In The News
GDC Survey:
It shows half of “game developers support game industry unionization, a majority believe that Steam no longer justifies its 30-percent revenue take of PC game sales, and that nearly half of game makers have spent working overtime hours in so-called ‘crunch’ mode,” VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi reports.
What’s more, 18% “of the 4,000 developers surveyed are working on games for unannounced platforms. However, only 2 percent of respondents say that project is exclusive to next-gen games; the other 16 percent say their projects are cross-generational. On that same question, 46 percent say they are developing exclusively for existing hardware,” Game Informer’s Brian Shea reports.
Facebook can’t catch a break. It also doesn’t deserve to, but hey. “Facebook orchestrated a multi-year effort that duped children and their parents out of money, in some cases hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and then often refused to give the money back, according to court documents unsealed tonight in response to a Reveal legal action,” Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting’s Nathan Halverson reports. “Facebook encouraged game developers to let children spend money without their parents’ permission.”
Persons allegedly linked to the deadly swatting incident that saw Tyler Bariss plead guilty are being looked into, Engadget’s Jon Fingas writes. “Federal agents have charged Neal Patel, Logan Patten and Tyler Stewart for reportedly conspiring with Barriss in both swatting attacks.”
Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura is reconsidering worldwide releases after Kingdom Hearts III was leaked so early, Game Informer’s Imran Khan reports.
Resident Evil on Netflix? Deadline’s Nellie Andreeva reports “Netflix is developing a scripted series based on the hit action horror franchise.”
Ah, China. “NetEase Games is for the first time launching an anti-addiction system for underage mobile gamers, including an 11-hour ‘curfew,’” ChinaDaily’s Xinhua reports.
Nintendo announced Metroid Prime 4 development has been rebooted, GameSpot’s Tamoor Hussain writes.
StreamElements has raised “$11.3 million in Series A funding from a number of backers,” GI.biz’s Brendan Sinclair writes.
Ubisoft is changing scenes in its Shadow Heritage DLC for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey over outrage on forced relationship choices.
WellBeings is a new “publishing arm and ‘e-health’ organization … [started by] gaming veterans and mental health professionals,” Variety’s Brittany Vincent reports.
Interviews: BioWare’s Mike Gamble (VentureBeat).
Extra Esports News:
Here’s an update on NCAA deliberations on esports.
Hmm. Farming Simulator is going esports, and man, I don’t know about that.
Crackle obtained the rights to exclusively air Sony’s “To Win it All: The Road to the Six Invitational” documentary.
Sport1 and ESL signed a deal to “provide coverage of its events on eSports1,” Esports Insider’s Adam Fitch reports.
Partnerships & Sponsorships:
Esports Mogul and Razer are partnering for “Mogul Arena’s inaugural tournament series, Silver Slam,” TEO’s Dane Weeden reports.
Sunsuria and EXVRA are partnering “to help boost the local esports ecosystem in Sepang,” Esports Insider’s David Hollingsworth reports.
ESL Gaming and Indofood are partnering for the ESL Indonesia Championship, Esports Insider’s Joe Wong writes.
Team Liquid and Honda are partnering, according to a press release. “Our journey together will start at the LCS, where you’ll soon be seeing the Official Team Liquid Honda Odyssey.”
Borussia E-Sports and AOK are partnering, Fitch writes. “The health insurance company will act as Borussia E-Sports’ health partner until 2021.”
Scan and ASUS ROG are sponsoring “epic26, the upcoming event from epic.LAN,” Fitch reports.
Marquette University Athletics announced an official esports program, according to a press release. “Marquette University will launch a varsity esports team in fall 2019, which will be the first in the nation run by a major conference Division I athletics program, the university announced today.”
IN: Smash player Gavin “Tweek” Dempsey joined Team SoloMid.