This week on the M2 Podcast, we unpack mounting pressure across the gaming industry from multiple angles. Over 1,200 Ubisoft developers have gone on strike in Paris and Milan, protesting sweeping layoffs, studio closures, stalled pay growth, and new restrictions on remote work—raising serious questions about leadership and long-term stability at one of gaming’s biggest publishers. We also examine Discord’s updated approach to teen safety and age assurance, including privacy-focused verification measures designed to protect younger users without requiring universal ID checks. On the business side, new data shows that 38% of game industry leaders are feeling the financial strain of recent U.S. tariffs, impacting hardware costs, revenue projections, and strategic planning. Finally, we touch on creative momentum in the industry as Hazelight, the studio behind Split Fiction and It Takes Two, confirms its next motion-capture-driven project is already in development. It’s a week defined by labor unrest, platform accountability, economic pressure, and the future of game development.

0:00 Intro

1:20 Update

14:58 1200 Ubisoft staff go on strike https://tinyurl.com/3ebhcc3s

25:51 Discord Identification Policy Update https://tinyurl.com/4rex74m2

45:56 38 percent of game industry feels impact of tariffs https://tinyurl.com/mr2x23zt

59:01 Split Fiction Studio on Next Game https://tinyurl.com/2wzk4txp

1:06:36 Outro

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This week on the M2 Podcast, we break down a turbulent stretch for the games industry, starting with Ubisoft employees publicly calling for CEO Yves Guillemot’s resignation amid layoffs, studio closures, and a growing trust crisis inside the company. We also shift to the fun side of gaming with new details on Star Wars: Galactic Racer, including the confirmed return of high-speed podracing and a mix of classic and new vehicles. On the blockbuster front, Take-Two says Grand Theft Auto VI is finally locked into its third release date, with full marketing set to ramp up ahead of launch. Finally, we dive into Epic Games’ candid admission that its launcher “sucks” and the company’s plan to overhaul the Epic Games Store with major speed, social, and community upgrades over the next year.

0:00 Intro

0:57 Updates

25:37 Ubisoft union representatives call for resignation of CEO https://tinyurl.com/4e667sw3

44:10 Star Wars: Galactic Racer presents "multiple expressions of speed" https://tinyurl.com/25exwufe

52:37 ‘Grand Theft Auto VI’ Finally Seems Real https://tinyurl.com/58nzrvz5

1:06:22 Epic Game promising a year of big improvements https://tinyurl.com/2nnjwuan

1:30:41 Outro

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On this episode of M2 Podcast, we dig into the shifting power dynamics shaping the video game industry in 2026. We break down U.S. lawmakers urging federal regulators to closely examine the $55 billion acquisition of Electronic Arts amid growing labor concerns, alongside new data revealing that nearly one-third of U.S. game industry workers have faced layoffs in the past two years. We also look at the brighter side of the industry with fresh hype around Microsoft’s Fable reboot and its ambitious “Living Population” system, before closing with Valve facing a major lawsuit over Steam’s commission structure. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about creativity, consolidation, and what the future may hold for developers and players alike.

0:00 Intro

1:02 Updates

17:01 US lawmakers ask FTC to review $55bn EA deal https://tinyurl.com/mpd5ay9z

25:26 1/3 of U.S. Game Industry Workers Were Laid Off in the Last Two Years https://tinyurl.com/2s3a6yvt

35:38 Fable Reboot Is "Just Mind-Blowing" https://tinyurl.com/569cxmp7

47:17 Valve faces lawsuit over dev commissions on Steam https://tinyurl.com/3yctytcp

1:01:06 Outro

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This week’s episode covers a wide range of major developments across the gaming industry, starting with a brief disruption at Rockstar North after a boiler malfunction prompted emergency services to secure minor structural damage, an incident the studio quickly confirmed caused no injuries and did not impact ongoing GTA 6 development. The discussion then shifts to Gears of War: E-Day, with developers emphasizing a return to the gritty tone and atmosphere of the original games while rebuilding the franchise from the ground up in Unreal Engine 5. The episode also highlights new research linking gaming more than 10 hours per week to poorer diet, sleep, and body mass outcomes, underscoring how excessive play, not gaming itself, can impact health. Finally, Bungie’s Marathon takes center stage with its confirmed March 5, 2026 release date, new gameplay details, faction-driven storytelling, and a high-profile voice cast, marking one of the most anticipated launches of the year.

0:00 Intro

1:04 Update

17:35 GTA 6 Developer Rockstar North Fire Crews https://tinyurl.com/5fnhttv7

25:58 Gears Of War: E-Day https://tinyurl.com/bdz3y8hd

33:20 Gaming More Than 10 Hours a Week? https://tinyurl.com/4z7p3zmm

48:57 Marathon News https://tinyurl.com/uat7tk9n

1:00:50 Outro

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This week on M2 Podcast, we break down the chaos surrounding Rainbow Six Siege after a massive hack flooded the game with billions in in-game currency and forced Ubisoft to take servers offline. We also take a close look at 8BitDo’s new Ultimate 3E controller, an officially licensed Xbox peripheral that looks like the Elite Series 3 Microsoft never released. On the business side of gaming, we discuss the surprisingly effective psychology behind indie game pricing and why developers believe $8 still feels like $5 to players. Finally, we unpack the growing RAM price crisis, exploring how AI demand, manufacturing shifts, and supply constraints are driving up costs and reshaping the future of PC builds.

0:00 Intro

1:48 Updates

10:01 Rainbow Six Siege Engulfed In Chaos https://tinyurl.com/442mccbz

19:49 8BitDo's new Xbox pro controller https://tinyurl.com/4ussn7pt

38:46 Peak Developer Explains Successful Game Pricing https://tinyurl.com/53kufe6p

50:02 Why is RAM so expensive right now? https://tinyurl.com/3zemt3ca

1:28:48 Outro

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This week on the M2 Podcast, we break down a packed slate of industry shifts and major announcements. Xbox architect Jason Ronald hints that 2026 will be a milestone year as the brand approaches its 25th anniversary, fueling speculation around new hardware and ecosystem updates. Tomb Raider is officially confirmed for The Game Awards, with fans eager to see Crystal Dynamics’ long-awaited next chapter for the franchise. Meanwhile, former Perfect Dark leads resurface at 2K to build an all-new studio following the project’s cancellation at Xbox earlier this year. And in entertainment power-move territory, Paramount’s aggressive $108 billion bid for Warner Bros.—backed by investors tied to the EA acquisition group—escalates the fight for control of one of Hollywood’s most influential catalogs. We analyze the implications for gaming, media, and everything in between.

0:00 Intro

0:54 Update

8:42 Xbox architect Jason Ronald teases big things https://tinyurl.com/54nn3bcc

17:26 Tomb Raider Will Be at The Game Awards https://tinyurl.com/y2hv5k25

27:46 Take-Two Hires Former Perfect Dark Leads https://tinyurl.com/3bk5keas

32:16 Paramount bid for Warner Bros. https://tinyurl.com/yc65k5ek

51:24 Outro

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This week on the M2 Podcast, we break down a massive shake-up across the gaming industry. Micron officially shuts down its Crucial consumer RAM brand as AI demand overwhelms the memory market, leaving PC builders wondering what’s next. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 faces disappointing player numbers across consoles and PC, raising big questions about franchise fatigue. Bungie resolves the Marathon concept art plagiarism scandal with a public apology and new art direction commitments. And in the biggest business news of the week, Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group acquires a majority stake in Electronic Arts, instantly reshaping the future of one of gaming’s most powerful publishers. We unpack the details, the impact, and what these moves mean for gamers going forward.0:00 Intro

0:51 Updates

10:06 Crucial is shutting down https://tinyurl.com/nfe53z44

18:51 Call Of Duty Is Underperforming https://tinyurl.com/kym3xdd3

47:28 Bungie’s ‘Marathon’ Plagiarism Scandal https://tinyurl.com/493c9f72

56:38 Saudi Arabia will own 93.4% of EA https://tinyurl.com/3pjw3x5p

1:05:19 Outro

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This week on the M2 Podcast, we dive into the wild state of PC hardware as RAM prices skyrocket so dramatically that some stores are selling memory like market-price seafood. We also break down Steam’s first-ever Black Friday sale and the standout discounts across major retailers, from PS5 Pro deals to Nintendo and Xbox bargains. Ubisoft somehow insists Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still alive—and is even hiring—so we unpack the ongoing saga behind gaming’s most infamous vaporware. All that plus our picks for the best Black Friday game deals you can grab right now.
0:00 Intro

1:23 Updates

14:14 RAM prices are so out of control https://tinyurl.com/46r2tbyd

22:50 Steam surprises fans with Black Friday sale https://tinyurl.com/wv8kdaa2

29:24 After 17 years, Ubisoft is hiring https://tinyurl.com/4uurr2tu

38:05 The 25 Best Video Game Deals https://tinyurl.com/365knzx7

49:44 Our Picks for Black Friday

1:05:20 Outro

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