In The News
Regarding President Donald Trump’s meeting with “members of the video game industry,” we know a little more, but not much. A source close to the situation told The Daily Walkthrough there may be 2 meetings now instead of 1, on Wednesday and Thursday. The Wednesday meeting will reportedly involve lawmakers and maybe industry members. However, invites and logistics still have not been sent out as of the time of this writing.
Additionally, no one seems to know whose idea the meeting was in the first place.
Read more here, “In eight seconds, the White House blindsided an $11.7 billion industry.”
Everyone was tittering last week over an alleged Blizzard tease of Diablo III for Nintendo Switch. Blizzard, however, told Eurogamer’s Wesley Yin-Poole “‘We cannot confirm this rumour … As of now, we do not have any current plans to announce Diablo for Switch.’”
Wilhelm Taht stepped down as Rovio’s “head of the company’s Games business, a position he has held since 2016,” GamesIndustry.biz’s Matthew Handrahan writes.
Rovio also closed its London studio, according to Handrahan. “All seven of its employees [were] laid off.”
Riot Games’ Jung Hyun Kwon and Nathan Clauss moved to PUBG Corporation, The Esports Observer’s Cassidy Trowbridge reports.
Partnership news:
Starbreeze and Emaar Entertainment VR Park are partnering, GamesIndustry.biz’s Haydn Taylor reports. “Starbreeze has also announced the launch of four new VR experiences especially developed for the location.”
Esports Insider’s Adam Fitch reports that “Noah Media Group, an independent sport and film production company, has extended its working relationship with Gfinity by becoming its exclusive production partner.”
Twitch updated its FAQ and clarified its new rules. You can read them here.
Monster Hunter is officially Capcom’s “best selling game [ever]” with 7.5 million copies shipped, IGN’s Joe Skrebels writes.
Hearthstone players “who participate in a StarCraft-themed Tavern Brawl can earn three packs from the game’s latest expansion, Kobolds and Catacombs,” Dot Esports’ Justin Binkowski reports.
Congratulations to GGEA Orange on winning WorldGaming’s Canadian Championship Series! They defeated eUnited 3-2.
Happy birthday to Rocket League player Kasper “Pwndx” Nielsen!