This Week in Games Eric McConnell

Ubisoft axes 3 more executives.
Sony makes a massive investment into Epic.
I will be sharing my learnings over the last 2 ½ years.

Music by Proviant Audio:
http://freemusiarchive.org/music/Proviant_Audio/Welcome_Wilderness/Just_Like_That

Show Notes:
https://ubistatic19-a.akamaihd.net/comsite_common/en-US/images/pressrelease_downloadablemm_20200711_103822_20200711_pressreleaseen_tcm99-362812_tcm99-196733-32.pdf
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-08-manticore-games-launches-usd1m-creator-payout-pilot-program-for-propriety-game-dev-platform
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-09-electronic-arts-addicted-to-overpaying-executives-says-investment-group
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/08/technology/ninja-fortnite-youtube.html
https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/9/21318965/sony-epic-games-investment-fortnite-unreal-engine
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/epic-games-2#section-funding-rounds
https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2020/0710/2020071000536.pdf
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-10/tencent-is-said-in-talks-for-hong-kong-listed-gaming-firm-leyou
https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/73862/traplight-9-million-usd-funding-launches-battle-legion/
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/traplight-games#section-funding-rounds

Kongregate effectively ends its web portal.
Sexual assault allegations hit the fighting game industry.
Amazon Game Studios pulls down it’s only live game.

Music by Proviant Audio:
http://freemusiarchive.org/music/Proviant_Audio/Welcome_Wilderness/Just_Like_That

Show Notes:
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365842/COVID19_and_pivot_towards_game_development_lead_to_layoffs_at_Kongregate.php
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365787/Kongregate_shuts_off_game_submissions_as_Flashs_final_days_approach.php
https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/2/21311251/nba-2k21-price-ps5-xbox-series-x-cover-athletes-special-editions
https://kotaku.com/amazons-crucible-flopped-so-hard-its-being-un-released-1844222299
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365769/The_Ubisoft_paradox_How_the_publisher_enabled_a_culture_of_abuse_and_control.php
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365922/Ubisoft_exec_Maxime_Beland_has_resigned_after_harassment_and_assault_allegations.php
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-04-ubisofts-maxime-b-land-resigns-amid-allegations-of-misconduct
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-07-03-nintendo-condemns-abuse-as-allegations-spread-across-smash-bros-community
https://screenrant.com/smash-bros-pros-accused-sexual-assault-pedophilia/
https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2020/jul/02/joey-mr-wizard-cuellar-placed-administrative-leave-evo-staff-following-misconduct-accusations/
https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2020/jul/02/evo-2020-online-canceled-joey-cuellar-removed-ceo/
https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/gambling-committee/news-parliament-2019/lords-gambling-report-published/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2020/06/30/discord-was-once-the-alt-rights-favorite-chat-app-now-its-gone-mainstream-and-scored-a-new-35-billion-valuation/#9b50c76b6b2e
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/discord#section-funding-rounds

A large wave of allegations send ripples through the game industry.
Twitch makes sweeping bans including one of their biggest streamers.
Facebook acquires another top Oculus developer.

Music by Proviant Audio:
http://freemusiarchive.org/music/Proviant_Audio/Welcome_Wilderness/Just_Like_That

Show Notes:
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365581/Report_Ubisoft_has_suspended_two_executives_accused_of_sexual_and_physical_abuse.php
https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/365316/Ubisoft_deeply_concerned_with_sexual_assault_allegations_against_multiple_employees.php
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-24-ubisoft-and-insomniac-face-dozens-of-allegations-over-mistreatment-of-women
https://www.polygon.com/2020/6/24/21302033/assassins-creed-valhalla-creative-director-steps-down-ubisoft
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365416/Insomniac_responds_to_allegations_from_former_staff_about_culture_of_harassment.php
https://kotaku.com/multiple-women-accuse-games-writer-chris-avellone-of-se-1844135498
https://kotaku.com/wizards-of-the-coast-cut-ties-with-sexual-predator-1844140031
https://kotaku.com/cards-against-humanity-co-founder-quits-after-complaint-1844139756
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/22/21299032/microsoft-mixer-closing-facebook-gaming-partnership-xcloud-features
https://kotaku.com/twitch-bans-dr-disrespect-1844182541
https://kotaku.com/twitch-finally-starts-banning-streamers-accused-of-sexu-1844164469
https://kotaku.com/a-wave-of-sexual-abuse-stories-is-causing-a-reckoning-i-1844122735
https://blog.twitch.tv/en/2020/06/24/an-update-to-our-community/
https://blogs.unity3d.com/2020/06/23/learn-premium-is-now-available-to-everyone-at-no-cost-forever/
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/22/21299814/apple-app-store-policies-ios-bug-fixes-approval-dispute-appeal
https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/22/facebook-acquires-lone-echo-vr-game-maker-ready-at-dawn/
https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/22/overwolf-acquires-mod-repository-curseforge-from-twitch/
https://www.overwolf.com/curseforge/
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/treehouse-games#section-lists-featuring-this-company
https://gamasutra.com/view/news/365510/Focus_Home_Interactive_acquires_Lords_of_the_Fallen_dev_Deck13_for_79M.php
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-26-admix-raises-USD7m-in-funding-for-non-intrusive-ads
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/advir#section-funding-rounds
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-24-treehouse-games-lands-usd2-6-million-for-collaborative-games
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/treehouse-games#section-lists-featuring-this-company

Apple is in hot water with loot box lawsuits and app store policies.
Stadia hopes a reprice reinvigorates Stadia interest.
Epic Games is fundraising again but for what?

Music by Proviant Audio:
http://freemusiarchive.org/music/Proviant_Audio/Welcome_Wilderness/Just_Like_That

Show Notes:
https://appleinsider.com/articles/20/06/13/apple-sued-for-allowing-apps-with-loot-boxes-onto-app-store
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/18/technology/apple-ios-facebook-gaming-app.html
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/18/21296180/apple-hey-email-app-basecamp-rejection-response-controversy-antitrust-regulation
https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/google-stadia-premiere-edition-price-cut/#:~:text=Google%20has%20slashed%20the%20price,online%20in%20Google's%20Chrome%20browser.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-06-15/fortnite-maker-epic-is-said-to-near-funding-at-17-billion-value
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/epic-games-2#section-funding-rounds
https://www.pcgamer.com/star-citizen-has-raised-over-dollar300-million-now/
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-15-ziggurat-interactive-acquires-bloodrayne-and-other-majesco-licenses
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/ziggurat-interactive#section-overview

Sony drops a massive PS5 reveal.
The Last of Us 2 makes us question modern game design.
WB Games is reportedly looking for buyers at a pricy $4 billion.

Music by Proviant Audio:
http://freemusiarchive.org/music/Proviant_Audio/Welcome_Wilderness/Just_Like_That

Show Notes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NH4csfipes
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288494/sony-ps5-playstation-5-hd-camera-dualsense-charging-dock-pulse-accessories
https://www.polygon.com/reviews/2020/6/12/21288535/the-last-of-us-part-2-review-ps4-naughty-dog-ellie-joel-violence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=468&v=GB20A8CitRU&feature=emb_title
https://www.shacknews.com/article/118614/exec-ron-johnson-no-longer-with-riot-games-following-comments-about-george-floyd
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/12/att-seeks-sale-for-warner-gaming-unit-could-fetch-4-billion.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Interactive_Entertainment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Warner_Bros._Interactive_Entertainment_video_games
https://venturebeat.com/2020/06/10/wave-raises-30-million-for-superstars-to-stage-virtual-concerts/#:~:text=Wave%2C%20the%20virtual%20concert%20company,animated%20characters%20in%20virtual%20worlds.
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/thewave#section-funding-rounds
https://www.playableworlds.com/news/playable-worlds-raises-dollar10m-for-the-creation-of-its-cloud-native-sandbox-mmo/
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/playable-worlds#section-funding-rounds
https://boom.tv/about
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-09-boom-tv-raises-USD10m-in-series-a-funding
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/boom-tv#section-funding-rounds
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-11-luckbox-closes-usd3-8m-investment-round

Director of Product at Jam City Jenny Tai is here to co-host.
Zynga acquires Peak Games.
Playtika plans a $10 billion IPO.
Playrix acquires a PC game studio.

Music by Proviant Audio:
http://freemusiarchive.org/music/Proviant_Audio/Welcome_Wilderness/Just_Like_That

Guest-host Jenny Tai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennywtai/

Show Notes:
https://techcrunch.com/2020/06/01/zynga-acquires-turkeys-peak-games-for-1-8b-after-buying-its-card-games-studio-for-100m-in-2017/#:~:text=Social%20gaming%20company%20Zynga%20confirmed,%24900%20million%20in%20Zynga%20shares.
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/peak-games#section-funding-rounds
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-playtika-plans-wall-street-ipo-at-10b-valuation-report-1001331200
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/playtika#section-funding-rounds
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-06-04-playrix-acquires-croatian-pc-developer-cateia-games
https://www.cateia.com/games/games.php