In The News
Looks like Microsoft is “finalizing a deal to acquire the independent development studio Obsidian Entertainment,” Kotaku’s Jason Schreier reports. “One person with knowledge of the deal told Kotaku they’d heard it was ‘90%’ finished. Said a second person: ‘It’s a matter of when, not if.’”
Advance Publications acquired a majority stake in Newzoo, Esports Insider’s Adam Fitch reports. “As part of the deal, Advance will make a ‘significant’ capital investment into Newzoo to bolster its bid to be a leading source of games and esports analytics.”
Jagex is investigating Ali “Gross Gore” Larson, who is accused of “sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and physical violence during RuneFest 2018,” GI.biz’s Haydn Taylor reports.
Skybound Interactive has yet to secure the original The Walking Dead devs to assist in finishing up the game, Variety’s Brian Crecente writes. “[Dan] Murray declined to share any of the financial information surrounding Skybound’s deal to take the game over from Telltale. He also declined to say how many people from the original team would work on the game or what sort of contract it would be — short-term or a permanent hire.”
PlayStation is testing a PSN ID name change feature, GameSpot’s Patrick Faller reports. “PlayStation has announced it will be testing a new feature that allows you to change your ID yourself. The PSN Online ID Change feature is currently entering PlayStation’s Preview Program.”
Extra Esports News:
Echo Fox is reorganizing and has cut players and rosters, Unikrn’s Dustin Steiner reports. They released their Call of Duty and Gears of War teams and fighting game players Victor “Punk” Woodley, Brad “Scar” Vaughn and Jivan “Theo” Karapetian.
Richard Lewis takes issue with Tyler “Ninja” Blevins being described as the “face of esports” in a new article on VPEsports, titled “Ninja Might Very Well Be The Face of Gaming But He Is Not The Face Of Esports.”
Partnerships:
Superliga and DreamHack are partnering for “a FIFA 19 esports league: eSuperliga,” TEO’s Trent Murray reports.
Clutch Gaming and Bilibili are partnering, Esports Insider’s Lydia Mitrevski writes.
Ninjas in Pyjamas and Betway continued their partnership with “a seven-figure, three-year agreement,” Fitch reports.
Happy birthday Diego “Kelazhur” Schwimer; Ken “Ken” Hoang and Cao “Jim” Jinhui!