Week In Views
Week in Views - What caught our editorial eyes in the last seven days
The PocketGamer.biz team give their take on what happens when a game dies and why the UK is so behind on games funding?
Company Profile
Sony
Accolades
Articles featuring Sony
Rumour
FTC rumoured to block Activision-Blizzard acquisition deal
The hotly anticipated acquisition of Activision-Blizzard may face another hurdle as outlet Politico reports on rumours the FTC may see to block the deal
Chinese Market
Microsoft and Sony attempt to woo China's mobile devs with new investments
Mobile is king of China’s games space, but Microsoft and Sony are seeking to hoover up games and talent
Streaming Singularity
Netflix, Apple, Microsoft and now Samsung are all backing streaming, the inevitable future of gaming
As multi-use mediums such as TVs and mobile phones include more subscription services, what does this mean for consoles?
A Call Of Duty To Competitors?
Is Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in trouble?
The biggest deal in gaming history has faced steep criticism from regulators and competitors
Mobile Dominance
The world’s top 10 game companies made $126 billion in 2021 from software, with mobile leading the charge
Tencent came out on top with $33 billion, three quarters of which came from mobile
News
Drake Star's Global Gaming Report reveals the gaming industry’s top investors
The Embracer group lives up to its name with numerous acquisitions as we break down some of the top investors in Drake Star's new report.
Drake Star Report
Drake Star: Quarter 3 of 2022 saw 81 new mergers and acquisitions totalling billions of dollars
Over 300 deals were made from July to September, Embracer Group led the pack with eight acquisitions
Microsoft X Activision Blizzard
The storm blows on - CMA still intent on investigating Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
The UK regulator doubled down on plans to scrutinise the planned acquisition before approval
Playstation Expansion
PlayStation eyes new investment in mobile and PC
The company continues to expand its interests
Microsoft Merger
Microsoft launch pro-merger website for Activision Blizzard bid
The merger is being challenged by competitor Sony
Goodbye Facebook Gaming
Meta closing Facebook Gaming app before end of year
The app’s servers are shutting down on October 28
Bold New Horizons
PlayStation Mobile seeking to acquire mobile studios to help realise expansion goals
Acquisitions are in the pipeline once the company appoints its new director of business development
Getting A Backbone
New iOS PlayStation controller with remote play integration from Backbone
“Regardless of delivery format, having more high-fidelity gaming experiences on mobile is accretive for the ecosystem”, says CEO Maneet Khaira
Mobile Manoeuvre
20% of all first-party releases will be mobile by 2025, says Sony
Playstation CEO Jim Ryan also stated that 10% of first-party releases will be mobile within 2022
Epic Investment
Sony and Lego invest $1 billion each in Epic Games’ metaverse development
Fortnite creator valued at $31.5 billion
Esports With Sony
PUBG Mobile partners with Sony to use Xperia as official smartphone for 2022 tournaments
For use by the pro PUBG Mobile teams
Music In The Metaverse
Roblox to host 24kGoldn virtual concert
Taking place in San Dorado with first performance of new single
Calling On Developers
Ukraine appeals to games industry to close Russian studios
Apple, Google, Riot, Wargaming, and Gameloft among mobile entities approached
Ar Audio
Niantic and Sony partner for bring hi-fidelity audio AR
Starting with AR mobile game Ingress
Sony's Search
Sony is searching for a VP of mobile games
Aiming to gain a stronger grasp within the mobile games market
A New Horizon
Sony and MiHoYo partner to bring Horizon Zero Dawn's Aloy to Genshin Impact
PlayStation heroine will be available after version 2.1 update
Ps Goodbye
The PSP store closes today but games will still be available
"You’ll still be able to purchase and play PSP content..."
Broader Perspective
Master The Meta: Sony’s emerging ecosystem
How the PlayStation maker is building a formidable games business
For The Players
Sony confirms it's exploring "mobile market with some wonderful PlayStation franchises"
CEO Jim Ryan spoke about the move in a corporate strategy meeting
For The Players
PlayStation app closes in on 120 million installs
Originally launched on November 13th, 2013
On The Horizon
Epic teams with Sony to bring Aloy to Fortnite
Deepening ties
Mobile Madness
PlayStation hiring for new Head of Mobile
To adapt PlayStation IPs to mobile
Out Of Town
Sony to shut down Toro and Friends: Onsen Town
"We would like to express our deepest gratitude to all our players who have supported us so far. We will try our best to come back with a better game and with better service"
Mobile Madness
New job listing suggests more PlayStation mobile games on the way
"We're looking for an experienced Executive Producer or very experienced Senior Producer - Mobile who'll report to our Head of External Production"
Bring The War
Sony teams with Epic to bring Kratos to Fortnite
Available on all platforms
Financials
Sony generates $20 billion in its second quarter
"Expected strong performance of game applications for mobile devices"
Handy App
The new PlayStation app rolls out today
A range of features to enhance user experience
Change It Up
PlayStation's new mobile app drops wishlists and PS3 purchases
The changes come in on October 28th
"life-work Balance"
PGC Helsinki Digital: "It's not about working from home, it's about freedom of location," says former Sony director Shahid Ahmad
Commented was made during 'Going Indie After Covid' panel
Best Of 2020
The Top 50 Mobile Game Makers of 2020
Revealed: The movers, shakers, and moneymakers
Celebrate
Fate/Grand Order's English version exceeds 11 million downloads
It broke $4 billion in lifetime revenue this year
Sony Financials
Sony kicks off its fiscal year with $17.9 billion in revenue for Q1
Visual Media and Platform segment accounted for $419.7 million
Sweet Investment
Sony invests $250 million in Fortnite creator Epic Games
"We share a vision of real-time 3D social experiences leading to a convergence of gaming, film, and music"
#blacklivesmatter
The Pokemon Company, Double Fine, House House, and more join in to show support for #BlackLivesMatter
Through statements and charity donations
Investment
Sony invests $400 million in streaming platform Bilibili
It owns 4.98 per cent of the Chinese firm
"unprecedented Challenges"
Sony sets up $100 million Covid-19 global relief fund
Fund will go towards medical workers, first responders and more.
Staying Home
Facebook Gaming and Sony pull out of GDC 2020 over coronavirus concerns
Event still going ahead as planned despite major cancellations
Backing Out
Sony and Amazon cancel appearances at Mobile World Congress 2020
Coronavirus cited as the cause
Sony Financials Q3 Fy19
Fate/Grand Order sales stalling despite clearing $4 billion in lifetime revenues
No real impact on Sony's overall figures, of course
Sensor Tower
Sony's Fate/Grand Order accumulates over $4 billion in lifetime revenue
Top grossing title in Japan for 2019
New Deal
US and China proposed console tariffs postponed indefinitely
"There's a lot of work to do ahead"
Moving Forward
Sony's mobile studio ForwardWorks partners with Kadokawa Games for new smartphone title
Cave Interactive also part of the development structure
Top Trends
Sony's Fate/Grand Order was the most talked about game on Twitter in 2019
Second year in a row
Money Strike
Monster Strike and Fate/Grand Order generated over $500 million in Q3 2019
Fate/Grand Order followed in second place