TWIG #388: Xbox's Spinout Plan, Metacore's Mass Layoffs and Netflix's FIFA Flop

Microsoft is laying the groundwork to spin Xbox off, Supercell just cut 70% of Metacore's staff after burning through $180M. Meanwhile, EA just launched a real ad platform for sports games.In this episode, we break down:● Why Xbox keeps losing its top studio leadership● Whether Microsoft is actually preparing to spin off Xbox● What Sharma's first 100 days reveal about her real strategy● Why Believer raised $55M to ship an AI plugin instead of a game● How Supercell's Metacore acquisition turned into a 70% staff cut● Why EA's new in-game ad platform might actually make sense, for once● Why microdrama apps are growing fast but can't fix their retention● Why Konami's eFootball is quietly beating FC Mobile in revenue● Why Netflix's FIFA World Cup game became an instant disaster● Why the consumer apps "threat" to gaming doesn't hold up under the dataCHAPTERS:00:42 Topics Preview02:04 Shills and Events03:01 Roblox Safety Podcast04:08 Puzzle Monthly Updates06:05 Conference Island Recap08:48 Xbox News Rundown11:49 Kress on Xbox Spinout20:07 Sharma 100 Days Analysis25:32 Believer AI Plugin29:40 Metacore Acquisition Fallout33:38 EA Advertising Debate35:02 Ads In Sports Games36:34 Why In Game Ads Failed38:08 Roblox Brand Detour40:37 Micro Drama Boom41:45 Retention And Monetization44:18 Merge Drama And Subscriptions47:57 Konami Strategy And Collabs51:03 FIFA Netflix Game Rant54:38 Consumer Apps Threat Myth58:59 Attention CPI And Webshops01:02:19 IDFA Rumor And Farewell