SuperJoost Playlist $5 / month

SuperJoost Playlist offers weekly commentary on the trends, challenges, and innovations in the interactive entertainment industry. It explores the dynamics of platform dominance, the impacts of regulatory decisions, corporate strategies in gaming, and the evolving landscape of game development and distribution, alongside the financial and cultural shifts within the industry.

Gaming Industry Trends Corporate Strategies and Acquisitions Regulatory and Legal Issues Platform and Publisher Dynamics Market Predictions and Analysis Financial Health and Business Models Technological Innovations Esports and Competitive Gaming Consumer Behavior and Engagement Workplace Culture and Layoffs

The hottest Substack posts of SuperJoost Playlist

And their main takeaways

Election games

178 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Media Public Opinion Political Campaigns Political Communication
  1. Political campaigning is changing. People are getting annoyed with traditional ads and want more genuine connections, like those created through gaming and streaming.
  2. European game companies are restructuring because they overexpanded too quickly. Now, they're focusing on being more efficient rather than just getting bigger.
  3. Netflix's gaming efforts are struggling. They are shifting focus to more casual, mobile games instead of big titles, as most subscribers aren't interested in gaming content.

Brands, ads, and video games

416 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
💼 Business Marketing Advertising Branding Gaming Media
  1. Brands are realizing that video games offer a better way to connect with younger audiences compared to traditional media like TV and magazines. This shift is important for capturing the attention of the next generation.
  2. There is a growing trend for brands to work directly with gaming companies to create engaging and immersive experiences. However, many brands still struggle to commit to long-term strategies instead of just one-time campaigns.
  3. As user acquisition costs rise, game developers are looking for new ways to make money, leading them to collaborate more with brands. This partnership is changing how audiences experience both gaming and advertising.

Roblox’s Hindenburg moment

238 implied HN points • 10 Oct 24
💼 Business Finance Investments Tech Companies Market Trends Regulatory issues
  1. A financial report claims Roblox might have been lying about its user numbers, saying they inflate how many people really play the game each day.
  2. The report also points out safety issues for kids, saying Roblox doesn't do enough to protect young users from inappropriate content and predators.
  3. Lastly, there's a concern that Roblox could struggle to grow due to reaching most of its potential markets, which might affect its future profits.

Death, and rebirth, of virtual reality

456 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Virtual reality Gaming Regulation Innovation
  1. Apple is changing the vocabulary around virtual reality to set itself apart from competitors like Meta.
  2. Regulators are updating policies on children's online privacy in response to the growing popularity of interactive entertainment.
  3. Significant job cuts are happening in big tech companies like Unity and Twitch, affecting the game development industry.
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Life after FIFA

615 implied HN points • 28 Sep 23
💼 Business Gaming Virtual reality Company strategy Partnerships
  1. Knowing when to quit is a superpower in business.
  2. Unity faced backlash for changing its fee structure, leading to negative outcomes with developers.
  3. EA is adapting to the end of its partnership with FIFA by adding new features, reaching new audiences, and exploring new commercial opportunities.

Betting the kingdom

178 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Entertainment Finance Media Online Platforms
  1. Disney's $1.5 billion investment in gaming highlights the shift of entertainment firms towards the gaming industry.
  2. Microsoft's potential move to release Xbox games on PlayStation has stirred controversy among fans.
  3. Nintendo's decline in earnings, future of the Switch, and Roblox's strategy of user-generated content indicate interesting trends in the gaming industry.

Insomniac breach

218 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Data Breach Cybersecurity Tech industry Software Development
  1. The business of hacking video game publishers is growing, with recent incidents showing flaws in hackers' business fundamentals.
  2. Hacking video game companies does not always result in financial gain for the hackers, as evidenced by unsuccessful attempts to sell stolen data.
  3. Leaking information about upcoming video games may actually generate more excitement and interest in the games rather than spoil the experience for players.

Apple's passive aggression

158 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Regulations Gaming Industry App Store Tech Platforms
  1. Apple faces criticism for its response to new EU regulations on app distribution, causing backlash from developers and regulators.
  2. The gaming industry is experiencing layoffs, with a significant number reported within January and concerns for the future.
  3. The US Senate's Judiciary Committee held a combative hearing with tech CEOs, highlighting the need for better dialogue on social media impact and online safety.

Deep dive on Xbox leak

317 implied HN points • 21 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Leaks Revenue Acquisitions Strategy
  1. Microsoft accidentally leaked internal documents revealing plans for Xbox until 2030.
  2. Microsoft aims for significant revenue growth in its gaming division, especially from Game Pass subscribers.
  3. The leaked documents show insights into Microsoft's strategies, such as potential acquisitions and revenue targets.

Unity, divided

297 implied HN points • 14 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Mobile Market Trends
  1. Roblox CEO emphasizes platform as a tool for communication and connection, amidst controversy and legal concerns.
  2. Unity's new fee structure based on installs sparks outrage among game developers, especially affecting smaller studios.
  3. Apple enhances high-end gaming on new iPhones, attracting popular franchises to mobile and competing with console versions.

FaZed and confused

238 implied HN points • 26 Oct 23
💼 Business Gaming Esports Investment Marketing Media
  1. FaZe Clan's $19 million sell-off signals challenges in the esports industry
  2. The coming earnings season for gaming companies will focus on revenue growth and innovation
  3. Issues like brand safety, revenue diversification, and platform changes impact esports growth

The joy of six

178 implied HN points • 07 Dec 23
💼 Business Gaming Entertainment Market Analysis Acquisitions
  1. GTA6 is anticipated to sell around 38 million copies in its first year, generating $2.7 billion in revenue.
  2. The GTA franchise accounts for a significant portion of Take-Two's annual revenue.
  3. Rockstar Games has successfully built a loyal following and diversified revenue streams through digital distribution.

Best layoffs of the year

158 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
💼 Business Layoffs Gaming AI E-commerce Blockchain
  1. Widespread job cuts for short-term profits can hurt innovation and diversity in industries.
  2. Reducing costs through layoffs can improve profitability in the short term, but may harm long-term innovation and diversity.
  3. Layoffs in the gaming industry can hinder new talent entry, reduce diversity, and push innovation to smaller, riskier firms.

Activision's death by 418 cuts

357 implied HN points • 04 May 23
💼 Business Antitrust Gaming Regulation Acquisition Market Analysis
  1. Historically, innovative distribution channels in gaming have grown the market, not reduced it.
  2. The UK's antitrust watchdog's decision to block the Activision deal could lead to less access and higher prices for UK consumers.
  3. Regulators may lack a deep understanding of the gaming market, potentially hurting the industry and consumers.

Nadella's endgame

238 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23
💼 Business Tech Investing Gaming Media Entertainment
  1. Microsoft under Satya Nadella wants to move away from console exclusives, but market competition dictates otherwise.
  2. Some critics fear Microsoft's acquisition will lead to issues similar to Hollywood, especially in terms of rising consumer prices and lack of options for creatives.
  3. In the gaming industry, the rise of free-to-play multiplayer games is changing the traditional content-selling model, posing new challenges and opportunities.

Bigger means different

376 implied HN points • 08 Dec 22
  1. The proposed Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard brings benefits such as improved competition in the mobile gaming market.
  2. Platform-agnostic gameplay can be enhanced, allowing gamers to play across different devices seamlessly.
  3. Diversifying revenue models and promoting healthier industry practices are crucial for the gaming ecosystem's sustainability and growth.

Eyes wide shut

198 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Augmented reality Virtual reality Tech industry
  1. Esports is facing challenges with declining popularity and financial issues, leading to a shift towards more mainstream content
  2. Growing interest in digital fashion and apparel in the gaming world, with top brands like Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, and Gucci being favored
  3. Apple's Vision Pro for augmented reality shows potential but also raises concerns about practicality, costs, and target audience

Revise and resubmit

79 implied HN points • 24 Aug 23
💼 Business Acquisitions Market Trends Gaming Industry
  1. Microsoft has submitted a revised proposal to buy Activision Blizzard to address concerns from the UK's competition regulator.
  2. Ubisoft has secured cloud gaming rights to Activision titles from Microsoft, potentially impacting the gaming market.
  3. There is a shift in the European games market dynamics due to financial challenges facing major game makers like Embracer.

Picking a side

59 implied HN points • 01 Dec 22
  1. The author is torn between supporting their Dutch heritage and their life in the United States.
  2. The discussion includes the differences between the Dutch and American soccer cultures.
  3. Regulatory developments in the gaming industry, such as loot box legislation and anti-trust investigations, are highlighted.

Layoffs for what

19 implied HN points • 10 Aug 23
💼 Business Gaming Industry Financial Performance Investors Employment Stock Market
  1. Letting go of talent to improve share price performance is a common strategy in the gaming industry.
  2. Investors often value cost reductions and efficiencies in companies to impact profitability and share price.
  3. Reductions in workforce may lead to positive effects on share price value, but other external factors can also play a significant role.