Public Investment Fund Portfolio ChangesA new 13F filing from the Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) revealed only one change in the fourth quarter.The fund no longer holds its 11,414,680 TTWO share position it held in the third quarter, which made up 15% of the fund's assets.Instead, that stock position has been transferred to Savvy Games Group, a subsidiary of PIF, according to Reuters. Savvy Games Group owns stakes in several video game companies and is the owner of Niantic, Embracer and Scopely ...

Group 1 - Sony has abandoned its live-service strategy after the failure of "Concord" and canceled two unannounced online service games, marking the end of a decade-long trend in the gaming industry [2] - Microsoft plans to port Xbox games to other platforms, with titles like "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" and "Halo: Campaign Evolved" launching on PS5 [4] - Warner Bros. Games announced the closure of several studios, including Monolith Productions, which had developed notable games over its 30-year history [4] Group 2 - Despite a decrease in overall layoffs in the gaming industry, several studios, including Ubisoft Leamington and a developer under NetEase, are facing closures [5] - U.S. tariffs announced by President Trump have raised concerns about the gaming industry's future, leading to price increases for consoles and accessories, and prompting companies like Sony to consider local production [5] - Apple is under pressure to open its payment systems, following a court ruling that requires it to stop restricting developers from directing users to external purchasing channels [7] Group 3 - Scopely acquired Niantic's gaming business for $3.5 billion, including popular titles like "Pokemon Go" [7] - Nintendo's Switch 2 launched on June 5, 2025, selling over 3.5 million units in four days and reaching 10.36 million units in four months, double the sales of the original Switch [9] - The game "Peak" achieved significant success, selling over 10 million copies by the end of August 2025 [11] Group 4 - Microsoft initiated a large-scale layoff affecting about 4% of its workforce, with significant impacts on its gaming division, including the closure of The Initiative studio [17] - SAG-AFTRA ended an 11-month strike, securing agreements with major gaming companies to protect the rights of workers in the AI era [18] - The UK’s Online Safety Act came into effect, requiring strict age verification measures from gaming companies, leading to the removal of several adult games from platforms like Itch.org [18][20] Group 5 - EA announced its acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund for $55 billion, pending regulatory approval [29] - AWS service disruptions affected numerous gaming networks, including Fortnite and PlayStation Network, causing widespread service interruptions [30] - Rockstar Games faced backlash after laying off employees attempting to form a union, leading to protests and government scrutiny [31] Group 6 - Take Two Interactive postponed the release of "GTA 6" to November 2026, sparking discussions about the implications for other game studios [33] - Valve released new devices, including the Steam Machine, which is set to launch in early 2026 [34] - Tencent completed a €1.16 billion investment in Ubisoft's Vantage Studios, which is known for major game franchises [37] Group 7 - Netflix is reportedly acquiring Warner Bros. for approximately $82.7 billion, with little focus on the gaming division [39] - Activision announced a strategic shift in its "Call of Duty" series, discontinuing future releases of "Modern Warfare" and "Black Ops" due to underperformance [42] - Larian Studios faced controversy over the use of AI in game development, leading to clarifications about its intentions [44]

以下文章来源于日经Gaming ，作者日经Gaming 日经Gaming . 日经 Gaming 是日经 BP 旗下专业游戏媒体。以商务视点出发，经营、消费、营销为切口，传递游戏及关联领域的最新动向。 向世界推广真实的热量 编者荐语： 除线上策略外，举办线下现实活动是 Niantic 为《 Monster Hunter Now 》量身打造的核心用户增长举措，这一策略延续了其运营位置信息游戏 的成熟经验 ——Niantic 历来通过线下活动强化玩家连接，而这一方针在《 Monster Hunter Now 》的运营中得到了充分继承与落地。 日经Gaming是2025年7月创刊的"以商业视点出发的游戏媒体"。日经BP利用在经营、技术、消费、营销各领域培养的采访力、信息发布力，从商 业角度出发，发布游戏及其周边产业的最新动向、商业模式。 【《 Monster Hunter Now 》嘉年华 2024 ：涉谷】现场图 谈及线下活动的设计灵感，大隅先生提到了昔日的游戏中心 —— 在游戏中心的全盛时期，人们聚集在店内游玩，通过对话、店内笔记本留言 等方式互动，形成了真实且充满社交感的独特文化。而 2024 年《 Mons ...

Core Insights - Niantic's location-based game "Monster Hunter Now" launched in September 2023 and has gained significant popularity, with downloads exceeding 20 million by April 2025, indicating strong operational performance [5]. Group 1: Game Development and Popularity - "Monster Hunter Now" integrates Capcom's popular IP and has successfully created a unique gaming experience where players can team up to hunt monsters in the real world [5]. - The game's development was inspired by the curiosity of what it would be like if monsters from the "Monster Hunter" universe appeared in the real world, aligning with Niantic's mission to explore the world together [5]. Group 2: Future Prospects and Company Strategy - Niantic's strategy includes expanding service content while promoting offline activities, which has contributed to the game's sustained popularity [5]. - The company announced a significant shift in March 2025, planning to sell "Pokémon GO" and other games to Scopely, marking a pivotal moment for Niantic [3].

Core Insights - Electronic Arts (EA) has been sold to a consortium for US$55 billion, marking a significant private equity buyout in the video game industry [1][3] - The consortium includes Silver Lake Partners, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), and Affinity Partners [2] - EA's shares were valued at US$210, representing a 25% premium for shareholders [3] Company Overview - EA is a major player in the video game industry, known for franchises like The Sims and Battlefield, but has faced criticism for poor labor practices and a focus on online gaming [4][5] - The company has been accused of negatively impacting beloved franchises through its business practices, particularly with microtransactions [5][6] Market Context - The global video game industry surpasses the combined value of the film and music industries, highlighting its economic significance [4] - EA has experienced slowing growth, leading to the cancellation of games and layoffs of nearly 2,000 workers since 2023 [8] Investment Dynamics - The PIF has been actively investing in entertainment, including sports and video games, as part of a strategy to improve its global image [9][11] - The acquisition of EA is seen as a potential avenue for "game-washing," leveraging the entertainment value of video games to counteract negative perceptions of Saudi Arabia [12] Financial Structure - The buyout is a leveraged acquisition, with US$20 billion of the purchase price funded through debt, raising concerns about future layoffs and cost-cutting measures [14][15] - The debt burden may lead to increased monetization strategies, such as microtransactions, potentially degrading the player experience [15]

Core Insights - The article discusses how mobile game developers are increasingly directing players to external payment options to avoid Apple's 30% commission, referred to as the "Apple tax" [1][3][12] - A study by Liquid & Grit analyzed over 30 cases of leading mobile game companies like Supercell and Niantic, focusing on their strategies to sell in-app purchases (IAP) directly to players outside of the App Store [1][3] Group 1: Strategies for Redirecting Players - Liquid & Grit categorized the new store designs into four main types: offering web store discounts in the native IAP store, pop-ups, buttons on the main game interface, and using in-game news and email systems for guidance [1][3] - "Social Casino" games are the most proactive in redirecting players to web stores, utilizing all four methods, while other game categories show varied adoption [3][5] - Specific games like "Dragon City" and "PUBG Mobile" employ different strategies, such as banners and pop-ups, to encourage players to use web stores for purchases [5][7] Group 2: Incentives and Challenges - To enhance conversion rates, developers must reduce payment friction and increase player motivation to choose external payment options over Apple’s [11][12] - Companies like Epic Games offer incentives, such as a 20% cash back, to encourage players to opt for web payments [11] - The report suggests that the most effective design so far is the "purchase pop-up," which allows players to complete transactions without leaving the game, thus maintaining a seamless experience [11][12] Group 3: Alternative Payment Solutions - Companies with in-house resources are encouraged to build their own web stores and utilize payment processors like Stripe or Adyen to handle transactions [12] - For developers who prefer not to create their own stores, managed web store service providers like Xsolla and Stash are available, offering a quicker setup at a cost lower than Apple's commission [12]

Core Insights - The global mobile game revenue rankings for July 2025 show significant fluctuations in income among top games, with "Honor of Kings" leading at $165 million, followed closely by "LastWar" at $153 million and "Whiteout Survival" at $127 million [1][2]. Group 1: Revenue Performance - "Honor of Kings" experienced a revenue increase to $165 million in July, rebounding from $143 million in June, but still below the $195 million peak in early 2025 [2]. - "LastWar" achieved $153 million in July, outperforming "Whiteout Survival," but remains below its previous high of $160 million per month from December 2024 to February 2025 [2]. - "Whiteout Survival" stabilized at around $130 million monthly after a peak of $144 million in March 2025 [2]. - "Royal Match" maintained steady income around $125 million after significant peaks earlier in the year [3]. - "Monopoly Go" rebounded after dropping below $100 million in May, with increasing licensed revenue reported by Hasbro [3]. - "PUBG Mobile" saw a drop to $93 million in June but slightly recovered to nearly $110 million in July [3]. Group 2: Notable Games and Trends - "Candy Crush Saga" remained stable with July revenue just below $100 million [4]. - "Honkai: Star Rail" surged 29 ranks to nearly $80 million in July, marking a significant increase from June [4]. - "Clash Royale" returned to the top ten with $54 million in July, its best performance since December 2017, attributed to new game modes [4]. - "Kingshot" and "Gossip Harbor" both surpassed $50 million in July, indicating strong performance in the lower rankings [5][6]. - "Pokémon Go" saw a revenue drop to $48 million following a major event in June, while "Pokémon TCG Pocket" hit a new low of $43 million [6]. - Tencent's "Delta Action" earned $44 million in July, rising 27 ranks, while Konami's "eFootball" also reached $44 million [7]. - "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" gained popularity in Western markets, showing increasing revenue potential [7].

Core Insights - The global mobile game revenue rankings for June 2025 have been released, with Tencent's "Honor of Kings" leading the chart despite a month-over-month revenue decline [1][2]. Group 1: Top Revenue Generating Games - "Honor of Kings" by Tencent generated $143 million in June, maintaining its top position despite a $40 million drop from May's $184 million [2]. - "Whiteout Survival" and "LastWar" closely follow, with "Whiteout Survival" earning $128 million and "LastWar" at $127 million, showing a very narrow revenue gap [2]. - "Royal Match" ranked fourth with a revenue of $117 million, marking its first drop below $120 million since June 2024 [3]. Group 2: Notable Trends and Changes - "Monopoly Go" by Scopely has stabilized around $100 million for three consecutive months, while "Candy Crush Saga" saw its revenue fall below $100 million for the first time since February, now at $97 million [3]. - "PUBG Mobile" and "Peacekeeper Elite" also experienced revenue declines, with "Peacekeeper Elite" dropping from approximately $120 million in May to about $94 million in June [3]. - "Pokémon Go" saw a significant revenue increase to over $62 million due to community events, while "Pokémon TCG Pocket" faced a decline from approximately $81 million to $56 million [4]. Group 3: Rankings Beyond the Top 10 - "Genshin Impact" by miHoYo ranked 11th with $48.8 million, while "Gossip Harbor" reached $44.2 million, marking a new high [5][6]. - "Roblox" continued to struggle with a revenue drop to $39.2 million, while "Kingshot" surged to $37.3 million, climbing 13 positions [6][7]. - "Clash Royale" by Supercell achieved a revenue of approximately $36 million, marking its best performance since December 2021 [7].

Company Strategy - Niantic CEO John Hanke decided to sell its games business and pivot to enterprise AI [1] - The company was still generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually from its mobile game [1]

Niantic was still raking in hundreds of millions a year from the beloved mobile game when CEO John Hanke decided to sell its games business and pivot to enterprise AI. Why blow it all up now?Read more: https://t.co/1KEAMbhW5v https://t.co/y1YtuVWGXi ...