Episode 150: Square Enix Says No Flippin’ Thanks to its Web3 CEO (News Show)

Square Enix is having a time of it, as its Web3-loving CEO is leaving and Luminous Productions is no more. Also: Ubisoft and Activision messing up labor issues again, and the US is investigating extremism in online games. Also, Manda is going to talk to you about The Lord of the Rings, and Mike will do his best Gollum impression. Maybe. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:01:04] - Square Enix Needs to Sort Itself Out [00:05:41] - The US Government Wants to Know About Extremism in Online Games [00:09:21] - Epic Lays Out Its Plans for the Future of Epic Games Store [00:13:29] - Investment Interlude [00:17:04] - Quick Hits [00:33:06] - Labor Report [00:42:54] - FAFO! SOURCES An Update from Luminous Productions | Luminous Productions (@LumiPro_EN) on Twitter Reorganization within the SQUARE ENIX GROUP | Square Enix "FINAL FANTASY XVI" Trial Review & Interview! Overwhelming presence of the summoned beast felt in full-scale action! | PlayStation Blog JP Yuji Naka admits to insider trading | Square Enix Notification of Changes in the Representative Director of the Company and a Consolidated Subsidiary | Square Enix Exclusive: U.S. rep mulls legislative action to press games industry on extremism | Axios Epic Games Store Launches Self-Publishing Tools for Game Developers and Publishers | Epic Games Beyond Good And Evil 2 Studio Head No Longer At Ubisoft | Kotaku EA Lays Off Over 200 Apex Legends Testers Over Zoom Call | Kotaku Activision fired two testers for 'profane' language, now a major tech union is filing charges | PC Gamer Take-Two confirms layoffs following 'exponential growth in recent years' | PC Gamer Gameloft closes Budapest studio as it shifts focus to console and PC | GameDeveloper Lince Works is Shutting Down | Lince Works (@LinceWorks) on Twitter Destiny 2 cheat maker AimJunkies ordered to pay $4.4 million to Bungie | Game Developer Bungie seeks $6.7m default judgment in case against LaviCheats | GamesIndustry INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Canadian Gaming Leader Behaviour™ Interactive Acquires Award-Winning SockMonkey Studios | GamesPress EMBRACER GROUPS’S MIDDLE-EARTH ENTERPRISES AND NEW LINE CINEMA JOIN FORCES TO FURTHER EXPLORE THE CINEMATIC UNIVERSE OF “THE LORD OF THE RINGS” AND “THE HOBBIT” | Embracer Group