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While the world's attention is locked on the soccer World Cup, the video game equivalent, the 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris, has delivered a high-stakes opening week. We recap the major results from the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, including UNLIMIT's extraordinary comeback to secure the Apex Legends championship, Luis "DarkAngel" Castillo Gomez's emotional maiden major title in Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and 100 Thieves' dominant, undefeated run to claim their first international VALORANT trophy. We analyze how these teams have positioned themselves in the early Club Championship standings and preview the intense competition ahead as the tournament shifts to its next phase. In-Episode Links & Resources: Main Podcast Page: https://radio.foxnews.com/podcast/fox-on-games/ Best Place to Start: New to our esports coverage? Catch up on the foundational analysis of these global stages here: https://megaphone.link/FOXM9094923257 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
Gentle Mates Vs Nrg Valorant At Ewc 26 - Quarterfinal - Highlights |Video Spotify Exclusive
75 millions de dollars : qu'il est alléchant le montant des récompenses à se partager à l'Esports World Cup, la Coupe du monde d'e-sport, un gigantesque tournoi de jeux vidéo qui a lieu aux portes de Paris depuis lundi 6 juillet. League of Legends, Counter-Strike ou encore Valorant, ce sont 3 des 24 licences sur lesquelles s'affronteront près de 2 000 joueurs pendant sept semaines. Pour la première fois, cet événement, créé et financé par le royaume saoudien, a lieu hors de ses frontières à cause de la guerre au Moyen-Orient. Nicolas Besombes, enseignant-chercheur en sociologie du sport à l'université Paris Cité, analyse cet événement majeur de l'e-sport. Suivez la Coupe du monde d'e-sport ici. À lire aussiCoupe du monde d'esport 2026: pourquoi l'Afrique est absente des grandes compétition?
Alors que Paris accueille l'Esports World Cup 2026, la plus grande compétition internationale de sport électronique, un constat s'impose : malgré une jeunesse passionnée par le jeu vidéo, l'Afrique reste largement absente de la scène compétitive mondiale. Faute d'investissements, de compétitions structurées et de volonté politique, le continent peine à transformer son potentiel en véritable filière économique. À partir de ce 6 juillet, Paris devient la capitale mondiale du jeu vidéo en accueillant l'Esports World Cup 2026. Pendant plusieurs semaines, les meilleurs joueurs de la planète s'affronteront sur des titres incontournables comme League of Legends, Valorant ou Counter-Strike. Au-delà du spectacle, cet événement rappelle une réalité économique souvent méconnue. Le jeu vidéo est aujourd'hui l'une des industries culturelles les plus puissantes au monde. Son chiffre d'affaires dépasse désormais les 200 milliards de dollars, soit près de dix fois celui du cinéma mondial. En son sein, l'esport représente à lui seul près de 25 milliards de dollars par an. Une économie à part entière, portée par les compétitions, les sponsors, les droits de diffusion et les clubs professionnels. Pourtant, l'Afrique ne capte qu'une infime partie de cette valeur. Les équipes africaines sont quasiment absentes des grandes compétitions internationales, malgré une pratique du jeu vidéo très répandue chez les jeunes, notamment sur smartphone ou dans les gaming zones. Le talent existe, mais l'écosystème fait défaut Pour Désiré Koussawo, président de SAGES Africa et auteur d'un livre blanc consacré à l'esport africain, le problème n'est pas celui du vivier de joueurs. « La base existe, elle est très large », explique-t-il. En revanche, c'est toute la structure permettant de faire émerger une élite qui fait aujourd'hui défaut. Car pour produire des champions, un marché ne peut pas se contenter de compter des millions de pratiquants. Il lui faut également des ligues professionnelles, des championnats réguliers, des clubs solides, des financements, ainsi qu'un cadre juridique adapté. Faute de compétitions suffisamment nombreuses, les joueurs progressent moins vite, restent invisibles aux yeux des grandes organisations internationales et peinent à intégrer les circuits professionnels. Un véritable cercle vicieux s'installe : sans investissements, pas de compétitions ; sans compétitions, pas de joueurs de haut niveau ; sans champions, les investisseurs continuent de détourner leur regard. À lire aussiSony abandonne les disques PlayStation: conséquences économiques d'une révolution du jeu vidéo Les investisseurs finiront-ils par miser sur l'Afrique ? Pourquoi cette situation perdure-t-elle ? Parce que les grands acteurs de l'industrie raisonnent avant tout en termes de rentabilité. Comme le souligne Désiré Koussawo, l'Afrique est encore perçue davantage comme un marché de consommateurs que comme une terre de compétiteurs. Les éditeurs de jeux vidéo, les organisateurs de tournois et les sponsors privilégient naturellement les régions où les retours sur investissement sont immédiats. Le principal frein n'est d'ailleurs pas uniquement celui des infrastructures. Quelques serveurs commencent à être déployés, principalement en Afrique du Nord, tandis que l'Afrique subsaharienne commence seulement à voir arriver certaines initiatives. Le véritable chaînon manquant reste surtout la volonté politique. Contrairement au football ou à la musique, l'esport est encore rarement considéré comme un levier de soft power ou de développement économique. Pour autant, les perspectives existent. Comme dans toute industrie, lorsque les marchés historiques arrivent à maturité, les entreprises recherchent de nouveaux relais de croissance. Après le développement spectaculaire du Golfe ou de l'Asie du Sud-Est, l'Afrique pourrait bien devenir la prochaine frontière de l'économie mondiale du jeu vidéo. Car aujourd'hui, l'esport n'est plus un simple loisir, il est devenu une industrie stratégique, un outil d'influence et un marché mondial en pleine expansion. Pendant que Paris célèbre les champions du jeu vidéo, l'Afrique joue encore les qualifications. La question n'est désormais plus de savoir si le continent possède les talents, mais de savoir qui sera le premier à investir dans leur réussite. À lire aussiPourquoi la France est toujours un grand du jeu vidéo mondial
Prap Young going FULL unhinged on today's wildest headlines! A 34-year-old gets arrested for motorized water gun drive-bys, Philippines schools teaching Valorant like it's PE class, PlayStation deleting 550+ movies and going full digital (Sony really said no more discs
The hit Marvel show X-Men '97 has returned to Disney+!Join us live every week to break down the latest X-Men '97, point out Easter Eggs, and share our theories on the future of the series.This week, we're joined by Polaris voice-actor Carolina Ravassa to break down X-Men '97 Season 2 Episodes 1-3, and discuss her role in the series.(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:00) Whatcha Watchin? - House of the Dragon, Widow's Bay(00:10:00) Getting Cast in X-Men '97 (00:18:00) History With the X-Men(00:22:00) Sombra and Raze(00:30:00) Playing Polaris (00:45:00) X-Men '97 Season 2 Premiere Reactions(00:50:00) X-Men '97 Season 2 Premiere Breakdown(01:00:00) X-Force vs. X-Factor(01:10:00) En Sabah Nur(01:18:00) Kang the ConquerorCheck out https://www.agentsoffandom.com for the latest TV and Movie reviews!
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Paris va accueillir la Esports World Cup cet été, du 6 juillet au 23 août. Il s'agit de sept semaines de compétition durant lesquelles des dizaines de clubs professionnels du monde entier vont s'affronter au cours de tournois dédiés à des jeux vidéo. Elle n'aurait pas dû se dérouler à Paris, et, d'ailleurs, son organisateur est un acteur vraiment très particulier. Il ne s'agit pas d'un éditeur de jeux vidéo ou bien d'un géant de l'évènementiel, mais d'un pays : l'Arabie saoudite.Dans ce nouvel épisode de Questions Tech, la journaliste Chloé Woitier vous parle de la Coupe du monde de jeux vidéos, qui devait se tenir en Arabie Saoudite avant d'être délocalisée à Paris en raison du contexte géopolitique au Moyen-Orient.Et n'oubliez pas : dans la Tech, il n'y a pas de questions bêtes !Vous pouvez retrouver Questions Tech sur Figaro Radio, le site du figaro.fr et sur toutes les plateformes d'écoute.Chronique et rédaction : Chloé WoitierMontage : Astrid LandonPrise de son : Louis ChabainProduction exécutive : Aude Sérès, rédactrice en chef, pôle audio Le FigaroCoordination de production : Pôle audio Le FigaroCommunication : Cyprien du Brusle de Rouvroy et réseaux sociaux Le FigaroVisuel & habillage : Studio design Le FigaroHébergé par Ausha. Visitez ausha.co/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.
Chris Andy and Jordan separate rumour from truth, and take stock of yet more rumoured redundancies in the industry...Patreon.com/VideoGamesChronicle for more of this sort of thing! VGC: The Video Games Podcast brings you the latest stories and talking points in video games and console gaming, from Xbox to Playstation and every game in between. Subscribe for new podcasts every single week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
|Video Spotify Exclusive
APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
|Video Spotify Exclusive
WATCH SMUTROT NOW: https://youtu.be/xkYT-mQVxZg Get additional episodes and bonus content with early access (try now with 7 DAYS FREE): go to https://www.OFFICIAL.men Three close man-friends gather around to talk about a sinister market. This is the Official Podcast. Every Tuesday. Links Below. THE OFFICIAL NETWORK CHANNEL (SUBSCRIBE NOW): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHYe-Qw7qUN5gFWMdj9nNw Episode 490: Recorded 27/05/26 --- Get additional episodes and bonus content with early access: Go to https://www.OFFICIAL.men or https://www.PATREON.com/THEOFFICIALPODCAST --- Timestamps: [00:00:00] Intro [00:03:13] Man-children [00:08:16] Good branding vs. fan service [00:21:19] Internet criticism and algorithm culture [00:27:07] AI “fixes” for The Boys [00:32:49] Call of Duty security disaster [00:37:27] Valorant anti-cheat and privacy fears [01:01:05] Kojima on Mandalorian and Grogu [01:03:18] The end of Destiny 2 :( [01:10:03] Games with chill communities [01:16:06] Wrap --- Audio Platforms (Spotify, Apple, Amazon, & Castbox): https://linktr.ee/theofficialpodcast Other Shows: https://linktr.ee/theofficialnetwork --- Hosts: Jackson: https://twitter.com/zealotonpc Andrew: https://twitter.com/huggbeestv Kaya: https://twitter.com/kayaorsan --- Additional Links: Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcHYe-Qw7qUN5gFWMdj9nNw Subreddit: https://reddit.com/r/theofficialpodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/theofficialpodcast Intro by: https://www.youtube.com/c/Derpmii Music by: https://soundcloud.com/inst1nctive & https://www.instagram.com/00zaya Art by: https://www.instagram.com/nook_eilyk/ & https://www.instagram.com/vaux.z Edited by: https://www.instagram.com/00zaya Designer: http://www.jr-design-co.com/ Produced by Jackson Clarke for The Official Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
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PEBCAK Podcast: Information Security News by Some All Around Good People
Welcome to this week's episode of the PEBCAK Podcast! We've got four amazing stories this week so sit back, relax, and keep being awesome! Be sure to stick around for our Dad Joke of the Week. (DJOW) Follow us on Instagram @pebcakpodcast Please share this podcast with someone you know! It helps us grow the podcast and we really appreciate it! Simple 6 signup link https://simple6.co/r/CFUR98 Microsoft releases a temporary mitigation script for "YellowKey," a BitLocker-bypassing Windows zero-day with no permanent fix yet https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/microsoft/microsoft-shares-mitigation-for-yellowkey-windows-zero-day/ Researchers uncover FAST16, a state-sponsored cyber-sabotage framework from 2005 that silently corrupted precision engineering calculations — predating Stuxnet by at least five years and linked to NSA tooling https://www.tomshardware.com/software/security-software/decades-old-pre-stuxnet-cyber-sabotage-tool-breaks-cover-nsa-listed-it-as-nothing-to-see-here-fast16-targeted-nuclear-reactors-dam-design-and-other-high-precision-civil-engineering-software-years-before-stuxnet-broke-cover https://www.wired.com/story/fast16-malware-stuxnet-precursor-iran-nuclear-attack/ https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/fast16-mystery-shadowbrokers-reference-reveals-high-precision-software-sabotage-5-years-before-stuxnet/ Riot Games clarifies its Vanguard anti-cheat doesn't brick PCs — it just renders $6,000 worth of DMA cheat hardware completely useless https://www.ign.com/articles/riot-games-says-it-would-not-and-cannot-use-vanguard-anti-cheat-to-brick-pcs-after-rumors-spread https://www.tweaktown.com/news/111774/valorants-vanguard-anti-cheat-now-destroys-dma-cheat-firmware/index.html https://x.com/dexerto/status/2057785616255860991 Apple is developing an "anti-snatch" feature that automatically locks an iPhone the moment sensors detect it's been ripped from a user's hand — and London thieves already prefer iPhones over Samsungs https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/05/27/rumored-anti-snatch-feature-will-automatically-lock-iphones-yanked-out-of-a-users-hand https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/11/18/london-thieves-snatching-iphones-but-dont-want-no-samsung Dad Joke of the Week (DJOW) Find the hosts on LinkedIn: Chris - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chlouie/ Brian - https://www.linkedin.com/in/briandeitch-sase/ Ben - https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamincorll/
Send us Fan MailIn this episode...--> Destiny 2's active development is officially coming to a close, and the news just gets worse as it's reported that Destiny 3 isn't in development, and layoffs are planned at Bungie after the game's final update next month. --> Riot says "congrats on your $6k paperweights" as a new Valorant anti-cheat update reportedly bricks the PCs of many cheaters.--> Less than 2 years after his own game fully shut down, Jason Voorhees is coming to Dead by Daylight to celebrate the game's 10th anniversary.--> Also: Top 3 New Releases, Gaming History 101Help support ShrfSnax (a.k.a. Brandon) in his fight against cancer: https://gofund.me/5d7c63a15Visit out merch store at gamers-week-podcast.creator-spring.comWe love our sponsors! Please help us support those who support us!- Check out the Retro Game Club Podcast at linktr.ee/retrogameclub- Connect with CafeBTW at youtube.com/@LoveRetroBTW- Get creative with Pixel Pond production company at pixelpondllc.com- Visit Absolutely the Best Podcast: A Work in Progress at linktr.ee/absolutelythebest**Use this link to get a $20 credit when you upgrade to a paid podcast hosting plan on Buzzsprout! buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1884378**Get 15% off gaming chairs at blacklyte.com/Gamersweekpodcast using code GWP26!Hosts: donniegretro, wrytersview, retrogamebrewsOpening theme: "Gamers Week Theme" by Akseli TakanenPatron theme: "Chiptune Boss" by donniegretroClosing theme: "Gamers Week Full-Length Theme" by Akseli TakanenSupport the show
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APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
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Juegos -70% DTO: https://ene.ba/Esportmaniacos-ENEBA ¡Xbox Game Pass al Mejor Precio!: https://ene.ba/Esportmaniacos-GamePass Descuentos Exclusivos en Juegos de PC: https://ene.ba/Esportmaniacos-Steam 00:00:00 INTRO 00:16:00 CAMBIOS EN COMPETITIVO DE LOL DESDE VALORANT 01:15:00 PRIMER DÍA LES CON CARDENETE Y CHAMPI 01:33:00 LCK CON MARHODER 01:36:30 LPL CON TOAD 01:38:50 FAKER HABLA DE RETIRARSE Y SUS INICIOS 01:55:00 ¿OSCARININ DE VUELTA A LA LEC? APÓYANOS AQUÍ https://www.patreon.com/Esportmaniacos https://www.twitch.tv/esportmaniacos Nuestras redes https://twitter.com/Esportmaniacos https://www.tiktok.com/@esportmaniacos Referido de AMAZON: https://amzn.to/36cVx3g
Welcome back to the Old School Noobs Podcast! Have you ever listened to the Old School Noobs Podcast and thought, “Wow, I wish these guys were more consistent!” Well, you're in luck because the Noobs are on the consistency grind! And for the first time in 2 years, you are blessed with 2 episodes in a week! This time, they're even both recent episodes instead of a month-old one that never got edited! In this gem of an episode, they start off with ChatGPT critiques of the pod. Then they dive into the year of 1993, sports and music. Then, hit segment AJ's Movie Corner returns with a Zilly Special of Jean-Claude van Damme Movies! The Noobs then discuss the Wild's recent struggles and how it does not matter because they are still going to win the Cup. They also do a dive into the playoffs and who they think the top contenders are, besides the Wild, of course. College Hockey wraps up the hockey segment of the show. Then the Noobs talk about baseball since the season has begun. A brief NFL segment and video game talk end the episode Segments 00:00 Intro and Chat GPT 17:36 1993 Music 27:51 Show Comments 29:47 AJ's Movie Corner (Jean-Claude van Damme Edition) 57:12 Wild and NHL Talk 01:16:54 College Hockey 01:23:25 That's Baseball 01:33:40 NFL Draft 01:35:23 Video Games (Atlas Fallen, Valorant) 01:41:53 Outro Good Luck, Have Fun! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter Email us at oldschoolnoobspod@gmail.com Thanks for listening! We appreciate each and every one of you!
APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
VALORANT
Cette semaine : Marathon (le test, le vrai), Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection, Yakuza Kiwami 3 et Dark Ties (remaster), Miks arrive dans Valorant, Street Fighter 6 récupère Alex, Pokémon Pokopia, Bitwig 6 sort de bêta, Joybuy ouvre en France (et en Belgique), Kim Gordon - Play Me, Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro, les batteries du SCAM ?, souris C64-vibe par 8BitDo, Nvidia DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi-Frame Generation, et le fameux… DLSS 5... Lisez plutôt Torréfaction #365 : Marathon, Monster Hunter Stories 3, Yakuza Kiwami 3 (+ Dark Ties), Pokémon Pokopia, SB Audigy FX Pro et le drama Nvidia DLSS5 avec sa vraie mise en page sur Geekzone. Pensez à vos rétines.
APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
Valorant
"Those are not my top 3 anime" - Alex BernasSummaryIn this episode of the Suuuper Anime Podcast, host Ed interviews Alex Bernas, an animation director with experience in both TV and commercial animation. They discuss the differences between working in TV and commercials, the importance of collaboration and soft skills in the animation industry, and the impact of representation in animation projects. Alex shares insights on his favourite projects such as Valorant and Nike, success metrics in animation, and the challenges faced by the industry. The conversation also touches on current anime trends and concludes with a quickfire round of questions.ChaptersIntroduction to Alex BernasTransitioning from TV to Commercial AnimationThe Art of Animation: Quality vs. QuantitySignature Style and Collaboration in AnimationImpactful Projects: Valorant and RepresentationSuccess Metrics in Animation ProjectsThe Importance of Guardrails in Creative WorkSkills for Success in AnimationThe Less Glamorous Side of AnimationFinding Your Voice in AnimationAnime Influences and Personal FavoritesCurrent Anime and TrendsThe Future of Anime and Industry ChallengesQuickfire Round and Final Thoughts Alex Bernas Socials https://www.alexbernas.com/Social media links Instagram SuuuperanimepodcastTikTok SuuuperanimepodcastTwitter @SuuuperanimeFacebook SuuuperAnimePodcast You Tube SuuuperAnimeDiscord https//discord.gg/suuuperlightsassemble Support the show
APEX LEGENDS Tips & Tricks podcast: ALGS, Season 20 Coming Soon
VALORANT
On this episode of the Off the Blue podcast presented by Select Health, Austin Julian, a junior on Boise State eSports' Valorant team, joins the show to discuss how he got involved in eSports, the team's 2026 season, and much more.Timestamps- 0:00 - 1:45 - Intro | 1:46 - 4:59 - Valorant, Path to Boise | 5:00 - 6:45 - Academics, Idaho | 6:46 - 7:59 - Revenge Year | 8:00 - 9:29 - Playing for Doc Haskell | 9:30 - 11:15 - Team Strengths | 11:16 - 12:59 - Upcoming Matchups | 13:00 - 16:59 - Practice, Family | 17:00 - 18:34 - Legacy, Future GoalsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Linguists are baffled. “There seems to be a new subcommunity in a niche online video game developing a totally new manner of speech by fusing what's known as the ‘Valorant accent' with idioms from medieval English,” writes a joint statement from The Linguistic Society of East and West.Discussed: BB realizes he's offline, Highguard, early impressions of Deadlock, Yoda in Soul Calibur, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined, the pros and cons of remakes, the history of DQVII, Nioh 3, Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Demo, new games on the horizon "A History of Dragon Quest (and Why To Try It Now)" by Chris PlanteHarvestella Review by Kaile Hultner PS1 Playlists:The ten listener poll winnersThe full playlistFind us everywhere: https://intothecast.onlineBuy some merch, if you'd like: https://shop.intothecast.onlineJoin the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/intothecast---Follow Stephen Hilger: https://bsky.app/profile/stephenhilger.bsky.socialFollow Brendon Bigley: https://bsky.app/profile/bb.wavelengths.onlineProduced by AJ Fillari: https://bsky.app/profile/ajfillari.bsky.social---Season 8 cover art by Scout Wilkinson: https://scoutwilkinson.myportfolio.com/Theme song by Will LaPorte: https://ghostdown.online/---Timecodes:(00:00) - Intro (00:19) - Highguard | Brendon Offlineley (12:09) - Dragon Quest VII Reimagined | The first game of the episode (57:50) - Break (57:52) - Nioh 3 | Kiefer's favorite game (01:13:30) - Break (01:13:32) - There was a Nintendo Direct (01:15:14) - Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection | Another 3 (01:33:08) - On the horizon (01:36:22) - Wrapping up ---Thanks to all of our amazing patrons, including our Eternal Gratitude members:SuperThisWayNick GStarfallrondoSusan H0nlygh0stsVincent JPatrick KEd AJ-RockSamantha DNorth HeroSam HSnzznJ-RockGregory Mark SCmndr BiscuiticemanChristian HRydan BCaleb HArden FEye of the DuckKaleNathan EJ. H. AjoelchronoMellowMatthew BRobin LPSeekingSeakingJimmerszoey!Vinny MMattKerry KBrian MNoah DZach DChristopher TDHugo WToddChris BLukerfuffleStephen YDaniel GEric FTaran WBrendan OChris ZClayton MZach RDylan NFederico VTigerz RevengeLogan HAlan RJohn AMike LmattjanzzDavid MHeavyPixelsKaleb HTyler JCorey ZSusan HBarry TRobert RChris JBrett Allen HDan SJack SGarrett CjimiiboJohn HDirch FJim EJim WTristan LEvan BAwfulHanzomin2Aaron GJean HTodd Nred_wagonNeilPeter BJohn VvErik MRedmage77Joshua JTony LDanny KGibson GKate Duncan BRichard MDaniel NSeth MJamesAndy HDemoEmmaLyn ECorey TCaleb WJake LJesse WMike TCodesMatt BWesleymebezacAlex LSergio LninjadeathdogRory BA42PoundMooseRobert MMichael WAndrewthis_JUSTINRyan O14.3 billion yearsBrendan KMegan BSecretAgentKoalaNoah OArcturusAndrew WhepaheChase ALoveDiesNick QChris MRBKaren HAdam FScott HAlexander SMatt HMurrayDavid PJason KMicah OKamrin HAndrew DKyle SPhilip N ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
In this episode, Greg and Colan break down the surprising success of Hytale after its departure from Riot Games, the strategic restructuring at Ubisoft, and the evolving multi-platform future of Xbox. Colan provides a deep-dive "dissertation" on the three eras of Riot Games publishing and explains why the studio may be "trapped by its own success".Key Discussion Points1. The Hytale Miracle: From Cancellation to Chart-Topper The Buyback: After Riot Games effectively shuttered the project, the original founders bought back the rights and launched into Early Access. Market Dominance: Within its first weeks, Hytale ranked #4 in search and #9 on Twitch, commanding roughly 2.5% of the total gaming market. The China Factor: Colan highlights the massive "opportunity cost" for Riot/Tencent, noting that Hytale could have been a native competitor to Minecraft in a Chinese market with over 700 million accounts.2. The Evolution (and Stagnation) of Riot Games Publishing The Golden Era (2019-2020): Riot enjoyed a historic run with "heaters" like Valorant, Teamfight Tactics, and Legends of Runeterra. The "Trapped" Success: Colan argues that Riot is now bloated by the weight of its own success; the immense resources required to maintain massive live-service hits prevents them from taking bold risks on new IP. Riot Forge Lessons: Why Riot's attempt to release smaller "love letters" to the community failed to act as a funnel for new players.3. Ubisoft's Strategic Reset Cancellations & Restructuring: Ubisoft has canceled six games, including the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, while mandating a 5-day return-to-office policy. The Global Shift: An analysis of why game development is shifting from expensive hubs like California to subsidized regions like Riyadh.4. The Shooter Landscape: Highguard vs. Marathon Highguard's Attention Deficit: Despite viral memes, the game lacks measurable player attention, making it a high-risk launch in a genre dominated by Apex and Overwatch. The Case for Marathon: Colan remains "bullish" on Bungie's Marathon, predicting it will successfully claim a "bronze medal" spot in the extraction shooter hierarchy.Featured Quotes"Riot is first-in-class at maintaining live ecosystems, but that success becomes a weight. Why risk anything when you have a thing you can monetize forever?" — Colan NeeseResources & Links Colan's Newsletter: Subscribe to "Patch Notes" on Substack or LinkedIn for the full dissertation on Riot's publishing history. Player Driven Workshop: Sign up for next week's player experience session at PlayerDriven.io. DICE Summit 2026: Catch Greg and Colan live in Las Vegas next month.