Total revenue grew +7% YoY to RMB28.8bn, 1% above consensus. Core onlinegame grew 15% YoY to RMB23.4bn, 5%/ 2% beat consensus/ BOCIe. PC andmobile game revenue delivered +85% YoY/ -4% YoY respectively, 0%/ 3%ahead of BOCIe. Marvel Rivals, Where Winds Meet, Blizzard games and Naraka:Bladepoint contributed to skyrocketed PC game revenue. GPM expanded bothYoY/ QoQ to 64.1%, 61.8% above consensus. Along with disciplined opexespecially S&M (down -33% YoY/ -4% QoQ), operating profit grew 37% YoYwith 36.2% OPM, si ...

Core Viewpoint - Take-Two Interactive Software reported mixed fiscal fourth-quarter results, leading to a decline in share price despite some positive analyst ratings and guidance for future performance [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company declared net bookings of $1.582 billion, exceeding consensus estimates of $1.550 billion and reaching the high end of its guidance [2]. - Recurrent consumer spending grew by 14% year-on-year, contributing 77% of total net bookings [7]. - NBA 2K25 sold nearly 10 million units, reflecting a 7% year-on-year increase [6]. Analyst Ratings and Guidance - Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $253 to $269, noting the solid performance across various segments [2]. - Raymond James analyst Andrew Marok reiterated an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $240 to $250, highlighting strong results and positive fan reception for major titles [4]. - Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey reaffirmed a Buy rating with a price target of $250, citing broad-based performance across core franchises and mobile [6]. Future Outlook - Management guided for net bookings of $5.9 billion to $6 billion and earnings of $2.45 to $2.70 per share for fiscal 2026, which was below expectations due to the delay of Grand Theft Auto VI's launch to May 26, 2026 [3]. - Fiscal 2026 is expected to have a solid release slate, with positive responses to major titles like Mafia and Borderlands 4, which should support bookings momentum [5].

“Fortnite” maker Epic Games said Friday that Apple has blocked its latest attempt to bring back the popular video game in the US version of its App Store.The Fortnite app is also unavailable Apple devices in the European Union, despite previously being downloadable there through the Epic Games store. Epic pinned the download failures in Europe on Apple as well.“Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union,” Epic G ...

Core Viewpoint - The strategic partnership between Zhongxu Future (9890.HK) and Kaiying Network (002517.SZ) has been formalized through a three-year product cooperation memorandum, aiming to deepen collaboration in game development and distribution, leveraging their strengths for innovative growth in the gaming industry [1][3][14] Group 1: Strategic Cooperation - The memorandum signifies an upgrade in the strategic cooperation between Zhongxu Future and Kaiying Network, focusing on resource integration and complementary advantages [1][2] - The partnership will continue to build on successful past collaborations in IP operation and global distribution, with a clear strategic direction for the next three years [3][5] Group 2: Classic and New IP Development - Classic IPs such as "Legend," "Miracle," and "Hot Blood Jianghu" will remain central to the partnership, with plans to enhance their lifecycle value through exclusive distribution by Zhongxu Future [5][7] - The collaboration will also explore new IPs, including the Jin Yong martial arts series, to meet market demand for high-quality games [7][8] Group 3: Technological Innovation - The partnership will leverage AI technology to optimize game development processes and enhance content innovation efficiency, aiming for breakthroughs in storytelling and player interaction [5][10] - A joint venture focused on AI technology has been established, with Zhongxu Future investing RMB 10 million to support the development of localized content for diverse markets [12][14] Group 4: Market Impact and Future Outlook - The collaboration is positioned as a response to the evolving gaming industry, emphasizing the importance of IP derivative value and technological innovation as growth engines [14] - The partnership aims to create a sustainable development model for the gaming industry, enhancing player experiences and setting a benchmark for deep cooperation in technology, products, and market strategies [14]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Epic Games claims that Apple is blocking its Fortnite app from the U.S. and E.U. App Stores. After winning a decisive victory for app developers in a legal battle with Apple, forcing the tech giant to allow external payments in its U.S. App Store without charging commission, Epic Games attempted to resubmit Fortnite to the U.S. App Store on May 9, 2025. However, Apple failed to accept its submission for a week, leading Epic Games to pull its request and try again. According to Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, t ...

Core Insights - The Chinese gaming industry is experiencing a bifurcation, with top-tier companies achieving record growth while mid-tier and smaller firms face declines and challenges in transformation [1] - The revenue threshold for the top ten gaming companies has increased significantly, indicating a trend towards greater market concentration [1][11] - Tencent and NetEase dominate the market, with their combined revenue exceeding 80% of the top ten companies' total revenue [4][5] Industry Overview - The gaming industry is witnessing a slowdown in growth, with the top ten companies generating approximately 3.5 trillion yuan in gaming revenue for 2024, accounting for nearly 80% of the total industry revenue [4][11] - The revenue threshold for entering the top ten has risen to 4.7 billion yuan, reflecting a 17.5% increase from 2022 [11] - The competitive landscape is intensifying, with companies like Century Huatong and Bilibili leveraging hit games to improve their standings [1][12] Company Performance - Tencent's gaming revenue for 2024 reached 197.7 billion yuan, marking a 9.9% year-on-year increase, driven by both legacy and new titles [5][6] - NetEase's gaming revenue was 83.6 billion yuan, with a modest growth of 2.5%, indicating challenges in maintaining momentum [8][10] - Century Huatong's revenue surged by 70.3% to 22.62 billion yuan, largely due to the success of its hit game [3][12] Market Dynamics - The industry is increasingly favoring larger companies, making it difficult for smaller firms to compete effectively [1][11] - Companies that can innovate and create blockbuster games are more likely to survive, while those lacking in IP and product cycles may struggle [12][17] - The trend of focusing on long-standing games is becoming a more viable strategy for growth amid rising development costs [7][10] Future Outlook - The gaming market is shifting towards quality competition, with a clear divide between companies that can leverage resources to build ecosystems and those that focus on niche markets [17] - The potential for smaller companies to carve out niches remains, but they must innovate and adapt to changing market conditions [12][17] - The success of companies like Bilibili and Century Huatong suggests that opportunities still exist for those willing to invest in quality and creativity [12][13]

Fortnite is now unavailable on iOS globally, Epic Games said Friday, after Apple blocked a bid to reinstate the popular game on the App Store in the U.S."Apple has blocked our Fortnite submission so we cannot release to the US App Store or to the Epic Games Store for iOS in the European Union," the official account or Fortnite wrote in a post on social media platform X. "Now, sadly, Fortnite on iOS will be offline worldwide until Apple unblocks it."CNBC has reached out to Apple for comment.Epic Games submit ...

ab 16 May 2025 First Read NetEase A hard earned victory Strong Q125 with significant bottom line beat NetEase's Q125 was very strong with beat in both mobile and PC game revenue and notable margin beat, driven by higher than expected game margin and lower than expected S&M. Net, Q1 was 30/25% beat to UBSe/consensus bottom line. See our quick take. Key takeaways from conference call 1) PC game revenue grew strongly by 85% YoY, mainly driven by 1) the strong launch of Marvel Rivals; 2) record performance of e ...

16 May 2025 | 2:24AM HKT NetEase Inc. (NTES) Buy Earnings Review: 1Q clean beat and rising growth visibility for 2025; Raise TP, Buy | NTES | 12m Price Target: $140.00 | Price: $107.11 | Upside: 30.7% | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 9999.HK | 12m Price Target: HK$219.00 | Price: HK$168.10 | Upside: 30.3% | NetEase delivered a clean beat across revenue/GP/OP line in 1Q25, with Game revenue up 15% and OP up 34% yoy. We believe this set of results should ease investors' concern over its legacy/mobile games weakn ...