In The News
Please take a moment for John “Totalbiscuit” Bain, 33. He passed away Thursday from cancer. The post on his official Twitter can be found here, and his wife Genna’s posts can be found here and here.
Revenue News:
Gamers spent $9.09 billion “globally on digital video games in April, an increase of 23 percent year-over-year (YoY),” AListDaily’s H.B. Duran reports. “Console and mobile digital game revenue were the primary drivers of growth in April, according to SuperData, offsetting relatively flat growth on other platforms.”
Razer “released its financial report for fiscal year 2017,” TEO’s Trent Murray reports. “Annual revenue grew 32.1% year-over-year to $517.9M. Revenue from peripherals grew 13.4% year-over-year to $338.7M.”
Entertainment Software Association president Mike Gallagher talked loot boxes at the Nordic Games Conference, GI.biz’s Matthew Handrahan reports. “Gallagher focused on loot boxes as ‘monetisation tools and business models’ that have created an issue for the industry to tackle … [He] placed loot boxes alongside the World Health Organisation’s attempt to introduce ‘gaming disorder’ as a recognised disease, and the Trump admininstration’s investigation into the links between video games and gun violence.”
Valve News:
Apple denied the Steam Link app access to the App Store, VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb reports. “Valve says that Apple only pulled the approval after the public announcement of the app.”
Valve’s taking heat over a “school-shooting game that encourages you to ‘hunt and destroy’ children,” Eurogamer’s Wesley Yin-Poole writes. “Active Shooter, which at the time of publication is live on Steam and due for release on 6th June, is described by its developer as ‘a dynamic S.W.A.T. simulator’. The idea is you’re sent in to deal with a shooter at a school, but you can also play as the actual shooter, gunning down school children.”
Timm Geyer is Spil Games’ new CEO.
Two players have officially been indicted in the fatal Kansas swatting incident. “Casey Viner, 18, of North College Hill, Ohio, faces charges of wire fraud, conspiracy to make a false report, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Shane Gaskill, 19, of Wichita, faces charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and wire fraud,” Variety’s Brian Crecente writes.
Partnership News:
Aston Villa FC started an esports division and partnered with the European Gaming League, TEO’s Graham Ashton writes. “AVFC will launch a FIFA 18 tournament in June.”
NBA 2K League:
Cavs Legion GC and Raynor Group are partnering, Murray reports.
Wizards District Gaming “sign[ed] a deal with Bud Light that includes two video series and sponsored watch parties,” Murray also reports.
Team Envy is leaving the competitive Halo scene, Dot Esports’ Justin Binkowski reports.
Happy birthday to StarCraft II player Baek “Dear” Dong Jun!