"And the thing about games is, if you get good at one game, you can be good at any game. … They're all hand-eye coordination and observing patterns.†That's a line from Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Gabrielle Zevin's 2022 novel about two friends who build a video game company from nothing — struggling with the tension between art and commerce, and ultimately with the challenges of operating a business at scale. This describes almost perfectly what Asha Sharma will be attempting to do in her new rol ...

Core Insights - Zillow has launched a new microsite called Zillow for Warcraft, allowing players to explore in-game homes from World of Warcraft as player housing becomes available [1][2] - This collaboration with Blizzard Entertainment celebrates the long-awaited feature of player housing in World of Warcraft, which has been requested by the community for nearly two decades [1][2] - The experience combines Zillow's real estate expertise with the fantasy world of Azeroth, showcasing player-created homes and Blizzard-designed properties [1][2] Group 1: Collaboration and Experience - Zillow for Warcraft features a curated collection of in-game homes, including player-favorite designs and Blizzard-built homes inspired by iconic Warcraft styles [1][2] - The microsite offers immersive experiences such as 3D Home tours and SkyTour-style visuals, enhancing the exploration of standout designs [1][2] - In-game characters Bek'tar Donhammer and Hazl Fizzlehorn guide players through the homeownership experience in Azeroth [1][2] Group 2: Marketing and Community Engagement - The launch is supported by a co-branded campaign across social media platforms, including Reddit and TikTok, encouraging players to share their in-game homes [1][2] - Zillow's partnership with Blizzard is part of its 2026 brand platform, "Someday Starts Today," which aims to inspire people to take steps toward homeownership [1][2] - The experience is non-transactional, meaning there is no buying or selling of homes, pricing, or Zestimates involved [1][2] Group 3: Company Backgrounds - Zillow Group, Inc. is a leading real estate platform in the U.S., connecting consumers with innovative technology and services throughout the home journey [2][3] - Blizzard Entertainment, known for its iconic game franchises, has a rich history in the gaming industry, engaging millions of players worldwide [2][3] - Both companies aim to enhance the experience of home, whether in the real world or within the gaming universe [2][3]

i was today years old when i realized i could have unknowingly played world of warcraft with jeffrey epstein back in 2010. 2026 is shaping up to be an amazing year. https://t.co/AiJhE799mc ...

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call on China's Gaming Sector Industry Overview - The Chinese gaming sector is expected to show a notable recovery in 2025, driven by a strong product release schedule across the industry [1][5] - Major players like Tencent and NetEase are leading this recovery with innovative content and successful game launches [5] Core Insights - **Cyclical Recovery**: The recovery is characterized as a cyclical rebound rather than a temporary sentiment rally, with significant content innovations reaching the launch stage in 2025 [5] - **Extraction Shooter Genre**: This new genre has emerged as a significant innovation in first-person shooters, combining tactical shooting with high-risk, high-reward gameplay, which has attracted a substantial user base [5] - **Strategic Focus**: Tencent is integrating the extraction shooter genre into large platform-level games, while NetEase is expanding its offerings with titles like Naraka: Bladepoint [2][5] Market Dynamics - **SLG Sub-sector**: Simulation/strategy games (SLG) in China have long life cycles (5-10 years) and high lifetime value from top gamers, but the entry barriers have increased significantly, with development costs exceeding hundreds of millions of renminbi [2][5] - **Global Expansion**: Chinese developers are transitioning from mobile to PC/console markets, exemplified by the success of Black Myth: Wukong, which has sold nearly 30 million copies with a reported cost of approximately Rmb540 million, generating Rmb5.4 billion in profit [7] Future Outlook - **Casual and Puzzle Markets**: The global casual and puzzle gaming market presents significant opportunities, with companies like Microfun generating monthly revenues exceeding Rmb500 million [7] - **Genre Fusion**: The transformation of traditional single-player genres into long-term service games is seen as a key opportunity for Chinese developers to capture market share in high-barrier segments [7] Additional Considerations - The restoration of NetEase's partnership with Blizzard has revitalized its offerings, particularly with World of Warcraft, contributing to a strong pipeline of new releases [5] - Tencent's performance has improved with titles like Delta Force, marking a shift from a saturated market to one driven by high-quality content supply [5] This summary encapsulates the key points discussed in the conference call regarding the recovery and future prospects of the Chinese gaming sector, highlighting the roles of major companies and emerging trends within the industry.

NetEase 3Q25 Investor Presentation Investor Relations November 20, 2025 SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT This announcement contains statements of a forward-looking nature. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these forward-looking statements by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar expressions. In addition, statements that are not histo ...

Core Insights - The Federal Reserve's recent 25bps rate cut and potential fiscal easing are expected to stimulate M&A activity, particularly in the TMT sector, which has shown resilience with a 33% increase in deal value to $146 billion [1] - Intellectual property (IP) is becoming a central asset in TMT M&A, influencing valuations and strategic directions, as companies seek to acquire content libraries and franchises to enhance user engagement and competitive positioning [2] M&A Activity Highlights - Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in 2023 is the largest gaming deal in history, allowing Microsoft to control significant IPs and become the third-largest gaming platform by revenue [3][4] - The deal was justified by the recurring monetization potential from subscriptions and in-game purchases, supported by Activision's 400 million monthly active users [4] - Skydance Media's merger with Paramount Global for $28 billion aims to create a media and technology leader, leveraging Paramount's extensive IP and streaming platforms to enhance distribution and production capabilities [6][7] Strategic Importance of IP - The integration of Activision's library into Microsoft's Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming has proven beneficial, with gaming revenue reaching $2 billion and Xbox content growing by 16% [5] - Paramount's acquisition of UFC for $7.7 billion is positioned as a strategic move to enhance its sports IP portfolio, transitioning UFC events from pay-per-view to subscription models, thereby increasing engagement and retention [9][10] - The valuation of IP in these transactions reflects a shift towards viewing IP as a recurring, ecosystem-driven asset rather than just a one-time revenue generator [16][20] Future Outlook - The long-term growth potential of the media industry remains strong, driven by increasing consumption and the central role of IP across various entertainment formats [22] - Companies must be cautious in their M&A strategies, ensuring they have the scale and platforms to fully leverage acquired IP, as today's high premiums could lead to future valuation challenges [23]

Core Insights - The article reflects on the performance of five stocks selected for a sampler ten years ago, analyzing their returns against the S&P 500 and discussing lessons learned from their performance [1][2][3]. Group 1: Activision Blizzard (ATVI) - Activision Blizzard was selected for its strong gaming franchises, including Call of Duty and Candy Crush, and was acquired by Microsoft for $95 per share, resulting in a total return of 234.9% over ten years [9][11][12]. - The company successfully diversified its portfolio through acquisitions, maintaining a strong presence in the gaming industry [10][14]. - The stock significantly outperformed the S&P 500, which rose 118.4% during the same period, highlighting the effectiveness of its business strategy [12][14]. Group 2: Casey's General Stores (CASY) - Casey's General Stores has expanded from 1,888 stores to 2,658 over the past decade, focusing on pizza sales and enhancing customer experience [18][20]. - The stock price increased from $104.80 to $495.14, representing a 373% return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 223% return [22][23]. - The company shifted its focus from fuel sales to in-store offerings, with gross profit from inside sales nearly doubling that of fuel sales [21][22]. Group 3: FireEye (FEYE) - FireEye, initially a leader in cybersecurity, struggled with execution and ultimately merged with Mandiant, resulting in a 10-year return of only 16% [24][28][30]. - The company failed to adapt its business model effectively, leading to its underperformance compared to the S&P 500 [26][29]. - The acquisition by Alphabet did not yield significant returns for original investors, emphasizing the importance of strong execution in emerging industries [28][30]. Group 4: Mercado Libre (MELI) - Mercado Libre evolved from a marketplace to a comprehensive platform offering payments, logistics, and credit services, with a market cap now at $122 billion [30][31]. - The stock price surged from $109.94 to $2,384, achieving a 2,069% return, far exceeding the S&P 500's performance [33][34]. - The company's revenue and net income have increased dramatically, showcasing its successful expansion and leadership in Latin America [32][34]. Group 5: Middleby (MIDD) - Middleby, a provider of kitchen equipment, saw its stock price rise only 27% over the past decade, underperforming the market [37][38]. - The departure of its long-time CEO and macroeconomic challenges in the restaurant industry contributed to its lackluster performance [39][40]. - Despite ongoing acquisitions and growth, the company faced headwinds from high borrowing costs and reduced consumer spending in the residential market [40].

[Música] [Música] Él es Mats. Es un chico en Noruega que tiene una condición física que le impedía moverse de su silla de ruedas durante mucho tiempo. Pero Mats no solamente era Mats, también era Evely, un lord en el mundo de World of Warcraft o WoW para las personas más conocedoras del tema. Mats jugó cerca de 20,000 horas al World of Warcraft. Eso, en otras palabras, es cerca de unos 2 años de vida. Y lo hacía desde su silla, como lo están viendo ahí. Los lo interesante de esta historia es que sucedía enf ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total net revenue for the second quarter was RMB 27.9 billion or approximately USD 3.9 billion, representing a 9.4% year-over-year increase [34] - Gross profit for the second quarter was RMB 18.1 billion, up 13% year-over-year, with a total gross profit margin of 64.7% [36] - Non-GAAP net income attributable to shareholders for the second quarter totaled RMB 9.5 billion or USD 1.3 billion, up 22% year-over-year [39] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from games and related VAS rose 14% year-over-year, with net revenues from online games at RMB 22.1 billion, a year-over-year increase of 15% [34][36] - Net revenue from Youdao was RMB 1.4 billion, up 7% year-over-year, driven by enhanced utilization of AI technology [35] - Net revenue from NetEase Cloud Music was RMB 2 billion, up 6% from the previous quarter but down 4% year-over-year [35] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The player base for the game "Mystery and Mayhem" surpassed 1 million shortly after its launch, ranking number two in the US iOS download chart [9] - "Once Human" reached number four on Steam's global top seller chart following its major content update [11] - "Fantasy Westward Journey Online" achieved a new all-time high peak in concurrent players, surpassing 2.93 million [16] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its global reach through innovative game offerings and high-quality content updates [6][27] - There is a commitment to continuous investment in content creation and product development to maintain a healthy gaming ecosystem [38] - The company aims to leverage AI technology across its operations and game development to enhance user experiences [78] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term performance of "Where Wings Meet," indicating a stable monetization cycle [45] - The company sees significant potential for Blizzard titles in the Chinese market, emphasizing the importance of aligning with local tastes [52] - Management highlighted the importance of ongoing updates and community engagement to sustain player interest in existing titles [67] Other Important Information - The company approved a dividend of USD 0.57 per ADS and repurchased approximately 22.1 million ADS for a total cost of about USD 2 billion [40] - The company is actively refining several upcoming titles, including "Sea of Venomance" and "Blood Message," with plans for release in 2026 [24][25] Q&A Session Summary Question: Monetization success of "Where Wings Meet" - Management indicated that "Where Wings Meet" has exceeded initial expectations in both active players and monetization, with a promising potential for sustainable success [44] Question: Performance of "Once Human" - Management noted that significant updates have driven a rebound in performance, with a balanced user distribution between China and international markets [47] Question: Blizzard titles performance - Management confirmed that Blizzard titles have surpassed previous metrics and see potential for attracting new players through localized improvements [52] Question: Competitive landscape for shooting games - Management acknowledged the high expectations for quality in the shooting game genre and committed to continued investment in this area [55] Question: Recovery of evergreen titles - Management reported stable improvements in "Eggy Party" and "Fantasy Westward Journey Online," attributing recovery to continuous innovation and marketing efforts [66] Question: AI integration in games - Management emphasized ongoing investments in AI technology to enhance game development and operations, with future potential for AI-designed games [78] Question: Performance of "Mystery and Mayhem" - Management shared that "Mystery and Mayhem" received positive feedback post-launch, but acknowledged long-term growth challenges [83]

Financial Performance - NetEase's market capitalization was $854 billion as of August 13, 2025[9] - Net revenues for 2Q25 reached $39 billion[9] - Net income attributable to the company's shareholders for 2Q25 was $12 billion[9] - Basic net income per ADS (GAAP) for 2Q25 was $188[9] - Net cash as of June 30, 2025, amounted to $198 billion[9] Revenue Breakdown (2Q25) - Games and related value-added services generated $3184 million in net revenues[12] - Youdao's net revenues were $198 million[20] - NetEase Cloud Music's net revenues reached $275 million[23] - Innovative businesses and others contributed $237 million in net revenues[26] Games Performance - Online games accounted for 97% of games and related value-added services revenue in 2Q25[12] - Fantasy Westward Journey Online reached over 293 million peak concurrent players in August[18] ESG Ratings - NetEase received an AA rating from MSCI[9, 40] - NetEase's Sustainalytics rating indicates a low-risk company[40]