In The News
Xbox is taking over Microsoft Theater at E3 this year, Glixel’s Blake Hester writes. “With these changes, it’ll be its “biggest” showing ever at the show, Microsoft adds.”
Mobile spending on games is continuing to grow. “Direct consumer spending on mobile games was more than one-third higher than the spending total on consoles, PC/Mac, and handhelds combined,” Brendan Sinclair at GamesIndustry.biz reports. “The mobile segment only became the highest individual segment of the market in 2014.”
You may have noticed some excitement over on Twitch last night. Engadget’s Richard Lawler explains that Twitch streamer Tyler “Ninja” Blevins and Drake did a duo stream Wednesday. They broke the concurrent viewer record.
Facebook’s Instant Games is out of beta and available to developers, GamesIndustry.biz’s Haydn Taylor writes.
Acquisition and investment news:
Jam City has acquired Brainz, VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi reports. It’s a “Bogota, Colombia-based mobile game developer and maker of the upcoming action strategy game, World War Doh.”
GamesIndustry.biz’s Christopher Dring reports 4J Studios invested in Puny Astronaut, a Scottish developer.
Esports Insider’s Adam Fitch reports Obey Alliance “has been acquired by Infinite Esports & Entertainment.”
The Esports Insider’s Graham Ashton writes that “Runtime, an esports startup focused on bringing nutrition products to the gamer market, has raised a seven-digit seed round, led by Everblue Management.”
Expansion news:
Activision Blizzard, according to The Esports Observer’s Ben Fischer, hired Brandon Snow, Daniel Cherry and Marc Kolin for its new “Activision Blizzard Esports Leagues.”
Virtuos is moving its headquarters from Shanghai to Singapore.
RFRSH Entertainment intends to expand to London, Fitch reports. “The company has announced its expansion to offices in London to coincide with the addition of a few key employees in its management group.”
Partnership news:
Javier Mascherano and eSports Planet are partnering to develop the Latin American esports scene, Fitch reports. “Mascherano’s goal in esports is to develop both football content and tournaments for the Latin American community.”
Takahashi reports Super Evil Megacorp “has teamed up with Alibaba’s Alisports division to feature the Vainglory mobile game in the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG).”
Arlington, Texas is getting a new esports venue called Esports Stadium Arlington, DBLTAP’s Max Mallow reports. “The 100,000 square-foot building is scheduled to open up this fall.”
Google now allows developers access to its Maps data, Taylor reports, which “will allow developers to easily create mixed reality.”
ESL Global Tournament Director Jonas Vikan did an interview with The Esports Observer’s Graham Ashton. Here’s a snippet: “‘We try as best as we can to work with the other organizers,’ says Vikan. ‘To make sure everyone can have their…’”
Rocket League news:
Rocket League’s got Snickers fever. Snickers is sponsoring the Rocket League Championship Series, Esports Insider’s Adam Fitch writes.
Counter Logic Gaming announced their new Rocket League team.
Call of Duty news:
Dot Esports’ Preston Byers reports that ERa Eternity “allegedly owes its former players in Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Gears of War, and Rainbow Six thousands of dollars in salary and prize earnings.”