VC Funding Down / Fortnite Kid Safety / OpenAI Drama / Embracer Restructure

In this week's Roundtable, we welcome Taylor Hurst from Konvoy Ventures, bringing a fresh investment perspective to our discussions. We kick off by dissecting the startling 68% YoY decrease in games VC funding reported by PitchBook for Q3, pondering the implications and where the funding might be redirected. The conversation then shifts to Epic Games' intensified focus on child safety in Fortnite, following the spinoff of SuperAwesome and a significant FTC lawsuit settlement, as we explore the complexities and potential solutions. We delve into the recent OpenAI drama, analyzing how Microsoft nearly poached key executives and most of the staff, leading to a dramatic board reshuffle and what this power play means for Microsoft and AI. Expanding on last week's topic, we dive deeper into the nuances of Live Operations in gaming, unpacking why it's a challenging yet crucial aspect that’s now being questioned. Finally, we examine the recent layoffs at Embracer Group, affecting 900 employees or 5% of its workforce, and discuss the potential sale of Gearbox amidst broader restructuring efforts. Join us for all the latest games business news with Dave Elton, Anil Das-Gupta, Taylor Hurst and host Devin Becker.

We’d also like to thank Lakestar - one of the leading European venture capital firms - for making this episode possible!. If you're interested in learning more or getting in contact with the Lakestar’s Games and Media team, simply go to https://lakestar.com/

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Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.