The Side Quest

The Side Quest covers the financial accounts and corporate strategy of listed companies across video games and AI infrastructure.

By Chirag Vadhia

· Launched 23 days ago

Microsoft and Xbox: Too small to sell, too strategic to spin

On the numbers, Xbox is worth about $49bn, a rounding error to Microsoft. It won't be sold, and any separation keeps a grip on the data its games…

Jun 21 • Chirag Vadhia

NCsoft: The importance of Commanders in Guild Wars 2

Five commanders gave up their time to speak to me about why they chose to lead. Commanders contribution could be between 2.5-6.5% of annual Guild Wars 2…

Jun 18 • Chirag Vadhia

AI in Video Games: Own the Loop

How AI is about to reshape what it costs to make a game, and why a studio keeps its value only if it owns the learning loop, not the model that runs it.

Jun 16 • Chirag Vadhia

Hyperscalers: The debt that doesn't look like debt

How the hyperscalers are paying for AI, and why their reported leverage understates what they actually owe.

Jun 14 • Chirag Vadhia

AI won’t make AAA games materially cheaper to develop

Two-thirds of the value leaves the P&L to AI companies before reaching the bottom line.

Jun 7 • Chirag Vadhia

Why Roblox really left Delaware

The shift to Nevada installs six provisions that raise the cost of holding management accountable, as federal child-safety litigation against Roblox…

Jun 1 • Chirag Vadhia

The Side Quest

The Side Quest covers the financial accounts and corporate strategy of listed companies across video games and AI infrastructure.