Riccitiello retires from Unity and Polish devs unite
What's next for engine maker Unity post-Riccitiello, Poland gets its first game union, and fossil fuels are fun in Fortnite says Big Oil
Fall is in the air, and Laine and Joost are back with another episode of UNBOXING. We discuss the tyranny of the pumpkin spice flavor palette, Laine shares a long-held secret, and Joost finally opens up about his fear of straws.
“I think they're going to go in, cut a bunch of jobs, try to get close to profitability, and then sell it for parts.”
What to make of the maybe-not-so-surprising departure of John Riccitiello from Unity? We discuss the complex cultural and financial issues that led to this significant change and ask “who might be chosen for the CEO position?” Could the ads business and the development components be divested? And, what is the value of the company's technology and monetization? We explore the power dynamics between the board, private equity firms, and Riccitiello, and make some chilling forecasts about what might be in store for the company.
As one executive goes down, labor goes up. Workers at CD Projekt Red have established the Polish Gamedev Workers Union in direct response to layoffs at the company earlier this year. Laine shares their approach to teaching about the labor movement in their Game Economies class, while Joost talks about the proper role of management based on his background as an entrepreneur.
Be sure to tune in next week as we look deeper into the creator economy. First up: Joost’s fascinating interview with Enrico D'Angelo, the VP of Economy at Roblox.
Listen in!