TWIG #381: Xbox Loses the Plot, Ubisoft on Life Support & Western Gaming's Darkest Take

About this episode

The episode discusses Xbox's DAU strategy, Ubisoft's challenges, and a critical analysis of the Western gaming industry's future.

Xbox doubles down on a DAU strategy with no real plan to get there. Ubisoft keeps cleaning house while its franchises collect dust. And the most doom-and-gloom post ever written about the games industry lands on LinkedIn, and it's hard to argue with. Topics Covered: ● Xbox's public memo: Rebranding back to Xbox, shifting to DAU as a north star ● UK games subsidies: £28.5 million, three funding tracks, and why Turkey is still running laps around everyone ● Ubisoft Canada shakeup: Four big departures, Assassin's Creed Hex in trouble, and why Tencent might be the only real solution ● Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch 2 ● China vs the West: The structural advantages nobody talks about and what Western developers can actually do about it ● The doom post: 10 reasons western gaming is structurally uninvestible, and where the guys agree and push back CHAPTERS: 00:20 Show Intro and Agenda 01:35 Boys Only Banter 02:56 Shills 04:03 Istanbul Trip Plans 04:38 Division Resurgence Update 07:59 Xbox Memo Breakdown 17:33 UK Games Subsidies 23:45 Fortnite Shampoo Ads 26:55 Habi's New Game 30:58 PC Pivot Reality Check 32:06 China Publishers Paper Tigers 32:42 Marvel Rivals vs Overwatch 34:47 Blizzard…

People in this episode

Host: Deconstructor of Fun

Topics covered

• Xbox strategy
• Ubisoft restructuring
• Western gaming challenges
• China vs West
• DAU strategy
• Game industry investment concerns

Keywords

• Xbox
• Ubisoft
• DAU strategy
• gaming industry
• Tencent
• Assassin's Creed
• Marvel Rivals
• Overwatch 2
• China
• Western gaming

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Xbox, Ubisoft, Tencent

Products: Assassin's Creed Hex, Marvel Rivals, Overwatch 2

Books & works: LinkedIn

Places: UK, Turkey, China, West

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