Acquivision Blizzard
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard predicted to miss contractual merger deadline
The FTC hearing for the case is scheduled for after the deal is due to close
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
Beijing’s Golden Ticket
China takes steps to tighten grip on tech by acquiring 'golden shares' in Tencent and Alibaba
By taking shares in the companies, Beijing can help guide future development
A New Partnership
Blizzard reportedly enters final stage of negotiations with its new Chinese partner
The company ended its partnership with NetEase in 2022
Trouble For Ubisoft
Ubisoft for sale? The games giant is rumoured to be actively pursuing acquisition
Despite massive success in the past, Ubisoft has had a turbulent year
Raising The Stakes
Saudi Arabia’s PIF increases its stake in Nintendo to 6%
The country is aiming to become the hub of the global games industry
Data.ai Report
Mobile consumer spend dropped to $110 billion in 2022, while downloads surged
Games such as Diablo Immortal and Apex Legends Mobile saw high adoption, but spend dropped 5%
Data.ai Report
Battle royale and mobile most popular with lucrative 18 to 24 demographic
Solitaire, slots and match-3 not so much… New report examines demographic preferences in different markets
Market Leaders
Hypercasual led the download charts in 2022, while RPGs dominated consumer spend
Data.ai have broken down the most successful genres of 2022
Successful Funding
Indian developer Giga Fun Studios raises $2.4 million in funding
The round was led by Lumikai and Fireside Ventures
Netflix Games
Netflix Games is offering salaries of up to $1 million in California
The company is hoping to attract experienced candidates as it continues its push into gaming
2023 In Gaming
Mobile gaming will lead the way as the industry braces for a rebound
2022 saw the games market decline for the first time, but Ampere Analysis predicts the industry will bounce back in 2023
Job News
AdInMo appoints ex Bidstack VP Yasin Dabhelia to executive team
Dabhellia will assume the role of VP Programmatic
Get The Royal Tratment
Royal Match aims at 186 million fresh impressions via its first TV commercial
Developer Dream Games is hoping for two billion exposures
Opinion
Sequels Vs Updates: Start again? Or stick with what works?
When should developers create sequels for their games, and when is it smarter to stay put?
Sustainability Gaming
NetEase included in 2022’s Dow Jones sustainability indeces
The company's commitment to sustainability has been recognized by leading ESG ratings agencies
New Acquisition
NetEase acquires Halo Infinite co-developer Skybox Labs
NetEase is continuing its expansion beyond mobile platforms
Australian Open
Tennis Clash and Tennis Australia announce partnership for the Australian Open
Players can win real-life prizes by taking part in virtual tennis tournaments
China Gaming Market
NetEase and Tencent to resurrect discontinued games
Can't make new games? Try some old ones. The Chinese giants are rereleasing a slate of lapsed IPs in the wake of the licensing slowdown
Games Done Quick
Games Done Quick founder Mike Uyama leaving the organisation
The group raises funds for charitable causes through gaming speedruns
Opinion
Storytelling in free-to-play games: The good and the bad
While games draw acclaim for their storylines, downplaying the importance of narrative can make games more accessible
Acquivision Blizzard
CMA extends the deadline for Microsoft / Activision-Blizzard investigation
The group requires more time to decide if the UK should approve the deal
Fairy Tales
Pokémon Go announces Twinkling Fantasy Event
The event will highlight the game’s roster of fairy and dragon types
The Fashion Metaverse
H&M launches a new game within metaverse platform Roblox
The game was created by British metaverse studio Dubit
Trouble For Mages?
MAGES chairman and director steps down following $4.7 million loss
Chiyomaru Shikura will take an executive producer role within the company
Ftc Vs Microsoft
Are the FTC and Microsoft talks at a standstill?
The FTC have sued to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, but no “substantive” settlement talks are underway
Racing To Mobile
Game Freak to rerelease Pocket Card Jockey on Apple Arcade
The game was previously released for mobile devices in Japan in 2014
Are Tencent’s Troubles Over?
Tencent predicted to bounce back in 2023
2022 was a turbulent year for the tech giant, but analysts forecast that Tencent will rebound
Snapping Up Players
Marvel Snap surpasses 30 million downloads
The game hit the milestone less than three months after its launch
Game Closure
Bravely Default: Brilliant Lights to shut down in February
The Square Enix spin-off launched in January 2022
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – November’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Let's look back to November
2022 Highlights
BIG Stories of 2022 - Unity, ironSource, Applovin' and mobile's biggest merger
AppLovin’s attempt the scupper a planned acquisition turned it into one of 2022's biggest mobile news stories
2022 In Review
2022: The Games Market In Numbers
Newzoo estimate that the games market will have generated $184.4 billion in 2022 marking a fall of 4.3% year-on-year
2022 Highlights
BIG Stories of 2022 - How the massive Microsoft/Activision-Blizzard gaming acquisition came under fire
The acquisition may have been largely due to Activision Blizzard’s mobile offerings, but one franchise in particular prompted Sony to intervene
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – June’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Here's June
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – May’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. And now… May
2022 Highlights
BIG Stories of 2022 - The rise and fall of China’s mobile market
The world’s biggest mobile-first market saw a tumultuous year
2022 Highlights
2022 In Review – March’s Best Bits
As the year draws to a close, we take a look back with our pick of the stories that shaped the last twelve months. Time for some March action
An Epic Fine
Epic Games responds to FTC fine
The company was recently fined over half a billion dollars due to privacy concerns and unintentional payments
Diversity In Gaming
An estimated 2.3 million online teenage gamers have been exposed to white supremacist ideology
A recent report by the Anti-Defamation League found a sharp rise in online harassment
An Apple A Day
Apple fined over $1 million by Paris Commercial Court
The tech giant is accused of imposing abusive commercial clauses on French app developers
Ftc Vs Epic
FTC fines Epic Games $520 million
The fine was imposed de to allegations of privacy violations and unwanted charges
Green Gaming
Niantic planted 301 thousand trees throughout 2022
The company has released a new post showcasing its social impact throughout the year
Market Analysis
Only 20 percent of mobile gamers are fully engaged when playing
(And the other 80 percent do so while multitasking.) A new report from LoopMe delves into the global gaming market
Sea Market
FIFA Mobile enjoyed a 92% increase in downloads in South East Asia
The latest November numbers are in and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang led the way in terms of both downloads and revenue
Summoners War
Summoners War celebrates the festive season with holiday updated
New dungeons, new raids, and new game modes are coming to the franchise
Acquiblizz
Phil Spencer on the mobile potential of the Activision-Blizzard acquisition
Spencer explained the move in more detail in an interview with the Second Request Podcast.
Alternative App Stores
"It's essential to the flourishing of digital culture." Adrian Hon on the importance of alternative app stores
With Apple opening up to alternative storefronts the Six to Start CEO discussed the benefits of widening sales opportunities
Opera Gx
Gaming browser Opera GX surpasses 20 million monthly active users
Opera GX acts as a marketplace for games created using the GameMaker platform
Game Funding
Take-Two’s Private Division marks fifth anniversary with unveiling of new development fund
The Private Division Development Fund will support independent development teams
Gayming Awards
Gayming Awards unveils nominees for 2023 ceremony
The 2023 awards will be held on Broadway for the first time