In The News
The cross-platform argument is back thanks to Fortnite’s popularity. “Xbox chief Phil Spencer hinted at Sony being responsible when one Twitter user told him ‘we really want cross-play system between Xbox One and PS4,’” Gamasutra’s Chris Kerr reports. “Microsoft firmly placed the ball in Sony’s court, reiterating its desire to work with the company to make cross-play happen.”
Activision is reportedly “‘keenly aware’” of the emerging Battle Royale genre, PC Gamer’s Andy Chalk reports.
Facebook is optimistic it can close the gap with Twitch, GamesIndustry.biz’s James Batchelor writes. “Just as the growth of YouTube and Twitch are driven in part by their most popular channel hosts, Facebook hopes to foster talent that draws more viewers to its own platform – and be a key influence in shaping it.”
Red Bull Gaming Sphere opens to the public in the United Kingdom March 21, Esports Insider’s Sam Cooke reports. It’s “the UK’s largest public esports studio.”
Partnership news:
Batchelor reports Ubisoft and “a division of Google” are partnering “to build an open-source tool that will enable more studios to run and scale their multiplayer games.”
Gamasutra’s Alissa McAloon reports that Midwinter Entertainment and Improbable are partnering for Midwinter’s first game.
ENCE announced they’re entering into a partnership with “Pelicans, a hockey club playing in the Finnish hockey league Liiga,” the press release reads.
The Esports Observer’s Jordan Fragen writes that “the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced a partnership with the National Association for Collegiate Esports (NACE).”
There are a lot more folks studying video games than there used to be, GamesIndustry.biz’s Haydn Taylor reports. “Game design courses have seen the biggest increase in student numbers, rising by 129% from 2014/15 to 2016/17.”
A 9-year-old girl’s Hearthstone card rendition was turned into the real deal on Twitter, PCGamesN’s Vic Hood reports. “Illustrator Kate Holden [created] a mock-up of what the drawing would look like as an official Hearthstone card.”