Kliuless? Gaming Industry Insights #67
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
Business
- Elodie Games raises $5 million for crossplay co-op games
- [KL: Huge congratulations to Christina and David! I had the pleasure of working with Christina at Riot for several years, and she is one of the most talented designers I know. If you're looking for a new, exciting opportunity, keep an eye on them!]
- EA planning "broad-based model" to publish 14 games next fiscal year
- Nintendo's latest subscription model is attached to Fire Emblem Heroes
- Toadman Studios, Sold Out, and Petrol join forces as Enad Global 7
Creative
- Dan Houser departs Rockstar Games
- The sweet spot of asymmetric design
- Mark Brown: The Core Mechanics of Shovel Knight
- Designing DOOM Eternal's New & Classic Demons
- Designing the simulation of the wild and wonderful Planet Zoo
- "It Feels Like We Made 10 Games:" Kentucky Route Zero at the End of the Road
- Exploring new frontiers of color with The Outer Worlds
- Fundamentals of Game Animation: Feel
PC / Console
- Steam: 2019 Year in Review [KL: 95mm MAU]
- EA still lukewarm on bringing its portfolio to Switch
- Nintendo president confirms no Switch Pro in 2020
- Related: 30% of Switch Lite owners already owned a Nintendo Switch
- PlayStation sales drop 20%, but PS Plus is smoothing the next-gen jump
- Rod Fergusson leaves Gears and The Coalition to run Diablo for Blizzard
- Related: How Gears of War's Studio Head Earned His Reputation as the "Closer"
- Wizards of the Coast reveals new studio headed up by BioWare veterans
- "Unlike previously announced games endeavours -- which leveraged the considerable heft of properties like Dungeons & Dragons or Magic: The Gathering -- this new studio is working on an original science-fiction IP"
- Nvidia launches RTX-based GeForce Now cloud gaming service for $5 per month
- "​Rather than set up its own library of cloud games, Nvidia is enabling players to access their Steam libraries with GeForce Now, so they can play those games anywhere they want"
Mobile
- Ubisoft acquires free-to-play mobile dev Kolibri Games
- Supercell backs new mobile studio formed by EA DICE veterans
- Stellaris: Galaxy Command ends its time out, soft-launches on iOS and Android
- Blog: Is the HyperCasual market still healthy and growing in 2020?
- A Simple User Acquisition Template for Mobile Advertising
Esports & Influencers
- The mass Twitch exodus: Why streamers are leaving
- The (still) uncertain state of video game streaming online
- Major esport organisations launch new team-owned CS:GO league
- YouTube is using massive e-sports leagues to take on Twitch in big live-streaming bet
- Hearo.Live launches esports viewing open beta and raises $1.8mm
- Bowlero & Skillz bring mobile esports to bowling centers
Asia
- EA is working with a partner to take Apex Legends to China
- Nexon Korea grants game developers 6.8% raise in deal with union
Tech / Entertainment
- Modl.ai closes $1.7m seed funding round to reduce playtest times using AI-driven player archetypes
- Pinterest steps up e-commerce efforts with AR try-on
- Ex-a16z Benedict Evans' presentation on Tech in 2020
- NYT: "In 2019, we each spent $640 on digital subscriptions"
Overtime
- Barclays introduces video games tax relief loans
- Improbable acquires game hosting service company Zeuz
- 15 co-op games to play with your partner this Valentine’s Day
- Xbox Adaptive Controller add-on turns power wheelchairs into joysticks
- NYT: Collectors Are Spending Thousands on Video Games They Will Never Play
- LA Times: Long hours and ‘a pile of white dudes’: Annual survey looks at game industry working conditions
- First hands-on video of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip [KL: flip phones return]
- NYT: ‘Parasite’ Makes Oscar History With Best Picture Win
See more or subscribe at: https://tinyletter.com/kliuless
Twitter: @kliuless
LinkedIn: @kliuless