Brainwaves Episode 167 - Shrinking Minis
Iain and Oliver bring you a bumper packed episode of Brainwaves with all the latest news, controversies, and occurrences from across the tabletop gaming world in episode 167 of Brainwaves.
Headlines
Devir… damn guys that's racist as hell
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3555308/just-some-ole-racist-history-crap/page/1
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3555308/article/46440167#46440167
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3555679/a-message-to-the-community
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/08/08/devir-to-recall-all-copies-of-new-release-ace-of-spades-after-backlash-over-slavery-depictions-in-artwork-apologises-for-causing-harm/
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60259/devir-recalling-ace-spades
https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/3555679/a-message-to-the-community
More CMON Executive Leavers and profit warning
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/08/07/cmons-long-serving-chief-financial-officer-company-secretary-latest-to-resign-from-financially-troubled-business/
https://www.marketscreener.com/news/cmon-limited-announces-resignation-of-koh-zheng-kai-as-chief-financial-officer-with-effect-from-14-ce7c5ed2dd8bf026
https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=3_cc-session_a4de1fe9-336e-4f30-98af-42f7d08fc4ce
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/08/21/new-cmon-profit-warning-says-losses-could-reach-8m-for-first-half-of-2025-almost-three-times-its-overall-profit-from-the-last-ten-years/
US Import Tariff Troubles
https://www.ctpa.org.uk/news/usa-de-minimis-exemption-suspended-8542
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2p17xypgko?fbclid=IwY2xjawMWgf5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHjtV7mqx6qv6P4-CSGWofvqYpk1vI-O59FV4q2U0N-UOduSuyZ8kGm8ruuFX_aem_rHTP6ygrvyZB_JDrDY_mYg
Updates
CGE Responds to HP Codenames Backlash
CGE's response on various social media platforms:
Instagram: https://discord.com/channels/653652846167851008/1397834273645396100/1403479858251825285
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/czechgames.com/post/3lvw44i6tk32r
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1328670495928290&id=100063560561493&mibextid=wwXIfr&rdid=c6aJLUWZCsvY5SJG#
Block Collective's response: https://bsky.app/profile/blockcollectives.bsky.social/post/3lvyas4jezs2q
Read this
https://www.rascal.news/zatu-denies-toxic-workplace-allegations-from-former-employees/
News
Ultimate Guard jump into Harry Potter controversy
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60061/new-harry-potter-ultimate-guard-deck-boxes-unveiled
GenCon 2025 Sets New Attendance Record
https://www.gencon.com/press/record-breaking-gencon-2025
https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60227/gen-con-2025-sets-new-attendance-record
https://boardgamewire.com/index.php/2025/08/05/gen-con-exhibitor-numbers-rebound-to-record-levels-despite-tariffs-uncertainty-biggest-ever-attendance-reaches-almost-72000/
Suzanne Sheldon post on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/425suzanne.bsky.social/post/3lvqiqhyche2g
Funforge has been liquidated
https://ludovox.fr/funforge-en-liquidation-judiciaire-le-dernier-mot-de-son-fondateur/
Mobeus makes Big Potato a Hot Potato
https://www.mobeus.co.uk/news/mobeus-backs-big-potato-games/
https://www.mobeus.co.uk/investments/big-potato-games/
https://www.dcadvisory.com/news-deals-insights/deal-announcements/dc-advisory-advises-mobeus-equity-partners-on-its-investment-in-big-potato-games/#gref
Jobs, Opportunities, and Events
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TabletopJobs
Pegasus Designer Days 2025
https://pegasus.de/UEber-uns/Karriere/Designer-Days/
Application form: https://de.surveymonkey.com/r/KS5KF9F
Playfest London
https://www.minervatabletop.co.uk/playfest
Patreon Shoutouts
Kevin Bertram
https://www.fortcircle.com/
James Naylor
https://naylorgames.com/
Shaun Newman
game-a-lot.fun/en (http://www.game-a-lot.fun/en/)
facebook.com/gamealotboardgames (http://facebook.com/gamealotboardgames/)
Our Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/thegiantbrain
Support Us
https://giantbrain.co.uk/support-us-new/
Fanroll
https://fanrolldice.com/ref/2783/
Outro
Pictionary Potato
https://shopping.mattel.com/en-gb/products/pictionary-pic-tato-hot-potato-game-jdx95-en-gb
Our Links
Thanks very much for listening. If you like what you've listened to then the best way to help us out is to share the podcast and drop us a review and rating on itunes. You can also follow us on
Oliver: https://tabletopgamesblog.com/
Discord: https://discord.gg/3bMx2HK75r
Blusky
Iain https://bsky.app/profile/giantbrain.co.uk
Oliver https://bsky.app/profile/tabletopgamesblog.com
Jamie https://bsky.app/profile/jamsandwich.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegiantbrain
Website: https://giantbrain.co.uk/
Email: gia...
