Episode 164: The Game Awards Needs to Change (Season Finale)

It’s been a hard year, folks. As we say goodbye to 2023 and turn our attention to a (hopefully) brighter 2024, we’re recapping recent gaming events, November’s Circana report, and more. You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS [00:02:17] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for November 2023 [00:09:11] - GameStop Earnings for Q3 2023 [00:13:28] - What’s Going on in China? [00:19:37] - Twitch: Closing Up Shop in S. Korea, Sexual Content Policy [00:25:10] - Investment Interlude [00:25:59] - Quick Hits [00:27:26] - Labor Report [00:35:45] - Our Feelings on Coverage of the Insomniac Hack (Discussion) [00:45:59] - PAX Unplugged (Discussion) [00:54:47] - The Game Awards (Discussion) [01:02:42] - Our Favorite Games This Year [01:13:48] - Listener Questions SOURCES GameStop Discloses Third Quarter 2023 Results | GameStop Activision Blizzard to pay $47M in gender discrimination settlement | Axios Microsoft announces more Xbox leadership changes as Activision’s Bobby Kotick departs | The Verge Updates on Twitch in Korea | Twitch Sexual Content Policy Update | Twitch Indie publisher Versus Evil has shut down | Game Developer Jukai Studio Has Shut Down | Jukai Studio (@jukaistudio) on Twitter Activision Blizzard to pay $47M in gender discrimination settlement | Axios Microsoft announces more Xbox leadership changes as Activision’s Bobby Kotick departs | The Verge INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Keywords acquires The Multiplayer Group, enhancing its Create division | Keywords