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Kliuless #58: Tencent Eyes the West's Console Market

Each week I compile a gaming industry insights newsletter that I publish broadly. Opinions are mine.

Kenneth Liu, Blogger

November 18, 2019

3 Min Read
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Kliuless? Gaming Industry Insights #58

Hi, my name is Kenny Liu, and each week I compile a gaming industry insights newsletter that I publish broadly. Opinions are mine.

See more or subscribe at: https://tinyletter.com/kliuless

Revenue Strategy

Creative

Cross-Platform / Multi-Platform

  • Google Stadia's launch lineup includes 12 games

    • Related: Google plans to roll out Stadia features weekly after a barebones Nov. 19 launch 

  • Xbox Game Pass gets flood of new games, EA Access, and more

    • Related: Everything Microsoft announced at X019

    • Related: Xbox Game Pass subscriptions have doubled as its library continues to grow

  • Path of Exile 2 (and PoE Mobile) announced at ExileCon

PC / Console

  • Tencent wants to make console games with Nintendo IP to boost US and Europe presence

  • Tencent grabs 10 percent stake in UK game company Sumo Group

  • Prey developer Human Head shuts down; Bethesda hires team to open new studio

XR: AR / MR / VR

  • Flavourworks raises £3m to expand Touch Video platform

    • "This is the first time a game lets you reach out and touch a real, live-action world and have this world react to you in a meaningful way"

  • Bloomberg: Apple Plans Standalone AR and VR Gaming Headset by 2022 and Glasses Later

  • Cerberus Interactive acquires Tastebud, hoping to incentivize IRL purchases in its location-based title Atlas Empires

  • NYT: How Virtual Reality is Augmenting Realty (sic)  

Esports

  • Artist Capital Management raises $100 million fund to invest in esports

  • Value investor Joel Greenblatt says Vindex could solve a key hurdle in esports’ growth

    • ​[KL: Interesting to see one of my personal investor idols jump into the esports foray]

  • Immortals Gaming Club sells its Houston Outlaws Overwatch team to Beasley Media Group

Asia

  • PlayStation to open development studio in Malaysia

  • Niko Partners: SE Asia’s $5bn game market expected to grow to $8.3bn in 2023

    • Related: Google report on SE Asia’s $100bn internet economy

  • Minecraft closes in on 300m registered accounts in China (112m global MAU)

  • Opinion: China’s overbearing campaign for influence is forcing countries to resist and recalibrate relations with Beijing

Tech / Entertainment

  • Epic Games acquires photogrammetry startup Quixel to make games more realistic

  • Matthew Ball: The "Streaming Wars" are Just a Battle

    • Related: What is the endgame for Disney+?

  • NYT: "I Got Access to My Secret Consumer Score. Now You Can Get Yours, Too"

  • Snap shares its in-house accelerator’s next 10 investments

  • Deep Tech Trends 2019

Overtime

  • Polygon's 100 best games of the decade

  • How Does the ESRB Rate Video Games?

  • OECD proposes a global minimum corporate tax rate

  • How to Configure Your iPhone to Work for You, Not Against You

  • Illusion of Transparency: Your Poker Face is Better Than You Think 

See more or subscribe at: https://tinyletter.com/kliuless

LinkedIn: @kliuless

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