In The News
A Google Chrome update is wreaking Thanos-level destruction on web games. “It now appears the Chrome 66 update has had some unintended consequences that threaten web-based games,” The Daily Dot’s Phillip Tracy reports. “Games created using any HTML5 engine—Pico-8, GameMaker, Unity, or Phaser—don’t play sound. In many cases, audio won’t even play even when a game requires users to ‘click to play.’”
Nintendo news:
Game Informer’s Imran Khan reports that “Nintendo’s paid online service … includes features like cloud save backups and eShop deals.” It launches in September with 1, 3 and 12 month plans and a family plan.
Nintendo’s looking to hire a “Level designer of ‘The Legend of Zelda’ series.”
Microsoft Azure released a slew of articles yesterday, from “Sharing provisioned throughput across multiple containers” to “New innovations for developers” to “Accelerating AI on the intelligent edge.”
Additionally, VentureBeat’s Emil Protalinski reports, “Microsoft naturally announced a slew of developer tools at Build 2018 … Apps sold in Microsoft Store will give developers 95 percent of the revenue earned purchasing the app or any in-app purchases, while the revenue share will be 85 percent for cases where Microsoft delivers a customer to the developer.”
Chinese games market revenue is on the up and up, Niko Partners reports. “China will enjoy strong growth in digital gamers and games revenue in the next 5 years, to reach $42 billion USD in domestic revenue by 2022. China has over 600 million gamers.”
Capcom gets to boast “its most profitable year in history, thanks to the ongoing success of Monster Hunter: World,” GamesIndustry.biz’s James Batchelor writes. “Year ended March 31st 2018, net sales were reported as ¥94.5 million ($867.5 million) – up 8.4 per cent compared to the previous fiscal year.”
Hi-Rez Studios launched an esports company called Skillshot Media. “Skillshot Media will take over all operations and production for SMITE and Paladins esports leagues,” The Esports Observer’s Trent Murray reports. “The new company will be led by Todd Harris, COO of Hi-Rez.”
Partnership and Acquisition news:
Murray writes that “Electronic Arts and Coca-Cola have partnered to create a FIFA 18 tournament in Russia.”
Esports Insider’s Sam Cooke reports that “Engine Shop has today announced the acquisition of SA Studios Global’s esports and football divisions … The leadership team of Scott Debson, and Jamie King, Co-founder of Rockstar Games will be joining the group too.”
Murray also reports that “Riot Games has partnered with mobile ticketing platform SquadUP … SquadUP will be the ticket provider for the NA LCS studio starting in summer 2018.”
Misc. Esports news:
Dot Esports’ Sam Nordmark reports Dota 2 team Vega Squadron will miss “GESC Bangkok Dota 2 Minor on May 9, due to visa issues for the CIS-region team.”
Dot Esports’ Justin Binkowski reports that Call of Duty’s Team Kaliber added Ian “Enable” Wyatt.
Happy birthday to Heroes of the Storm player Josh “bkid” Choi and StarCraft II players Kevin “RotterdaM” van der Kooi and Byun “ByuN” Hyun Woo!