{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 192: PAX East Takes A MAGFest Turn (News Show)","description":"PAX East isn\u2019t the show it was 10 years ago. With most AAA developers staying away, indies take center stage. Also: Circana report for April 2025, GameStop sells off its Canadian holdings, Curve Games has a new owner, the SAG-AFTRA voice performer strike enters the endgame, and much more. We\u2019ve also got a pair of great listener questions! You can support Virtual Economy\u2019s growth via our&amp;nbsp;Ko-Fi&amp;nbsp;and also purchase&amp;nbsp;Virtual Economy merchandise! TIME STAMPS  [00:03:10] - Circana Report on U.S. Video Game Spending for April 2025 [00:17:36] - PAX East Recap [00:52:48] - Investment Interlude [01:09:12] - Quick Hits [01:17:15] - Labor Report [01:34:37] - Listener Questions  INVESTMENT INTERLUDE   Universal Distribution completes Alliance Game Distributors buyout from Diamond Comics after chaotic bankruptcy auction | BoardGameWire  Curve Games Acquired by Nazara Technologies | Curve Games  Apple acquires RAC7, its first-ever video game studio | Digital Trends  NCsoft makes &quot;strategic equity investment&quot; in Empty Vessel | GamesIndustry  Griffin Gaming Partners Leads \u20ac12M Series A in Amplitude Studios | Griffin Gaming Partners  Sony PlayStation establishes new studio, teamLFG, to work on &quot;an ambitious incubation project&quot; | GamesIndustry  Starbreeze acquires publishing rights to troubled Payday 3, says move will 'accelerate development roadmap' | Eurogamer  Brightika expands to PC and console with $3m investment for indie devs | GamesIndustry  LABOR REPORT   EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Closes Cliffhanger Games | IGN  Microsoft announces plans to lay off thousands more workers | VGC  Video Game Companies Release Final Offer to SAG-AFTRA Addressing AI Demands Amid 9-Month Strike (EXCLUSIVE) | Variety  Video Game Companies Remove AI Provision on Unlimited Digital Replicas From \u2018Best, Last and Final\u2019 Offer to Actors Union (EXCLUSIVE) | Variety  SAG-AFTRA's Interactive Media Agreement Negotiating Committee Responds to Video Game Employers | SAG-AFTRA  SAG-AFTRA Statement on Fortnite\u2019s Use of A.I. Darth Vader Voice and ULP Filing | SAG-AFTRA  THQ Nordic studio that was set to be closed in 2023 somehow escaped the Embracer death spiral and is now working on a new RPG | PC Gamer  ","author_name":"Virtual Economy","author_url":"https:\/\/www.virtualeconcast.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/36782350\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/188990165"}