Overwatch League faces elimination. Microsoft starts overtime. And the plea for game preservation
Microsoft escapes the wrath of Kahn and extends the deal deadline. The OWL hangs in the balance. And we explore a future for protecting gaming's past. [s03e03]
UNBOXING is your weekly dose of insight into play and profit for the gaming curious, hosted by NYU professors Laine Nooney and Joost van Dreunen.
This week’s episode features season 3’s first guest interview.
But first Laine and Joost also unpack the latest twists and turns in the Microsoft hearts Activision Blizzard rollercoaster journey. You’ll hear what’s up with the deal’s October extension, Microsoft’s confident breakup fee, and Sony’s renewed acquiescence to taking a 10-year contract for Call of Duty.
This week’s episode also digs into Ash Parrish’s phenomenal esports reporting over at The Verge, the hosts discuss Blizzard's critical decision to lay off 50 members of its esports division, as well as the very real potential that Overwatch League might be on its last legs as a franchise esport. As the conversation evolves, they illuminate how these struggles indicate a larger downturn in the esports industry, thanks to over-hyping and unrealistic investor expectations.
And we welcome Phil Salvador, Library Director at the Video Game History Foundation. Through his recent research, Salvador reveals a startling statistic: 87% of classic games are in danger of becoming inaccessible due to legal constraints. As nostalgia meets copyright battles, libraries and archivists strive to preserve games as part of our cultural heritage, clashing with the Entertainment Software Association, which aims to protect their financial interests at all costs. This fascinating segment uncovers the high-stakes struggle over the future of video games, a truly David vs. Goliath tale in the world of gaming preservation.
And in the world of pwns and owns: the battle pass turns 10 years old, while Laine trades in Skibidi Toilet for Greta Gerwig’s Barbie.
Listen in!