#34: The Game of Capitalism

At the center of any enterprise is money, and the gaming industry is no different. But with the recent layoff of a staggering 800 people at gigantic (and profitable) publisher Activision Blizzard, questions are starting to be raised about the financial viability of game development as-is, and the treatment of the thousands of talented men and women that make the games we love. Se, we dive head-first into the subject. There's also plenty of news to get through. A high-ranking Sony executive has spoken openly and candidly about PlayStation 3's struggles. Is that a good sign for PlayStation 5? Also: Hollow Knight's getting a sequel, Tokyo RPG Factory's next game has been revealed, The Division 2's open beta is inbound, and both Catherine: Full Body and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night have much more release clarity for we, the western gamer. As usual, we round things out with your letters, including a chat about hunting games, the longterm viability of the Battle Royale market, the future of EA's NCAA Football series, and violent video games' relationship to real world violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices