The Bank of Russia unexpectedly maintained its key interest rate at a record-high 21% , defying analysts’ expectations of another significant hike as inflation remains stubbornly elevated. The decision marks a shift toward a more measured approach in balancing economic growth and price stability. Key Details Inflation Concerns: Annual inflation climbed to 8.9% in November, well above the central bank’s 4% target , with inflation expectations reaching 13.9% in December. Policy Rationale: The central bank cited the significant tightening of monetary conditions after October’s 200-basis point hike as sufficient to resume disinflationary processes. Governor Elvira Nabiullina emphasized avoiding both economic overheating and severe slowdowns. Economic Overheating: Elevated government spending on the war in Ukraine and social programs, coupled with labor shortages and rising wages, have fueled strong domestic demand, exacerbating price pressures...
Major video game publishers like Electronic Arts and Take-Two Interactive are expected to avoid significant impacts from the ongoing strike by voice actors and motion-capture artists due to their in-house studios and long development cycles, according to analysts.
The strike, which began last week, is the latest labor action in Hollywood, following last year's strikes by writers and actors seeking protections against AI. This comes at a crucial time for the video game industry, where demand remains weak post-pandemic, with players focusing on major titles.
However, the strike is not expected to cause major disruptions. Voice actors and motion-capture artists constitute a small part of the game development process and budget.
"When you think about the larger publishers, they'll spend anywhere from three to 10 years working on their larger titles. If something is coming out over the next several quarters, it will have been something that they began production on several years ago," said Wedbush Securities analyst Nick McKay.
This means that Take-Two’s highly anticipated "Grand Theft Auto VI," set for a fall 2025 release, is unlikely to be affected by the strike initiated by the SAG-AFTRA union.
The minimal budget required for voice acting provides little incentive to delay projects, and without a unified body, once one developer reaches an agreement, others may follow, analysts noted.
Nevertheless, the strike will be a prominent topic during the upcoming earnings reports of these companies, said Joost Van Dreunen, a lecturer at NYU's Stern School of Business. He emphasized that the strike reflects broader industry issues, including widespread layoffs and studio shutdowns.
"If it isn't resolved by early September, then I can see it carrying into the rest of the year and the holiday season," Van Dreunen added. "That will be much more dramatic for publishers."
Key Takeaways:
- Major video game publishers are likely to avoid major impacts from the voice actors and motion-capture artists' strike.
- In-house studios and long development cycles provide a buffer against disruptions.
- The strike affects a small portion of the development process and budget.
- Take-Two’s "Grand Theft Auto VI" release in fall 2025 is unlikely to be impacted.
- The strike will be a significant topic in upcoming earnings reports.
- Broader industry issues include layoffs and studio shutdowns.
- Prolonged strikes could affect the industry during the holiday season.
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