AJSN WK43B- Street Fighter underperforms, Samson Dev Bankrupt, PS5 Jailbreaks, US Bill to Save Games

Topics Discussed

Street Fighter Movie

The hosts described the film as messy but entertaining at times. It opened with about $51.1 million worldwide, below expectations, against an $82 million production budget. They estimated it may need roughly $150–200 million to break even after other costs.

Although the audience score was much stronger than the critics’ score, the hosts doubted that word of mouth would sustain the film.

Players’ Rights Act

U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres is proposing legislation that would direct the FTC to protect consumers’ ability to own, play, and transfer games they buy. The hosts supported the goal, noting that a game that stops working when a company shuts down its servers can feel more like a rental than a purchase.

They cautioned that the bill may not pass and said they would follow its progress.

Leaked AI Safety Proposal

A reported draft associated with Anthropic would allow government action against an AI model only if it presents an imminent risk of more than $1 billion in damage or of killing or seriously injuring over 50 people.

The hosts criticized those thresholds as leaving many harms unaddressed. They also argued that AI companies’ lobbying and competition for market share could undermine effective oversight.

Samson Developer’s Bankruptcy

Liquid Swords, the studio behind Samson, reportedly went bankrupt after staff said they had gone months without pay. The hosts described the game as an ambitious but disappointing release, citing bugs and weak gameplay, and expressed concern for the employees.

An administrator is reportedly seeking a buyer for the studio and its assets.

EA College Football

The hosts discussed EA’s licensing talks and the possibility of competing college-football games arriving next year. They said the newer EA game sold less than its predecessor and that its Ultimate Team-style card-pack mode is less established than Madden’s.

Athlete compensation has reportedly risen from $600 to $1,500. The hosts suggested that EA’s broader financial pressures may encourage further cuts and monetization.

PS5 Jailbreaks

The hosts reported that users have found a way to jailbreak PS5 consoles, and that sites promoting pirated games are being taken down and replaced. They did not provide instructions, but used the news to highlight the tension between digital purchases and consumers’ limited control over games.

Other Discussion

A Cyberpunk 2077 film project could tell a new story with original characters in the game’s world rather than directly adapting the game.

Presenters and Contributors

Other Joe (OJ), Alex, and Angry Joe (AJ, noted as away).