Episode 161: Phil Spencer is Bobby Kotick’s Daddy Now (News Show)

With Microsoft’s Activision acquisition closed, the Xbox leadership team has reorganized in some unexpected ways. Also: Microsoft and Capcom earnings, more layoffs, Paradox says goodbye to Harebrained Schemes, Unity boots John Riccitiello, and we have the latest Circana report on U.S. Game spending. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:49] - Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for September 2023 [00:17:47] - Unity gives John Riccitiello the boot [00:24:16] - Microsoft Q1 FY24 Earnings [00:36:51] - Capcom Q2 FY24 Earnings [00:42:31] - Investment Interlude [00:52:41] - Quick Hits [01:03:44] - Labor Report [01:12:25] - Let’s Talk about the GaaSacre  [01:20:08] - Listener Questions SOURCES Unity Announces Leadership Transition | Unity “Fuck you, we’re not paying”: inside Unity’s Runtime Fee fiasco | MobileGamer.biz Microsoft Q1 FY24 Earnings | Microsoft Consolidated financial results for the 2nd Quarter of FY2023 | Capcom Paradox says The Lamplighters League sales were 'a big disappointment,' confirms recent layoffs at developer Harebrained Schemes | PC Gamer Zen Studios reportedly cuts staff by 32 | GamesIndustry Embracer-owned Digic to lay off 35 employees | GamesIndustry Frontier to lay off unknown number of staff in organisational review | GamesInudstry Full extent of Team17 cuts threaten third of the company - sources | Eurogamer Virtuos Studios seemingly closes Calypte one year after opening | Game Developer Epic Games cuts almost half of Bandcamp pre-Songtradr sale | Game Developer PlayStation lays off staff at Visual Arts support dev | Game Developer INVESTMENT INTERLUDE GameSquare To Acquire One of the Biggest Names in Gaming, FaZe Clan | GameSquare Xsolla Announces Acquisition Of Lightstream, Rainmaker And Api.Stream | Xsolla Fragbite to acquire Fall Damage | GamesIndustry Space Rock Games secures $900,000 in funding | GamesIndustry