AJSN WK6B - IRON LUNG Succeeds, Highguard's NEW 5v5 MODE, Ashes of Creation CANCELED, Gamestop's CEO

Quick Overview

The Angry Joe Show crew discusses several news items, including the success of Markiplier's movie "Iron Lung" which returned 7x its budget, the ongoing development struggles of the MMO "Ashes of Creation" following leadership turmoil, and Meta's Reality Labs losing $83.6 billion over six years, while also joking about FIFA loot boxes not being considered gambling in Austria and the poor state of Xbox exclusives.

Key Points: Markiplier's movie "Iron Lung" successfully grossed 7 times its budget, making it a significant financial success. Ashes of Creation's development is facing turmoil, with reports citing leadership disagreements and layoffs, leading to uncertainty about its release timeline. Meta's Reality Labs has reportedly lost $83.6 billion over six years, with the hosts noting that while revenue is up 2%, losses are still substantial. The Austrian Supreme Court ruled that FIFA loot boxes are not considered gambling, provided the items cannot be freely traded for real-world value outside the game. The hosts express disappointment with the current state of Xbox exclusives, suggesting they are underperforming compared to PlayStation and potentially PC releases. The hosts joke about the absurdity of investing heavily in VR hardware (like Quest 3) when older technology like the Fallout 76 power armor bundle cost $300.

Context: This segment from The Angry Joe Show (AJS) features three hosts discussing recent news primarily focused on the video game and tech industries. Key topics covered include the financial success of a Markiplier-backed film, internal issues at the MMO 'Ashes of Creation,' Meta's massive financial losses in its Reality Labs division, and a legal ruling regarding FIFA loot boxes in Austria. The hosts use humor and strong opinions to analyze these developments, often contrasting these corporate/industry struggles with the perceived success of independent creators or better gaming products.

Detailed Analysis

The hosts begin by celebrating the financial success of Markiplier's movie, 'Iron Lung,' which reportedly returned 7 times its budget, making it a massive hit. They contrast this success with the ongoing development issues at the MMO 'Ashes of Creation,' noting reports of leadership turmoil, layoffs, and uncertainty surrounding the game's release, which they attribute to poor project management following years of crowdfunding. The discussion shifts to Meta, where Reality Labs has lost $83.6 billion over six years. Despite Meta claiming optimism and reporting a 2% revenue increase in the division, the hosts find the operational losses absurd, especially given the massive investment in VR hardware like the Quest 3. They then cover a ruling from the Austrian Supreme Court stating that FIFA loot boxes are not gambling, provided the items gained cannot be traded for real-world value outside the game, which they find a narrow and perhaps disingenuous legal definition. Finally, they touch upon the poor state of Xbox exclusives, comparing them unfavorably to PlayStation and PC offerings, emphasizing that even with strong revenue, Microsoft's gaming division is suffering significant losses.