Episode 51: Is Microsoft Throwing GameStop a Life Preserver? (News Show)

Oct 18, 2020

We know Microsoft is sharing some next-gen revenue with GameStop, but how much? We discuss what we know about the deal, the missing pieces, and how it might impact the retailer’s survival. Other topics: Sony’s new PlayStation party recordings, Microsoft’s new comments about the Bethesda deal, Sega’s indelicate handling of crunch, and the September 2020 NPD Group report.

[Update: We’ve added a segment at the end before the outro (1:38:45) clarifying and providing an accessible explanation of the mechanics of short selling stock and how it impacts companies like GameStop.]

• Level-5 has virtually halted operations in North America (GamesIndustry): https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-10-09-level-5-has-virtually-halted-operations-in-north-america 
• Rockstar Buys Crackdown 2 Developer Ruffian Games, Rebrands To Rockstar Dundee (TheGamer): https://www.thegamer.com/rockstar-buys-crackdown-2-developer-ruffian-games-rebrands-to-rockstar-dundee/ 
• ROCKSTAR DUNDEE LIMITED (UK.Gov): https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06574738/filing-history 
• Roblox files papers with SEC for public offering (GamesBeat): https://venturebeat.com/2020/10/12/roblox-files-papers-with-sec-for-public-offering/ 
• HUMBLE BUNDLE WELCOMES TWO STRATEGIC ADVISORS TO THE BLACK GAME DEVELOPER FUND (Humble): https://www.humblegames.com/updates-article/humble-bundle-welcomes-two-strategic-advisors-to-the-black-game-developer-fund/ 
• Sega "didn't mean to dredge up painful memories" by releasing Golden Axed game made during crunch (Eurogamer): https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-10-15-sega-sorry-for-dredging-up-painful-memories-after-releasing-golden-axed-game-made-during-crunch 
• Details on new voice chat functionality coming to PS5 (PlayStation Blog): https://blog.playstation.com/2020/10/16/details-on-new-voice-chat-functionality-coming-to-ps5/ 
• Here are all the Xbox Series X and Series S games coming out on launch day (Mashable): https://mashable.com/article/xbox-series-x-series-s-launch-titles-lineup-list/ 
• Xbox Boss Phil Spencer On Series X Launch, Halo Infinite & Bethesda (Kotaku): https://kotaku.com/xbox-boss-phil-spencer-on-series-x-launch-halo-infinit-1845392984 
• Microsoft will give GameStop a share of Xbox’s digital revenues (Ars Technica): https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/10/microsoft-will-give-gamestop-a-share-of-xboxs-digital-revenues/