From Atomico backing a mobile studio to an Epic lawsuit out for blood, we have the latest
headlines from across the game industry.
so let's load 'em up and dive right in!
Sony's resolve is breaking down.
The console manufacturer is beginning to waver on its crossplatform policy in the wake of
frustrated fans venting their opinions.
With Nintendo and Microsoft allowing their consoles to connect for games like Fortnite,
Minecraft and Rocket League, Sony has kept its walls up in a bid to protect their bottom
line.
President Shawn Layden said the company is listening to its players and investigating
possibilities, and claims to be confident they can find a way to enable players to engage
with other console owners while not negatively impacting business.
While that's by no means confirmation that changes will come into effect, it's a step
in the right direction for tearing down barriers.
It might look like a cut and dry situation, but Shawn issued a reminder that the circumstances
surrounding such a decision affects a lot more than just one game: there's a lot to
consider before a move can be made.
If everything pans out and they can make the numbers work on their end, though, in a few
months or years, you might just be able to advertise your multiplayer game as a unified
experience across all mainstream platforms!
Oh Bibi is seeing a boost to their business.
Largely thanks to Atomico, the company has received twenty-one million dollars following
what can only be called a successful round of funding.
Although they began development six months prior and had plenty of confidence in their
agenda, the success of Fortnite on mobile platforms has served as a proof of concept
for their own console-grade shooter they plan to bring to the portable market, and investors
no doubt noticed.
The team intends to scale up their business, continuing to produce console-style experiences
for phones, and plans to invest some of their money into securing top talent that'll help
them realize their ambitions.
When the company published their games investment thesis, they identified console genres that
couldn't previously work on mobile to be a chief avenue to pursue, so if you're seeing
what they are, you might want to start developing your next game with mobile support in mind!
Elgato is getting out of the gaming business.
Popularly known for their capture cards, the company has decided it'll pursue a more
centralized vision with its home monitoring product, and rebrand itself as Eve Systems.
Developers and content creators needn't worry, though.
The Elgato name and its wares are being passed along to Corsair.
CEO Markus Fest says the company is proud of the brand they built over the last twenty
years, but they're handing over their legacy to another organization to double down on
their new direction.
He's confident this will be a move that'll strengthen both product lines, but we'll
have to wait and see.
Eve Systems may know their home-based business well after four years, but Elgato marks Corsair's
first venture into the livestreaming space.
Whether or not R&D sees some hiccups in the early days, though, their current product
line should still be there for fans and consumers who need a reliable recording solution!
There's a new initiative hitting the scene in Asia.
Google is hosting their Indie Games Accelerator for small studios across India, Thailand,
Singapore and more, and those selected for the four-month program will be flown out to
attend one of two bootcamps at Google's Asia headquarters.
According to their website, the program will teach start-ups about best practices with
popular platforms and engines, as well as cover business development, user acquisition,
monetization and tips for finding talent.
Notable developers from the likes of Vlambeer and Hipster Whale are lending their support
to the accelerator, too, and select applicants will have the opportunity to see their games
showcased on the Google Play Store.
If you're located in an Asian market and want your studio to participate, applications
are open from now until July thirty-first.
You'll know if you're part of their first wave come August, and the boot camps will
kick off in Singapore during September and November, so get started on those submissions
and get ready to clear your calendar!
Newzoo is back in the news with more mobile data to share.
If their research can be trusted, it would appear mobile players are reluctant to spend
money on free-to-play titles.
They polled a little over two thousand people across America, Germany and the UK who played
games at least two hours a week, and they claim that an incredible ninety-five percent
of those players are engaging with mobile games, but only fifty-six percent of them
are spending any money.
A third of those reluctant folks cited their reason for withholding their money was a fear
of fraud, with nineteen percent falling victim to scams in the past, and a hefty forty-percent
simply said they were satisfied with what they got out of the free experience.
Of those who were spending money, thirty-nine percent did so to derive more enjoyment from
the game, while twenty-seven said it was to treat themselves, and twenty did it to show
appreciation and support to the developers.
There was also a desire for more loyalty and reward programs, with as many as sixty-eight
percent of spenders saying they'd keep dishing out the dollars if there was something in
place to further incentivize the conduct.
So if you're looking into ways to monetize your next mobile game, consider putting in
a loyalty program and making sure you don't look like a con artist!
There's a few whispers circulating about Google this week.
Multiple sources have claimed the company was meeting with major studios at GDC and
E3 earlier this year, and that they're rallying support for a streaming platform they're
hoping to launch.
The idea that Google has something in the works has been rumoured as far back as February,
but even with these developments, there's still no confirmation that this is happening
quite yet.
Google has a history of dabbling in other mediums, and many of their experiments never
make their way to market, so that could be what we're looking at here.
If these secondhand accounts hold true, though, there might be another platform for you to
consider releasing your game on down the road!
Epic Games has no mercy when it comes to spoilers.
The company is pursuing legal action against one of its former QA contractors after details
were leaked about Fortnite's fourth season of in-game events.
The defendant thinks these claims should be dismissed since he didn't reveal the information
himself, but acknowledges that conversations were had that would enable a third party to
spoil the company's secrets.
And that's what seems to have happened, as an unnamed individual took the details
of their discussion and posted them on a subreddit for fans to see.
Despite Fortnite remaining a titan in the industry, Epic Games says the move has made
them suffer an irreparable injury, and will be demanding damages under both the state
and federal trade secrets laws.
The company must be paying their contractors well, because they also saw fit to include
legal fees for good measure.
It's an unfortunate state of affairs for everyone involved, but let it be a lesson
to you.
If you're privy to some serious corporate secrets, it'd be wise not to share them
just to ensure your not made an example of!
The battle for Star Control needs a bit of crowdfunding support.
Developers Fred and Paul have been embroiled in conflict with publisher Stardock over the
Star Control franchise for years, and the two creators have launched a GoFundMe page
to help offset the legal costs they're expecting to owe from their defense.
Both parties have been hard at work developing their own sequels to the property, and while
the original creators say only assets were claimed by the publisher in Atari's bankruptcy
auction, the publisher has pursued them with a predatory legal attack.
If you're interested in their case, visit the link in the description to learn more.
Two million is a lot for two guys to cover on their own, so if you feel they're in
the right, consider lending them a hand!
And that covers this week's lineup, ladies and gentlemen.
Was there anything you found particularly insightful?
Did we miss something you think should've been covered?
Let us know in the comments below and be sure to tune in next time for another newsworthy
breakdown!
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