| Game World Observer

Industry News September 26, 2023

SAG-AFTRA unanimously approves video game strike, demanding AI regulation and wage increases

SAG-AFTRA has unanimously voted for a strike against several game companies. Union members are demanding regulations on the use of AI, on-set safety, and retroactive wage increases.

Industry News September 25, 2023

Capcom eyes mobile expansion with more AAA games, as Monster Hunter Now tops $10 million in revenue

Capcom has big plans to strengthen its position in the mobile games market. The Japanese publisher believes that making more AAA-type titles for the platform could benefit its sales and revenues in the long run.

Industry News September 25, 2023

Devolver Digital says no to subscription deals that undervalue its games’ long-term value and revenue

Devolver Digital has released its report for the first half of 2023 ended June 30. The company posted a decline in both revenue and profit, also outlining its outlook and strategy for the future.

Industry News September 25, 2023

Hideki Kamiya makes difficult decision to leave PlatinumGames: “I will continue to create in my Hideki Kamiya way”

Hideki Kamiya, Japanese game designer and one of the creators of Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, is leaving PlatinumGames. He noted that it “was by no means an easy decision to make.”

Industry News September 22, 2023

Unity revamps Runtime Fee, allowing devs to choose either 2.5% revenue share or fees based on self-reported installs

Unity has finally shared an update to its controversial Runtime Fee model. Following massive backlash from game developers, the company has changed key aspects of the policy, exempting a large portion of customers from any fees and giving others options to choose from.

Featured September 22, 2023

Inside Embracer’s plans and strategy: game revenues, “notably lower margins” in PC & Console segment, and further divestments

Embracer Group held its annual general meeting on September 21. The Swedish holding company shared some insights into its financial performance, specific game sales and revenues, as well as its restructuring program and strategy going forward.

Industry News September 22, 2023

Payday 3 peaks at over 77k CCU despite server issues, with Starbreeze and Embracer betting on its success

Starbreeze Studios has launched Payday 3, a sequel to its successful multiplayer shooter. This comes amid ongoing restructuring at Embracer Group, whose division Plaion acted as the game’s investor and publisher.

Marketing September 22, 2023

What is Marketability and why Engagement matters in your first CPI test — explained by ByteBrew

When testing ads and creatives, a prototype’s marketability is a thing that shouldn’t be underestimated. In a new column for Game World Observer, ByteBrew Chief Strategy Officer Christopher Lefebvre explains what marketability is and what metrics developers should pay attention to.

Legal September 22, 2023

CMA says Microsoft’s cloud gaming remedies “opens the door” to Activision deal being finally cleared

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has released a new statement on its probe into Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The $68.7 billion deal is now as close to approval as possible.

Industry News September 21, 2023

Why Party Animals angered so many Chinese players despite peaking at over 100k concurrent players on Steam

Multiplayer physics-based brawler Party Animals has been launched globally to mixed reviews. Although it had a strong start on Steam in terms of metrics, it also drew a lot of criticism, especially from Chinese players.

Game Development September 21, 2023

AppLovin launches free tool to help devs migrate from Unity to other engines amid controversial Runtime Fee rollout

Mobile marketing and monetization platform AppLovin has launched a new project to help Unity developers switch to other engines like Unreal and Godot. It can already speed up code translation, and tools for asset and plugin migration are also in the works.

Industry News September 21, 2023

Glen Schofield leaves Striking Distance Studios following commercial failure of The Callisto Protocol

Industry veteran Glen Schofield is leaving Striking Distance, a studio he founded to develop The Callisto Protocol. The game, which was supposed to become a spiritual successor to Dead Space, missed Krafton’s expectations.

Industry News September 20, 2023

Re-Logic donates $200k to Godot and FNA engines, calling Unity’s new fees “predatory moves” to squeeze devs and gamers

Re-Logic, an indie studio behind evergreen sandbox hit game Terraria, has commented on Unity’s controversial decision to introduce per-install fees. The team not only condemned this move, but also decided to support two open source engines.

Industry News September 20, 2023

miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu steps down as chairman to focus on research and application of “cutting-edge technology”

Genshin Impact developer miHoYo has undergone some internal reshuffle. Cai Haoyu, one of the company’s founders and its largest shareholder, recently stepped down as its chairman.

Industry News September 20, 2023

Mortal Kombat 1 breaks into top 3 fighting games on Steam by peak CCU, already surpassing MK11 launch

Mortal Kombat 1, the 12th main installment in the long-running series, has just been released globally. Let’s take a look at its launch numbers available right now.

Industry News September 20, 2023

Phil Spencer calls Xbox leaks “disappointing”, says Microsoft’s plans evolved compared to old emails and docs

Microsoft has finally commented on major leaks containing its old plans and other data related to its gaming business. Here is what Xbox head Phil Spencer has to say about the situation.

Industry News September 20, 2023

Starfield hits 10 million players, marking second-biggest Xbox game launch this generation — behind Forza Horizon 5

Two weeks after its global launch, Starfield has hit another milestone. It is now Bethesda’s biggest launch in terms of player count, with the studio calling the numbers “astronomical.”

Industry News September 20, 2023

Swen Vincke on Microsoft’s document estimating BG3’s addition to Game Pass at $5 million: “Someone didn’t do their homework”

Among the unredacted Xbox documents, which Microsoft accidentally leaked itself, was a list of third-party games that the company was eyeing as targets for potential Game Pass deals in 2022. Here are some insights into the possible amounts ranging from several to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Industry News September 19, 2023

Baldur’s Gate 3 reclaims its spot as highest-grossing premium game on Steam, outselling Starfield and Mortal Kombat 1

Another week, another data on the top-grossing Steam games. Starfield didn’t manage to stay at the top of the charts, with Baldur’s Gate 3 once again outselling other premium titles a month and a half after its launch.

Marketing September 19, 2023

SuperScale on post-IDFA UA and game marketing trends: “Platforms should be the first to take care of misleads, but I doubt they will”

What is going on in game marketing and what are some trends publishers should pay attention to? Milan Štrba, director of professional services at mobile growth company SuperScale, has discussed the current state of mobile UA, hybridization, and Western devs trying to copy Asian hits like Genshin Impact.

All publications of the author

SAG-AFTRA unanimously approves video game strike, demanding AI regulation and wage increases

Capcom eyes mobile expansion with more AAA games, as Monster Hunter Now tops $10 million in revenue

Devolver Digital says no to subscription deals that undervalue its games’ long-term value and revenue

Hideki Kamiya makes difficult decision to leave PlatinumGames: “I will continue to create in my Hideki Kamiya way”

Unity revamps Runtime Fee, allowing devs to choose either 2.5% revenue share or fees based on self-reported installs

Inside Embracer’s plans and strategy: game revenues, “notably lower margins” in PC & Console segment, and further divestments

Payday 3 peaks at over 77k CCU despite server issues, with Starbreeze and Embracer betting on its success

What is Marketability and why Engagement matters in your first CPI test — explained by ByteBrew

CMA says Microsoft’s cloud gaming remedies “opens the door” to Activision deal being finally cleared

Why Party Animals angered so many Chinese players despite peaking at over 100k concurrent players on Steam

AppLovin launches free tool to help devs migrate from Unity to other engines amid controversial Runtime Fee rollout

Glen Schofield leaves Striking Distance Studios following commercial failure of The Callisto Protocol

Re-Logic donates $200k to Godot and FNA engines, calling Unity’s new fees “predatory moves” to squeeze devs and gamers

miHoYo co-founder Cai Haoyu steps down as chairman to focus on research and application of “cutting-edge technology”

Mortal Kombat 1 breaks into top 3 fighting games on Steam by peak CCU, already surpassing MK11 launch

Phil Spencer calls Xbox leaks “disappointing”, says Microsoft’s plans evolved compared to old emails and docs

Starfield hits 10 million players, marking second-biggest Xbox game launch this generation — behind Forza Horizon 5

Swen Vincke on Microsoft’s document estimating BG3’s addition to Game Pass at $5 million: “Someone didn’t do their homework”

Baldur’s Gate 3 reclaims its spot as highest-grossing premium game on Steam, outselling Starfield and Mortal Kombat 1

SuperScale on post-IDFA UA and game marketing trends: “Platforms should be the first to take care of misleads, but I doubt they will”