Real Time Strategy TriplePoint

Joost van Dreunen knows the games industry. He literally wrote the book on the business of video games (One Up: Creativity, Competition, and the Global Business of Video Games), and with his next book on the horizon, he joins Kaitlyn and Sam to discuss how gaming has changed since One Up was published in 2020, why so many layoffs are happening, and why the industry is pivoting to “games as a platform.”
 
Timecodes: 
00:00:00 – Intro
00:03:07 – Joost’s Favorite Games
00:09:26 – Joost Explains One Up: Creativity, Competition, And The Global Business Of Video Games
00:12:21 – Why Study The Business Of Video Games?
00:24:44 – How the Industry Has Changed Since 2020
00:31:17 – The Difference Between Games As A Service And Games As A Platform
00:50:45 – What’s the Future of the Apple Vision Pro?
01:02:22 – What Makes Joost Optimistic About the Future of Gaming?
01:07:27 – Outro
 
Stories discussed: 
VentureBeat – How data can help you understand the game industry | Joost Van Dreunen interview
 
Buy Joost’s book on Amazon, Audible, or Audiobooks, subscribe to his newsletter here, and follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Microsoft closed a number of Bethesda studios, including Redfall maker Arkane Austin and Hi-Fi Rush developer Tango Gameworks. Kaitlyn and Sam discuss the implications behind the closures, why these ones were a shock even amongst many closures and layoffs, and what the upcoming Xbox Showcase will look like. The duo also touch on the Nintendo Switch 2 update from Nintendo as well as a spoiler discussion on the finale of Prime Video’s Fallout series and what they’re looking forward to in Season 2. 
 
Timecodes: 
00:00:00 – Intro
00:02:43 – Microsoft Closes Multiple Studios
00:06:35 – Why Close Hi-Fi Rush Studio Tango Gameworks?
00:25:07 – How Will Xbox Handle Its June Showcase?
00:29:05 – Nintendo Confirms Switch Successor
00:36:50 – What Will Nintendo Release This Fall?
00:42:00 – Fallout TV Series Finale Review
00:54:17 – Favorite Episodes of the Show
01:03:28 – Outro
 
Stories discussed: 
IGN – Microsoft Closes Redfall Developer Arkane Austin, Hi-Fi Rush Developer Tango Gameworks, and More in Devastating Cuts at Bethesda
Bloomberg – Microsoft’s Xbox Is Planning More Cuts After Studio Closings
The Verge – Microsoft completes Activision Blizzard acquisition, Call of Duty now part of Xbox
Gamesindustry.biz – What do studio closures mean for Xbox strategy? | Opinion
Gamesindustry.biz – Nintendo profits rise to $6.2bn ahead of quiet year
Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

TikTok is facing a U.S. ban, so what does that mean for influencers, marketers, gaming fans, and the future of short-form video? Kaitlyn and Sam answer that question, as well as explain Escape From Tarkov’s bad week and their thoughts on Fallout’s fifth episode and Fallout 4’s next-gen update.
 
Timecodes:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:03:19 – What’s the Future of TikTok With the U.S. Ban Looming?
00:15:10 – Potential Effects of the Ban
00:22:03 – How Influencers Will Be Affected
00:26:19 – Escape From Tarkov’s DLC Controversy
00:45:25 – Fallout Episode 5 Recap
00:52:53 - Fallout 4’s Next-Gen Update
01:03:48 – Outro
 
Stories discussed:
CBS News – TikTok ban measure signed by Biden. Here's what could happen next.
CBS News – After Biden signs TikTok ban into law, ByteDance says it won't sell the social media service
GamesIndustry.biz – The US is banning TikTok, could Fortnite and League of Legends be next?
TechCrunch – Gen Z is losing its political voice on social media
PC Gamer – Escape From Tarkov players rage as developers lock co-op PvE behind a new $250 edition, then say they'll offer previous buyers access for just 6 months (Updated)
PC Gamer – How Escape From Tarkov wiped out years of goodwill in one catastrophic week
IGN – Escape From Tarkov Dev's 'Shameless' Controversy Response Called Out By Fans and Esports Company
IGN – Escape From Tarkov Rival Gray Zone Warfare Shoots to Top of Steam Sales But Reviews are 'Mixed'
TechRadar – The Fallout 4 next-gen update will not be available to those who own the game through PS Plus, Bethesda confirms
PC Gamer – Fallout 4's most popular mods are now ones that remove Bethesda's disastrous 'next gen' update
PC Gamer – Bethesda beefing it with a calamitous 'next-gen' Fallout 4 update just as everyone's falling in love with Fallout again is the most Bethesda thing imaginable
Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Embracer Group is splitting into three companies, Star Wars Outlaws’ premium day-one content is upsetting fans, and Fallout is returning for a second season on Prime Video. Kaitlyn and Sam break down these headlines, their updated Fallout impressions, and Kaitlyn’s Coachella experience on this week’s episode.
 
Timecodes:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:01:13 – Kaitlyn’s Coachella Weekend
00:09:01 – Embracer Group Splitting Into Three Companies
00:24:32 – Star Wars Outlaws’ Season Pass Has an Exclusive Jabba Mission, and Fans Are Upset
00:44:32 – Fallout Renewed for Season 2
01:02:56 – Outro
 
Stories discussed:
GamesIndustry.biz – Embracer Group splits into three: Everything you need to know
The Verge – Gaming giant Embracer Group is splitting into three companies
IGN – Ubisoft Responds to Star Wars Outlaws Season Pass Backlash, Insists Jabba the Hutt Is Part of the Experience for All Players
Variety – 'Fallout' Renewed for Season 2 at Amazon    
Ars Technica – Fallout games continue seeing big player jumps after the TV series’ success
GamesIndustry.biz – Fallout Shelter's daily revenue rockets to $80,000 after TV show debut
Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

Kaitlyn, Sam, and special guest Trisha Hershberger exit the vault this week to review Prime Video’s Fallout. They discuss how well it adapts Bethesda’s beloved game franchise, spoilers from the first two episodes, and what other game adaptations can learn from the series.
 
Timecodes:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:01:45 – Trisha’s Favorite Fallout Games
00:13:50 – Life in a Fallout Vault
00:19:51 – Trisha’s Fallout Premiere Experience
00:22:20 – Comparing the Show’s Tone to the Games
00:32:19 – How the Show Adapts Fallout’s Lore
00:45:37 – Analyzing Lucy’s Storyline
00:52:49 – Analyzing the Brotherhood of Steel Storyline
01:10:27 – What Can Other Video Game Adaptations Learn From Fallout?
01:17:49 – Outro
 
Find Trisha on social media @thatgrltrish, subscribe to her on YouTube @TrishaHershberger, and follow her on Twitch at TrishaHershberger.
 
Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.

IGN’s creative staff formed the IGN Creators Guild this year to collectively work toward a stronger, more equitable workplace. IGN video editor and guild member Chelsea Miller joins Kaitlyn and Sam to explain why the IGN Creators Guild was founded, how it’s brought the staff closer together, and what the union hopes to accomplish next.
 
Timecodes:
00:00:00 – Intro
00:08:37 – Chelsea’s Cults, Cryptids and Conspiracies podcast
00:30:42 – What does it mean to unionize?
00:33:25 – Who makes up the IGN Creators Guild?
00:40:50 – Forming the IGN Creators Guild
00:53:22 – How the IGN Creators Guild handled the recent IGN layoffs
00:57:49 – What are the next steps for the union?
01:13:26 – How can people support the IGN Creators Guild?
01:19:21 – Outro
 
Stories discussed:
IGN – Polygons, Pixels and Polyamory, Oh My! The 40-Year Evolution of Video Game Romances 
IGN – How Hidden Nazi Symbols Were the Tip of a Toxic Iceberg at Life Is Strange Developer Deck Nine 
 
Media/artists discussed:
Voynich manuscript
Kholat 
The Last of Us
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Hades
The Long Dark
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania
 
Follow the IGN Creators Guild on Twitter and Instagram @IGNUnion. Follow Chelsea on Twitter @mschelseareed, and listen to her podcast, Cults, Cryptids, and Conspiracies.
Follow the podcast on Twitter and YouTube @RealTimeStrats, and email us questions at podcast@triplepointpr.com. Follow Kaitlyn and Sam on social media @KaitlynRedWing and @SamScotMosher respectively.