In The News
Game Developers Conference has officially retracted its pioneer award for Nolan Bushnell.
We’re getting a Mario movie. “Confirming earlier rumors, Shigeru Miyamoto is listed as co-producer,” Engadget’s Richard Lawler reports. “The press release notes that Universal Pictures is co-financing the project.”
Please be careful. The Daily Mail reports a Chinese man “lost sensation from the waist down after playing video games continuously for some 20 hours at an internet cafe.”
Nintendo Switch Online is coming out in September, 2018.
“This paid service lets Nintendo Switch owners enjoy online multiplayer gaming as well as a dedicated smartphone app that connects to your Nintendo Switch system and helps you connect with friends for online play sessions in compatible games,” the press release reads.
Microsoft news:
Microsoft announced Q2 numbers. “The Xbox division generated $3.9 billion in revenues during the company’s Q2 of fiscal 2018. That’s up 8 percent,” VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb reports. Read the full press release here.
GamesIndustry.biz’s James Batchelor writes that Microsoft is responding to retailers who said they won’t stock Xbox products over changes to Game Pass. “Microsoft insists these outlets are in the minority, and the Game Pass has been embraced by other retailers.”
With microtransactions coming back in the next few months to Star Wars: Battlefront II, EA’s stock surged. “The company’s stock price closed today, January 31, at $126.96, which is up by almost 7 percent compared to the day before,” GameSpot’s Eddie Makuch writes.
Producer Casey Hudson wants to calm fears over the next Dragon Age.
Andrew Vouris joined Unikrn as its chief operating officer.
The SNES Classic Edition I was never able to get a hold of has hit 4 million units sold, IGN’s Alex Osborn reports.
Dragon Ball FighterZ marched over 2 million units sold, according to Gematsu’s Sal Romano.
Pacific Alliance of Collegiate Gamers was formed by “Eleven student leaders of Pac-12 universities,” ESPN’s Jacob Wolf reports. It will “organize and host esports events in League of Legends, Hearthstone and Overwatch.”
Epics.gg has $2 million more to work with after a successful seed round, The Esports Observer’s Graham Ashton writes. “The company says it will use the new capital to commercialize its product, and to establish partnerships with the necessary teams and other IP holders to develop its trading card ecosystem.”
OpTic Arena is the newest event from OpTic Gaming and NGAGE Esports’ partnership. “The event will be held between June 8-10th and see a series of esports activities take place at A-Kon,” Esports Insider’s Oliver Ring reports.