Green Squadron Games

Talking about the announcement of the GTA 6 trailer and my excitement for/concerns about the game. Sources: GTA 6 Announcement on Twitter - https://x.com/RockstarGames/status/1722237703553798312?s=20 The Verge - Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser is leaving the company - https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/4/21123171/rockstar-games-co-founder-dan-houser-leaves-steps-down

Volition Games, the studio behind the Saints Row and Red Factions series, were suddenly shutdown by their Parent company and I go over what I believe caused the situation. Sources: Volition's Shutdown Announcement - https://www.volitiongames.com/news/farewell/ Volition's Letter to the Community - https://twitter.com/DSVolition/status/1697645816410780120 Saint's Row Reboot Metacritic Page - https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/saints-row Game Industry - Embracer's $2bn+ deal collapsed due to "external factors" - https://www.gamesindustry.biz/embracers-2bn-deal-collapsed-due-to-external-factors

All three Playstation Plus subscription prices are increasing significantly starting next week. While I'm not surprised by this change, I am surprised Playstation is the first one to significantly increase its prices instead of Xbox Gamepass. Sources: Game Informer - PS Plus Gets Significant Price Increases Next Week - https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/08/30/ps-plus-gets-significant-price-increases-next-week Playstation Plus Details - https://www.playstation.com/en-us/ps-plus/

My thoughts on the Starfield Start Screen that was leaked and on the criticisms it has received online. Sources: Mark Kern's (Grummz) take on the Starfield Start screen https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/1692944018051641516?s=20 Mark Kern's response to his take https://twitter.com/Grummz/status/1693295959529455638?s=20 Destin's comparison of Bethesda game start screens https://twitter.com/DestinLegarie/status/1693372652289925324?s=20

I give my thoughts on the prospects of Nintendo releasing a new console in 2024 considering that news outlets are starting to speculate on its potential announcement and release. Sources: Nintendo targets 2024 with next-gen console - Video Game Chronicles - Andy Robinson - https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sources-nintendo-switch-2-targets-2024-with-next-gen-console/

Xbox is going to rebrand Xbox Live Gold to Xbox Gamepass Core. I talk about what that will mean for current Xbox Live Gold Subscribers and what it could mean for the future of Gamepass. Sources: Introducing Xbox Game Pass Core, Coming This September - Xbox - Jerret West - https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/07/17/xbox-game-pass-core/ Microsoft is raising Xbox Series X and Game Pass prices - Video Game Chronicles - Tom Ivan - https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/microsoft-is-raising-xbox-series-x-and-game-pass-prices/ Microsoft Addresses Xbox Game Pass Price Increase Concerns - GameRant - Aneesh Shukla - https://gamerant.com/xbox-game-pass-price-increase-activision-blizzard-deal/

My Reaction to the Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Gameplay Preview and spoiler alert... it looks great! Source: Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon Gameplay Preview - https://youtu.be/DcDjyestr4Y

This week Judge Corley ruled in favor of Microsoft in the FTC preliminary hearings, allowing Microsoft and Activision to move forward with their deal. Microsoft also announced they would no longer be seeking an appeal with the CMA in the UK and would instead try to negotiate with them over the deal. Lastly, the FTC tried to block the Microsoft deal again by trying to appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court but was denied the injunction by Judge Corley. Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23779039/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-trial-win https://www.gameinformer.com/news/2023/07/11/microsoft-says-it-will-pause-its-appeal-efforts-against-uk-regulator-over https://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-activision-takeover-appeal-judge-denies-ftc-request-pause/

From the FTC hearing on the Microsoft/Activision deal, we found out that Phil Spencer had a whole list of developers and publishers they were looking to acquire before the Activision deal was made, including Sega and Bungie. Source: The Verge - Microsoft considered acquiring Bungie and Sega to bolster Xbox Game Pass, internal emails show - by Tom Warren https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/26/23774482/microsoft-sega-bungie-acquisition-targets-internal-email-xbox

With all the information coming out of the Microsoft/Activision deal hearings and listening to the FTC's arguments, I'm starting to wonder if Sony weaponized the FTC against Microsoft. Sources: The Verge - FTC v. Microsoft: all the news from the big Xbox courtroom battle - Tom Warren - https://www.theverge.com/23768244/ftc-microsoft-activision-blizzard-case-news-announcements The Verge - Sony’s PlayStation chief says publishers hate Xbox Game Pass - Tom Warren - https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/28/23776652/ftc-microsoft-day-three-hearing-summary-sony-playstation-jim-ryan-xbox-game-pass The Verge - Sony’s PlayStation chief privately said Microsoft’s Activision deal wasn’t about Xbox exclusives - Tom Warren - https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/22/23769790/sonys-playstation-chief-microsofts-activision-deal-xbox-exclusives-ftc The Verge - Microsoft’s FTC fight comes down to Call of Duty - Tom Warren - https://www.theverge.com/23779614/ftc-microsoft-hearing-summary

In the FTC hearings over Microsoft's Activision Deal, we learned that Microsoft bought Bethesda because Sony was paying them to not release their upcoming games on Xbox. Sources: https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/23/23771828/microsoft-betheda-acquisition-starfield-playstation-exclusive