The GamesIndustry.biz Microcast

Rebekah, Chris, Matthew and Brendan gather round their mics to discuss the biggest news and topics of the games industry. This week, we start by considering the new appointments at Sony Interactive Entertainment and the insights from our recent interview with PlayStation boss Jim Ryan. Having previously discussed Sony's stategy to hold back from detailing the next generation, we now have a better understanding of what's happening behind the scenes. Of course, the industry still has questions -- such as the future relationship between indie studios and PlayStation -- and we discuss how these might play out in the year to come. Next, following Rob Fahey's column, we debate how Overwatch 2 may pave the way for a new type of sequel: one for a world dominated by games-as-a-service offerings where publishers will be reluctant to force the original's audience to upgrade. Finally, the news that Ubisoft is publishing its last Wii game -- likely the console's last game ever -- is as good an opportunity to pay homage to Nintendo's groundbreaking console and our favourite titles. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Brendan and Rebekah discuss some of the biggest topics from the past week, starting with the controversy surrounding the latest Call of Duty. For months, Infinity Ward and Activision have promised a gritty, realistic take on today's global conflicts, and yet critics report these attempts lack substance and are undermined somewhat by a game that remains focused on delivering high-octane setpieces around a super soldier fantasy. Combine that with the controversy over its child soldier, waterboarding and history-altering Highway of Death sequences, and it's hard to know what Call of Duty really wants to be. We also reflect on the recents financials for major publishers such as EA and Ubisoft, and how the shift in the AAA space continues towards live service titles, perhaps at the cost of single-player narrative experiences. Finally, we cast our minds more than 30 years into the future and try to imagine what the recently trademarked PlayStation 10 might look like. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this brief podcast excursion Rebekah, Brendan, and Haydn unpick last week’s industry events, starting with the surprise delays from Naughty Dog and Ubisoft. Just over a month after announcing a release date, Naughty Dog revealed it would be pushing The Last of Us II back by around three months. Then, just a few days later, Ubisoft announced it was delaying Watch Dogs Legion, Gods & Monsters, Rainbow Six Quarantine to sometime between July 2020 and December 2020. Though the news hit Ubisoft hard, with its share price dropping 16% afterwards, the news opens up the debate about launch windows, and whether publishers are trying to find more space in the crowded market. Over at Google Stadia, there’s lots of questions around whether Google knows what it’s doing on the development side of things. The tech giant is making big promises around what Stadia can do, and has announced major in-house development operations, but whether it will deliver or struggle at the first hurdle like Amazon remains to be seen. One thing that’s for sure though, is most of the GamesIndustry.biz editorial team aren’t terribly convinced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a special episode for you this week, recorded live from the show floor of EGX 2019. Matt, Chris and James took to the stage to answer a series of consumer questions with the aim of giving a little more insight into how the business of games works and the state of the industry today. Topic covered include the decline of games retail, expectations for Google Stadia and streaming services, the future of free-to-play, Nintendo's mobile strategy, the notion of platform holders releasing games on each other's consoles, and whether we'll ever see a Half-Life 3. If you want to put face to voice, you can also check out the video version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRs5FMjZ1o4 As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Brendan, Rebekah and new starter Marie discuss the ongoing fallout of Blizzard's punishment for pro Hearthstone player Chung 'Blitzchung' Ng Wai. We discuss the severity of the original punishment, the apparent lack of process through which this was reached, and how widespread the backlash has become. We also touch on the implications for other publishers with direct ties to China and its companies, and consider the long-term impact for Blizzard, especially with Blizzcon around the corner. (After recording, Blizzard released a statement responding to the controversy and we address this in a short update towards the start of the episode.) Following this main topic, we look at Ubisoft's plans for various animated series based on its games -- going on a slight tangent about the difficulty in making a kids' TV show based on a mature and violent games brand. Plus, we come up with our ideal video-games-to-TV adaptations -- and fail to top Rebekah's suggestion. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Haydn, Chris and Brendan are on hand to talk through some of the latest industry news, starting out with the messy story of Video Game Tax Relief in the UK. It was revealed earlier last week that global games companies had claimed millions upon millions in tax relief, sparking a debate about whether the scheme was working as intended. Meanwhile, Monument Valley developer Ustwo Games faced accusations of union busting after it allegedly fired key programmer Austin Kelmore over his involvement in Game Workers Unite. Finally, Sony announced a considerable price cut for its game streaming service PlayStation Now, and we discuss Sony's tendency to merely dabble with new toys, rather than commit wholeheartedly like rival Microsoft. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, Brendan, and Rebekah are on hand this week to discuss all the hottest industry haps, starting with the Oculus Quest. Accounting for 20% of Oculus' $100 million lifetime revenue from software in just a few short months, the Quest appears to be a resounding success. Things are looking more positive already though, after Oculus announced it was adding hand-tracking to the hardware as a free update. It's been a big week over at Nintedno's house too though, following the launch of the Switch Lite and Mario Kart World Tour, which seems to represent Nintendo at both its best and most clueless at the same time. Mario Kart World Tour has been a record-breaking mobile game for Nintendo in terms of downloads, but lots of questions still linger about whether its controversial monetisation model will find traction with players. Meanwhile, the Nintendo Switch Lite launched to glowing reviews, only to be mired in the Joy-Con drift fiasco (unfortunately the podcast was recorded before that news broke and so isn't mentioned). Even so, there's still plenty of evidence to suggest that the 2019 holiday period for Nintendo is going to be a real success; Nintendo has both the cheapest and newest hardware on the market this Christmas, and a new Pokémon game arriving in November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Matt, Rebekah and Haydn are on hand to discuss the biggest news of the past week, starting with the future of E3. The emergence of a pitch deck from the ESA gives some insight into the direction the trade body would like to take the industry's premier showcase, but mentions of celebrities, influencers and "queuetainment" are raising more than a few eyebrows. Next, we weigh up the potential for Apple Arcade and whether it's the saviour of premium mobile games -- or their last chance. We also touch on indie and mobile pricing, and the value consumers place in ownership versus the convenience of subscription. Finally, we discuss Sports Interactive's new eco-friendly packaging for Football Manager and the challenge from studio director's Miles Jacobson for all major entertainment firms -- including console platform holders -- to adopt a similar approach. (Interestingly, since we recorded, both PlayStation and Xbox have signed up to the United Nations' Playing For The Planet Alliance, but there's been no mention of ditching plastic boxes so far) As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a smaller team this week, but no less meatier a discussion. Haydn and Brendan debate the potential fallout from the DCMS committee's recommendations that the UK government regulate loot boxes under gambling laws. While these remain recommendations at the moment and are not enforceable laws, it's nonetheless a concerning direction for the ongoing debate around how the games industry monetises its audience. We discuss the various responses to the report, the implications such laws might have for the industry and how this latest news, when combined with headlines of crunch, abuse, mass layoffs and more, is not painting the best picture for the games industry. As always, you can find more news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a troubling week in the games industry following multiple abuse allegations, we’re back with a lighter episode of the GamesIndustry.biz Podcast. Haydn pulls hosting duty this week, joined by Brendan and Chris to discuss the absolute bumper pack of announcements from Nintendo’s latest Direct, and reminisce about the Dreamcast glory days. On Wednesday, Nintendo wheeled out a barrel-load of announcements that didn’t warrant much on their own, but combined shows the platform holder continuing to invest in varied experiences for Switch owners. We got classic Nintendo titles, more details on upcoming games, and the bizarre new Switch Hoop, which feels very on-brand for Nintendo. Whether it will be able to emulate the success of products like Wii Fit or Wii Sports remains to be seen, however. From there, things took a curious turn as Chris and Brendan regaled Haydn with all the antediluvian wonders of the Sega Dreamcast, which is today enjoying its 20th birthday in North America. Feel free to celebrate this momentous occasion however you please. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though marginally delayed thanks to the UK taking a day off on Monday, the GamesIndustry.biz Podcast has arrived. Gathering around the podcast campfire this week is Rebekah, Matt, Brendan, and Haydn who dive into all the industry happenings last week. Kicking off, a discussion about Game Informer editorial cuts in the wake of mass layoffs at parent company GameStop turns into a wider debate about what it takes for print media and online publishing to survive in 2019. Following that, the team get wrapped up discussing cloud gaming, streaming, and the news that both Sony and Microsoft have made similar noises around forgoing platform exclusivity with some of their first-party titles. Finally, we wrap things up with a chat about the inaugural Gamescom: Opening Night Live, what place it has in the industry, and where it sits in the debate surrounding publishers missing E3. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah, Matt, Chris and Haydn weigh in on one of the most divisive topics currently discussed across the industry: the relationships between politics and games. As our contributing editor Rob Fahey recently wrote, simply asking 'Is you game political?' misses the nuances of a deeper conversation that could be had about the evolution of video games and their place in the world. We explore those nuances, and ponder why this misinformed questions has become so prevalent when the media meets with AAA developers. We also discuss Nintendo's mobile strategy and the platform holder's ongoing struggles to tame the most lucrative gaming sector -- particularly in the wake of Dr Mario World's slower-than-expected launch. Finally, we use this as a starting point to share which Nintendo IP -- existing or invented by us -- that we'd like to see come to mobile. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah, Brendan, Chris and Haydn are on hand for this bumper episode to discuss a long, complicated and frustrating week in the games industry. We start with the leak of thousands of journalists, analysts and content creators' personal information -- including phone numbers and postal addresses -- via E3 media lists. We discuss the ESA's handling of the situation, the impact it may have on next year's E3, and the potential for abuse against those affected. From one form of abuse to another, we discuss the vitriol directed at the indie developers behind Ooblets, and how the team has addressed it. The cause of such anger? Why, Epic Games Store exclusivity of course. Then we discuss the fallout from the weekend's two mass shooting in the US, which has somehow inevitably (but tenuously) been linked to video games. (To the point where, just hours after recording, it emerged that Walmart was pulling displays and demos for violent games from its stores) Finally, Brendan and Rebekah recap the revelations of the FTC workshop on loot boxes, including news that Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft will now require all developers and publishers to declare their odds for loot drops. All of this while watching our language. Mostly. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah pulls hosting duties again, joined by Matt, Brendan and Haydn. This week we discuss the future of Improbable and SpatialOS after another game built using the tech gets cancelled. It's got potential, but developers are struggling to deliver. Also on the agenda is Rockstar's questionable tax returns, following a report from investigative think thank TaxWatch UK, which found the Grand Theft Auto V developer hasn't paid any corporation tax in ten years, while also claiming £42m in Video Game Tax Relief. Finally, what does the future hold for esports? The Fortnite World Cup showed there's plenty of money floating around, plenty of fans hungry for content, but how sustainable is it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah, Brendan, Chris and James are on hand to discuss some of the biggest industry stories of the week, starting with (yet again) crunch. We reflect on Brendan's fascinating interview with creative director Lorne Lanning about the irony of Oddworld: a game that focuses on the exploitation of workers at a time when developers themselves were frequently exploited. Talking about what (if anything) has improved leads to another hard look at the impact of crunch on the industry, the potential solutions, and how it takes time for attitudes towards exploitative working practices -- even our own -- to change. Then we talk about the comically perfect timing of Rockstar's big casino update for Grand Theft Auto Online, arriving amidst ongoing worldwide discussions about gambling and video games. Is this a sign of the developer's attitude towards such scrutiny, or has the conversation around monetisation models become too sensitive? Finally, we touch on the Joy-Con drifting issues experienced by Switch owners, triggering a class action lawsuit against Nintendo. Oh, and it's very important that everyone know how much Brendan loves the GameCube controller. As always, you can get your daily news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the old saying goes, “It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday.” That, of course, can mean only one thing: the GamesIndustry.biz Podcast is here. This week Rebekah takes up hosting duties and is joined by Matt, Brendan, Haydn and, if you listen very closely, a selection of our assorted pets. We kick things off with the crumbling world of brick and mortar game stores, and what they can do to slow their seemingly inevitable decline. Following the example of UK retailer Game, struggling US giant GameStop revealed this week to revamp its stores with a newfound focus on esports. Whether either can establish the success of yesteryear is still in doubt though. Ubisoft recently announced it was once again partnering with Jason Gordon-Levitt’s creative crowdsourcing platform HitRecord for the upcoming Watch Dogs: Legion. Just like last year’s partnership for Beyond Good and Evil 2, the whole thing attracted a lot of criticism, but poses some interesting questions regarding where the lines get blurred with user-created content around games like Super Mario Maker and Dreams. Finally, the news that Detective Pikachu is the highest grossing video game movie tie-in of all time came as no surprise, but why did it succeed where movies like Super Mario Bros. and Street Fighter failed? (Except for all of the really obvious reasons like a) being terrible, or b) not being very good). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, James and Haydn discuss the biggest stories of the past week, including the ongoing dispute between indie developers and divisive marketplace G2A. Recorded hot off the heels of G2A's proposal for a key-blocking tool, we discuss the various roots of the debate and why indie developers -- and the industry in general -- has such a rocky relationship with the company. The core principle of G2A -- that players can sell on games they own -- is not all that controversial, but years of allegations regarding scams, fraud and stolen keys, plus the marketplace's occasionally inept attempts at defending itself make this an industry problem that may be impossible to solve. Finally, we share our thoughts on the long-rumoured and in-no-way-surprising Nintendo Switch Lite. For both Matt and James, it suits their use of the device down to a tee, but would a Switch Pro capable of handling more powerful games be more appealing? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Load up your ears with the GamesIndustry.biz podcast, this week featuring James, Matt, and myself chatting about the big industry news. Matt is in trouble this week for not using headphones while recording, so apologies in advance for the slightly wonky audio in places. But don't let that deter you from downloading this white knuckle thrill ride of all the hottest industry “haps.” EA doesn't see itself as the "bad guys" but it's an image the publisher just can't seem to shake. We discuss EA's long legacy of missteps, whether that's the ancient sin of releasing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II before it was ready, or it's attempted re-brand of loot boxes as "surprise mechanics", we’re spoiled for choice. We also get embroiled once again in the storefront wars following comments made by Paradox Interactive's Fredrik Wester, who praised the more generous revenue split of the Epic Games Store, and described the 70/30 industry standard as “outrageous.” The Department of Digital, Media, Culture and Sport inquiry into immersive and addictive technologies rolls on, this week with appearances from the Information Commissioner's Office, and culture minister Margot James MP. We round things out with a little chat about our favourite mobile games, where James once again recommends Florence and I get misty-eyed about Runescape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Friday, so what better way to end your week than with the GamesIndustry.biz Podcast? This week Rebekah takes up the mantle of host once more, joined by Haydn, Brendan, and occasionally his dog. We kick with a discussion on the state of streaming after Razer cut ties with one of its female content partners over some Twitter remarks she made about men; the return of Dr Disrespect to the Twitch despite being banned for filming inside the bathrooms at E3; and how subscriber only Twitch streams could make creators less accountable. Then we close out the episode with a chat about everyone’s favourite topic: horrifying and avoidable crunch at a AAA studio, revealed by a recent report into how Treyarch created an underclass of QA testers while developing Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII. You can listen to our latest episode below, subscribe to our RSS feed, or download the file directly here. It is also available via Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, Overcast, Player FM, TuneIn and other widely-used podcast platforms. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah, Matt, Brendan and Haydn discuss two of the biggest issues the industry faces in this week's podcast. First up, following comments from Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick and even US senator Bernie Sanders, we discuss the ongoing debate around unions. Zelnick's discussion with GamesIndustry.biz kicked off a debate this week about whether games professionals who are comfortably compensated would even be motivated to unionise. We weigh up the many other reasons why the call for unions is getting louder. Then, after EA and Epic appeared in Parliament earlier this week, we discuss how the way they represented both their own companies and the industry in general could have been improved. As the UK government's inquiry into immersive and addictive technologies continues, the games industry could find itself facing more scrutiny from other governments around the world. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a bumper podcast as we reflect on everything we saw (and didn't see) at E3 2019. First up, Chris and Brendan record a segment in Los Angeles reporting on the mood on the show floor and how the lack of Sony, EA and other have made for a somewhat quieter, almost underwhelming show. They discuss the impact of E3 swag, the art of the 'one more thing' at a major press conference, and why more industry professionals are talking about subscriptions and streaming that next-generation consoles. Finally, they discuss their ideas for improving E3 as the show continues to push for a larger consumer presence. They also very subtly plug the GamesIndustry.biz magazine, which you can download at our website. Then it's over to Matt, Rebekah and James, who have been reporting from home. The trio discuss the lack of gameplay demos and why this might contribute to the difficulty of identifying the standout games heading to shelves in the next six months. Plus, more thoughts on Sony's notable absence and why it may well be Nintendo's time to shine this Christmas. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The entire GamesIndustry.biz team assembles as we prepare for the biggest week in the gaming calendar. Rather than plucking arbitrary predictions out of the air, we instead focus on the core areas that are likely to be hottest topics of the upcoming week. First off, we debate whether the next generation of consoles will have any sort of presence at E3 2019 -- or whether it even needs to. With Sony absence, the show is open for Xbox to dominate but that means the platform holder can share as much or as little as it needs. From there we discuss the other platform holder's plans. With Nintendo confirming there will be no new Switch hardware, what games -- or perhaps game, singular -- will be the Mario maker's big focus this year? The company already has a solid line-up, but what new IP or surprises might be in store? We also discuss E3 as a whole. With major industry players like Sony and Electronic Arts no longer present, is the event losing its relevance or perhaps struggling to define who the many announcements are even targeted at? And finally, we each discuss our dream E3 announcement -- the one game that will delight us enough to justify the long, long hours we face in covering this year's show. As always, you can find your news, analysis and insight -- including, of course, our E3 2019 coverage -- at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Almost the entire team is assembled for this week's episode of The GamesIndustry.biz Podcast, with Matt, James, Chris, Haydn and Rebekah (on holiday in the UK) gathering around the mic to discuss the latest gaming headlines. The big topic of the week is World Health Organisation's decision to classify 'gaming disorder' as a recognised illness. We debate whether the industry trade bodies could have done more to defend against this, or whether it even needs defending against. This conversation also veered towards loot boxes and the recent news that a proposed bill in the US has received support from both major political parties. As we once again discuss the intricacies of this divisive and potentially exploitative mechanic, we dip down the rabbit hole of what even counts as a loot box. On a lighter note, we discuss this week's Pokémon announcements, including a cloud storage service and sleep tracking app, and why The Pokémon Company remains the master of brand management. And finally, in anticipation of today's expected Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reveal, we try to get to the bottom of why games publishers struggle to name their games sensibly. Will the new game be confused for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare or the more recent Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered? What on Earth do you call the inevitable fifth (or is it second?) Modern Warfare? And how can Infinity Ward bring something fresh and special to such a long-running series? As usual, you can get all your news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, James, Haydn and Chris discuss the biggest stories of the week, starting with the surprising partnership between rival platform holders. As announced yesterday, Sony has partnered with Microsoft to share technologies and improve each other's cloud-based offerings -- a deal that has promising implications for the future of game streaming (even if it isn't the console wars ceasefire some might have thought). Elsewhere, the European Court of Justice has proposed a ruling that may help to eliminate crunch: tracking work hours to ensure overtime is always paid. We discuss how this might benefit developers, as well as the challenges of implementing and enforcing it. And finally, with Ubisoft using its recent record financial results to tease three unannounced AAA titles before the end of the fiscal year, we speculate as to which big brands will headline the publisher's 2019 line-up. (Okay, we admit it, this was a chance to yearn for a new Splinter Cell) Get all the latest news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Rebekah and Brendan discuss the latest industry headlines, which inevitably means continuing to talk about crunch. Picking up from our earlier episode, we discuss the latest stories of crunch and punishing work practices at NetherRealm Studios (as Brendan revealed in his article here: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-03-netherrealms-self-sustaining-culture-of-crunch). We also touch on how developers themselves may be inadvertently perpetuating the cycle of crunch (as Brendan also discussed in his editorial here: https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-05-08-united-devs-stand-divided-they-crunch-opinion). We then discuss the latest from Riot Games where rumours of a employee walkout became a 150-person show of strength, with solidarity from fellow developers across the industry. We talk about the forced arbitration clause at the core of the issue, as well as Riot's unsatisfactory response to the upset this has caused. And finally, we debate Senator Josh Hawley's proposal to ban loot boxes and other aggressive forms of monetisation in games targeted at, or even accessible to, children. Just as managers have failed their employees who face crunch, so the industry has failed itself as we face potentially overreaching legislation. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis from the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Matt and Rebekah discuss the biggest games industry stories of the week -- much of which centres around confusion. First, there's the contradicting stories as to whether or not Borderlands 3 has microtransactions. While Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford said quite clearly on stage that it doesn't -- our own Rebekah Valentine was in the room when he said this -- his own developers, and 19 hours of Pitchford's own tweets suggest otherwise. Then Epic's announcement that it had acquired Rocket League developer Psyonix raised the question of whether or not the game would continue to be made available through Steam. At first the firm suggested (unsurprisingly) that it will become exclusive to the Epic Games Store, before retracting this and assuring it will remain available on Valve's marketplace -- although perhaps not in the long term. And finally, Valve announced its high-end VR offering, the Index, with its finger-tracking and hefty price tags. Rebekah was able to try the device out for herself, but with the firm promising that these will be compatible with all previous VR games and that it's not planning on making exclusive titles that use the Index's impressive technology, it's not overly clear what Valve's strategy for the device might be. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan, James and Haydn discuss the biggest topic of the week - and, unfortunately, one of the longest running conversations in the games industry. With reports emerging of intensive working conditions at Fortnite creator Epic Games, across the Chinese games and tech industry, and (in recent days) from Mortal Kombat developer NetherRealm Studios, we are yet again reminded of how hard some managers are working their staff. Attitudes towards crunch -- at least from the perspective of those going through it, rather than enforcing it -- are changing and the practice is becoming less and less acceptable. Yet still it persists. We discuss how this growing resistance may be the beginning of the end for crunch and how the industry might change the attitudes of those profiting from it. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, Brendan and James discuss the latest industry headlines, this week focusing on major announcements from the console space. After Sony unveiled the first details of PlayStation 5, we debate whether 8K support and PS4 backwards compatibility are enough to excite players and encourage them to upgrade. While Sony will inevitably make a larger, more detailed announcement at (or before) E3, this seems to be a surprisingly low-key way of kicking off the next generation. This is no doubt partly due to Sony's decision to conveniently time the news around the announcement of Microsoft's digital-only Xbox One. While the PS5 will still feature a disc drive, the new model of Xbox One S drops it in favour of downloads and Game Pass. With digital increasingly becoming the dominant force in games retail, it's easy to see why this would appeal but is it the future of home consoles? Or could the future be unwieldy retro-focused two-player arcade sticks, shaped like a publisher's logo and seemingly impractical for two players? We share our thoughts on the Capcom Home Arcade. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah and Brendan discuss the latest industry headlines from the past week. We kick off by addressing the ease with which mobile developers are able to apply kids age ratings to inappropriate games on Google Play via the International Age Rating Coalition's system. Then we weigh in on the debate surrounding Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and the question of accessibility. Yes, this is well-trodden ground but Brendan reflects on the accessibility once found in the classic arcades and how this diminished in favour of more complex titles. And finally, we discuss the recent revelation that Activision Blizzard has been paying staff to voluntarily allow access to health data -- including monitoring their pregnancy. As always, you can find more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, Chris, James and Haydn take time out of EGX Rezzed 2019 to discuss the latest gaming headlines. The biggest topic this week is the ongoing decline of pre-owned games, as indicated by both GameStop's latest financials and the UK games market valuation. We talk about why this aspect of games retail is shrinking and how stores are adapting to cope with it. Then, following a recent exposé on BioWare's troubles with Anthem and its development, we discuss the reception to the game among both consumers and the press, as well as the mismatch between the studio's strengths and the title's premise. We finish off with a quick note on what we're looking forward to seeing at EGX Rezzed 2019, which is running in London this week. As always, you can find more news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Rebekah and Haydn reflect on the biggest news of this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. Inevitably, Google's Stadia streaming service dominates much of the conversation. We recap the most interesting aspects of the announcement, debate the appeal and potential of Stadia, and highlight the many, many unanswered questions. We also discuss the Nindies showcase and its most promising titles, the promise of online technology like Improbable's SpatialOS, and consider Oculus' new two-pronged strategy with Quest and Rift S. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, analysis and insight from www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Rebekah and Brendan discuss the latest gaming headlines, including whether publishers need to be more careful in screening the influencers they work with. We kick off with an update on the various lawsuits between Epic and the creators of popular dances, as well as news that former EA Motive founder Jade Raymond and battle royale pioneer Brendan Greene have taken on new roles. Then, following EA's apology for its delay in dealing with a Game Changer that was sexually harassing The Sims fans, we talk about the responsibility publishers have when using influencers to engage with their community. As Brendan covered in his piece earlier this week, endorsing YouTubers, Twitch streamers et al lends them some of a brand's power but what happens when an individual abuses that power? As always, you can find more news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah, Brendan and Haydn once again discuss the latest industry headlines, many of which centre around rather toothless apologies. We follow up on last week's main topic as THQ Nordic CEO Lars Wingefors addresses his subsidiary's decisions to run a Q&A on controversial image board 8chan. But, of course, the bulk of the episode is taken up by Valve's handling of Rape Day, a controversial visual novel that gives players control of a serial rapist during a zombie apocalypse. While Valve has confirmed the game will not be released on Steam, does this show any improvements on its widely-criticised policy of allowing any games that are not 'illegal or trolling'? On a lighter note, we discuss The Glory Society, a new co-working initiative by some of the developers behind the acclaimed Night In The Woods, and Nintendo's return to the virtual reality space (yes, return. Remember the Virtual Boy?) with the next Labo expansion. As always, you can get the latest news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebekah, Brendan and Haydn discuss some of the biggest games industry headlines from the past week. The biggest topic of the week is THQ Nordic's ill-advised decision to conduct an AMA on controversial forum 8chan, known for harbouring hate speech and previously blacklisted for hosting child pornography. We discuss the implications for THQ Nordic, debate how well the company responded to criticism over this session, and take a wider look at the industry's relationship with the darker aspects of the internet community. This is followed by our thoughts on the reveal of Pokémon Sword and Shield, the next core instalments in the hugely popular RPG series. Once we've chosen our starters, we discuss whether the initial reveal has lived up to expectations and how well it might perform on Switch when it arrives in late 2019. As always, you can get the latest news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matt, Brendan, Chris and James gather to discuss the biggest industry headlines of the past week. Chief among them is the arrival of Crackdown 3 and the difficulty it presents in judging its success. Media reviews are mixed, its retail performance (in the UK, at least) has been poor, yet engagement on Xbox seems to be high, thanks to Game Pass. Is this the first in a new type of release, where the metrics the industry has relied on in the pass are ultimately meaningless? We also discuss Google's tease of a big GDC reveal -- almost certainly a streaming service of some form -- and what the internet giant needs to bring to the table if it wants to stand out among a growing number of services. Finally, we touch on the ongoing troubles of Starbreeze, with the poor performance of Overkill's The Walking Dead continuing to highlight the struggles the Swedish publisher faces. With the company now in a reconstruction period to avoid insolvency, what does the future look like for Starbreeze? As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James, Rebekah and Haydn discuss the latest industry headlines, starting with the biggest story of the week: Activision's plans to cut 800 jobs despite record revenues. We debate whether such drastic cuts are necessary, and how Activision could have better handled the revelation. Plus, where does Blizzard fit in the publisher's future plans? We also touch on the latest Nintendo direct, the ongoing battle for cross-play between developers and PlayStation, and Epic Games' efforts to dismiss rapper 2 Milly's lawsuit over a Fortnite dance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris, Charlotte, James and Haydn gather to discuss the biggest news of the past few days. We kick off the episode with the surprising (or is it?) success of Kingdom Hearts 3, having shipped five million copies worldwide and broken series records in various territories. Following Chris' article, we also debate Electronic Arts' strategy in releasing Apex Legends, the new free-to-play battle royale game in the Titanfall universe, with little to no pre-launch fanfare, and the various factors that might deter a publisher from running a months-long promotional campaign ahead of such a release. Microsoft's plans to bring Xbox Live support to Nintendo Switch and mobile are in tune with predictions we have previously made about the strengthening relationship between the two platform holders. And finally, we ponder the latest in the heated discussion around Epic Games Store and its timed exclusivity deal for Metro Exodus. As always, you can get all your daily news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Following the news that Bungie and Activision are parting ways, the GamesIndustry.biz team discuss where the AAA publisher goes from here. Whether part of the ten-year agreement between the two firms or due to a change in strategy, there's no denying that the break-up leaves a Destiny-shaped hole in Activision's limited portfolio (NB: We mean Activision specifically, which is left with Call of Duty and the Crash/Spyro remakes -- the wider company of Activision Blizzard is doing just fine). Matt, Chris and James ponder whether Activision will seek its next billion-dollar franchise from another third-party studio like Bungie or perhaps turn to the many developers it already owns (most of which are working on Call of Duty) to come up with fresh ideas. We also talk about the company's efforts in other areas, from esports to film production, and whatever happened to that revived Sierra brand the publisher so proudly relaunched a few years back. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brendan, Chris, James and Rebekah kick off the year with their predictions for the year ahead. We've already covered analysts' predictions and industry leaders' most anticipated games on the site, but now it's time for us to offer our own take on what 2019 has in store for the games market. Topics we explore include: the increased competition among PC stores, thanks to the rise of Epic and Discord's offerings; the growing speculation as to whether we'll see next generation consoles unveiled; and what challenges Nintendo faces in the Switch's third year. We also share our most anticipated 2019 games and why we're looking forward to them. As always, you can get your daily dose of news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We round out the year with a thorough discussion of our favourite titles from the past twelve months. The entire GamesIndustry.biz team is on hand for this episode, each with their pick (or, in a few cases, picks) for best game of the year. While we somehow managed to reach a consensus last year -- jointly recognising Zelda: Breath of the Wild as the greatest 2017 offering -- there's a much broader range of titles to discuss this year. In case you haven't already read our Games of the Year article, we'll offer some hints: this year the team selected two PlayStation 4 exclusives, one Xbox, a handful of superb indie titles and even a premium mobile title. There may also be some tangents involving games-themed Christmas jumpers and George Romero zombie movies. Intrigued? Listen to the full discussion to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In light of increased scrutiny around loot boxes in full-price games, Brendan and James discuss how in industry is (and should be) handling this divisive monetisation mechanic. During the episode, we touch on the dangers that legislation like that imposed in Belgium and the Netherlands pose to publishers, the IGDA's recommendations on how games firms can show it is implementing loot boxes responsibly, and the different mindsets the prevalance of this monetisation is creating among players. As always, you can find all your news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by Resolution Games CEO and virtual reality proponent Tommy Palm to discuss the ongoing hurdles the immersive technology must overcome. At a time when skepticism around the future of VR is on the rise, with with past champions declaring it's nigh on impossible to build a business around it, Resolution Games continues to invest in both virtual and augmented reality projects. The firm recently secured $7.5 million in a seed round, bringing the firm's valuation up to $87.5 million. But, Palm tells us, it's not easy. On the show we discuss the limited audience and how it might be grown, and the potential for new standalone headsets like Oculus Quest. We also touch on the type of experiences that are likely to drive virtual reality going forward, and the opportunities afforded by augmented reality. As always, you can get more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we're joined by Reality Gaming Group co-founder Tony Pearce to discuss the changing landscape of cryptocurrency and blockchain-based games and services. Following a surge of interest in the technology at the tail end of 2017 and the headline-grabbing devaluing of prominent cryptocurrency Bitcoin - plus tales of scams and failed projects funded by Initial Coin Offerings - we look at how the opportunities for games firms have changed. Pearce also reflects on what his company has learned in trying to establish the cryptocurrency behind Reality Clash, an augmented reality shooter for mobiles that allows players to buy and sell in-game weapons with real-world value. As always, you can find all your news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris and James reflect on the recent Rockstar controversy surrounding the working conditions behind Red Dead Redemption 2 - and, more importantly, ask where the industry goes from here. We discuss the growing scope of open-world games and the pressure this puts on developers and their resources, plus the decisions behind release dates and how this can drastically impact what a team is able to accomplish. Finally, we wrap up by talking about how well we expect Red Dead Redemption 2 to perform when it releases later this week, amid a market suffering an ongoing decline in AAA sales (at least in terms of physical retail). And yes, we talk about those shrinking horse testicles. As always, you can find all your news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of Microsoft's Project xCloud announcement, James, Matt and Brendan ponder the possibilities for game streaming. While undoubtedly a disruptive force in the games industry, what role will the technology play in Xbox's future - or that of video games in general? We discuss the hurdles that Microsoft - or any would-be streaming service provider - need to overcome to appease consumers and deliver the convenience the public has come to expect from Spotify and Netflix. Plus, we consider the implications for developers and how this might lead to the rise of exclusive titles built specifically for streaming. While Microsoft naturally dominates the conversation, we also touch on EA's streaming ambitions, Google's Project Stream, Nintendo's experiments with streaming Switch titles in Japan, and more. As always, you can find more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by Simon Smith, managing director of family games publisher Thumbfood. Smith joins us to discuss why the family and kids games market needs "a kick up the arse" on consoles, and why a wider audience is the key to driving PlayStation 4 past 100 million sales. We also touch on how to avoid the mistakes made by previous publishers with an interest in family games, how to compete with the flood of free-to-play kids titles on mobile, why educational titles might stand a better chance of breaking through the noise, and why Crash Bandicoot's ongoing success indicates there is demand from the mainstream for more family-friendly games. As always, you can find more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded during Develop:Brighton 2018, we're joined by former Valve writer Chet Faliszek to discuss the realities and possibilities of AI in video games. Faliszek shares how he believes AI can be used to build more systemic gameplay, and how this can create more unique experiences for the players. He also touches on why mid-sized studios are best placed to take advantage of this rapidly developing technology, and drops a few hints about his first project with UK developer Bossa Studios. The discussion also covers the difference between player agency and interactivity, why writing more generically actually makes dialogue feel more natural, and how games can offer more options than 'kill all your enemies'. As always, you can find more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're joined this episode by indie figurehead Mike Bithell, developer of Thomas Was Alone, Volume and bitesize text adventure Subsurface Circular. Recorded just a few days after the surprise launch of the latter's spiritual successor, Quarantine Circular, we speak to Bithell about the advantages and potential of releasing games without any marketing build-up. We also discuss the benefits of developing shorter games, the limitations this creates, and why embracing these limitations is the key to crafting a tight and easily digestible experience. As always, you can find more news, analysis and insight into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by Geogrify founder and ex-IGDA director Kate Edwards to discuss one of the less-highlighted challenges of working in the video games industry: Ageism. Recorded at E3 2018, the discussion explores who is being affected by ageism in the industry, and the impact on both victims but also the companies neglecting them. Edwards also shares the process behind her recent 50 Over 50 list, which highlights both notable figureheads within the industry and those who have perhaps been denied the spotlight throughout their careers. Finally, she offers advice to industry members of all levels on how we can combat ageism. As always, you can find more news, insight and analysis into the world behind video games at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The entire GamesIndustry.biz team convene to reflect on this year's major games showcase in Los Angeles. Instead of talking through every announcement (which listeners are no doubt familiar with), we each choose a topic or trend that emerged from the show and discuss how it impacts the industry in general. Throughout the episode we discuss the growing presence of consumers at E3, the continuing saturation of shooters and violent action adventures as the tentpole titles of the show, and the (glacially) slow shift towards a more diverse range of protagonists. We also touch on the impressive roster of Avalanche Studios, what the future holds for the four developers acquired by Microsoft and where the console market is heading as rumours persist of a PlayStation 5 and a new Xbox. As always, you can find more insight, news and analysis at www.gamesindustry.biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices