UNBOXING: Play and Profit for the Gaming Curious
Laine Nooney, Joost van Dreunen
Joost crunches data. Laine rummages in archives. Together on UNBOXING, these two NYU professors unlock the secrets of the games business they share with their students and cover the games news for insiders and newbies alike. A weekly podcast for anyone curious about why games matter in today's economy, dropping every Friday. Logo by Moira Zhang, theeverdrift.cargo.site
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 3, 2026 • 50min
The $1,000 Console Era Is Coming––Are You Ready?
PlayStation price hike. PLUS: Subscriptions rise as game sales fall. -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Mar 27, 2026 • 57min
Power Shifts: Who Wins in the New Games Economy?
Layoffs of Epic (Games) proportions. PLUS: India’s rise & global power shifts in gaming? -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Mar 20, 2026 • 53min
UNBOXING’s GDC 2026 Postmortem
This week on UNBOXING, Laine and Joost spill all from their week at GDC 2026. -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Mar 6, 2026 • 57min
Loot Boxes on Trial, Zillow in Azeroth, and Our GDC Survival Guide
New York takes on Valve over loot boxes. The WoW × Zillow collab no one asked for... PLUS: Our guide to surviving GDC this year! -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Feb 27, 2026 • 42min
The Hottest Take on the Xbox CEO Turnover You Haven’t Heard Yet
What if we told you that Xbox’s CEO reshuffle wasn't just a swap… 🤯 Tune in to this week's episode for the more of our hottest take yet. -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Feb 13, 2026 • 47min
Discord Has Entered Its Verification Era. Is Enshittification Next?
Discord has entered its verification era... Face scans. IPO plans. Enshittification? Laine and Joost break it down. -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Feb 6, 2026 • 41min
Project Genie in a Bottle?
Google's Project Genie: What it actually does vs. what it promises. -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Jan 23, 2026 • 50min
Pod Friends with Julian Togelius
Joost talks games and AI with pod friend Julian Togelius. -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts: YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
Dec 19, 2025 • 1h 13min
Another Week, Another Megadeal
Netflix's ambitious $80 billion bid for Warner Bros is dissected, revealing its potential impact on gaming and streaming markets. The hosts analyze Warner's assets and their implications for Netflix's gaming strategies, including the significant sale of Spry Fox. They debate the commercialized nature of the Game Awards, highlighting indie triumphs over large studios. Key concerns about job security in the industry and the awards process's credibility also emerge, showcasing the evolving landscape of gaming culture.
Dec 12, 2025 • 60min
UNBOXING’s End-of-Semester Wrap Up
UNBOXING's end-of-semester wrap: finals, feedback & feels. PLUS: Pwns, owns & holiday vibes! -- Never miss an update and listen to your favorite UNBOXING episodes wherever you get your podcasts:YouTubeSpotifyAppleFor the true fans, subscribe to our newsletter for weekly email updates and more!
