Scott Johnson

Supergiant. They're good examples of killer occasional titles that are blowing everybody away, attendance to quality, and they've stayed small and tight and visionary.

How long they all hold that is a big question because that didn't hold Blizzard for very long, but it does feel like that spirit is alive and well in the indie space today, and we all want to force Blizzard back into being that, and they're not going to ever be that.

How long they all hold that is a big question because that didn't hold Blizzard for very long, but it does feel like that spirit is alive and well in the indie space today, and we all want to force Blizzard back into being that, and they're not going to ever be that.

It's crazy to see how many companies spring from somebody at Blizzard, a talented designer on Hearthstone or somebody who is integral in early World of Warcraft development or something. They all end up leaving at some point and end up starting small companies.

It's crazy to see how many companies spring from somebody at Blizzard, a talented designer on Hearthstone or somebody who is integral in early World of Warcraft development or something. They all end up leaving at some point and end up starting small companies.

And you always hear about how their goals are to be, we're going to go back to what made Blizzard great and we're going to do those things. They all have these ideas and designs. And I guess what I'm saying is if Morhaime and his own... Can't do it. I'm not sure anyone can. So I really hope.

And you always hear about how their goals are to be, we're going to go back to what made Blizzard great and we're going to do those things. They all have these ideas and designs. And I guess what I'm saying is if Morhaime and his own... Can't do it. I'm not sure anyone can. So I really hope.

Yeah, Hellgate London. Anyway, I was going to mention that. That's a throwback. That's definitely a throwback. I wanted to finish on a quick note of an overall take. I guess this would apply to certainly Blizzard and Microsoft more broadly and the industry more broadly. But the effect of the pandemic was a weird one. It was a real boomtown for a bit there. And then that bubble burst.

Yeah, Hellgate London. Anyway, I was going to mention that. That's a throwback. That's definitely a throwback. I wanted to finish on a quick note of an overall take. I guess this would apply to certainly Blizzard and Microsoft more broadly and the industry more broadly. But the effect of the pandemic was a weird one. It was a real boomtown for a bit there. And then that bubble burst.

And a lot of people, a lot of companies in tech in general, just over-invested, over-hired, just a lot of factors. And having just the pure fact that most of these companies are publicly owned, they have to show constant growth to shareholders. That affects what you can do and when you can do it and how often you can hire, fire, all that. We've seen waves of layoffs.

And a lot of people, a lot of companies in tech in general, just over-invested, over-hired, just a lot of factors. And having just the pure fact that most of these companies are publicly owned, they have to show constant growth to shareholders. That affects what you can do and when you can do it and how often you can hire, fire, all that. We've seen waves of layoffs.

It has been an ugly couple of years. In that regard, even though some of the best games have been coming out, they're getting rewards, they're making money, yet all these layoffs happen. Do you think, again, I want Jason Schreier to give me his best opinion on this. Do you think unions are in the future of the games business, or is all that a bunch of talk and it's never going to happen?

It has been an ugly couple of years. In that regard, even though some of the best games have been coming out, they're getting rewards, they're making money, yet all these layoffs happen. Do you think, again, I want Jason Schreier to give me his best opinion on this. Do you think unions are in the future of the games business, or is all that a bunch of talk and it's never going to happen?

Right, yeah. And then whether or not that spreads to other Microsoft subsidiaries, gaming studios, or if that spreads more industry-wide, I guess we have to wait and see what the business as a whole does. But let's hope... I don't know. These last couple years have been a little rough, so I'm just hoping there's a horizon to all this and... And it's not quite as dour. I hear that.

Right, yeah. And then whether or not that spreads to other Microsoft subsidiaries, gaming studios, or if that spreads more industry-wide, I guess we have to wait and see what the business as a whole does. But let's hope... I don't know. These last couple years have been a little rough, so I'm just hoping there's a horizon to all this and... And it's not quite as dour. I hear that.

Yeah, that would be nice. Well, in the meantime, here's what I know about Jason and his work. You're going to find plenty of it out there. Is there any projects you're working on right now you'd like to let people know about or anywhere in particular you'd like them to go?

Yeah, that would be nice. Well, in the meantime, here's what I know about Jason and his work. You're going to find plenty of it out there. Is there any projects you're working on right now you'd like to let people know about or anywhere in particular you'd like them to go?

I'm a little behind, but people should be checking that out as well. Well, that's awesome. I wish nothing but cool new projects in the future. And I hope one day we can come back and maybe talk about more about the inner workings of this weird business we're all involved in.

I'm a little behind, but people should be checking that out as well. Well, that's awesome. I wish nothing but cool new projects in the future. And I hope one day we can come back and maybe talk about more about the inner workings of this weird business we're all involved in.

You bet. Those pants are made for frogging, if you know what I mean. I actually don't.