We see that IP and it stands out so much units, but competition is really building. How do you see that as a really helping you focus on the business scale, the business, but also to drive off those competitors. Sure.I mean, it's always great to have competition because it only fuels that drive to innovate and to, you know, exceed expectations for us. We welcome all of it. I think scope in particular is always focused on a community first approach.And so the games that we're building, we think about how are ...

Core Insights - The Chinese gaming industry has experienced significant revenue growth from 140.7 billion to 325.7 billion from 2015 to 2025, driven by mobile gaming expansion, overseas market exploration, and the cultural and commercial value of classic IPs [1] Group 1: Buy Volume Strategy - "Buy volume" has become a core skill for most Chinese game developers over the past decade, evolving from reliance on app stores to a more strategic approach due to the rise of social media and short video platforms [2][4] - The early gaming market relied heavily on channel resources, with a focus on "channel supremacy," which limited developers' autonomy and profitability [3] - As the market matured, the focus shifted to direct user advertising and building independent marketing strategies to compete with app store channels [3][4] Group 2: Overseas Market Challenges - Chinese game companies are increasingly investing in overseas markets, but many domestic buy volume strategies have not translated well internationally due to market fragmentation and differing attribution mechanisms [5][6] - The reliance on device parameters for user tracking in China contrasts with the standardized advertising identifiers used in overseas markets, complicating the effectiveness of traditional strategies [6] - Localizing marketing strategies and forming local teams have become essential for adapting to diverse overseas markets [7] Group 3: Privacy Compliance and Data Sharing - Stricter privacy regulations, such as GDPR and Apple's ATT, have significantly impacted the advertising industry, reducing the traceability of ad campaigns and the precision of audience targeting [11][12] - The industry is moving towards broader cooperation and data sharing among platforms, service providers, and advertisers to enhance targeting precision within compliance frameworks [12] - The need for a balance between privacy protection and effective advertising strategies is becoming a consensus in the industry [12] Group 4: Cost Trends and Advertising Strategies - Despite fluctuations in the gaming market, global buy volume costs are on a steady rise, with the top 100 mobile games in China projected to spend nearly 10 billion in buy volume by mid-2024 [13] - The marginal effectiveness of traditional buy volume strategies is declining, prompting a shift towards a balanced approach between brand and performance advertising [13][14] - The introduction of AI in advertising is seen as a key direction for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in user acquisition [15][16]

Core Insights - Yandex Ads released the "2025 Growth Report for the Russian App Market" at ChinaJoy 2025, indicating significant growth in the mobile gaming and online advertising sectors in Russia [1] Group 1: Mobile Gaming - In 2024, Russia is projected to rank fifth globally in mobile game downloads [1] - The smartphone penetration rate in Russia has reached 83% [1] - The average time spent playing games per person per month is 11.5 hours [1] Group 2: Online Advertising - The online advertising market in Russia is expected to reach a size of $13.4 billion, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 53% [1] - Over 70% of Android users in Russia are primarily young users [1]

Core Viewpoint - Playtika Holding (PLTK) is anticipated to report a year-over-year decline in earnings despite an increase in revenues for the quarter ended June 2025, which could significantly influence its stock price depending on the actual results compared to estimates [1][2]. Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is scheduled for August 7, and if the reported figures exceed expectations, the stock may rise; conversely, a miss could lead to a decline [2]. - The consensus estimate for Playtika's quarterly earnings is projected at $0.15 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 34.8%, while revenues are expected to reach $710.65 million, marking a 13.3% increase from the previous year [3]. Estimate Revisions - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate has been revised down by 1.08%, indicating a collective reassessment by analysts regarding the company's earnings prospects [4]. - The Most Accurate Estimate for Playtika is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -1.64%, suggesting a bearish outlook from analysts [12]. Historical Performance - In the last reported quarter, Playtika was expected to post earnings of $0.11 per share but only achieved $0.09, resulting in a surprise of -18.18% [13]. - Over the past four quarters, Playtika has only beaten consensus EPS estimates once [14]. Predictive Indicators - A positive Earnings ESP is a strong indicator of an earnings beat, especially when combined with a Zacks Rank of 1, 2, or 3; however, Playtika currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3, making it challenging to predict a beat [10][12]. - The predictive power of the Earnings ESP model is significant primarily for positive readings, and a negative Earnings ESP does not necessarily indicate an earnings miss [9][11].

Core Insights - Southeast Asia is projected to be the second-largest mobile gaming market globally in Q1 2025, with 1.93 billion new game downloads, reflecting a 3% year-on-year growth [1] - The region's in-app purchase (IAP) revenue for Q1 2025 is estimated at $625 million, ranking seventh globally, indicating significant untapped monetization potential [1] - Different countries within Southeast Asia exhibit varying growth trends, with Indonesia leading in downloads at 870 million, a 9% increase year-on-year, followed by the Philippines and Vietnam with 366 million and 329 million downloads respectively [1]

Core Viewpoint - The A-share gaming sector is experiencing a significant upward trend, with notable increases in stock prices for companies such as Glacier Network and Giant Network, both rising over 4% [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Glacier Network and Giant Network have both seen stock price increases exceeding 4% [1] - Other companies in the sector, including Fuchun Co., Kaiying Network, Perfect World, and Shengtian Network, are also experiencing upward movement in their stock prices [1] Group 2: Industry Insights - According to SensorTower's store intelligence platform, 33 Chinese companies made it to the global mobile game publisher revenue list TOP 100 in June [1] - These companies collectively generated a revenue of $1.76 billion [1]

Core Insights - In June 2025, a total of 33 Chinese companies made it to the global mobile game publisher revenue ranking TOP 100, collectively generating $1.76 billion in revenue, which accounts for 33% of the total revenue of the global TOP 100 mobile game publishers [1] Group 1 - 33 Chinese companies ranked in the global mobile game publisher revenue TOP 100 [1] - Total revenue generated by these companies reached $1.76 billion [1] - This revenue represents 33% of the total revenue of the global TOP 100 mobile game publishers [1]

Market Overview - Wall Street ended the first day of July 2025 on a mixed note, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained slightly [1] - The contrasting movements in the major stock indices were influenced by opposing forces, including a feud between President Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and the U.S. Senate's passage of Trump's tax bill aimed at stimulating economic growth [2] Investment Opportunities - Amid market uncertainty, there is a potential opportunity to invest in low-leverage stocks that are not expensive and can provide a protective shield during turbulent times [3] - Suggested low-leverage stocks include Novartis (NVS), Alamo Group (ALG), ArcelorMittal (MT), Bilibili (BILI), and Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL) [3][10] Low-Leverage Stocks - Low-leverage stocks are characterized by a lower debt-to-equity ratio, indicating reduced financial risk and improved solvency [7][8] - Investing in low-leverage stocks is recommended to avoid significant losses during economic downturns [6][7] Company Highlights - **Novartis (NVS)**: Recently completed the acquisition of Regulus Therapeutics, enhancing its drug portfolio. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NVS's 2025 sales suggests a 7.3% improvement from 2024, with a long-term earnings growth rate of 7.9% [15][16] - **Alamo Group (ALG)**: Completed the acquisition of Ring-O-Matic, expanding its product offerings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ALG's 2025 earnings indicates a 7.2% year-over-year improvement [17][18] - **ArcelorMittal (MT)**: Signed an agreement to sell operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allowing a focus on higher-growth areas. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 49.8% [19] - **Bilibili (BILI)**: Reported a 24% year-over-year revenue increase and a 58% improvement in gross profit for Q1 2025. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2025 sales indicates a 12.1% improvement from 2024 [20][21] - **Sterling Infrastructure (STRL)**: Announced the acquisition of CEC Facilities Group, enhancing its service portfolio in high-growth markets. The company has a long-term earnings growth rate of 15% [22][23]

Core Insights - The article discusses the ongoing improvements in China's gaming industry's mechanisms for protecting minors, particularly in response to stringent regulations aimed at preventing gaming addiction [1][2] - The focus is on the social aspects of gaming for minors, highlighting both the benefits and potential risks associated with online interactions [1] - A new report evaluates the effectiveness of these protective measures, emphasizing the need for enhanced social safety features within games [2][3] Group 1: Mechanisms and Regulations - The gaming industry has implemented a series of measures to protect minors, including real-name registration, age-specific consumption limits, and parental supervision mechanisms [1] - The "Guidelines for Building Minor Protection Models in Mobile Internet" outlines specific requirements for internet service providers to safeguard minors from harmful content [1][2] Group 2: Evaluation Report - The "2025 Report on the Evaluation of Minor Protection Mechanisms in 20 Mobile Game Apps" introduces upgraded assessment criteria focusing on social protection mechanisms for minors [2] - The report evaluates 20 popular mobile games based on their preemptive, regulatory, and remedial measures regarding gaming addiction, as well as their social functionality [2][3] Group 3: Findings and Recommendations - The report identifies strengths and weaknesses in the current minor protection mechanisms across different game developers, highlighting areas needing improvement [2][3] - A series of constructive compliance suggestions are proposed to enhance collaboration among game developers, parents, schools, and society to build a more robust protection system for minors [3]

Core Insights - Playtika Holding (PLTK) reported quarterly earnings of $0.09 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.11 per share, and down from $0.15 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of -18.18% [1] - The company posted revenues of $706 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.25%, and up from $651.2 million year-over-year [2] - Playtika shares have declined approximately 21.8% since the beginning of the year, compared to a -4.3% decline in the S&P 500 [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.13 on revenues of $706.14 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.55 on revenues of $2.83 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Playtika is mixed, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) for the stock, indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Gaming industry, to which Playtika belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 41% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8] - Another company in the same industry, GDEV Inc. (GDEV), is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.18 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +280% [9]