Projects, Business Growth, and Future Scrapyard Wars
Project Updates and Engineering
The hosts discuss a challenging but successful recent project: water-cooling a 10-gigabit network switch.
• Motivation: The goal was to reduce noise in their camera den and experiment with custom cooling solutions before attempting a high-end RED 8K camera build.
• Outcome: The project was a success, significantly reducing temperatures, though it proved more time-consuming and expensive than initially anticipated, impacting the weekly video production quota.
Business Reflections and Expansion
Linus reflects on the evolution of his role and the growth of Linus Media Group.
• Company Culture: He emphasizes maintaining a "family-style" business structure despite growth, prioritizing internal vision over external investment to keep creative freedom.
• Personal Milestones: A major goal was achieved where every long-standing employee has been supported in entering the real estate market.
• Sustainability: The team is moving toward a model where talented employees lead independent projects, effectively decentralizing some of Linus's direct involvement.
Future Content and Industry News
• R8Bits Concept: The team is workshopping a new, deeper-dive segment for TechLinked to explore topics more thoroughly than the current rapid-fire format allows.
• Anthem Controversy: A discussion on the BioWare title Anthem and reported console crashes. Linus notes, > "We have not encountered an instance where Anthem has bricked a PlayStation 4 console," while acknowledging the PR challenges.
• Steam & Content Policy: The team agrees with Steam's decision to remove the controversial game Rape Day, citing that private platforms have the right to set standards regardless of legal status.
The Future of Scrapyard Wars
Linus reveals an ambitious vision for a revamped Scrapyard Wars.
• Team Dynamics: A new 3v3 format where participants must build complete gaming setups (including desks and peripherals) on a strict, limited budget.
• Competitive Stakes: The season will culminate in a tournament played on the hardware built during the series, adding depth to the victory conditions.