Episode 5 – Rockstar accused of union-busting, Switch 2 hits 10M units & Japanese publishers take on Sora 2

Episode Summary

The Weekly Download by Big Games Machine is your essential weekly speedrun through the biggest stories in the global video games industry.

This Week’s Headlines:

• The allegations of union-busting at Rockstar Games.
• The continued success of the Nintendo Switch 2 and what it means for Nintendo’s future development plans.
• Japanese publishers banding together to fight against the use of copyrighted works in the new AI model, Sora 2.

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Stories mentioned in this episode can be found below:

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/iwgb-accuses-rockstar-of-union-busting-following-reported-dismissal-of-over-30-employees

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/11/switch-2-sells-over-10-million-units-nintendo-increases-forecast-even-further

https://thisweekinvideogames.com/news/nintendo-shift-primary-development-focus-switch-2-shuntaro-furukawa-remarks/

https://www.gamesindustry.biz/japanese-publishers-demand-openais-sora-2-stops-using-their-copyrighted-creative-works-without-permission

https://www.pcgamer.com/games/study-says-only-72-percent-of-game-developers-reckon-that-steam-has-a-monopoly-on-pc-games-and-even-with-some-big-caveats-it-makes-me-wonder-what-the-other-28-percent-are-thinking

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/obsidian-staff-pick-an-rpg-class-when-they-join-then-level-up-receiving-gifts-for-the-next-20-years-they-work-there

https://www.nintendolife.com/features/the-art-i-stole-from-nintendo