New Pixel

Summary

Tech Brew Ride Home – "New Pixel" (Feb 18, 2026)

Host: Brian McCullough
Co-host: Megan

---

Overview

This episode of Tech Brew Ride Home delivers a concise but packed summary of today's essential tech news. The main theme is Google's reveal of the Pixel 10a smartphone, but the hosts also deep-dive into AI model launches (from Anthropic and Google), major AI investments in India, Meta’s chip strategy, and Matthew Ball's annual State of the Video Game Industry report. Expect analysis, lightly skeptical opinions, and some playful banter amidst the rapid-fire news.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

---

Google Pixel 10a Announcement

[00:48 – 04:45]

• Specs and Pricing:
  • Google revealed the $499 Pixel 10a with the same Tensor G4 chip as the 9a, 8GB RAM, and two storage options (128GB/256GB), shipping March 4th.
  • Display improvements: 11% brighter screen, covered with Gorilla Glass 7i.
  • Enhanced durability and slightly narrower bezels (10% less).
• Upgrades & Shortcomings:
  • Megan: “This year’s upgrade feels so minimal. I’d liken it more to a Pixel 9a Plus or a Pixel 9b.” [01:13]
  • Limited trickle-down of flagship Pixel 10 features—no Magic Q, limited AI functions, same cameras (but now flush with the frame).
  • New features: XSOS (satellite comms for emergencies), Auto Best Take (AI that helps pick group shots), Camera Coach (suggests photo compositions).
  • “You can’t blame RAM prices for what otherwise feels like a more meh update.” – Megan [01:55]
• Design and Colors:
  • Megan praises the new "Berry" color: “The Berry color is the best. … it’s the one you should buy.” [03:35]
  • Matching Pixel Buds 2a accessories in Fog and Berry.
• Disappointments:
  • No Pixel Snap/MagSafe equivalent: “That’s a bummer because I love that and I think it should be here.” – Megan [03:59]
  • Marginally faster charging, but crowd-pleasing features missing.
• Market Positioning:
  • Brian: “A lot of people buy Pixel A series phones for the pure Android experience and frequent updates. I don’t think they really care about having every last AI or hardware feature.” [04:25]
  • Megan dubs it the “9a 2.0,” underscoring minor changes.

---

Anthropic's Claude Sonnet 4.6 Model

[05:01 – 06:19]

• What’s New:
  • Claude Sonnet 4.6 brings improved coding, instruction following, and computer usage.
  • Features a 1 million token context window (“enough to hold entire code bases, lengthy contracts or dozens of research papers in a single request.” – Megan [05:36]).
• Performance:
  • Sets new benchmarks in computer use and software engineering.
  • Achieves 60.4% on ARC AGI 2, signifying strong reasoning skills, “above most comparable models, although it still trails models like Opus 4.6, Gemini 3, DeepThink, and one refined version of GPT 5.2.” [06:12]

---

Google’s Lyria 3 – Gemini’s AI Music Generation Tool

[06:31 – 08:34]

• Launch Details:
  • Lyria 3 rolls out in the Gemini app (eight languages), enabling users to create AI-generated music based on text/image/video prompts without leaving the Gemini chatbot.
  • Beta for users 18+; capacities include instrumental and lyrical music, custom cover art via “nanobanana.”
• Integration:
  • Brought to YouTube’s DreamTrack tool for making Shorts soundtracks.
• Copyright Approach:
  • “While prompted for a specific artist, Gemini will make a track that shares a similar style or mood... and uses filters to check outputs against existing content.” – Megan [08:08]
  • Lyria now more accessible but “arrives significantly behind platforms like TikTok and Microsoft’s Copilot.” – Brian [08:28]

---

Major AI Investments in India

[10:17 – 12:50]

• AI Impact Summit Takeaways:
  • Over 4,000 Indian startups in Nvidia's global program; big VC players like Khosla and Accel investing $300-500M each.
  • Infosys teams with Anthropic; Microsoft on pace for $50B by 2030 (after $17.5B in 2025).
• Adani’s Ambitions:
  • Invest $100B to build renewable-powered, AI-ready data centers by 2035, aiming to create a $250B AI infrastructure ecosystem.
  • “India will not follow the AI century. India will shape it.” – Gautam Adani [12:30]
  • Focus on renewable energy, battery storage, and scaling data center capacity (from 2GW to 5GW).

---

Meta’s AI Chip Strategy and Nvidia Partnership

[13:02 – 14:55]

• Meta’s Chip Struggles:
  • Meta found its in-house AI chip program difficult to scale; will buy Nvidia’s Blackwell and Vera Rubin GPUs and, notably, Nvidia CPUs.
  • “The decision by Nvidia chief Jensen Huang to offer its CPUs separately … marks a major shift in its sales strategy.” – Megan [14:12]
• Industry Shifts:
  • Big tech (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, OpenAI) moving to in-house chip design, though Nvidia remains the main supplier.
  • Industry evolving from AI training (GPUs) to inference workloads (potential for CPU-based solutions).

---

Matthew Ball’s State of the Gaming Industry 2026

[14:55 – 17:37]

• Industry Resilience:
  • Sales up 5.3% YoY to $195.6B in 2025; job losses dropped 40% YoY to 9,200.
  • Megan: “Despite all the bad headlines I’ve reported to you on here about the industry of late, among the numbers, Matt reports... Job losses … actually fell 40% to only 9,200 people.” [15:08]
• Shifting Economics:
  • Spending shift: core game sales down, platform services (Game Pass, etc.) up, with overall console/PC spend up since 2020.
  • China now 20% of global player spend—“If a gamemaker wants to match global growth, they must win China or grow 1.6 times the market elsewhere.” [16:52]
• Roblox Ascends:
  • Massive growth: 67% of net market growth in 2025, 10B+ monthly engagement hours, “more than Steam, PlayStation, and Fortnite combined.” – Megan [17:29]
  • Forward-looking: key 2026 growth areas include non-core markets, advertising/DTC/payment, external development, and Roblox.

---

Playful Memorable Moment

[18:03 – 18:29]

• Megan reveals she prompted the new AI music tool to generate a Tech Brew Ride Home theme song, which closes the show:

“Help you leave the world behind / Unwind your mind / Let the chill vibe take control…” [Theme Song 18:03]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “This year’s upgrade feels so minimal. I’d liken it more to a Pixel 9a Plus or a Pixel 9b.” — Megan [01:13]
• “You can’t blame RAM prices for what otherwise feels like a more meh update.” — Megan [01:55]
• “The Berry color is the best. … it’s the one you should buy.” — Megan [03:35]
• “A lot of people buy Pixel A series phones for the pure Android experience and frequent updates. I don’t think they really care about having every last AI or hardware feature.” — Brian [04:25]
• “While prompted for a specific artist, Gemini will make a track that shares a similar style or mood … and uses filters to check outputs against existing content.” — Megan [08:08]
• “India will not follow the AI century. India will shape it.” — Gautam Adani [12:30]
• “If a gamemaker wants to match global growth, they must win China or grow 1.6 times the market elsewhere.” — Megan citing Matthew Ball [16:52]
• AI music-generated theme song:
  “Help you leave the world behind / Unwind your mind / Let the chill vibe take control…” [Theme Song 18:03]

---

Important Timestamps

• Pixel 10a Main Segment: [00:48 – 04:45]
• Anthropic Claude Sonnet 4.6: [05:01 – 06:19]
• Google Lyria 3 AI Music: [06:31 – 08:34]
• India AI Impact Summit & Investments: [10:17 – 12:50]
• Meta/Nvidia Chips: [13:02 – 14:55]
• State of Gaming Industry: [14:55 – 17:37]
• AI-generated Theme Song: [18:03]

---

Tone & Style

The hosts keep things brisk, informed, and conversational with a slight dry humor ("a slightly better Pixel 10a", “Berry color is the best”). The episode moves at the trademark Ride Home quick pace, with headlines analyzed and lightly contextualized for busy listeners who want insights, not just soundbites.

---

Summary prepared for those seeking an efficient, context-rich catch-up on Feb 18th’s tech headlines.

Transcript

[Megan]

We heard you.

[McDonald's Ad Voice]

Nine years of bring back the snack wrap and you've won. But maybe you should have asked for more. Say hello to the Hot Honey Snack Wrap. Now you've really won. Go to McDonald's and get it while you can.

[Brian McCullough]

Welcome to the Tech Brew Ride home for Wednesday, February 18, 2026. I'm Brian McCullough. Today, new Pixel phone a bunch of.

[Megan]

New AI models, including Gemini's entry into the music AI space everybody is trying to AI fetch happen in India, and.

[Brian McCullough]

Matthew Ball's State of the Gaming Industry report doesn't paint as gloomy a picture.

[Megan]

As our own headlines might have suggested this year. Here's what you missed today in the world of tech.

[Brian McCullough]

Google this Morning unveiled the $499 Pixel.

[Megan]

10A, offering the same tensor G4 chip.

[Brian McCullough]

As the 9a, 8 gigabytes of RAM and an 11% brighter display in 128.

[Megan]

Gigabyte and 256 gigabyte offerings shipping March 4th. Quoting the Verge Google's mid range Pixels.

[Brian McCullough]

Have been our top pick for budget Android phones for a while.

[Megan]

They offer good cameras and most of what you need at a budget friendly.

[Brian McCullough]

Price, but this year's upgrade feels so minimal I'd liken it more to a Pixel 9a plus or a Pixel 9b.

[Megan]

The $499 Pixel 10a is supposed to.

[Brian McCullough]

Be a slightly worse Pixel 10, but.

[Megan]

It'S more like a slightly better Pixel 10a, and that's a bit of a bumm. Very few of the features that make.

[Brian McCullough]

The Pixel 10 series compelling trickled down.

[Megan]

To the 10a this year.

[Brian McCullough]

You don't get all the good stuff that makes the Pixel 10 series more compelling.

[Megan]

There's still last year's tensor G4 chip and 8 gigabytes of RAM, which isn't enough to power the more advanced AI features Google launched on the Pixel 10 like Magic Q or Pixel Screenshots, the latter of which debuted on the Pixel 9. Do you care?

[Brian McCullough]

Maybe not.

[Megan]

I like Magic Q though, and my guess is that skywalking RAM prices play a role here. It could explain the lack of additional AI features, but I you can't blame RAM prices for what otherwise feels like a more meh update.

[Brian McCullough]

So what do you get for the Pixel 10a?

[Megan]

You also get the X SOS satellite communications in case you get lost out in the woods and a bear is chasing you and you need to point your phone at the sky and tell someone that a bear is chasing you and that you need help.

[Brian McCullough]

The Pixel 10a also borrows a couple of new AI tricks like auto Best.

[Megan]

Take, not just Best Take, which automatically selects the best picture from a bunch, like the one where everyone in a group shot is facing the camera.

[Brian McCullough]

This worked well during a quick test at Google's office.

[Megan]

Similarly, it offers Google's Camera Coach, which walks you through some ideas on how to take the best picture of a subject. I tested this with a fake orchid and the suggestions on how to frame.

[Brian McCullough]

It were almost certainly better than anything I'd have thought of.

[Megan]

Because I am not a great photographer and usually just pull out my phone for a quick picture of my kids doing something silly.

[Brian McCullough]

You'd be hard pressed to spot the.

[Megan]

Design differences, so I'll lay them out for you Google says it's its most durable Pixel A series phone yet. The display is stronger thanks to the the new Gorilla Glass 7i covering and gets a bit brighter, 11% to 3,000 nits at its peak, like when you're trying to see the screen in the sun. It has the same IP68 waterproofing.

[Brian McCullough]

The bezel around the screen is slightly.

[Megan]

Narrower, 10% narrower to be exact. The cameras are all the same as last year, but the 13 megapixel and 48 megapixel sensors on the back now lie fully flush with the frame instead of sticking just a hair above it.

[Brian McCullough]

Even the colors look similar to last.

[Megan]

Year, but the Berry color is the best. You won't find that shocking bright color on any other phone, and it's the one you should buy. Other colors include lavender Fog, which is gray, and Obsidian, which is black. Google's also launching Fog and Berry Pixel Buds 2a so you can match the.

[Brian McCullough]

Pixel 10a also doesn't have Pixel Snap, Google's version of MagSafe that lets you use any magnetic strap on charger or accessory.

[Megan]

That's a bummer because I love that and I think it should be here.

[Brian McCullough]

Still, you get a wee bit faster wired and wireless charging.

[Megan]

Wired charging jumps from 27 watts to 30 and wireless charges at 10 watts instead of 7.5.

[Brian McCullough]

Pre orders for the 10A begin today and it hits shelves on March 4th.

[Megan]

It will be available with 128 gigabytes.

[Brian McCullough]

Or 256 gigabytes of storage.

[Megan]

A lot of people buy Pixel A series phones for the pure Android experience and frequent updates.

[Brian McCullough]

I don't think they really care about having every last AI or hardware feature.

[Megan]

Google makes, but it just doesn't feel like Google brought enough of the Pixel 10 to the Pixel 10a this year. That's why it's more like a 9a 2.0. Also worth noting though, if you're a Pixel Stan, that Google has expanded Quick.

[Brian McCullough]

Share support with Airdrop to the Pixel.

[Megan]

9, 9 Pro, 9 Pro XL and 9 Pro Fold. After launching it for the Pixel 10 back in November.

[Brian McCullough]

Anthropic yesterday launched Claude Sonnet 4.6 with improvements in coding, computer use, instruction following and more.

[Megan]

It features 1 million token context window it's in beta quoting TechCrunch, Anthropic has.

[Brian McCullough]

Released a new version of its midsize Sonnet model, keeping pace with the company's four month update cycle.

[Megan]

In a post announcing the new model, Anthropic emphasized improvements in coding, instruction following and computer use. Sonnet 4.6 will be the default model.

[Brian McCullough]

For Free and Pro Plan users.

[Megan]

The beta Release of Sonnet 4.6 will.

[Brian McCullough]

Include a context window of 1 million tokens, twice the size of the largest.

[Megan]

Window previously available for Sonnet. Anthropic described the new context window as enough to hold entire code bases, lengthy contracts or dozens of research papers and a single request. Their release comes just two weeks after.

[Brian McCullough]

The launch of Opus 4.6, with an updated haiku model likely to follow in the coming weeks.

[Megan]

The launch comes with a new set.

[Brian McCullough]

Of record benchmark scores, including osworld for computer use and swebench for software engineering, but perhaps the most impressive is its 60.4% score on ARC AGI 2, meant to measure skills specific to human intelligence.

[Megan]

The score puts Sonnet 4.6 above most.

[Brian McCullough]

Comparable models, although it still trails models like Opus 4.6, Gemini 3, DeepThink, and.

[Megan]

One refined version of GPT 5.2.

[Brian McCullough]

Google has rolled out Lyria 3, a generative music model that can make 30 second tracks, with Nano Banana made cover art into beta in the Gemini app in eight languages.

[Megan]

Quoting the Verge, Google has given Gemini.

[Brian McCullough]

The ability to spit out AI generated music courtesy of DeepMind's latest audio model. Beta access to Lyria 3 is rolling.

[Megan]

Out in the Gemini app, enabling users.

[Brian McCullough]

To generate 30 second tracks based on text, images and videos without having to.

[Megan]

Leave the Chatbot window.

[Brian McCullough]

The new music making tool is available globally starting today in English, German, Spanish.

[Megan]

French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean and Portuguese, with plans to expand it in the future. Access is limited to Gemini app users who are 18 years or older.

[Brian McCullough]

Lyria3's text to music capabilities allow Gemini app users to make songs by describing.

[Megan]

Specific genres, moods or memories, such as asking for an Afrobeat track for my mother about the greatest times we had growing up.

[Brian McCullough]

The music generator can make instrumental audio and songs with lyrics composed automatically based on user prompts.

[Megan]

Users can also upload photographs and video references, which Gemiini then uses to generate a track with lyrics that fit the vibe.

[Brian McCullough]

Gemini will add custom cover art generated.

[Megan]

By nanobanana to songs created on the app, which aims to make them easier to share and download. Google is also bringing Lyria 3 to.

[Brian McCullough]

YouTube's DreamTrack tool, which allows creators to.

[Megan]

Make custom AI soundtracks for shorts.

[Brian McCullough]

DreamTrack and Lyria were initially demonstrated with the ability to mimic the style and.

[Megan]

Voice of famous performers.

[Brian McCullough]

Google says it's been very mindful of.

[Megan]

Copyright in the development of Lyria 3 and that the tool is designed for.

[Brian McCullough]

Original expression, not for mimicking existing artists.

[Megan]

While prompted for a specific artist. Gemini will make a track that shares a similar style or mood, according to Google, and uses filters to check outputs against existing content.

[Brian McCullough]

Lyria has been around since 2023, but access to the AI music maker was.

[Megan]

Previously limited to Google Cloud Vertex platform. This expansion to the Gemini app makes.

[Brian McCullough]

Lyria more accessible, but arrives significantly behind platforms like TikTok and Microsoft's Copilot introducing.

[Megan]

Their own AI music makers.

[Microsoft 365 Copilot Ad Voice]

The world moves fast. Your workday even faster Pitching products, drafting reports, analyzing data Microsoft 365 copilot is your AI assistant for work built into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps you use, helping you quickly write, analyze, create and summarize so you can cut through clutter and clear a path to your best work. Learn [e-mail] M365 copilot.

[Brian McCullough]

Just because your.

[Megan]

Team is small, that doesn't mean that they're not a target for bad actors.

[Brian McCullough]

Cybercriminals know that lean teams often lack.

[Megan]

The resources to prevent or respond to a breach.

[Brian McCullough]

The good news is even the smallest teams can foil cybercrime. 1Password provides simple security to help small teams manage the number one risk that.

[Megan]

Bad actors exploit, which is weak passwords.

[Brian McCullough]

Take the first step to better security by securing your team's credentials. Find out [e-mail] Ride so you can secure every login. That's 1Password.com Ride.

[Celsius Ad Voice]

My day kicks off with a refreshing Celsius energy drink, then straight to the gym pre K pickup back home to meal prep time for my fire station shift. One more Celsius. Gotta keep the lights on when the three alarm hits. I'm ready. Celsius Live Fit. Go grab a cold refreshing Celsius at your local retailer or locate [e-mail].

[Brian McCullough]

For the last couple of days there's been a huge AI impact summit in India that has made a bunch of headlines.

[Megan]

For example, Nvidia says it is working.

[Brian McCullough]

With Peak 15, Z47 and other VC firms in India to fund AI startups. More than 4,000 Indian AI startups have.

[Megan]

Joined its global startup program.

[Brian McCullough]

Top VC firms in India like Khosla and Accel are set to commit investments.

[Megan]

From 300 million to 500 million each.

[Brian McCullough]

Into India's AI ecosystem. Indian IT giant Infosys is partnering with Anthropic to develop AI services for telecom, with plans to expand to finance manufacturing and software development. And Microsoft says it is on pace to invest $50 billion by 2030 to.

[Megan]

Help expand AI across the global south.

[Brian McCullough]

After unveiling $17.5 billion worth of AI investments in India in 2025. But it's not just big US money trying to make AI catch fire in India. Quoting Reuters, Adani Enterprises said on Tuesday that it will invest $100 billion to.

[Megan]

Build renewable powered AI ready data centers by 2035, positioning India as a contender in the global AI race.

[Brian McCullough]

AI ready data centers would be a critical nerve center of the AI driven environment, and it's natural that large groups with deep pockets will get future read.

[Megan]

Setting up such data centers, said Ambarish Baliga, an independent market analyst.

[Brian McCullough]

Top firms including Reliance and Adani Group are moving quickly to capture the vast.

[Megan]

Opportunities as businesses align themselves with what.

[Brian McCullough]

Is seen as a major disruptor ahead, he added. Adani said the investment is expected to trigger an additional $150 billion across related industries, including server, manufacturing and sovereign cloud platforms.

[Megan]

Together, this is projected to create a.

[Brian McCullough]

$250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem in India.

[Megan]

Over the decade, it added. Having been on the periphery AI boom.

[Brian McCullough]

So far due to the absence of.

[Megan]

Any significant chip manufacturing capability, data centers represent India's best chance of making a mark on the global stage.

[Brian McCullough]

The investment will develop a model linking renewable energy, power grid resilience and AI computing, according to Adani. For decades we imported technology, now we.

[Megan]

Are building the backbone, chairman Gautam Adani said in a post on X. India.

[Brian McCullough]

Will not follow the AI century. India will shape it.

[Megan]

The Ports to power conglomerate will build.

[Brian McCullough]

On its existing 2 GW data center capacity and scale it to 5 GW.

[Megan]

To create the world's largest integrated data.

[Brian McCullough]

Center platform, it said, without providing a timeline. Additionally, Adani will invest $55 billion to expand its renewable energy portfolio, which will.

[Megan]

Include one of the world's largest battery energy storage systems. End quote.

[Brian McCullough]

Meta has committed to buying millions of.

[Megan]

Nvidia, Blackwell and Rubin GPUs in a multi year deal. A source says Meta's in house AI AI chip strategy didn't really get off the ground because of various technical challenges, Quoting the FT Nvidia, which for the.

[Brian McCullough]

Past three years has been the chief.

[Megan]

Beneficiary of the massive global spending spree on AI infrastructure, is facing increasingly forceful.

[Brian McCullough]

Moves by its customers to reduce their.

[Megan]

Dependency on its hardware. Google, Amazon and Microsoft have all announced new in house chips in recent months.

[Brian McCullough]

While OpenAI has co developed a chip.

[Megan]

With Broadcom and struck a significant deal with amd.

[Brian McCullough]

Meta has also invested in developing several.

[Megan]

AI chips in house. Mark Zuckerberg Zuckerberg has outlined plans to achieve a lower cost of computing by deploying its own processors, which are optimized to the company's unique workloads.

[Brian McCullough]

According to him, however, the chip strategy had suffered some technical challenges and rollout delays.

[Megan]

According to one person familiar with the matter. Meta, already a big Nvidia customer, has now committed to buy Nvidia's next generation Vera Rubin chips.

[Brian McCullough]

It is also the first big tech.

[Megan]

Group to say it will buy standalone central processing units from Nvidia to run its AI models.

[Brian McCullough]

The decision by Nvidia chief Jensen Huang.

[Megan]

To offer its CPUs separately rather than as part of a single integrated product, including its graphics processing units, marks a major shift in its sales strategy.

[Brian McCullough]

GPUs are capable of the massive parallel processing required for training the biggest AI.

[Megan]

Models, but tech groups are increasingly shifting toward inference workloads, the process of running AI models. The question of why meta are deploying.

[Brian McCullough]

Nvidia's CPUs at scale is the most.

[Megan]

Interesting thing in this announcement, said one analyst. We are in the training era and now we are moving toward more inference era which demands a completely different approach. End Quote.

[Brian McCullough]

Matthew Ball's State of the Video Game.

[Megan]

Industry 2026 report is out and despite all of the bad headlines I've reported to you on here about the industry of late, among the numbers, Matt reports.

[Brian McCullough]

Global video game content sales grew 5.3%.

[Megan]

Year on year to $195.6 billion in 2025.

[Brian McCullough]

Job losses across the industry actually fell 40% to only 9,200 people.

[Megan]

Quoting Gamesindustry Biz, the report noted that while the industry saw three years of growth and a new revenue high in.

[Brian McCullough]

2025, funding continued to decline.

[Megan]

There were 40 deals in total in the last three months of 2025, with less than $100 million of pre the industry and over $200 million in early stage funding.

[Brian McCullough]

Layoffs continued to affect the industry, with.

[Megan]

9,200 people losing their jobs last year.

[Brian McCullough]

But this was 40% less than 2024, though the four year total of layoffs.

[Megan]

Did reach nearly 44,000 people.

[Brian McCullough]

The report noted an increasing reliance on outside partners for core creative work, including.

[Megan]

Art, game design and engineering.

[Brian McCullough]

Outsourcing companies said that 60 to 95%.

[Megan]

Of work in areas like animation, audio and environmental design could be outsourced. The report also exam worldwide consumer spending on video game content for consoles and PCs.

[Brian McCullough]

Consumer spending on consoles reached $41.6 billion.

[Megan]

2.3% above the 41.1 billion in 2020. The report noted that 119% of net.

[Brian McCullough]

Spending growth since then went to platform.

[Megan]

Services like PlayStation Plus, Xbox, Game Pass and Nintendo Switch Online.

[Brian McCullough]

However, total spending on console game sales and transactions was down nearly 11% year.

[Megan]

On year for PC. Global consumer spending grew 30% since 2020, reaching $40.7 billion in 2025, up from $31.4 billion.

[Brian McCullough]

China accounts for 20% of global player.

[Megan]

Spend, with Epelon CEO Matthew Ball suggesting.

[Brian McCullough]

That if a gamemaker wants to match global growth, they must win China or.

[Megan]

Grow 1.6 times the market elsewhere. Overall, Chinese publishers have captured roughly half.

[Brian McCullough]

Of the global growth in player spending since 2019.

[Megan]

One platform that saw major growth in.

[Brian McCullough]

2025 was Roblox, becoming the singular video.

[Megan]

Game market and capturing 67% of net growth.

[Brian McCullough]

By the end of 2024, Roblox had more daily active users than PlayStation, Switch or Xbox.

[Megan]

In 2025, this was up another 69%. The platform has also reached over 10.

[Brian McCullough]

Billion in terms of monthly engagement hours.

[Megan]

More than Steam, PlayStation and Fortnite combined. Looking ahead, Ball suggests that the five.

[Brian McCullough]

Biggest revenue growth areas for video games.

[Megan]

In 2026 will be non core markets, advertising, direct to consumer and alternative payment channels, external development and Roblox. So of course I couldn't resist prompting the new AI music model to come up with a theme song for this podcast with lyrics.

[Theme Song Singer]

Here you go Long day is over now you're on the ride home Let the traffic fade get lost inside the sound we talk about the headlines and the things that matter yeah we read your stories Help you leave the world behind Unwind your mind Let the chill vibe take control Unwind your mind yeah, we're good for the soul Unwind your mind Let the chill vibe take control.

Yeah, we're good for the soul.