TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Paradox Interactive acquires Playrion; Sony mulling offer for Leyou; and Tencent launches second US studio. Paradox Interactive acquires Playrion Stockholm-based developer-publisher Paradox Interactive has announced that it has acquired mobile studio Playrion for an undisclosed sum. Operating out of Paris, the acquired developer is best known for its Airlines Manager title, which has a player base of over 10 million since its release in 2014. Playrion becomes the [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Discord raises USD$100m (£80.5m); thousands of games removed from China iOS store; and Animoca Brands acquires GAMEE. Discord raises USD$100m (£80.5m) Voice and video chat platform Discord has announced that it has raised USD$100m (£80.5m) in funding from Index Ventures, valuing the San Fransisco-based firm at an estimated USD$3.5bn (£2.8bn). The investment will be used to support the implementation of new features and to support the platform’s expansion [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Apple terminating Arcade games for retention; PlayBrain raises USD$6m (£5m); and Mountaintop Studios formed. Apple terminating Arcade games for retention Apple Inc. is reportedly cancelling development contracts with partners for its Apple Arcade service as it seeks to improve customer retention on the fledgling platform. According to anonymous sources speaking to Bloomberg, Apple has been informing developers of certain in-production titles that their new titles lacked sufficient engagement, [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Starbreeze to raise SEK250m (£21.8m); GP Bullhound closes €125m (£114m) fund; KAT VR passes £1m crowdfunding for Walk C treadmill. Starbreeze to raise SEK250m Stockholm-based developer Starbreeze AB has announced that it intends to raise SEK250m (£21.8m) in a new issuance of class A and B shares, as a result of delays in finding a publishing partner for its upcoming Payday 3 title due to the Covid-19 pandemic. [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Tencent launches Twitch rival; Microsoft to close all physical retail outlets; and BS2 pivots sponsorship efforts to esports. Tencent launches Twitch rival Chinese technology conglomerate Tencent Holdings Ltd. has launched a mobile-focused video game streaming network in the United States, branded as Trovo Live, and will roll out a USD$30m (£24m) partnership programme for the nascent service from July until the close of 2021. Ostensibly, the platform is [...]

Live music, film, TV, health, and social networking. Once distinct sectors with limited overlap with the video games sector, in recent months we have seen increased crossover between each of these and gaming, fuelled by the ever-increasing adoption of digital, the persistent engagement of video game audiences, and the temporary halt of physical events in the wake of Covid-19. While music festivals have faced postponement, in-game concerts in multiplayer platforms such as Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, are thriving. After a [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Focus Home Interactive acquires Deck13; Keywords purchases Coconut Lizard; and Koch Media launches Americas publishing unit. Focus Home Interactive acquires Deck13 Paris-based publisher Focus Home Interactive has acquired German developer Deck13 for a total consideration of €7.1m (£6.4m), which itself consists €6.5m (£5.9m) in cash and €0.6m (£0.5m) in treasury-held shares. The acquired firm generated €5.5m (£5.0m) in revenue in 2019, and is best known for its Lords [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: US suspends H-1B visas; Phoenixx partners with Bandai Namco and Dentsu; and Treehouse Games raises USD$2.6m (£2.1m). US suspends H-1B visas United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending H-1B skilled worker visas, along with a range of other temporary visas including work-based exchange programmes, which took effect as of yesterday (24th June 2020) and will apply until the close of 2020. The restrictions [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Bloober Team in M&A discussions; Absolutely Games founded; and Oculus Go shuttered. Bloober Team in M&A discussions Kraków-based developer Bloober Team SA is to enter second-stage talks with six companies over a potential merger or sale of the company, according to document filings submitted to the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Of the prospective partners, three are headquartered within the United States, two in Poland, and one in the United [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Microsoft to shutter Mixer; Facebook acquires Ready at Dawn Studios; and Overwolf acquires CurseForge assets from Twitch. Microsoft to shutter Mixer Microsoft has announced that it will shutter its Mixer streaming platform as of 22nd July 2020, with current viewer and streamer accounts to be transitioned to the Facebook Gaming service as part of a new strategic partnership. In return, Facebook Gaming will be used to promote and [...]