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\\xa0It\\u2019s our season finale! GameStop has more than a little red on it, with losses continuing to mount on a crypto deal gone bust. Also: Microsoft makes nice with Nintendo (again) to pressure Sony, layoff continue to plague the industry, Zenimax QA workers on the path to unionization, and a fresh FAFO. Oh\\u2026 and we have a tiny, little announcement.

You can support Virtual Economy\\u2019s growth via our\\xa0Ko-Fi\\xa0and also purchase\\xa0Virtual Economy merchandise!

The views and opinions expressed on this podcast are ours and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of our employer or the organizations with which we work.

TIME STAMPS

• [00:00:30] - Some exciting news!
• [00:05:44] - Gamestop Q3 FY2023 Earnings
• [00:14:20] - NPD U.S. Video Game Spending Report for November 2022
• [00:19:46] - Twitch\\u2019s new Shield Mode
• [00:22:51] - Investment Interlude
• [00:49:36] - Quick Hits
• [00:54:19] - Labor Report
• [01:14:26] - Listener Question
• [01:16:01] - FAFO

SOURCES

• GameStop Q3 FY2023 Earnings | GameStop
• GameStop begins layoff | Axios
• Protect Your Channel With Shield Mode | Twitch
• Activision Blizzard QA Workers Call for End to Bug Quotas | ABK Workers Alliance (@ABetterABK) on Twitter
• \\u2018Diablo IV\\u2019 developers work long hours, bracing for impending release | Washington Post
• Activision sues California agency that sued it over misconduct | Axios
• Zenimax QA Workers Will Unionize | ZeniMax Workers United - CWA (@ZenimaxWorkers) on Twitter
• \\u201cMassive\\u201d layoffs at Wildlife as it drops all non-mobile game projects | Mobilegamer
• Just Cause Studio Employees Call for Change Amid Year-Long Battle Over Controversial Hire | IGN
• DEI at Avalanche Studios Group | Avalanche Studios Group
• Insider trading in FF development? Former Square Enix employees re-arrested | Asahi

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT OBSERVATIONS ON THE CMA\\u2019S ISSUES STATEMENT | UK Competition and Markets Authority
• MICROSOFT\\u2019S RESPONSE TO THE CMA\\u2019S ISSUES STATEMENT | UK Competition and Markets Authority
• FTC Seeks to Block Microsoft Corp.\\u2019s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. | FTC
• Microsoft Didn\\u2019t Lie to the EU on ZeniMax Deal Like the FTC Said, According to Sources
• A Letter from CEO Bobby Kotick Regarding Activision Blizzard\\u2019s Merger with Microsoft | Activision Blizzard
• Keywords acquires AI-driven player support platform for $75m | GamesIndustry
• STARBREEZE STUDIOS EXPANDS WITH NEW STUDIO AND DEDICATED TEAM IN THE UNITED KINGDOM | Starbreeze
• SPLASH DAMAGE ANNOUNCES TRANSFORMERS: REACTIVATE | Splash Damage