Kinda Funny Games Daily: Video Games News Podcast Episode: Big Trouble At Giant Bomb & Polygon - Kinda Funny Games Daily 05.01.25 Part 2
Release Date: May 1, 2025
Hosts: Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, Tim Gettys, and Blessing Adeoye Jr.

Introduction

In this episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily, hosts Tim Gettys and Blessing Adeoye Jr. delve into significant upheavals within the gaming media landscape, focusing primarily on the recent acquisition of Polygon by Valnet and its repercussions. Additionally, they discuss Epic Games' strategic moves following a pivotal court ruling against Apple, and the exciting announcement regarding the upcoming Hollow Knight: Silksong demonstration in an Australian museum.

Polygon’s Acquisition by Valnet and Massive Layoffs

Timestamp: [02:11] – [21:16]

The episode kicks off with alarming news about Polygon, a prominent video game website, being sold to the content conglomerate Valnet. This acquisition has resulted in substantial layoffs, leaving much of Polygon's creative team unemployed.

• Details of the Sale and Layoffs:

  • Valnet, often criticized for its management of other media outlets, has acquired Polygon. The press release announcing the sale failed to mention the ensuing layoffs, leading to confusion and distress among Polygon's staff.
  • Chris Plant, Polygon’s co-founder and Editor-in-Chief, openly shares his experience:

    "[...] I wasn't involved. Going to hang out with my kid, taking wins where I can."
    [02:57]

• Impact on Polygon’s Team:

  • Several talented writers and editors, including senior reporter Nicole Carpenter and senior writer Michael McWhorter, are now seeking new opportunities. Social media platforms are abuzz with posts from laid-off employees expressing their shock and heartbreak.

• Host Reactions:

  • Blessing Adeoye Jr. expresses deep sorrow over the situation:

    "I think the even more heartbreaking thing beyond this is that there are the names that we know [...] [Polygon’s team] are not able to continue making that content elsewhere necessarily."
    [06:34]

  • Greg Miller emphasizes the unique role Polygon and Giant Bomb played in the gaming media landscape:

    "These sites and personalities get put into the machine, right? [...] Giant Bomb does that. And I think that is. It's going to be very sad that the Giant Bomb couch is not going to exist."
    [08:05]

• Industry Significance:

  • The hosts lament the loss of influential voices and the decrease in quality gaming journalism. They highlight Polygon’s role in producing thought-provoking journalism and Giant Bomb’s pioneering personality-driven content, which set standards in gaming media.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Blessing:

    "Most people don't have that luxury. And that is the truly heartbreaking thing about this is the fact that like once a lot of these sites are gone, that stuff is just gone."
    [07:00]

  • Chris Plant:

    "I won't be talking more about the sale because I wasn't involved."
    [03:08]

Epic Games Offers Olive Branch to Apple Following Court Ruling

Timestamp: [28:08] – [32:25]

The discussion shifts to the high-stakes legal battle between Epic Games and Apple. A recent court ruling mandates Apple to eliminate its restrictive payment commissions, which directly impacts the longstanding conflict over the App Store’s policies.

• Court Ruling and Epic’s Response:

  • A US judge has ordered Apple to remove its 27% commission on in-app purchases and cease discouraging alternative payment methods. Additionally, Apple is required to pay Epic Games' attorney fees and faces potential criminal contempt charges.
  • In response, Epic Games has proposed a peace treaty:

    "If Apple agreed to apply the rule globally, it would drop all ongoing and future litigation, including its right to bring its own store to iOS and bring Fortnite back to the platform as soon."
    [29:23]

• Host Analysis:

  • Tim Gettys and Blessing Adeoye Jr. analyze the broader implications for the gaming industry, emphasizing that the decision could empower smaller developers by allowing more flexible monetization strategies outside of Apple's ecosystem.

• Tim Sweeney’s Reaction:

  • Greg Miller references Tim Sweeney’s celebratory tweets, critiquing the seemingly abrupt shift from years of tension:

    "Tim Sweeney's over here tweeting, like, all right, cool. Like, we’re cool now, right?"
    [13:38]

• Notable Quotes:

  • Blessing:

    "I think this has a lot in common with the first story we talked about [...] but I think there's so much value still in the type of content that we see out of games media."
    [17:00]

  • Greg:

    "Anyways, we love you all."
    [19:12]

Hollow Knight: Silksong Playable at Australian Museum

Timestamp: [32:25] – [42:26]

In lighter yet highly anticipated news, Team Cherry has announced that Hollow Knight: Silksong will be playable at the Melbourne Museum as part of the Game Worlds exhibition starting September 18, 2025.

• Exhibition Details:

  • The playable demo will be showcased alongside displays detailing the game's design and artistic direction, celebrating its status as one of the most awaited indie titles.
  • ACMI Co-Curators Bethan Johnson and Ginny Maxwell commend Team Cherry:

    "We are thrilled to celebrate the design of this South Australian made game as a centerpiece of Game World's Indie September."
    [33:36]

• Hosts' Reactions:

  • Greg Miller and Blessing Adeoye Jr. express excitement and humor about the announcement, debating whether the playable demo signifies an imminent full release:

    Greg: "It's going to be in the museum. I mean, for it."
    [34:07]
    Blessing: "It's just me and you here? Neither of us have played through Hollow Knight, right?"
    [34:19]

• Speculations:

  • The hosts ponder whether the playable demo indicates that the full game might release before September or if it will remain a part of the museum's exhibition, reflecting on the long development timeline of Silksong.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Greg:

    "I believe that the team over at Giant Bomb believes in their plan and when their plan that they believe in is taken from them, there's nothing."
    [20:30]

  • Blessing:

    "There's so much value in written articles. There's so much value in those opinion pieces."
    [17:00]

Additional News and Community Interaction

Timestamp: [37:32] – [42:26]

Beyond the major stories, the hosts touch upon several other news items and engage with their audience through Super Chats.

• Astral Chain Director Leaves Platinum Games:

  • Taka Kisa Toda, renowned for directing Astral Chain and designing Nier: Automata, has exited Platinum Games to form his own studio, Eel Game Studio.

• Expedition 33’s Success Amidst Competitive Releases:

  • Despite releasing around the same time as Xbox’s Oblivion, Expedition 33 managed to maintain strong momentum thanks to strategic pricing and inclusion in Game Pass.

• Leisure Suit Larry Series Delisted:

  • The first seven games in the Leisure Suit Larry series have been removed from Steam, stirring discontent among fans who advocate for their preservation.

• Community Engagement:

  • The hosts read and respond to Super Chats from listeners, expressing gratitude and addressing audience sentiments regarding current industry events:

    Napoleon: "Sorry for the troubles. Hope the day gets better."
    [27:42]
    Missouri Mate: "Long live Giant Bomb and all the duders."
    [27:42]

Conclusion

The episode concludes with hosts addressing ongoing technical issues at their studio, expressing commitment to continue delivering content despite challenges. They encourage listeners to support independent media and the talented individuals affected by recent industry shifts.

• Final Remarks:

  • Tim Gettys emphasizes the importance of supporting independent gaming journalism:

    "But we're trying our best out here to survive and to keep doing this."
    [16:01]

  • Blessing Adeoye Jr. underscores the necessity for sustainable funding models to preserve quality gaming content:

    "There needs to be actual funding behind it."
    [19:08]

• Hosts' Sign-Off:

  • The episode wraps up with a lighthearted exchange about their love for gaming and gratitude towards the audience, despite ongoing studio difficulties.

Notable Quotes Summary

1. Blessing Adeoye Jr.:

   "Most people don't have that luxury. And that is the truly heartbreaking thing about this is the fact that like once a lot of these sites are gone, that stuff is just gone."
   [07:00]

2. Chris Plant:

   "I won't be talking more about the sale because I wasn't involved."
   [03:08]

3. Greg Miller:

   "These sites and personalities get put into the machine, right? [...] Giant Bomb does that. And I think that is. It's going to be very sad that the Giant Bomb couch is not going to exist."
   [08:05]

4. Tim Gettys:

   "But when we look at whatever this group of people, these people are going to do next, like try your best to support them in whatever way you can."
   [16:01]

Closing Thoughts

This episode of Kinda Funny Games Daily paints a somber picture of significant consolidations and layoffs within the gaming media industry, while also highlighting crucial legal developments that could reshape the relationship between game developers and major tech platforms. Amidst these challenges, the hosts remain hopeful for the resilience of beloved gaming communities and the enduring value of independent journalism.