In The News
Studio Allegations:
Voice actor allegations against Gearbox aren’t going away. David Eddings, the former voice actor for Claptrap, “has accused Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford of physical assault,” PCGamer’s Shaun Prescott reports. Eddings alleged “Pitchford physically assaulted him in the lobby of the Marriott Marquis hotel in San Francisco in 2017” after Pitchford tweeted that Eddings “is bitter and disgruntled.”
Game Workers Unite is “working with French union Solidaires Informatique to gather testimony from game developer Quantic Dream workers who experienced sexual harassment or assault,” Variety’s Liz Lanier writes. “We have been informed of acts of sexual harassment and sexual assault committed against women who work and have worked in the company,” a press release reads.
NetherRealm is investigating allegations of a “toxic workplace and 100-hour workweeks” during Mortal Kombat 11’s development, Lanier reports. “One current employee said that he and others at the studio have been working 60 to 70 hours per week, seven days a week since January.”
Financials:
A “liquidity shortfall” is imminent for Starbreeze, the company said. “In its first quarter financial report, the Swedish company laid out how precarious its position currently is, and what will be required to avoid going under,” Handrahan reports.
Pokémon GO revenue grew 15% from April of last year, Sensor Tower reports. “Players spent more than $65 million worldwide in the game during April … So far in 2019, spending in the game is up 33 percent to approximately $270 million across the App Store and Google Play.”
Both revenue and profit were up for Capcom “in its full-year financial results,” GI.biz’s Matthew Handrahan reports. “In the year ended March 31, 2018, Capcom earned ¥100.03 billion ($904 million) in revenue, up 5.8% year-on-year. Net income for the period was ¥12.55 billion ($113 million), an increase of 14.8% compared to the previous fiscal year.”
China’s domestic revenue from “online PC games reached $15.2 billion in 2018, a slight decline from the industry’s 2017 domestic revenue of $15.5 billion,” GI.biz’s Rebekah Valentine reports. “It is possible the freeze on game licenses in China is responsible for the lack of revenue growth year-over-year.”
Ubisoft implemented silent key activation as part of an ongoing effort “to prevent grey market PC code sales,” Eurogamer’s Vikki Blake writes.
PlatinumGames “has said 2019 will be an ‘incredibly important’ year for the developer, with the firm set to benefit from ‘major’ new approaches aimed at shaking up both its business and design strategies,” VGC’s Andy Robinson reports.
Germany has its eye on mobile monetization targeted at kids, GI.biz’s Haydn Taylor writes. “The deliberately broad guidelines specifically target in-app ads aimed at children that grant the user an advantage, and linking profiles with another platform.”
AppOnboard is giving away “for free its AppOnboard Studio, which lets anyone design, build, and publish their own instant apps,” VentureBeat’s Dean Takahashi writes.
Extra Esports News:
Congratulations to 100 Thieves on winning CWL London and securing their organization’s first tournament trophy!
Congratulations to Mindfreak on winning the Game Fuel Open Bracket at CWL London!
Madden NFL 19 Bowl pulled in a “simultaneous audience [that] topped out at 97,000 viewers, or 650 percent more than for the 2018 finale, while total view count jumped a whopping 850 percent to 2.5 million,” Engadget’s Jon Fingas reports.
Denmark is creating an esports panel “this spring to help guide industry growth, foster up and coming talent (including girls), create/maintain healthy communities, and address parent concerns,” TEO’s H.B. Duran reports. A esports strategy has also been released.
N3rd Street Gamers, Game Gym and others are partnering for esports summer camps, according to a press release. “N3rd Street Gamers (NSG) is including a physical well-being component in conjunction with three Philadelphia-area camp programs … N3rd Street Gamers (NSG) is including a physical well-being component in conjunction with three Philadelphia-area camp programs.”
Smash Summit 8 casters have been announced.
Partnerships:
NRG and Sneak are partnering, Esports Insider’s Cody Luongo writes. “The deal marks NRG’s first collaboration with a gaming drink formula and is Sneak’s first link to a tier one organisation.”
Gillette is partnering with 5 Honor of Kings players, TEO’s Hongyu Chen writes.
Happy birthday James “Clayster” Eubanks and Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka!
Interviews: NBA 2K League’s Timothy “oLARRY” Anselimo (ESPN).