China’s Regulations / Microsoft & EA Earnings / Apple’s Legal Challenges

China’s Regulations / Microsoft & EA Earnings / Apple’s Legal Challenges

In this week’s Roundtable, the squad dives into the public reversal of China’s proposed bans on game monetization tactics, plus ponders the future of these regulations and their impact on Chinese game stocks. We then shift focus to Tencent’s CEO’s candid reflections on the company’s 2023 gaming performance and its hopeful outlook on AI for…

Why Is Gaming Spend Not Up More? / M&A and Funding Trends / Earnings Season Begins

Why Is Gaming Spend Not Up More? / M&A and Funding Trends / Earnings Season Begins

In this week’s Roundtable, the squad delves into the fresh UK sales numbers, highlighting top hits like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Spider-Man 2. Then we discuss why YTD video game spend in the US is actually down compared to last year (when accounting for inflation) despite it being a notable year of great hits….

Microsoft Unblocked / FF16 Sales / Classic Game Archive Issues

Microsoft Unblocked / FF16 Sales / Classic Game Archive Issues

In this week’s Roundtable, we discuss the FTC losing its court case to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and explore what Xbox Game Pass means for developers. We also touch on Meta’s new social network Threads hitting 100 million users and Final Fantasy 16’s supposedly “disappointing” 373,790 in sales after two weeks as a…

Nexon’s CEO on Leadership, Virtual Worlds, Innovation & Antifragility

Nexon’s CEO on Leadership, Virtual Worlds, Innovation & Antifragility

Nexon is one of the largest and best-performing companies in the gaming industry, but too few Western onlookers fully know why the business excels. That changes today. Nexon CEO Owen Mahoney joins Naavik co-founder Aaron Bush to discuss his journey in games, what he’s learned from leading a large global business, and how Nexon builds long-lasting virtual worlds. They also discuss the importance of antifragility, what “weird” new initiatives could define Nexon’s future, and why companies often face internal resistance to innovation.

FTC Halts Microsoft’s Acquisition / AI Narrative Gaming / EA Restructuring

FTC Halts Microsoft’s Acquisition / AI Narrative Gaming / EA Restructuring

In this week’s Roundtable, the crew discusses what M.O.B.A. Network’s acquisition of Wargraph for $54 million means for indie Overwolf projects. We also dive into the FTC’s temporary restraining order halting Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal in addition to Roblox’s new mature content system and whether it might hurt user retention. Also on the agenda: Hidden Door’s playtest of a generative AI-driven narrative game using the Wizard of Oz IP and a discussion on what EA splitting up its sports entertainment divisions means for the company. Join us for all the latest games business news with Felipe Mata, Matt Dion, and host Devin Becker.

Microsoft Acquires Speedbumps / Apple’s Legal Victory / Ballooning Game Costs

Microsoft Acquires Speedbumps / Apple’s Legal Victory / Ballooning Game Costs

In this episode, we discuss Microsoft’s acquisition challenges, Apple’s win against Epic, and the impact of record-breaking successes in the Mario Bros movie and MiHoYo’s latest mobile game. We also explore how Mythical’s latest mobile game is expanding the audience for web3 and the effect of ever-expanding game development costs on the industry. Join us for all the latest games business news with Aaron Bush, Anil Das-Gupta, Jonathan Anastas, and host Devin Becker.