Episode 195: The Quarter Billion Dollar Subnautica Showdown (News Show)

In 2021, Krafton splashed huge cash on Subnautica dev Unknown Worlds. Now, the publisher may find out that buyer’s remorse isn’t a reason for violating a contract. 

Also…

Ubisoft Earnings

Circana Reports for May and June 2025

Sony takes a bite out of Bandai Namco

On this episode, we discussed a serious attack on artist freedom being perpetrated by payment processors Mastercard and Visa. This attack is motivated by an Australian Christofacist group called Collective Shout that, among other things, does not believe adults should have bodily autonomy. 

If you would like your voice heard, here are some resources:

A compiled resource document by @voiddebris.bsky.social

Petitions

Change.org

ACLU

Mastercard

Phone (US): 1-800-627-8372

Phone (outside US): 1-636-722-7111

Online submission form

Visa

Phone (US): 1-800-847-2911

Non-US numbers

Online form

Some important tips:

Phone calls are more impactful than emails. Do not let support reps push you to email, where keywords can filter out your concerns.

Keep support reps on calls as long as possible. This creates meaningful and measurable dips in call center productivity that management WILL notice.

Call multiple times with the same case number. Call center KPIs include clearing tickets in as short a time and in one call. This is another metric that will grab leadership attention. The service impact should be sustained for at least a month says workforce management professional Elliot Wilson on Bluesky.

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TIME STAMPS

• [00:02:59] - Ubisoft Earnings
• [00:11:08] - Circana Reports on U.S. Video Game Spending for May and June 2025
• [00:22:28] - Unknown Worlds v Krafton
• [00:35:10] - Mastercard and Visa are Ramping Up Their Censorship (Steam, Itch.io)
• [00:43:54] - Investment Interlude
• [00:48:01] - Quick Hits
• [00:50:25] - Bonus Investment Interlude
• [01:02:16] - Labor Report

SOURCES

• Ubisoft Q1 FY26 Earnings | Ubisoft
• Ubisoft Names Co-CEOs of Spinoff | Variety
• KRAFTON ANNOUNCES GAMING INDUSTRY VETERAN STEVE PAPOUTSIS AS NEW CEO OF UNKNOWN WORLDS | Krafton
• Krafton Delays ‘Subnautica 2’ Game Ahead of $250 Million Payout | Bloomberg (Paywall)
• Fortis Advisors v. Krafton via Aftermath | Scribd (Nicole Carpenter)
• Steam cracks down on some sex games to appease payment processors | Ars Technica

INVESTMENT INTERLUDE

• Bandai Namco and Sony Sign Strategic Partnership | Bandai Namco
• Gamefound acquires Indiegogo | Gamefound
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