Kinda Funny Games Daily Podcast Summary

Episode: Paramount Battles Netflix For Warner Bros

Date: December 8, 2025
Hosts: Blessing Adeoye Jr & Snowbike Mike (with Barrett Courtney and others)

Episode Overview

In today’s high-energy episode, Blessing Adeoye Jr and Snowbike Mike dive into one of the biggest media news stories of the year: Paramount/Skydance’s shocking hostile bid to acquire Warner Bros Discovery—potentially blocking Netflix’s previously announced $72.5B deal. The hosts also unpack reports that Netflix once considered acquiring EA, discuss the uncertain future of Warner Bros Games, plus EA’s apparent “pause” on future Dead Space, and other breaking highlights from the gaming and streaming industries. There’s the usual blend of hilarious banter, audience Super Chat reactions, and some poignant industry insights.

Key Discussion Points

1. Paramount/Skydance’s Hostile Bid for Warner Bros Discovery

[10:25–20:50]

• Blessing recaps the breaking news: Paramount/Skydance has launched a direct, all-cash, $30/share hostile takeover for all of Warner Bros Discovery, challenging Netflix’s stock/cash deal previously announced for WBD’s studio and streaming assets.
  • Quote [11:53]:
    “We are taking our offer directly to shareholders to give them the opportunity to act in their own best interests and maximize the value of their shares.” — (David Ellison, Paramount/Skydance)
• Mike discusses stakes and implications: This is about blockbuster IP, streaming dominance, and potentially games; both mergers could lead to layoffs and higher consumer prices.
  • Quote [14:11]:
    “Of course, it leads to layoffs and rising prices. I’m not too pleased about that, but I’m only paying $24.99 for my Netflix account at this time. So it’s only going to go up from here.” — Snowbike Mike
• Concerns about consolidation and job losses:
  • “We’re in a scary situation—big acquisitions like this often mean people lose their jobs.” — Blessing [14:30]
• Regulatory scrutiny:
  • Citing President Trump’s vocal concerns about Netflix’s market share and the possible drawn-out approval process.
• Audience reactions (Super Chat):
  • “Acquisition is bad. Bad for consumers and employees, bad for theaters, the ‘Disneyfication’ is awful.” — Member message [22:18]

Video Game Angle

• Blessing doubts gaming is a serious part of either media giant’s calculation:
  “I just don’t think they have games in their mind at all…they have IP on their mind.” [19:45]
• Paramount possibly more respectful to games?
  Chat mentions Paramount’s successful licensing (Ninja Turtles, Spongebob) but Blessing is skeptical:
  • “You could loop those in, but…that costs a lot of money.” — Mike [19:12]
• Likely fate for WB Games:
  • Speculation that the studios might be sold off, not nurtured (“…they just end up getting sold, like WB Games, maybe the individual studios just end up getting sold off”) [20:50]

2. Netflix Considered Buying EA

[25:11–29:17]

• Bloomberg scoop:
  Netflix previously debated bidding for EA, Fox, or Disney, but couldn’t come to agreement due to internal division and fear of spooking investors.
• What would a Netflix–EA merger look like?
  • “Would we be talking about Netflix in the gaming space differently?” — Mike [27:16]
  • Blessing imagines crossover branding and subscription incentives, like EA Sports games on Netflix memberships, mobile integrations, and odd tie-ins (e.g., a Bioware Stranger Things game).
• Mike’s take:
  • “They wanted to make a splash in gaming; they’ve gone smaller than an EA—that would’ve been mega, buku bucks.” [28:29]

3. EA Has No Plans for More Dead Space (For Now)

[37:10–41:38]

• Dead Space remake’s disappointing sales (approx. 2 million)—series ‘on ice’
• Blessing’s analysis:
  “I don’t think they [EA] will sell the IP, I think they’ll sit on it…Until they can make another remake 20 years from now.” [39:47]
• Mike echoes industry trend:
  “It’s tough right now to be like, yeah, in 2025 and beyond, we should double down on Dead Space.” [39:24]
• Consensus: EA will likely keep Dead Space mothballed, holding all legacy IP for potential future nostalgia reboots.

4. Industry Trends: More Consolidation, Less Care for Gaming?

[16:58–17:18, 22:18, Other Bites]

• Citing Skydance’s gaming ties (via Paramount), but consensus is that big media isn’t seriously investing in games as core offerings.
• Layoffs, culture loss, and risk:
  “Most likely, [game] studios will dissolve. We'll see a lot of talent go off, be unemployed, and have to join new teams... and probably never see these IPs again.” — Mike [21:53]
• Super Chat “acquisition fatigue”:
  A listener says, “It’s going to take two years. Stop reporting on it.” [23:08] Hosts note it’s newsworthy and of interest due to constant updates and knock-on effects for gaming.

5. Quick Hits: Other News Highlights & Banter

• Tomb Raider Announcement Teased for The Game Awards
  Breaking via Wario64/Geoff Keighley [32:27]
  Some hosts express excitement, but Blessing also notes feelings of disillusionment tied to recent Crystal Dynamics layoffs.
  • “I’m so, like, I don’t really care about this for the fact that multiple of my friends got laid off…” — Blessing [34:53]
• Tekken Director Harada Leaving Bandai Namco
  After 31 years, Harada departs, dropping an hour-long “Tekken mix” on SoundCloud.
  • “Congratulations! Tekken, at this point, is probably just one of my favorite video game franchises.” — Blessing [43:10]
• Skate Story, Phantom Blade Zero, & 2XKO Updates:
  • Skate Story reviewed well for tone, less so for depth (OpenCritic 85, Metacritic 81) [45:03]
  • Phantom Blade Zero to show release date (not just year) at Game Awards, prompting ‘pizza bet’ among hosts [49:22–53:15]
  • Riot’s 2XKO hitting consoles in Jan 2026, with confusion over early access/full release timing [54:04–55:23]
• Weird Gaming Statue Mystery:
  Ongoing speculation about the strange statue in the desert, with hilarious audience and host theorizing [35:18–36:41]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On “The Disneyfication” of media (and its risks):

  “Acquisition is bad. Bad for consumers and employees, bad for theaters…”
  — Membership SuperChat [22:18]

• On modern media as a “race to grab all the IP”:

  “It is just a race to grab all the IP, all of the big names people know... so that seems to be, of course, the play.”
  — Snowbike Mike [17:08]

• On layoffs and consolidation:

  “The two companies are currently at play for this... these [studio] are gonna be cuts. Those studios will dissolve or be sold. But most likely dissolve.”
  — Mike [21:53]

• On the fate of WB Games:

  “I just don’t think they have games in their mind at all. ... It’s a dream scenario as far as, ‘Oh, now we have WB Games—what can we pair with them?’...But I think what’s going to happen is that they just end up getting sold.”
  — Blessing [19:45 & 20:50]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Paramount/Skydance Hostile Bid vs Netflix:
  [10:25–20:50]
• Netflix Considered Buying EA:
  [25:11–29:17]
• EA Freezes Dead Space:
  [37:10–41:38]
• Tomb Raider at The Game Awards / Crystal Dynamics discussion:
  [32:27–35:34]
• Tekken’s Harada Retires:
  [43:01–44:57]
• New Game Announcements, Other Rapid News:
  [45:03–58:05]

Flow and Tone

True to Kinda Funny style, the episode is packed with insightful yet conversational analysis, snappy one-liners, and candid hot takes, all punctuated by running in-jokes, ribbing about weekend downtime or gaming habits, and genuine concern about the people behind the news. The hosts juggle breaking headlines with audience Super Chats, keeping a lively and interactive vibe throughout.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode digs deep into the chaos surrounding legacy entertainment giants battling for control in the streaming wars, with Warner Bros Discovery as the prize. Underneath the boardroom drama, the hosts keep the focus on what matters to players—what does this mean for the future of cherished gaming studios and franchises if these deals go through? Mixed with lighter news and personal reflections, it’s a must-listen for anyone tracking the intersection of games, movies, and streaming megadeals.

For Further Listening

• Check out the post-show Gamescast for the 2025 Holiday Gift Guide.
• Highlights from Chat: Growing acquisition fatigue, hot takes on Stranger Things, and mysterious gaming statues.
• Want to join the conversation or make a “pizza bet”? Super Chats and membership shout-outs always welcome.