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UNBOXING: Play & Profit for the Gaming Curious

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June 27, 2025

Union Wins, Summer Heat, and the Reorganization of Embracer

This week on UNBOXING, Laine and Joost kick things off with the progressive shake-up in NYC politics; they celebrate Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the primaries as proof that grassroots campaigns—and free bus dreams—still work.

Then the duo dig into Embracer Group’s latest restructuring. Joost gives a macroeconomic read (complete with shareholder analysis), while Laine grounds the convo in labor realities. Followed up by Laine breaking down the first-ever ratified union contract at Microsoft’s ZeniMax studio—a historic win for game workers. They dive into the politics of neutrality agreements, how the Activision acquisition reshaped Microsoft’s labor posture, and what this contract might signal for future union efforts across the industry.

The episode closes with double owns: Joost shouts out the Games for Change conference, while Laine gets gleeful over trailers for Big Walk and PowerWash Simulator 2. It’s a week of smart takes, genuine celebration, and a reminder that even in a shaky industry, good things are still possible.

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