Bungie Layoffs / Live-Action Zelda / Epic v Google / FC 24 Sales

In this week's Roundtable, the squad unpacks Bungie's recent layoffs and the implications for Destiny 2 and Marathon’s future. We then shift gears to Azur Games' acquisition of Good Job Games' entire portfolio, sparking an exploration of the merits of portfolio vs. talent acquisition strategies in the gaming industry. Next, the announcement of a Legend of Zelda movie sparks a discussion comparing its potential as a live action film against the CG-animated Mario movie. We also touch on the breaking news that a GTA VI trailer will be released soon and the potential impact on Take-Two Interactive. We jump over to analyzing the sustainability and impact of the news that Epic Games' OG Fortnite event is pulling in massive concurrent player numbers, including returning players. We also delve into Epic's lawsuit against Google, now uniquely set for a jury decision, and contrast it with the case against Apple. Wrapping up, we dissect EA Sports' success with FC 24 outperforming FIFA 23 and consider the broader implications for other licensed franchises in the gaming world. Join us for all the latest games business news with Felipe Mata, Dave Elton, Maria Gillies, and host Devin Becker.

We’d also like to thank Lightspeed Venture Partners for making this episode possible! With its dedicated gaming practice, "Lightspeed Gaming," the firm is investing from over $7B in early- and growth-stage capital — the by far largest fund focused on gaming and interactive technology. If you’re interested in learning more, go to https://gaming.lsvp.com/.

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Sound design by Gavin Mc Cabe.