In The News
Twitch Prime’s ad-free viewing is no more. “Universal ad-free viewing will no longer be part of Twitch Prime for new members, starting on September 14,” the press release reads. “All other Twitch Prime benefits, like monthly channel subs, monthly games and loot, and chat badges are not changing.”
Additionally, the 20% pre-order discount for Amazon Prime is disappearing.
Women purchase on apps at a rate of 79% higher than men, GI.biz’s Rebekah Valentine writes. “From that data, Liftoff also found that user acquisition for women costs 20.2% less than it does for men.”
Starbreeze’s second quarter boasted “all-time high” sales and “pre-tax profits of SEK 26.2 million ($2.9 million),” GI.biz’s James Batchelor writes.
Partnership & Sponsorship News:
Intel and Overwolf are partnering “to create a $7M fund for competitive gaming apps,” TEO’s Trent Murray writes. “The fund is taking applications now and will begin investing in Q4 2018.”
Gismart and Appodeal are partnering, Valentine reports. They will “publish a portfolio of casual mobile games.”
Intrepid Studios is partnering with My.com and Mail.ru as Ashes of Creation’s “publishers for the regions of Europe, CIS and Russia.”
British Esports Association and epic.LAN Business Services are partnering, Esports Insider’s Adam Fitch reports.
Lynx is sponsoring Paris Saint-Germain Esports in a 3-month deal, TEO’s Sara Elsam reports.
Corsair is sponsoring FC Schalke 04, according to Elsam.
The CD Projekt Group acquired a majority stake in Spokko, Batchelor reports. “The mobile studio developer is already starting work on an unannounced project.”
Cyberpunk 2077 project designer Patrick Mills told PC Gamer’s Joe Donnelly “‘We’ve just not been ready’” to show the game off. “‘We wanted to go ahead and show the demo off, see how [the media] respond to it, build up an appetite for that, and, you know… someday.’”
Extra Esports News:
Misfits intend to open an esports arena in Berlin, Germany. “We’ll be playing host to streamers, pro-players, special events, and more, bringing our gaming family together under one roof,” the press release reads.
Predator Esports Lab teased its “very first training center for professional players.”
The University of Akron’s esports program is expanding while a host of other “degree tracks” are being cut — and some are not happy about it. “Ohio Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) president John T. McNay, who represents the group of 6,000 Ohio professors, expressed displeasure with the decision to cut degree programs and expand esports investment,” Dot Esports’ Nicole Carpenter reports.
Tempo Storm posted “Two Weeks Into Boomsday | Tempo Storm Meta Snapshot Breakdown | Hearthstone | [The Boomsday Project].”