Episode 179: The $700 PS5 Pro Is An Act of Desperation (News Show)

The PlayStation 5 Pro defies all logic, reaching deeper into diehards’ pockets in the worst economy we’ve seen in 15 years. We break down the challenging economics (while also admiring Mark Cerny’s ASMR-style presentation). Also: GameStop earnings tumble, more Microsoft layoffs, Unity reverses a terrible decision, and can AI companies just stop stealing our stuff? You can support Virtual Economy’s growth via our Ko-Fi and also purchase Virtual Economy merchandise! This episode is sponsored by Magic Mind, a supplement shot that includes ingredients to lower your stress, reduce fatigue, and boost your immune system. You can get 20% off your one time purchase of Magic Mind or up to 48% off your first subscription at https://www.magicmind.com/VECONOMY20 using the code VECONOMY20.  TIME STAMPS [00:01:43] - A Quick Chat about PAX West [00:11:27] - The PS5 Pro Defies Logic [00:25:43] - Concord’s Short-Lived Life [00:35:41] - Take This is in Danger of Closing [00:39:54] - OpenAI and Microsoft are Scraping Game Dev Work [00:45:11] - Unity’s Road to Redemption [00:51:30] - Gamestop Q2 FY25 Earnings [00:56:40] - Investment Interlude [01:09:55] - Quick Hits [01:14:45] - Labor Report SOURCES Welcome PlayStation 5 Pro, the most visually impressive way to play games on PlayStation | PlayStation Blog An important update on Concord | PlayStation Blog Take This is in Danger of Closing Forever | Take This This was essentially a two-week long DDoS attack': Game UI Database slowdown caused by relentless OpenAI scraping | Game Developer A message to our community: Unity is canceling the Runtime Fee | Unity GameStop Discloses Second Quarter 2024 Results | GameStop Microsoft lays off 650 more Xbox employees | The Verge Tilting Point making layoffs that could impact 20 percent of global workforce | Game Developer Rocksteady hit by layoffs after Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League underperforms | Eurogamer Helldivers 2 support studio Toadman Interactive to shut offices in Sweden and Norway | Games Industry Tencent, NetEase Rethink Japan Approach as Game Strategy Stalls | Bloomberg (Paywall) Lost Boys Interactive has Initiating Another Round of Layoffs | Lost Boys Interactive on LinkedIn Merge Games closes Chelford office and announces layoffs | Games Industry Until Dawn remake studio Ballistic Moon lays off staff ahead of the game's release in October | Eurogamer Incubator Dutch Game Garden shuts down in January 2025 | GamesBeat 3 months after firing Dr Disrespect, Deadrop developer Midnight Society confirms 'significant' layoffs | PC Gamer INVESTMENT INTERLUDE Remedy and Annapurna announce a strategic cooperation agreement on Control 2 | Remedy Annapurna Video-Game Team Resigns, Leaving Partners Scrambling | Bloomberg (Paywall) Hopoo Games (Risk of Rain) Developers Join Valve | Hopoo Games (@hopoogames) on Twitter Some Good News for Timbre Games | Joe Nickolls on LinkedIn Nexon to Establish MINTROCKET Corporation | Nexon Urgent Call for Strategic and Structural Changes at Ubisoft Entertainment | AJ Investments Embracer Group receives early payment for sale of Saber assets. | Embracer Group