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.
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Joining us on this episode is friend of the show Mat Piscatella, Executive Director and Video Game Industry Adviser at Circana. Our discussion includes the state of the industry, the component crisis and hardware costs, first party's changing strategy to focus on the biggest spenders, and just what the heck is going on at Xbox and PlayStation. Despite the worrying state of affairs, we also discuss…
Since 2022, the industry has slid into chaos and disarray, with developers and players abandoned by platform holders and publishers. Now, we've reached a tipping point, and only we can rescue ourselves. We'll discuss Microsoft's self-inflicted destruction, Sony's anti-preservation attacks, and the ESA's assault on consumers. Also: Steam Machine pricing, Krafton cowed, Ubisoft makes a catastrophic…
Between GameStop and Ryan Cohen's clownery and new Xbox leadership's 100-day death march, it's another grim moment for the game industry. Former OpenAI head (now Xbox CEO) Asha Sharma laments the hardware crisis caused by… AI. We're all trying to find the guy that did this, after all. Look… Sharma is no doubt a sin eater, but as she perches herself on the glass cliff, how many people will suffer?…
Ryan Cohen was only offered store credit as trade-in value for his time as GameStop CEO, so he's trying to buy eBay in one of the most foolish business moves we've ever seen. Also: Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for March 2026, Microsoft, EA, Remedy, Earnings, the latest labor happenings, and Pearl Abyss dumps CCP for half of what it paid for it. Half Cash, Half Stock. You can support…
With Epic laying off 1,000 people, the game industry job market has gone from "extremely chilly" to "nearing absolute zero." Also: a recap of GDC's challenged year, Circana Report on U.S spending for February 2026, some interesting new investments, NetEase divestments, and a heckin' FAFO. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise ! TIME…
This was supposed to be a show just about earnings. All we wanted to do was cover the earnings… but Sony closed Bluepoint, Nintendo is releasing $20 Pokemon ROMs, and Microsoft appears to have ousted Phil Spencer and Sarah Bond. Every first party is stepping on rakes. Get your coffee… this is gonna be a thing. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy…
Ubisoft employees are prepared to strike over a recent return-to-office mandate and extreme cost-cutting. Also: Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for December 2025 and full year 2025, That's No Moon at odds with former founder, Amazon Games suffers another blow, and Ashes of Creation dev Intrepid implodes. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual…
2026 is putting us through our paces right out of the gate. We're hanging onto hope, but layoffs, consolidation, and private equity loom over us like a shadow. On this episode: an update on Paramount's desperate fight for Warner Bros. Discovery, Saudi Arabia moves video game holdings, and VR's challenges get much larger. You can support Virtual Economy's growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase…
2025 has continued the trend of layoffs, consolidation, and privatization. The gulf between AAA and everyone else is widening, as the AI bubble strains before an inevitable burst. With November's Circana report coming in bleak after months of stronger performance, 2026 will continue to challenge us all. BUT... there is reason to hope. Unions are growing in number and reach and studios doomed by…
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,…
