Episode 141: We Need to Talk About the Voice Acting and Bayonetta Brujaha (News Show)

Oct 18, 2022

Bayonetta voice actor Hellena Taylor shared troubling allegations of her treatment during negotiations, but new reports suggest things aren't quite what they seem. We discuss voice acting rates and what the $4,000 offer means for SAG-AFTRA union members. Also: Microsoft and Sony continue their war in the UK over the Activision acquisition, more troubling layoffs for games media, and Meta acquires a trio of studios while announcing absurd pricing for its next headset. 

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:01:51] - Listener Question
• [00:09:14] - Investment Interlude (CD Projekt, Riot, Microsoft / Activision) 
• [00:35:49] - Quick Hits
• [00:49:47] - Labor Report (Activision Blizzard, Twitch, Bayonetta 3, and more)

SOURCES

• Activision Blizzard facing another sexual harassment suit | GamesIndustry
• Activision Blizzard Board Member Lulu Cheng Meservey Joins Executive Leadership Team | Activision Blizzard
• Labor board says Activision withheld raises from union activists | Washington Post
• Twitch responds to controversial revenue split, says 70/30 is "not viable in the long term" | Eurogamer
• Why Amazon won’t foot the bill to pay Twitch streamers better | Washington Post
• Twitchcon Recap | @astraharaa on Twitter
• Microsoft lays off employees in Xbox, wargame simulation divisions | Washington Post
• Take-Two is shutting down the developer behind the mobile hit 'Two Dots' | Engadget
• Playtika closes Best Fiends maker Seriously after clash over studio direction | Mobile Gamer
• Nintendo settles labor dispute with game tester over unions | Axios
• Comcast Pulls Plug On G4 TV, Ending Comeback Try For Gamer-Focused Network | Deadline
• The Other Side of the Bayonetta Voice Actor Switch | Hellena Taylor (@hellenataylor) on Twitter
• SAG-AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement Wage Table | SAG-AFTRA
• A Tense Pay Dispute Overshadows Nintendo’s Upcoming Bayonetta 3 | Bloomberg (Paywall)

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• A message from Marcin Iwiński ― co-founder and Joint CEO of CD PROJEKT. | CDProjekt (@CDProjekt) on Twitter
• GAMES AT CONNECT 2022: ‘MARVEL’S IRON MAN VR,’ XBOX CLOUD GAMING, AN ‘AMONG US VR’ RELEASE DATE, AND MORE | Meta
• Riot games acquires Wargaming Sydney Studio | GamesIndustry
• Brazil approves Microsoft/Activision acquisition | Tom Warren (@tomwarren) on Twitter
• More detail on Brazil's Microsoft/Activision decision | Antitrust Lawyer "Idas" on Resetera
• Microsoft has offered a glimpse at how much Xbox Game Pass actually makes | Windows Central
• Full Text of UK CMA Decision (Phase 1) on Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision | UK CMA
• Microsoft’s Views on the CMA’s Full Text Phase 1 Decision | Ars Technica
• PlayStation eyes new investment for PC, mobile push | Reuters
• PlayStation to broaden line-up, but won’t abandon roots, studio chief says | Axios