Episode 77: Why MLB The Show is on Game Pass on Opening Day (News Show)

Apr 3, 2021

Microsoft made waves with a big Game Pass announcement that has rankled some consumers. Also: Sony’s storefront closures, Activision’s right-wing hires, CD Projekt changes course, E3’s failed attempt to get member publishers to agree to paywalled content, and PAX Online replaces PAX East (and what must happened to fix last year’s failure).

TIME STAMPS

• [00:00:53] - Following up on Sony’s decision around PS3, PSP, and Vita storefronts
• [00:12:25] - MLB The Show 21 is on Game Pass on Opening Day
• [00:25:52] - CD Projekt Red’s strategic overhaul
• [00:38:46] - M&A Minute
• [00:44:15] - Quick Hits
• [00:49:23] - Activision’s Right-Wing Hires
• [00:54:46] - E3 2021 is most definitely digital
• [01:01:25] - PAX East is canceled and PAX Online returns

NEW WRITING FROM VIRTUAL ECONOMY

• What PAX Online Must Improve in its Second Year - Mike

SOURCES

• MLB The Show 21 is Coming to Xbox Game Pass on Day One
• Activision Blizzard Appoints Company Veteran Armin Zerza as Chief Financial Officer
• Activision Blizzard Hires Former Trump Administration Member Once Decried As ‘Bully’ (Kotaku)
• E3’s 2021 digital event could be partially behind a paywall (VGC)
• PAX East ‘21 Update

M&A Minute

• Nexon Discloses Investments in Hasbro, BANDAI NAMCO, KONAMI and SEGA SAMMY
• Nordisk Games invests in award-winning UK studio Supermassive Games
• Graffiti Games raises $1.5 million for indie game publishing (GamesBeat)
• 505 Games purchases Ghostrunner IP from All in! Games for 5M euros