Phil Spencer Interview
Xbox's Phil Spencer talks Microsoft's moves on mobile, plus Activision Blizzard and AI
“What we realised, and it’s painfully obvious, is that we don’t really have any capability on mobile”
Staff
Lewis Rees
About Lewis Rees is a journalist, author, and escape room enthusiast based in South Wales. He got his degree in Film and Video from the University of Glamorgan. He's been a gamer all his life.
Articles by Lewis Rees
New Acquisition
The Sandbox expands to Germany with acquisition of developer Sviper
Sviper will bring their expertise in development and engineering to the platform
Liftoff Report
Playable ads have the lowest cost per install of all gaming ad formats
Meanwhile native ads offer the highest Day 7 return on ad spend, according to new Liftoff data
Industry Report
Venture funding fell 83% in Q4 2022
Konvoy’s 2022 Gaming Industry Report reveals Q4 figures down dramatically year-on-year
Ukie Resignation
Dr Jo Twist OBE moves on from role as UKIE CEO
Sam Collins and Dan Wood will manage the trade body until a permanent replacement CEO is appointed
Children In Gaming
Almost a quarter of children’s games in the UK violate the ICO’s age appropriate design code
The Children’s Code sets out standards which companies must follow in order to stick to data protection law
Tiktok In Trouble
TikTok faces fresh regulatory challenges in the EU and Canada
The European Commission has banned employees from using TikTok, while Canada has launched an investigation into the platform
New Hires
International Game Developers Association Foundation board appoints three new directors
Lisy Kane, James Lewis, and Sarah Spiers bring decades of experience to their roles
Netease Expansion
Blizzard break-up strikes a blow to NetEase’s overseas expansion
The tech giant doesn’t expect to launch any new games from overseas studios until at least 2025
Quantic Dream Come True
NetEase reportedly paid $106 million for Quantic Dream
Last year’s acquisition highlights the company’s commitment to growth
Unity Financials
Unity celebrates its first profitable quarter on a non-GAAP basis since going public
The company generated $451 million in Q4 2022
Alibaba Financials
Alibaba Group generated $36 million in Q4 2022
The group’s latest financial report showcases a period of modest growth
Financial Report
NetEase revenue rose 4% year-on-year in Q4 2022
The gaming giant’s latest financial report highlights a year of growth
Growth In France
TapNation selected for French Tech 120 program
The program supports and promotes French start-ups
The Power Of Enthusiasts
Enthusiast Gaming is the number one gaming property in the United States
The group was listed as the third fastest growing property on Comscore’s Top 100 list
Acquivision Blizzard
Microsoft signs deals with Nvidia for Call of Duty on GeForce Now
The company announced the deal at a press briefing to discuss its acquisition of Activision Blizzard
New Service
PTW boosts player support with a neural network
Their RESOLVE service aims to cut the cost of mobile app customer support
Roland-garros Tournament
Roland-Garros eSeries prepares to launch qualifiers
The mobile esports tournament offers a share of a 5000 euro prize pool
Horrific News
Dead by Daylight Mobile opens for pre-registration ahead of the Next Era of Horror update
The new update features graphical updates and the introduction of long-desired features
Uk Mobile Market
UK gaming market declined for the first time in a decade in 2022
Spending on games content and services fell 1.6% to £5.38 billion
Scary Stories
Blumhouse gets set to shock with new gaming arm
The horror media specialists have appointed Zach Wood and Don Sechler as president and CFO of Blumhouse Games
Playing For The Planet
In-game climate positive action boosts revenue and engagement
A new report by PlanetPlay shows that environmental content can benefit game makers and the planet
Executives Vs. Employees?
Blizzard Boss Mike Ybarra takes the hardline at latest all-hands meeting
The company has cut profit sharing and mandated employees to return to the office
New Report
The Covid boom in numbers
The pandemic resulted in massive increases in private investments and M&As
The Death Of Hypercasual?
SayGames shifts focus away from hypercasual games
The company will work on developing hybridcasual games in the future
Africa’s Mobile Boom
Africa poised for explosion in mobile gaming
The continent’s unique place in the market offers wide-ranging opportunities for mobile gaming
Success In Investment
2022 was the second best year for gaming investments and M&A ever
1182 transactions were worth a total $51.5 billion
Telling Tales
Telltale continues its rise from the dead with $8 million funding round
The studio was resurrected in 2019, but hasn’t released a new game since
Chinese Gaming Industry
China’s games sales fell 10.33% in 2022
China Audiovisual and Digital Publishing Association has revealed the sector’s struggles
Viral Success
TikTok trend drives Dumb Ways to Die past 100 million lifetime downloads
The company has translated memetic success into record-breaking downloads
Gaming In India
Xbox aiming to bridge the mobile-console gap in India
Microsoft’s gaming arm is hoping to capitalise on both India’s thriving mobile industry and nascent console scene
Huuuge News
Huuuge announces share buyback program
The board has concluded that now is the time to return value to shareholders
Job News
AdInMo appoints Scopely and Animoca Brands veterans
Multiple new hires bring experience from Google, EA, and Paramount Pictures
Roblox Financials
Roblox generated $579 million in revenue in Q4 2022
The company saw boosts in revenue, active users, and and hours engaged
Saudi Arabian Funding
Saudi Arabia raises stake in Nintendo once again
The country now owns 7.08% of the company
Ncsoft Financials
Mobile games generated 75% of NCSoft sales revenue in 2022
The company’s latest financials showcase the strength of its mobile offerings
Chinese Restrictions
China moves to increase restrictions on young gamers
The country’s semi-official industry association has called for stronger limits, despite claiming to have fixed the issue of video game addiction
New Directions
FunPlus Barcelona studio to focus on hybrid-casual games
The company’s newest studio is departing from its roots
Chinese Mobile Market
China approves 87 new game licenses
Tencent, NetEase, and Alibaba are among the game makers to receive new game approvals
Mobile Future
“Q5 bump” could boost M&A activity in 2023
A bump in app installs and in-app purchases over the holiday season could bolster the industry
New Investment
nCore Games invests $1 million in Newgen Gaming
The funding will be used to expand operations across South Asia and the MENA region
A Blizzard Of Accusations
Bobby Kotick, Microsoft, and Sony clash over Activision Blizzard acquisition
Activision Blizzard CEO Kotick is accusing Sony of sabotaging the Microsoft deal, while Sony is accusing Microsoft of harassment
Applovin Financials
AppLovin earns $702 million revenue in Q4 2022
The company exceeded expectations following a turbulent year
Leaf Is In The Air
Lumi Interactive announces Kinder World spin-off Take Me or Leaf Me
The company is hoping that it leaves an impression on players with a quirky new dating sim launching on Valentine’s Day
Interview
Why mobile games need a diverse monetisation strategy
Mintegral GM Hector Almedia shares how to survive in an increasingly competitive market
Rovio Financials
Rovio saw revenue decline in Q4, but increases across 2022
The company's latest financial statement delves into the company's performance over the period.
New Studio
Boss Alien founder unveils Hardball Games following successful seed funding
The team raised $5.2 million in a round led by Griffin Gaming Group and Playdemic founders
Stream Hatchet Review
80% of YouTube Gaming’s esports content in 2022 was for mobile games
Stream Hatchet has delved into streaming in 2022
Job News
Activision Blizzard veteran Eric Wood appointed as Senior Vice President of Publishing at Scopely
Wood brings over 20 years of experience to the role
Mobile Expansion
The Horizon franchise is reportedly eyeing a mobile debut
A job listing on Guerrilla Games’ website hints that the acclaimed series may be coming to mobile devices