Plus former EA devs start a new Aussie studio and Epic takes Google and Samsung to court
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SIFTER is produced by Kyle Pauletto, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Courtney Smith, Adam Christou and Chris Button. Mitch Loh is Senior Producer and Gianni Di Giovanni is our Executive Producer. Thanks to Audio Technica Australia for their support of SIFTER.
GIANNI: Hi I’m Gianni Di Giovanni
KYLE: and I’m Kyle Pauletto
GIANNI: Welcome to Walkthrough, SIFTER’s weekly recap on the biggest news in video games.
KYLE: This week Norway’s consumer advocate goes after in-game currencies, Epic heads back to court to sue Google and Samsung for hampering installs, and ex-EA staff in Australia spin up a new studio.
Here is the news for Sunday 6th of October. Let’s go!
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PROMO: Join the SIFTER community on Discord at sifter.com.au/discord
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GIANNI: A new report from The Norwegian Consumer Council, in collaboration with 21 consumer organisations from 17 different countries, has been submitted to the EU authorities about the dangers of virtual currencies in games.
The complaint titled ‘Getting players: The true cost of virtual currency’ shines a light on the unfair practices of leading video game companies, including those behind Fortnite, EA Sports FC 24, Minecraft and Clash of Clans.
KYLE: In-game currencies have always been a problem, especially when you get to the pay-to-win and seamless in-game transitions, it’s a slippery slope into gambling.
Your turn, Australian government make Vbucks illegal.
Next time I see XxX_Kirribili_Crusher_XxX in game which I know is you Albo, you’re getting a DM.
If you want to have a read of the full report, you can check it out in our show notes.
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KYLE: A few years ago Epic sued Google for its illegal app store monopoly, and won, and now Epic is back again suing Google and now Samsung.
This second antitrust lawsuit is accusing the two companies of conspiring to undermine third-party app stores and focuses on Samsung’s ‘auto blocker’ feature, which was created to protect users from suspicious threats and is now on by default.
Essentially the auto blocker stops users from installing apps unless they come from authorised sources, like the Google and Samsung apps stores, which means it’s incredibly difficult to download the Epic Games Store on Android devices.
GIANNI: The Fortnite developer says it now requires a ‘21-step process’ to download a third-party app store on a Samsung phone, which would make people more likely to give up halfway through the process.
In an interview Epic CEO Tim Sweeney admitted that he doesn’t yet have proof that Google and Samsung colluded but is hoping it comes out during the legal discovery process, he also admitted he didn't actually ask Samsung if they would make the Epic Games Store an ‘authorised source’.
Despite the lawsuit, apparently only two new Samsung phones have been released that included the auto blocker that’s turned on by default, so it’s not super clear if Epic has been harmed by the feature.
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GIANNI: Former members of EA Australia and EA Melbourne have announced that they’re starting up a new gaming studio in Melbourne.
The new studio, called The Three Thousands, named after the postcodes for Victoria if you didn’t put that together.
The studio will focus on racing-games so get ready to vroom vroom.
KYLE: They’re definitely not new to the genre with senior members Nikhil Kurian, previously the racing general manager at EA Melbourne, and Benjamin Dawe, formerly EA Melbourne's studio creative director at the helm.
The senior team has previously worked on franchises like Real Racing and Need for Speed.
They already have plans to launch a racing game in 2025, and we can’t wait to see what it’s like.
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KYLE: And finally the groundbreaking console first person shooter series Halo is doing a Fortnite.
Going third person, that is, with a new game mode designed to played with an over the shoulder camera to capture those gen alphas I’m sure.
Certain weapons and vehicles have always been in third person so it seems strange it’s taken this long.
Look Gianni this is barely news, I’m not sure why you even wrote it up?
GIANNI: I miss Halo ok? I dragged CRTs and network cables and all of that into the garage of my mates countless times when I was in high school and it makes me pretty sad that it’s effectively fallen into obscurity.
I miss you John.
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GIANNI: That’s it for the big headlines, here are the games coming out this week
KYLE: Out on the 8th is the Silent Hill 2 Remake. This is the game that put this franchise on the map, and fans have been dying for a remake. With how PlayStation have been going with their nostalgia baiting in recent years, it’s safe to assume this will be another winner. That’s out on PlayStation 5 and PC this Tuesday.
GIANNI: Next up we have a bunch of games releasing on the 11th. First up is Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, the latest in the long list of dragon ball fighters that there must be a market for because I swear a new one comes out every month and they all look like the same game. That’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S and X.
KYLE: After a long delay, Europa, a Ghibli inspired third person action adventure game is finally out. Explore the world of Europa, solving puzzles and traversing the map with satisfying free-flowing movement. Pick it up on PC and Switch.
GIANNI: Metaphor: ReFantazio is a brand new JRPG IP, and the first original project by Studio Zero. Expect many of the elements of games like Persona, like hybrid turn-based mechanics and a bunch of social-sim drama. Grab it on PlayStation 4 and 5, PC, and Xbox Series S and X.
KYLE: Up next is Starship Troopers: Extermination. After spending more than a year in early access, the full release of the first person co-op shooter is ready for a full release. It’s basically if Halo and Helldiver 2 got mashed together, and has been really well reviewed during its early access run. It’s out this week on PC, Xbox Series S and X, and PlayStation 5.
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PROMO: Articles to read, videos to watch and podcasts to listen to on sifter.com.au
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GIANNI: This has been Walkthrough by SIFTER, my name is Gianni Di Giovanni.
KYLE: And my name is Kyle Pauletto, thank you so much for listening.
GIANNI: Next week we'll be taking a break, it’s Melbourne International Games Week here in Australia so we’ll be checking out all the cool stuff happening there. We might have a little surprise for you though, so keep an eye out on the feed…
KYLE: SIFTER is produced by myself, Fiona Bartholomaeus, Adam Christou who is actually 3 tweenage boys stacked one-on-top-of-eachother in a trench coat, Courtney Smith and Chris Button. The episode is edited by both Senior Producer Mitch Loh and Executive Producer Gianni Di Giovanni, who is also Walkthrough’s script editor.
GIANNI: Thanks to Brian Fairbanks from Salty Dog Sounds for composing the Walkthrough theme tune, and Audio Technica Australia and Apple for their support of SIFTER’s podcasts.
KYLE: We’ll be back with more news in a couple of weeks. See you then.
