology | Supermassive