Episode 165: So… 2024, Huh? (News Show)

It’s been less than one month, and the industry has already suffered more than 3,500 lost jobs. Also: The Circana report for December 2023 and the full year, a few investments, and a discussion about some challenging changes to the U.S. tax code. Oh, and a bit about that weird Palworld game. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:11:08] - Circana report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December and Full Year 2023 [00:27:19] - Investment Interlude [00:34:06] - Quick Hits [01:00:58] - Labor Report SOURCES SAG-AFTRA and Replica Studios Introduce Groundbreaking AI Voice Agreement at CES | SAG-AFTRA Replica Studios Agreement for Digital Voice Replicas FAQs | SAG-AFTRA SAG-AFTRA’s AI Voice Acting Deal Was A Powder Keg Waiting To Go Off | Aftermath AI Content on Steam | Valve Report: 3D Realms and Slipgate may have been hit with more layoffs | Game Developer Employees Say ‘Sizable Portion’ Of Gearbox-Owned Studio Has Been Laid Off | Aftermath Playtika reduces staff by 10% | GamesIndustry Discord is laying off 17 percent of employees | The Verge Thunderful Group to restructure operations for strengthened long-term competitiveness | Thunderful Games A Difficult Update about our Workforce | Twitch Changes at Riot and the Road Ahead | Riot An Important Update about Riot’s Future | Riot Wimo Games reportedly shuts down | GamesIndustry Astra Fund repositions as "thinky" publisher Astra Logical following layoffs | Game Developer Playtika reduces staff by 10% | GamesIndustry INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Phoenix Labs execs regroup to form Critical Path Games | Game Developer Second Dinner raises $100 million to continue growing Marvel Snap | Game Developer Tencent completes majority ownership of Dying Light dev Techland | Game Developer Outsourcing studio Obelisk nets $2 million to create original horror title | Game Developer Rocksteady founders have a new, post-Suicide Squad studio | Polygon