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Virtual EconomyAuthor: Michael Futter and Amanda Farough
The business of video games can be complicated. In each episode of Virtual Economy, hosts and analysts Amanda Farough and Michael Futter break down the biggest business news in the video game industry. Language: en Genres: Business, Technology Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode 201: No Matter Who Buys Warner Bros., We Lose (News Show)
Episode 201
Wednesday, 10 December, 2025
Warner Bros. is selling itself like a $1.50 hot dog at Costco, and everyone wants a bite. Before the weekend, Netflix looked like it had a clear path to regulatory review. But now, New Paramount is taking a swing with a hostile takeover. Things are about to get ugly. Regardless of who wins, though, we lose. Consolidation continues and consumers pay the price. Also: Nintendo, Square Enix, Take-Two, Embracer Group, and Sony earnings; Circana's report on U.S. video game spending for October 2025; and another grim labor report. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:06:02] - PAX Unplugged Roundup [00:23:44] - Circana Report on U.S Video Game Spending for October 2025 [00:31:49] - Sony Earnings for Q2 FY26 [00:36:49] - Nintendo Earnings for H1 FY26 [00:48:15] - Square Enix Earnings for H1 FY26 [00:54:31] - Take-Two Earnings for Q2 FY26 [00:55:39] - Embracer Group Earnings for Q2 FY26 [00:59:48] - iam8bit is Suing Skybound [01:02:40] - Tencent Pauses Light of Moritram Promotion During Sony Lawsuit [01:03:35] - Krafton CEO Accused of Using ChatGPT to Get Out of Unknown Worlds Earnout [01:06:43] - Investment Interlude [01:24:37] - Quick Hits [01:29:47] - Labor Report [01:38:13] - FAFO SOURCES Q2 FY2025 Consolidated Financial Results | Sony Nintendo Earnings for H1 FY2026 | Nintendo HUGE blow to Nintendo: head of U.S. patent office takes RARE step to order reexamination of "summon subcharacter and let it fight in 1 of 2 modes" patent | Games Fray Financial Results Briefing Session Six-Month Period Ended September 30, 2025 | Square Enix Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. Reports Results for Fiscal Second Quarter 2026 | Take-Two Grand Theft Auto VI is Now Set to Launch November 19, 2026 | Rockstar Embracer Group publishes Interim Report Q2, July–September 2025 | Embracer Group Embracer Group divests Arc Games and Cryptic Studios | Embracer Group Arc Games Is Now an Independent Publisher | Arc Games iam8bit is suing Skybound Game Studios alleging fraud and theft of designs | Engadget Tencent agrees to stop promoting its Horizon ripoff during Sony lawsuit | Engadget Krafton CEO accused of forming secret task force 'Project X' to seize control of Unknown Worlds | Game Developer Remember Postal? | PC Gamer INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Digiphile - About Us | Digiphile Saudi Fund to Own Almost All of Electronic Arts After Buyout | WSJ via MSN Netflix to Acquire Warner Bros. Following the Separation of Discovery Global for a Total Enterprise Value of $82.7 Billion (Equity Value of $72.0 Billion) | Netflix Netflix Sells Spry Fox Back to Founders | GameFile Paramount launches all-cash tender offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery | Paramount LABOR REPORT The Rockstar Workers Fired Before They Could Finish GTA 6 | People Make Games The Messages Rockstar Saw Before Firing 34 Union Members | People Make Games NetEase racks up its third studio casualty in one week, kneecapping dev working on a Warhammer MMO | PC Gamer Splash Damage places entire studio into consultation ahead of redundancies | GamesIndustry Three Fields Entertainment puts entire studio in consultation | Fiona Sperry on LinkedIn Coatsink to lay off half its staff due to "challenging co-development market" | GamesIndustry UK publisher Outright Games confirms layoffs | Game Developer Atomhawk is Closing its Canadian Studio | Atomhawk on LinkedIn Layoffs at Gorilla Tag dev Another Axiom | Jonathan Dearborn on LinkedIn
