Episode 157: The ESRB Is Getting Weird (News Show)

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board wants to use facial scanning to keep your kids from playing GTA and other adult-focused games. Also, it’s earnings season, with Microsoft, Capcom, Sega, and EA kicking us off. We also cover two more instances of the dreaded “payoffs for layoffs,” and a heap of listener questions!

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:1:55] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for June 2023
• [00:13:20] - Microsoft Q4 FY23 Earnings
• [00:19:43] - Capcom Q1 FY24 Earnings
• [00:23:40] - Sega Q1 FY24 Earnings
• [00:29:51] - EA Q1 FY24 Earnings
• [00:31:28] - Nintendo Q1 FY24 Earnings
• [00:35:55] - Investment Interlude
• [00:45:39] - Quick Hits
• [00:56:30] - Labor Report
• [01:02:41] - The ESRB Wants to Use Facial Scanning for Age Gating
• [01:13:20] - Listener Questions

SOURCES

• Microsoft Earnings Release FY23 Q4 | Microsoft
• Capcom Q1 FY24 Earnings | Capcom
• Capcom Makes Swordcanes Studio Co., Ltd. a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary Through Share Acquisition | Capcom
• Sega Q1 FY24 Earnings | Sega
• Electronic Arts Reports Strong Q1 FY24 Results | EA
• Nintendo Q1 FY24 Earnings | Nintendo
• Financial Results Explanatory Material | Nintendo
• Take Two Interactive execs' pay doubled this year | Axios
• Discord Lays Off 4% of Workforce | The Information
• 15 USC 6501: Definitions (house.gov)
• What Do We Do About the Biases in AI? (hbr.org) | Harvard Business Review
• If consoles can't crack China, their future is limited | GamesIndustry.biz 

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• TECHLAND'S NEXT CHAPTER AND THE ROAD AHEAD | Techland
• MICROSOFT’S SUBMISSIONS ON MATERIAL CHANGES OF CIRCUMSTANCES | UK CMA