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Sega sells Amplitude Studios
AppWizard
November 8, 2024

Sega sells Amplitude Studios

Sega has divested from Amplitude Studios, confirmed in their financial report for the six months ending September 30th. Amplitude Studios underwent a management buyout, regaining independence after being acquired by Sega in 2016. Sega reported an extraordinary loss of approximately ¥5.9 billion (.7 million) for the second quarter due to this divestiture, part of a broader restructuring that included layoffs at Creative Assembly and the separation from Canadian developer Relic. For the six months ending September 30th, 2024, Sega reported a 4.5 percent decline in net sales to ¥211.7 billion (.4 billion) and an 18.1 percent decrease in operating income to ¥32.8 billion (4.9 million). Amplitude Studios expressed enthusiasm about their independence and commitment to their core values of creativity, innovation, and community collaboration.
Warner Bros admits games business is "substantially underperforming"
AppWizard
November 8, 2024

Warner Bros admits games business is “substantially underperforming”

Warner Bros Discovery's video games division is facing significant challenges, described as "substantially underperforming," with losses exceeding 0 million due to underperforming titles. The free-to-play game MultiVersus has been particularly problematic. CEO David Zaslav acknowledged the need for more consistent performance from the games business and identified four strong and profitable franchises: Hogwarts Legacy, Mortal Kombat, Game of Thrones, and the DC Universe, particularly Batman. The company plans to recalibrate its strategy by focusing on these core franchises and leveraging the strengths of proven studios.
Qualcomm triples Windows on Arm OEM design wins since May
Winsage
November 8, 2024

Qualcomm triples Windows on Arm OEM design wins since May

Qualcomm's CEO Cristiano R. Amon announced a significant increase in design wins for the Snapdragon X Plus eight-core platform, rising from 20 to 58 in six months. This reflects growing interest among OEMs in Arm-based Windows laptops. However, Qualcomm faces challenges in converting these design wins into consumer sales due to compatibility issues and performance concerns. Intel and AMD continue to dominate the market with hundreds of design wins annually. Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Plus platform offers AI capabilities, 5G connectivity, and improved battery life, but software compatibility remains a challenge. In Q4 2024, Qualcomm reported revenue of .2 billion, a 19% year-on-year increase, and a net income of .92 billion, a 96% rise. Over the fiscal year, revenue increased 9% to .9 billion, and net profit surged 40% to .14 billion.
Take-Two CEO says Grand Theft Auto 6 is on track for 'fall' next year, GTA 5 has sold over 205 million, and 'PC will be more and more a part of [our] business going forward'
AppWizard
November 7, 2024

Take-Two CEO says Grand Theft Auto 6 is on track for ‘fall’ next year, GTA 5 has sold over 205 million, and ‘PC will be more and more a part of [our] business going forward’

Take-Two Interactive reported net bookings of .47 billion for the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, within its projected annual target of .55 to .65 billion. The company attributed its success to the popularity of its franchises, particularly Grand Theft Auto and Borderlands. Grand Theft Auto 5 has sold over 205 million units globally, and Grand Theft Auto Online's membership in the GTA+ service has grown by 35% over the past year. Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold over 67 million units. The anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected in the fall of 2026 at the earliest. The recent Borderlands film has been criticized but positively impacted catalogue sales.
Take-Two revenue up 4% year-on-year
AppWizard
November 7, 2024

Take-Two revenue up 4% year-on-year

Take-Two Interactive reported a four percent increase in net income for the quarter ending September 30th, generating .35 billion in revenue and .47 billion in net bookings, a two percent rise from the previous year. Eighty-one percent of net bookings came from recurrent consumer spending, which grew six percent year-on-year. The company's net loss decreased by 39 percent to 5.5 million. CEO Strauss Zelnick projected fiscal year 2025 Net Bookings guidance of .55 to .65 billion and expressed optimism for record levels in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Upcoming titles include Grand Theft Auto VI, Borderlands 4, and Mafia: The Old Country.
Take-Two has sold Private Division
AppWizard
November 7, 2024

Take-Two has sold Private Division

Take-Two Interactive has divested its indie publishing label, Private Division, as part of a strategic refocus on larger-scale projects. The sale price and new ownership details are undisclosed, but CEO Strauss Zelnick indicated that more information will be revealed soon. The decision aligns with Take-Two's commitment to its core and mobile businesses, aiming to create sequels to established franchises and develop new intellectual properties. The projects handled by Private Division were deemed too small to fit with Take-Two's ambitions. Private Division was established in December 2017 and has supported independent developers successfully.
Curve Games expands China operation
AppWizard
November 7, 2024

Curve Games expands China operation

Indie publisher Curve Games is expanding its presence in the Chinese market by establishing a dedicated business development unit, which will more than double its resources in the region. The company has partnered with Tencent's TiMi Studio Group to enhance its influence in the local gaming landscape. Curve's VP for Asia Publishing, Glenn Wang, noted the emergence of indie companies and the interest from various entertainment firms in content. Executive chair Stuart Dinsey highlighted the importance of the Asian market to Curve's strategy and announced the formation of a five-member team to secure new publishing deals. Curve's recent participation in Gamescom Asia in Singapore has increased confidence in the region's potential for indie publishers.
Microsoft May Adopt "Windows Intelligence" Branding For Windows AI Features
Winsage
November 7, 2024

Microsoft May Adopt “Windows Intelligence” Branding For Windows AI Features

Microsoft is investing heavily in artificial intelligence to compete with companies like Google, Meta, and Apple. There are indications that Microsoft may rebrand its Windows AI features as "Windows Intelligence," based on references found in the appprivacy.adml file. The phrase "Let Apps Access Windows Intelligence" suggests that Microsoft aims to enhance AI functionalities within Windows and potentially allow third-party applications to utilize these features. This rebranding aligns with Apple's marketing approach, as Apple has branded its AI capabilities as "Apple Intelligence." Microsoft has previously rebranded its AI features, such as changing Bing Chat to Copilot, indicating a strategic shift in its AI offerings.
Don't Nod staff to strike
AppWizard
November 6, 2024

Don’t Nod staff to strike

Workers at the French video game developer Don't Nod are set to strike on Friday, November 8th, at 2 PM, organized by the STJV union. The strike is in response to a restructuring plan that puts 69 employees at risk of redundancy. Employees are demanding the withdrawal of the redundancy plan, greater representation in decision-making, and the presence of CEO Oskar Guilbert during negotiations. They expressed their frustrations in a letter to leadership, stating that failures are due to negligent acts and bad decisions from management.
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