Investors drop Roblox. Take-Two revs the GTA6 money motor. Kai Cenat owes New York a check
Wall Street likes to play games but not with its money. And fame does not make you smart, apparently.
In this week’s episode, Laine calls in from the bowels of their soon-to-be tenured life and Joost records from his mountain-side detox.
Hear them argue about whether Roblox should bother to appease Wall Street or stay true to its vision. Despite a +15% increase in earnings, investors were unimpressed and knocked the game platform's share price. Team UNBOXING discusses the paradox of a company with astronomical user metrics facing financial skepticism, highlighting Roblox's pushback against traditional investor expectations. Laine is unforgiving in their analysis of the platform's revenue model, where Roblox takes a whopping 80% from creators yet still struggles for profitability.
Joost, on the other hand, argues Roblox is shifting its focus to be more of a 'municipality' rather than just another market, supporting mid-tier creators and innovating revenue streams. While Joost remains hopeful about Roblox’s non-traditional approach, Laine is wary of the Wall Street meta-game. Their shared conclusion? Only time will tell if Roblox can rewrite the rulebook or if it'll become another cautionary tale.
Deeping the earnings chatter, Laine and Joost show how Take-Two's performance managed to get everyone's attention. Surpassing its own fiscal predictions, though shy of Wall Street's expectations, Take-Two has been adeptly riding the digital wave with stable recurrent digital net bookings, hinting at a predictable and robust revenue stream. And while everyone's playing the "When's GTA 6 dropping?" guessing game, Joost gives the fandom a reality check.
Finally, our New York hosts have plenty to say about Twitch streamer Kai Cenat’s PlayStation 5 giveaway stunt that led thousands of teens and young adults to gather up in Union Square in what the NYPD labeled a “riot.” Not only did Kai's alarmingly poor planning result in him getting arrested along with 65 others, but it also led to smashed taxis, broken subway infrastructure, and one very sad story about everyone’s favorite halal cart. Laine rails the NYPD while Joost ponders the responsibilities of online personalities. They offer a mandatory roast of Mayor Eric Adams, who can’t tell a PlayStation from a Game Boy, and discuss the generational gap in understanding the impact of social media events. Don’t miss the debate over who's at fault: the streamer, the system, or society. 🎮🔥🚔
Listen in!