TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the latest news in the world of gaming. In today’s news: New EU regulation gives developers and publishers more rights against platforms; Amazon pushes New World MMO back to 2021; and Leyou gives Tencent priority in acquisition talks. New EU regulation gives developers and publishers more rights against platforms A new piece of EU legislation, which gives European games developers and publishers more protection against distributor platforms, came into effect yesterday (12 July). The new rules mean [...]

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: Epic Games targets USD$17bn (£14bn) valuation; Ubisoft opens Vietnam studio; and Gearbox Software sues Apogee Software. Epic Games targets USD$17bn (£14bn) valuation Epic Games is set to raise USD$750m (£598m) in a funding round which would raise its valuation from the USD$15bn (£12bn) it garnered in 2018 to USD$17bn (£14bn). According to sources speaking to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity, the round will be financed by existing investors [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Wave raises USD$30m (£24m); Baidu acquires Redfinger; and UK to launch APAC Digital Trade Network. Wave raises USD$30m (£24m) Los Angeles-based digital concert broadcaster Wave has raised USD$30m (£24m) in Series B funding in a round led by Maveron, with support from a host of 15 VC and angel investors, including Upfront Ventures, Raised in Space Enterprises, RRE Ventures, NTT DOCOMO Ventures, Griffin Gaming Partners, and GFR Fund. [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: ESRB introduces loot box labelling; Kumu raises USD$5m (£4m); and Mighty Jaxx raises SGD$4.5m (£2.5m). ESRB introduces loot box labelling The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has introduced a new interactive labelling element to its rating system, designed to indicate when a game incorporates randomised elements to in-game purchases. While the new designation, which will assign the “In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items)” label to the appropriate titles, is [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Embracer Group raises SEK1.65bn (£133m); N3TWORK opens USD$50m (£40m) developer growth fund; and Quest Ventures raises USD$50m (£40m) VC fund. Embracer Group raises SEK1.65bn (£133m) Embracer Group AB has announced that it has raised SEK1.65bn (£133m) through the direct issuance of 18.5 million Class B shares, approximately 5% of total outstanding share capital. According to the Karlstad-based holding group, over 100 firms subscribed to the issue, including Skandia, [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Twitch content at all-time high; Japan plans esports expansion; and controversy over Gearbox bonuses. Twitch content at all-time high Streamlabs and Stream Hatchet will report later today (2nd April 2020) in their Q1 2020 live streaming industry report that content consumption across the major streaming platforms, namely Twitch; Mixer; Facebook Gaming; and YouTube Gaming Live, has increased substantially during the quarter. Market-leader Twitch has surpassed its records for [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Gaming firms allegedly benefiting from forced labour; Sonatic raises €2.3m (£2.0m); Curve Digital partners with H2 Interactive; and Zordix acquires Invictus Games. Gaming firms allegedly benefiting from forced labour Multiple global technology and video game companies, including Apple, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, HTC, and Oculus, have reportedly benefited from the forced labour of Uighur Muslims in factories across China, according to a report published by the Australian Strategic Policy [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: Global esports revenue to hit USD$1.1bn (£848m); Facebook acquires Sanzaru Games; and PlatinumGames establishes new studio. Global esports revenue to hit USD$1.1bn (£848m) The esports economy is predicted to generate global revenue of USD$1.1bn (£848m) in 2020, an increase of 15.7% from the USD$950.6m (£732.8m) generated last year, according to the Global Esports Market Report 2020 published by Newzoo. Approximately USD$822.4m (£634.0m), or 74.8% of total global esports [...]

TheGamingEconomy’s Daily Digest brings you the prevalent business stories in gaming. In today’s news: European mobile gaming share to contract; Speedinvest raises €190m (£159.2m) fund; Sega invests in Flutin; and Xbox reveals Series X capabilities. European mobile gaming share to contract The share of revenue generated by games is expected to account for a reduced share of total European app within two years, according to a report published by Sensor Tower. Analysts are predicting that games will account for 55% of app [...]