2023 has really been all about bringing back the classics. Remakes, remasters, and ports are totally ruling the gaming scene right now. Can you believe that these kinds of games snagged nine of the top ten spots in the highest-rated games list from March through June? They were also some of the most eagerly awaited releases.

The Nielsen report shows that the cashflow from the top video game remakes nearly doubled in 2020 when you compare it to 2018. That’s why everyone’s calling it the golden age of remakes and remasters.

But why are these game makeovers killing it in today’s super-competitive market? Let’s take a look into what gamers and game-makers think about the whole trend.

Millennials are right at the heart of this big comeback. According to a report by Newzoo, 80% of millennials are gamers. They grew up with the classic video games from the 80s and 90s, which are now getting a fresh coat of paint.

It’s more than just playing games for them; it’s about reliving those epic childhood moments. Now that they’ve got money to spend, millennials are a big reason why remakes and remasters are so popular. They’re not just stuck in nostalgia; they’re actively shaping the market. And it’s not just a passing phase – studies like the one from ExpressVPN show that their love for gaming is here to stay, even outpacing the enthusiasm of the Gen Z crowd.

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Challenges in the gaming industry

The gaming industry has faced mounting pressures due to escalating consumer expectations for high-quality content delivered quickly, driven by rapid technological advancements and fierce competition. Developers now need larger teams and more time to produce content that meets these expectations.

In response to the industry’s overgrowth during the Covid-19 pandemic and the current economic challenges, developers and investors have adopted a more conservative financial approach. This cautious stance has led some to focus on game renewals to mitigate development risks while still delivering high-quality products.

The Last of Us, developed by Naughty Dog and Sony Interactive Entertainment, serves as a prime example of the longevity that remakes and remasters can offer. Launched in 2013, the game has seen updated versions released with each new console generation, ensuring it remains relevant and accessible to gamers on any platform. This strategy has kept The Last of Us in the spotlight, contributing to its enduring success and even inspiring a hit television series in 2023.

Analyzing the optimal timing for game renewals

Likewise, game renewals offer other developers a way to keep their franchises relevant, expand their consumer base, and build anticipation for future titles. Beyond their direct sales and engagement benefits, remakes, remasters, and ports can reinvigorate interest in the original games, as shown in a Newzoo study. This was evidenced by the launch of the Resident Evil 4 remake in March 2023, which led to a significant spike in monthly active users for the original 2005 version on Steam. These benefits demonstrate the positive impact of well-executed game renewals on a franchise.

Virtuos, in collaboration with IDG Consulting and Strategic Game Consulting (SGC), compiled a comprehensive dataset of over 200 remakes and remasters, complete with sales figures dating back to 2012. Utilizing “Owners,” a metric provided by SGC indicating the number of unique players with a game in their library, as a proxy for sales, this study provided deep insights by cross-referencing this data with consumer reviews and developer interviews of prominent game renewals.

The initial question facing many in the industry is whether to opt for a remake or a remaster. The popularity of remasters surged in 2014, coinciding with the release of the PS4 and Xbox One. Developers leveraged the enhanced graphical capabilities of these new consoles to update the visuals of their most successful and beloved titles, resulting in a positive reception from players, as indicated by strong sales figures for remasters in that year. Noteworthy remasters from this period include Grand Theft Auto V, The Last of Us Remastered, and Halo: The Master Chief Collection, all launched relatively close to their original releases.

How the remakes and remasters perform over time. (Source – Virtuos).

But the excitement for remasters began to wane in subsequent years. The transition to the PS5 and Xbox X|S in 2020 did not replicate the 2014 success, partly because graphical enhancements were less impactful due to higher expectations and the prevalence of backwards compatibility, diminishing the appeal of purchasing essentially the same game for new hardware.

With the next console generation anticipated around 2028, and rumors of the Nintendo Switch 2 releasing in early 2025, there’s potential for further expansion and success for remakes. The future of remasters, however, hinges on the technological advancements these new consoles offer.

The analysis reveals that remasters launched shortly after their original games tend to perform better, benefiting from the titles’ continued relevance and competitive edge. The most successful remasters, averaging 13.8 million sales, were those released within five years of their originals, primarily in 2014, to capitalize on the new console generation.

This strategy was less prevalent in 2020-2021, with developers choosing to remaster older titles from the PS3 and Xbox 360 era for the latest consoles, resulting in a longer average gap between original and remastered versions. Despite this, the remasters of 2020, such as Saints Row: The Third Remastered and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered did not replicate the success of their 2014 counterparts, largely due to their focus on graphical improvements over gameplay enhancements. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, released two years after the original, was a notable exception, achieving significant sales.

Remakes, though, tend to succeed when enough time has passed to allow for significant technological and gameplay improvements. The dataset shows that remakes generally involve games over a decade old, with only a small fraction involving shorter intervals between original and remake versions. Successful remakes often follow a gap of at least 9 years, as seen with The Last of Us Part 1 and Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir. But for games less than a decade old, developers must carefully assess whether the remake will add enough value to justify its purchase.

Nostalgia’s crucial role in video game remakes and remasters

Studies have shown that the appeal of remakes and remasters to gamers often lies in the nostalgia they evoke, allowing players to revisit the fond memories associated with the original titles. For example, a significant portion (36.5%) of players of Black Mesa, a 2020 remake of Half-Life, had also experienced the original Half-Life game on Steam.

The success of a game renewal hinges on the developer’s ability to pinpoint, examine, and highlight the elements that trigger nostalgia among players.

The aspects of a game that players remember most fondly tend to be its standout moments or levels, rather than an all-encompassing recollection of the entire game. These memorable elements can range from the initial discovery of a unique location to an unforgettable line spoken by a favorite character.

Black Mesa (a 2020 remake of Half-Life). (Source – Virtuos).

This understanding was pivotal for the team behind the Resident Evil 4 remake in 2023. To maintain the game’s nostalgic value, they paid homage to iconic moments, including the Del Lago Easter egg and memorable lines like “Where’s everyone going? Bingo?”

Feedback from players indicates that the Resident Evil 4 remake was well-received by both newcomers and veterans, showcasing the development team’s ability to effectively capture the original game’s spirit. Successfully recreating key moments is crucial for appealing to returning players, ensuring they have a satisfying experience that honors their memories of the original game.

Remakes and remasters offer the benefit of having existing content and the wisdom of hindsight, which is not available when creating new IPs. Developers can use this to their advantage by analyzing the original game’s reception, identifying the aspects that resonated with audiences, and integrating these elements into the remake or remaster.

Therefore, it is essential for developers working on game renewals to conduct research to identify and preserve the elements most valued by players, ensuring these are maintained in the updated version. Do that, and it looks like game remakes are here to stay.

If you’re going to remake a game, think more Free Guy than Pixels. Thanks, The Entire Gaming Community.

The post Is relying on game remakes and remasters essential for launch success? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The esports industry is soaring, capturing widespread attention as more individuals consider gaming as a viable career option, largely due to the significant rewards on offer.

Recent research has identified the most lucrative esports games, with Dota 2 leading in terms of tournament payouts.

This study, conducted by CSGO gambling site CSGOLuck, analyzed the top 500 esports tournaments with the biggest prize pools. The data was grouped by game, totaling the winnings from all tournaments, and the average potential earnings were calculated by dividing this sum by the number of tournaments.

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Analyzing esports tournament winnings: from Dota 2 to CrossFire

Dota 2 has emerged as the top earner in these tournaments, boasting a total prize pool of approximately US$273,424,334. The game has hosted 59 events with over 3,790 participants. The average prize for Dota 2 tournaments stands at around US$4,634,310, the highest in the world. Additionally, it’s one of the most popular games globally, with about 435,000 monthly players as of December 2023.

Fortnite ranks second, awarding US$95,364,800 in total winnings. Since its 2017 release, the game has seen 63 tournaments and over 6,800 players. Fortnite tournaments offer an average of US$1,513,726, more than 65% less than Dota 2‘s average.

PUBG Battlegrounds holds the third spot, with an average winning of US$2,033,634 across 40 tournaments and a total prize pool of US$81,345,392.

In fourth place is Arena of Valor, distributing US$71,999,058 in total, with an average top prize of US$2,249,970.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive has given away US$60,771,952 across 70 tournaments, the highest number of any game. The average top prize is US$868,170.

League of Legends, a game with over 140 million monthly players, ranks sixth. Its average tournament winnings are around US$1,525,444, with a total prize pool of US$53,390,571.

Call of Duty, a veteran in the esports realm, has awarded over US$39,954,000 across 36 tournaments, making it the seventh-highest-paying game. The game’s Modern Warfare III re-release was the second-best-selling game of 2023.

Overwatch, with US$21,360,000 in total payouts, claims the eighth spot. Since its 2016 launch, the game has attracted over 20 million monthly players and hosted 13 tournaments.

Rainbow Six Siege is the ninth highest-paying game, with 11 tournaments totaling US$20,461,709 in prizes, averaging US$1,860,155 per tournament.

Lastly, CrossFire is tenth, with US$12,337,483 distributed across 17 tournaments. This game is particularly popular in Asia and offers an average prize pool of US$725,734.

The top ten games with the highest total prize pools are as follows:

Top ten games with the highest total prize pools.

The global impact of esports tournaments

A spokesperson from CSGOLuck commented on esports’ growing popularity, attributing it to a perfect mix of strategy, skill, and entertainment. They said that esports attracts a global audience through accessible online platforms and high-stakes competitions. The integration of technology and competitive gaming has propelled players to celebrity status and drawn massive viewership.

The spokesperson added that esports events have become cultural phenomena, thanks to sponsorships, substantial prize pools, and mainstream acceptance, reflecting the changing landscape of digital gaming media and consumption in this century.

It’s important to note the rise in mobile esports, driven by the increasing accessibility and power of smartphones. This sector has grown significantly, with tournaments offering million-dollar prize pools and attracting substantial viewership numbers. The past few years have marked mobile esports as an industry to watch.

Mobile esports: the rising star of tournament gaming

As 2024 progresses, there’s much anticipation for the mobile esports scene. Despite the general esports winter, mobile esports has remained popular, especially in developing regions less affected by the current macroeconomic climate.

2024 is set to be a pivotal year for mobile esports, partly due to the establishment of the Esports World Cup as a critical event. This development, reported by Esports Insider, signifies a significant shift in the industry.

Replacing Gamers8, the Esports World Cup will feature a range of esports titles across PC, console, and mobile, making it a significant event for mobile esports. Many major mobile esports titles are expected to participate in the World Cup.

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has already confirmed its Mid Season Cup at the event, with hints that PUBG Mobile and Free Fire might also participate. PUBG Mobile‘s mid-season tournament is set to take place in Saudi Arabia, and Free Fire‘s roadmap suggests its involvement in a global esports tournament in July, likely the Esports World Cup.

Thus, 2024 is a crucial year for establishing the Esports World Cup as a major recurring event in mobile esports. With its existing experience and infrastructure from hosting Gamers8 in the past years, Riyadh is set to host an even bigger Esports World Cup.

This anticipated event is expected to significantly impact the mobile esports landscape, highlighting the sector’s growth and potential. With various titles across multiple platforms participating, the Esports World Cup is poised to become a landmark event in the esports calendar, particularly for mobile gaming enthusiasts.

Overall, the evolution of esports, especially in the mobile domain, reflects a dynamic shift in the gaming industry. It underscores the growing significance of mobile platforms in the competitive gaming space and the expanding opportunities for players and viewers alike. 2024 promises to be a transformative period for mobile esports, with the Esports World Cup leading the charge in elevating the status and reach of these competitions on a global scale.

The post Esports tournaments break records: a new era of prize pools and opportunities appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Apps in sectors such as gaming, retail, food/ride-hailing, fintech, travel, and telco are experiencing a surge in consumer time and transactions. Brands are recognizing the increasing importance of developing robust app insights and capabilities to capitalize on this growing user engagement.

The State of Mobile 2023 report by data.ai reveals that people in mobile-first markets spend an average of 5 hours daily on their mobiles. In 2022, the average amount of time spent across the top 10 markets reached 5 hours and 2 minutes, marking a 9% increase since 2020. Notably, users from Indonesia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, and South Korea exceeded 5 hours daily. The most significant growth over four years was observed in Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Singapore, with increases of 68%, 67%, and 62%, respectively.

TikTok’s revenue milestone

data.ai reports that TikTok, the widely popular short video app, has achieved over US$10 billion in gross revenue, a milestone for a non-game mobile app. This significant accomplishment includes nearly US$4 billion earned in one year, primarily from virtual coins used for gifting content creators on the platform.

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In 2023, TikTok faced significant challenges, including efforts by its CEO, Chew Shou Zi, to safeguard the company from a potential US ban or forced sale. This issue was highlighted during a lengthy and tense four and a half hour congressional hearing.

Despite these challenges, 2023 on TikTok was characterized by viral trends and cultural impacts. Users engaged in activities ranging from experimenting with ‘girl dinners’ and cottage cheese recipes to discussing historical topics like the Roman Empire. The platform continued to be a hub for creativity and community, influencing culture and impacting lives globally.

2023 was a milestone year for TikTok. The app was the first to exceed US$1 billion in consumer spending in a single quarter (Q1). Starting the year with over US$6.2 billion in consumer spending, it added an impressive US$3.8 billion by the end of the year, marking a 61% growth since the beginning of 2023 and a 15% increase over 2022’s US$3.3 billion.

TikTok’s yearly global consumer spend 2016-2023. (Source – data.ai).

TikTok has now joined the elite group of mobile apps that have surpassed US$10 billion in gross revenue, becoming one of only five apps to achieve this feat – and the first non-game app to do so. It ranks among mobile giants such as Candy Crush Saga, Honor of Kings, Monster Strike, and Clash of Clans. As the year ends, its closest competitors, Tinder and YouTube, still lag by US$2 to US$3 billion.

A look at TikTok’s financial growth

In terms of revenue contribution, US consumers and iOS users in China are tied, each accounting for around 30% of TikTok’s total revenue, collectively making up 60%, or approximately US$6 billion. Following them, the top five markets contributing to the app’s revenue include Saudi Arabia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Japan, accounting for around 13% of the revenue.

The primary source of TikTok’s revenue is its virtual currency, TikTok coins. Since the app doesn’t offer subscriptions, these coins, obtained through various one-time in-app purchases (IAPs), are used by users to buy virtual gifts for content creators. Creators can then exchange these gifts for virtual diamonds, which can be converted into real money. TikTok retains 50% of this revenue. In 2023, the most popular purchase was the 1,321 coin bundle for US$19.99, representing about a quarter of the app’s IAP income, according to data.ai Intelligence.

Cumulative global consumer spend for top apps (2016-2023) – Source – data.ai).

Looking ahead to 2024, data.ai forecasts even more significant revenue growth for TikTok, projecting consumer spending of US$15 billion, which would be 50% more than its current total. This anticipated increase is in addition to TikTok’s other revenue sources, including in-app advertising and the newly launched e-commerce feature, TikTok Shop, introduced in September of this year.

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Lexi Sydow, head of insights at data.ai, predicts a bright future for TikTok, suggesting it may become the highest-earning mobile app ever by 2024, nearing the US$15 billion mark. Daily consumer spending on the app, primarily for tipping favorite content creators, exceeds US$11 million. This spending is expected to propel TikTok past even Candy Crush Saga, the most profitable mobile game. Sydow also anticipates that users will spend the equivalent of a 40-hour work week each month on TikTok by the end of 2024, a 22% increase from 2023.

What is TikTok aiming for in 2024?

In 2023, TikTok was a hub for practical tips, nostalgic music, and thriving small enterprises, with its community actively creating, connecting, and celebrating authentic content. The platform attracted an audience eager for new perspectives, communities, and stories, where brands played a pivotal role in shaping the year’s trends.

TikTok recently unveiled its TikTok What’s Next Report 2024, the fourth edition of its annual trend forecast. This report aims to equip marketers with crucial insights into the changing preferences and needs of the TikTok community, thereby influencing strategies for the forthcoming year.

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For 2024, the TikTok community is set to adopt a mindset termed ‘Creative Bravery’, characterized by curiosity, imagination, vulnerability, and courage. Brands displaying Creative Bravery on TikTok are expected to establish stronger community connections. Achieving success on TikTok now involves embedding Creative Bravery into everyday practices and strategic planning. Brands that continually spark global curiosity, upend traditional storytelling norms, and build trust with their audience are predicted to see the most success.

This report centers on the most impactful and enduring trends, identified as ‘Trend Signals.’ These signals detect content patterns that indicate emerging behaviors and interests, providing vital information for long-term content strategies. The three categories of Trend Signals are curiosity piqued, storytelling unhinged, and bridging the trust gap.

• Curiosity piqued: TikTok users are exploring a broad range of topics, leading to novel discoveries and real-life actions. For instance, beauty brand Clinique capitalized on TikTok’s dynamic search capabilities in a comprehensive campaign, significantly increasing conversion and click-through rates.
• Storytelling unhinged: Storytelling on TikTok is transforming with non-traditional narrative structures and community-driven content. Using a mix of creative strategies, IGG’s launch of its game Viking Rise on TikTok successfully engaged millions of users, exemplifying this trend.
• Bridging the trust gap: Consumers seek more meaningful engagement with brands, beyond mere transactions, and seek brands that contribute to societal change and demonstrate transparency. Indonesian childcare brand Makuka’s collaboration with TikTok creators for its product launch illustrates this trend, leading to a notable boost in sales and brand recognition.

The landscape of mobile app usage is undergoing significant transformation across various sectors, with a notable surge in consumer engagement and transactional activity. TikTok, in particular, stands out for its exceptional growth, surpassing US$10 billion in gross revenue and marking a new era for non-gaming mobile apps.

Despite facing challenges and regulatory scrutiny in 2023, TikTok has remained a cultural force, driving trends and user engagement through its unique blend of content. This engagement is set to increase, with predictions for even more significant revenue growth in 2024, bolstered by diverse revenue streams, including in-app purchases and e-commerce integrations.

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Throughout 2023, a significant trend of layoffs has swept across various industries, notably impacting the global workforce and becoming a focal point of discussion and ongoing strategy. Once lauded for its growth and innovation, the gaming industry has been particularly affected, with numerous well-known companies announcing layoffs.

These cuts, influenced by shifts in consumer behavior, technological progress, and economic pressures, reflect a broader trend within the global economy, highlighting the vulnerability of even dynamic sectors to economic uncertainties and strategic changes.

2023…A year of significant layoffs in the gaming industry

The gaming sector has experienced considerable headcount reductions due to these economic challenges. As reported by Farhan Noor’s videogamelayoffs.com, over 6,100 gaming employees have been laid off in 2023 so far. However, this figure might be an underestimation, as many companies have not fully disclosed the full extent of their job cuts.

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Tech Wire Asia delves into some notable layoffs within the gaming industry this year (so far), underscoring the sector’s response to the prevailing economic climate.

Unity

In 2023, Unity Technologies, a major player in the gaming industry, announced two significant rounds of layoffs as part of its workforce restructuring efforts. The first round in January impacted 284 employees, attributed by CEO John Riccitiello to economic conditions and a need for strategic investment focus, mainly affecting administrative roles and discontinuing certain projects.

A subsequent layoff in May saw an additional 600 employees, approximately 8% of the workforce, let go, aligning with Unity’s goals to streamline operations and reduce its office footprint from 58 to 30 amid recession concerns. This brought Unity’s total staff to around 7,000, following a previous reduction of about 200 employees in June 2022.

Despite reporting its first profitable quarter, Unity is implementing restructuring plans, including team changes and reducing office space, which are expected to incur around US$26 million in charges. The company’s Q3 earnings report highlighted further cost-saving measures and a conservative outlook for 2023. Unity also faced challenges within the game development community due to a controversial pricing model, leading to CEO Riccitiello’s retirement and pricing strategy revisions.

These changes at Unity reflect a broader trend of instability in the video game industry, marked by layoffs, shutdowns, and restructuring, even amid mixed financial performances. That highlights the sector’s volatility and its susceptibility to broader economic uncertainties.

Epic Games

Epic Games has announced a significant workforce reduction, laying off around 16% of its employees, totaling around 830 people. This move is part of the company’s strategy to achieve financial sustainability amid heavy investments in the evolution of Epic and the development of Fortnite as a metaverse-inspired ecosystem. The CEO acknowledged the need for layoffs, contrary to their initial optimism, due to changes in Fortnite‘s economic model, shifting towards a creator-driven model with significant revenue sharing.

Epic Games is laying off 830 people. (Source – Shutterstock)

Efforts to reduce costs, including net zero hiring and decreased spending on marketing and events, proved insufficient, leading to the decision to lay off staff. Additionally, Epic is restructuring its portfolio, with Bandcamp being acquired by Songtradr and SuperAwesome’s advertising business becoming independent, while Kids Web Services remains with Epic.

Epic is offering substantial severance packages to affected employees, including six months of base pay, healthcare benefits, accelerated stock options vesting, and other support services. Despite the layoffs, the core development teams at Epic are largely unaffected, with most of the job cuts impacting non-core departments. Some projects may experience delays though, due to reduced resources.

Epic assured the market that these layoffs have financially stabilized the company, with no further workforce reductions planned. The company will continue hiring for essential roles while maintaining net-zero hiring at its revised size, reaffirming its commitment to ongoing projects and investments in the gaming and development sectors.

Bytedance

ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is significantly downsizing its gaming division, Nuverse, due to lackluster performance over the past two years. This restructuring marks a significant shift from ByteDance’s initial strategy, where it positioned its gaming pursuits as a critical business unit to compete with industry giants like Tencent, NetEase, and MiHoYo.

The downsizing process began with widespread layoffs, creating uncertainty for many Nuverse employees. As of 2021, Nuverse had grown to a team of about 3,000 people, and its size had remained relatively stable. ByteDance had made significant investments in the gaming sector, including the US$4 billion acquisition of Moonton, a Shanghai-based studio. Despite this, ByteDance is reportedly considering selling Moonton, with negotiations in progress with a Saudi Arabian firm.

While there were initial speculations about a complete shutdown of Nuverse and a withdrawal from mainstream gaming, ByteDance’s statements suggest that some segments of the gaming team might continue operations.

ByteDance’s challenges in the gaming industry, including its virtual reality efforts with Pico, highlight the limitations of its data-driven strategy, which is successful in the short-video app market but less so in the gaming sector, where success relies on longer, more creative processes. The gaming industry’s unpredictable nature contrasts with the instant gratification model of TikTok’s videos.

Bytedance gives up on the gaming industry. (Source – X).

Nuverse’s lack of significant commercial successes has likely led to reassessment by ByteDance’s management, especially given the company’s status as a private entity amid US-China tensions. The wider Chinese internet industry, including the gaming sector, faces additional pressures from regulatory crackdowns and economic challenges, such as the halt in gaming license approvals and constrained recovery due to macroeconomic factors.

Amazon

Amazon has initiated another series of layoffs, impacting over 180 positions, as part of a broader reorganization of its gaming strategy. This includes discontinuing the Crown channel, a Twitch channel known for its TV-like programming, and closing down the Game Growth group, which provided marketing support to gaming creators.

Christoph Hartmann, VP of Amazon Games, described these changes as a strategic pivot to enhance Prime Gaming, with a renewed focus on offering free games to subscribers. This shift responds to customer preferences for free monthly game offerings.

These recent layoffs follow a previous round in April that laid off around 100 roles within Amazon’s games division, underscoring the company’s refocus on key growth areas.

The Crown channel, a component of this restructuring, faced criticism for artificially inflating viewer numbers, which raised questions about its actual viewer engagement and effectiveness as an advertising platform.

According to Amazon spokesperson Brittney Hefner, this restructuring effort aims to concentrate on Amazon’s primary gaming business activities. This strategy includes developing flagship in-house games like New World and a forthcoming Lord of the Rings title, and publishing games from external developers. These moves signify a significant strategic shift in Amazon’s gaming approach, prioritizing in-house game development and publishing.

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Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts (EA) plans to lay off over 700 employees, constituting around 6% of its approximately 12,900-strong global workforce. CEO Andrew Wilson announced this decision despite EA reporting a US$1.3 billion gross profit in the latest fiscal quarter. The company simultaneously lowered its full-year profit forecasts, despite increases in both revenue and profit over the previous year.

Wilson acknowledged EA’s strong position despite macroeconomic challenges and claimed the company was gaining momentum. Nevertheless, the layoffs are part of a strategic shift, refocusing on projects that align with EA’s core strategies of developing games for large online communities, interactive storytelling, and enhancing tools for community and creator engagement.

Successes like The Sims 4, EA Sports FIFA 23, and Apex Legends have been highlights for EA, and the company aims to continue its focus on major projects such as Madden 23, Battlefield 2042, the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and The Sims 5. These layoffs are not directly linked to EA’s decision to remove older Battlefield games from online stores.

Wilson added that some employees might be reassigned to other projects, while those not reassigned will receive severance and additional benefits. These staffing changes began earlier in the quarter and are expected to extend into the next fiscal year beginning in October. Earlier in February, EA laid off 200 Apex Legends QA testers.

Experts note that while large companies often justify layoffs as responses to slowing growth, such measures don’t always result in cost savings and might mirror industry trends. EA estimates these layoffs will cost between US$170 million and US$200 million, per a recent financial statement. EA’s decision to downsize reflects a broader trend of layoffs and restructuring within the gaming industry, driven by various economic and strategic factors.

A user left disappointed with the decision from EA. (Source – X)

Conclusion

The gaming industry in 2023 has faced a turbulent period, marked by significant layoffs and strategic realignments. Companies are adapting to the evolving economic landscape, consumer preferences, and technological advancements. Despite the challenges, these changes might pave the way for a more resilient and innovative gaming sector in the future. The impact of these layoffs extends beyond immediate job losses, influencing the industry’s strategic direction and potentially reshaping the gaming landscape as we know it.

The post Top 5 significant layoffs in gaming in 2023 appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The Web3 gaming ecosystem is undergoing significant changes, especially after the market shifts in 2022. While growth has slowed, the sector continues to expand, with the Asia-Pacific region becoming a major center for Web3 game development, while the US remains a key market.

In 2023, there was a marked increase in blockchain networks focusing on gaming, coinciding with a steady introduction of new Web3 games. Game7’s State of Web3 Gaming Report offers an in-depth overview of the ecosystem’s evolution over the last six years. The report is based on extensive research, analyzing data from over 1,900 blockchain games, 1,000 funding rounds, and 170 blockchain ecosystems.

The report covers various aspects of the industry, including the gaming stack, gameplay trends, blockchain networks, competitive dynamics, and fundraising. It provides valuable insights into the development of Web3 gaming post-2022 correction, making it a crucial resource for game developers, investors, blockchain enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the direction of the industry.

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Expanding horizons in APAC and US

The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region increasingly dominates game development, hosting 40% of developers and launching half of the new Web3 games this year. This dominance highlights APAC’s growing focus on Web3 gaming.

Meanwhile, the USA remains a significant player, with 30% of new Web3 gaming teams based there, demonstrating the country’s steady engagement in the sector. South Korea, in particular, has doubled its contribution from last year, and now makes up 27% of new teams, signaling a surge in its Web3 gaming activities.

Despite the APAC’s ascent, the USA still commands the largest market share for Web3 game developers at 30%. Other notable contributors include South Korea (12%), the UK and Singapore (6% each), and Vietnam and Australia (4% each), reflecting a diverse and globally distributed Web3 gaming industry.

Web3 gaming investments: resilience post-2022 market correction

In 2023, Web3 gaming investments have stabilized, echoing the levels seen in 2021, before the bull market surge. Since 2018, there’s been a shift in investor focus towards gaming content, especially in sports and Metaverse-related MMOs, rather than on infrastructure. The US leads in investments, with France, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong also showing strong interest.

The investment peak of 2021 has now leveled off in 2023, reflecting a return to more stable, pre-bull market conditions. The Web3 gaming sector has attracted around US$19 billion in funding since 2018, signifying investor confidence in its potential.

Despite the 2022 market correction, the Web3 gaming market has continued to grow. By Q3 of 2023, blockchain gaming investments reached US$1.5 billion, with over US$800 million exclusively for Web3 gaming. The US has attracted over US$4 billion in Web3 gaming funding, with notable contributions from other regions.

Since 2018, funding within this landscape has varied by genre. Sports and MMOs have each attracted around US$1 billion, with RPGs receiving US$0.7 billion and Action games US$0.3 billion. This finding shows the varied interests and potential within this gaming ecosystem.

Is Web3 a gaming landscape on the rise? (Source – X)

Diverse gaming genre landscape

In the Web3 gaming sector, indie and early-stage projects are the mainstay, making up most of the market. This starkly contrasts the limited presence of larger AA and AAA titles, constituting only a small segment. The sector is marked by various genres, with RPG, Action, Strategy, and Casual games being the most popular. This diversity extends to platform-specific trends, with RPG and Action genres favored on PC, a more varied genre mix on mobile, and Casual games leading in browser-based play.

Indie-level and midsize projects overwhelmingly dominate the Web3 gaming ecosystem, comprising 94% of the market, leaving only 6% for AA and AAA titles. This dominance is reflected in the preference for RPG, Action, Strategy, and Casual games, with nuances in genre popularity across different platforms. PC gaming tends to lean towards RPG and Action, while mobile gaming offers a broader genre spectrum, and Casual games are more common in browser-based gaming.

Regarding game accessibility and models, most games (69%) follow a free-to-play (F2P) model. Meanwhile, 26% of the games require players to possess specific non-fungible tokens (NFTs) for access. This range in accessibility and models illustrates the Web3 gaming sector’s commitment to catering to diverse player preferences and interests, offering various ways to engage with gaming content.

Distribution challenges in the gaming stack

Distribution remains a significant hurdle in the Web3 gaming sector, with many games still not featured on mainstream channels. This trend is slowly changing, as exemplified by the Epic Games store, which has begun including Web3 games following a change in its self-publication strategy. Most Web3 PC game development is dominated by Unity and Unreal Engine, which are used in 95% of such games.

Around 60% of Web3 games are absent from significant distribution platforms, instead relying on direct channels or Web3-specific platforms. The Epic Games store’s increasing incorporation of Web3 games, growing from just two listings in June 2022 to 69 by October 2023, indicates a shift toward wider acceptance in mainstream gaming outlets.

Most Web3 games use Unity and Unreal Engine for development, underlining the strong preference for these tools in the Web3 space. While 85% of these games use blockchain mainly for tokenizing assets, they often keep core game mechanics off-chain, suggesting a selective use of blockchain technology. In contrast, only 5% of these games are fully on-chain, reflecting diverse approaches in integrating blockchain into gaming.

Games engine market share for Web3 PC games. (Source – Game7)

Network migration trends in Web3 gaming for 2023

The landscape of gaming in 2023 has been marked by a significant migration of games to new networks, highlighting a period of active exploration and adaptation within the community. Polygon, Immutable, and Arbitrum have become the top choices for this migration, indicating their growing appeal among developers.

The Polygon ecosystem currently leads in hosting Web3 games, with BNB and the Ethereum Mainnet also playing key roles. This diverse range of platforms, each with unique features and benefits, illustrates the dynamic environment in which Web3 games are being developed and hosted.

In Layer 2 (L2) gaming ecosystems, Immutable stands out as the most popular, followed by Arbitrum. Solana, meanwhile, is the largest non-EVM ecosystem in the Web3 gaming sector. This diversity in ecosystems shows the vibrant nature of the industry, with different networks meeting the varied needs of game developers and players.

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OP Stack has become the preferred blockchain framework for creating networks tailored to gaming use cases, reflecting its alignment with the specific game development requirements within the blockchain arena.

George Isichos, core contributor at Game7, emphasized the importance of research in understanding and addressing the complexities of the Web3 gaming ecosystem. He noted that the report aims to index and comprehend the Web3 gaming world credibly neutrally, focusing on the core challenges of game development rather than just tokens and speculation.

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The landscape of video games is witnessing robust growth, with Newzoo’s 2023 report showing a significant demographic engagement: two out of every five people on the planet, over three billion in total, are now gaming on some level, which is a 6.3% climb from the previous year’s figure.

Revenue streams in the gaming world have swelled to a hefty US$242.39 billion globally, with the Asia Pacific region being a significant contributor to this pot. Looking ahead, expectations are set high, with forecasts predicting the industry’s global earnings will rocket to US$583.69 billion by the dawn of 2030.

While the industry’s growth trajectory has been peppered with the launch of blockbuster titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Hogwarts Legacy, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, age-old fan favorites haven’t lost their sheen. The blocky universe of Minecraft still sees a steady stream of architects crafting their virtual domains, and the competitive arenas of DOTA 2 and CS:GO remain battlegrounds for sharpened skills and strategic plays, with the latter notably gaining further traction among gaming enthusiasts.

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The increasing revenue and expanding base of gamers signal growth for the gaming industry, but they also attract unwanted attention from cybercriminals. The lure of popular and highly anticipated game releases is a tactic frequently used in malicious cyber-campaigns.

This is of particular concern when considering the demographic involved; as of 2022, nearly a quarter of the gaming population was underage, potentially presenting less of a challenge to seasoned attackers. The Newzoo report delves into the nuances of the threats facing the gaming community in 2023.

Through meticulous research, Kaspersky has unveiled over four million instances of attempted infections targeting gamers globally from July 2022 to July 2023. These cyber-offenses included a spectrum of attack vectors, from DDoS onslaughts and illicit cryptocurrency mining operations to intricate Trojan attacks and phishing maneuvers exploiting vulnerabilities in web security.

Top 10 gaming-related cyberthreats from July 2022 to July 2023. (Source – Kaspersky)

Minecraft and the 2023 cybersecurity breach analysis

On closer examination, Kaspersky’s defensive solutions identified 4,076,530 instances of attempted desktop infections, which involved 30,684 unique files masquerading as legitimate games, modifications, cheats, or game-related applications. These attempts affected 192,456 users around the globe.

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The majority of these files were tagged as potentially unwanted software, with a substantial percentage categorized under ‘not-a-virus:Downloader,’ indicating they possess the capability to pull other programs into the system, sometimes with malicious intent. Adware and Trojans were identified on the list of threats as significant concerns for gamers using desktop computers.

Minecraft remains the prime vector for such cyberthreats, with its vast monthly active user base of over 160 million in 2023. This platform alone was the vehicle for threats affecting 130,619 users during the analyzed period. Following Minecraft, other game titles such as Roblox and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive also served as popular facades for malicious software, with percentages of alerts and affected user numbers painting a grim picture of the risks involved.

Turning to the mobile gaming sector, which constitutes nearly 40% of the global population, or over three billion individuals, as per Newzoo’s 2023 report, the situation is equally concerning. This platform’s accessibility and rapid growth make it a fertile ground for cybercriminal attacks. Between July 2022 and July 2023, Kaspersky recorded 436,786 attempts at infecting mobile devices, impacting 84,539 users.

An X user commented on the increasing number of mobile gamers. (Source – X)

The 2023 mobile gaming crisis

Again, the favored title for cybercriminals targeting mobile devices was Minecraft, accounting for 90.37% of mobile game-related attacks and affecting 80,128 users. A specific instance of such an attack was seen in Indonesia, where the Trojan.AndroidOS.Pootel.a was used as a means to exploit Minecraft gamers.

The malicious app directed users to a fake marketplace page for Minecraft, which then initiated a stealthy process of subscribing the user to premium services without their knowledge, utilizing the Google Phone Number Hint API to acquire the necessary phone numbers for subscription activation.

The prevalence of cyberthreats in mobile gaming was further highlighted by the high number of incidents in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where Minecraft-related cyber alerts affected 54,467 users. PUBG: Battlegrounds and Roblox were not far behind, indicating the widespread nature of the problem across various popular mobile gaming titles.

Moreover, the discovery of the SpyNote Trojan on the Android platform, targeting Roblox players with spyware capabilities such as keylogging, phone camera manipulation, and fake Google or Facebook application interfaces, underscores the advanced techniques employed by cybercriminals to infiltrate and exploit user privacy and data.

The report also highlights the dangers of phishing schemes and counterfeit distribution sites. These sites often attract gamers by posing as legitimate sources for downloading popular games but ultimately serve as fronts for distributing malware or irrelevant content, which bears no resemblance to the promised game files.

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Kaspersky’s cybersecurity expert, Vasily Kolesnikov, emphasizes the dynamic nature of the gaming industry, which is rich in personal and financial data, presenting tempting opportunities for cybercriminal exploitation.

“They exploit gaming accounts by pilfering in-game assets, virtual currency, and selling compromised gaming accounts, often with real-world value. The relentless pursuit of personal data has led to a surge in ransomware attacks, even affecting professional gamers who depend on uninterrupted play. This underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity awareness within the gaming community,” Kolesnikov concluded.

Kolesnikov’s analysis culminates with a call to action for heightened vigilance and proactive defense measures to protect against the evolving threat landscape in gaming, and especially in Minecraft in 2023.

The post Over 4 million cyberattacks unleashed on Gamers in 2023 – with Minecraft as the main target appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In an era where gaming has not only become a dominant form of entertainment but also a significant contributor to economies worldwide, the spotlight is turning towards emerging markets. Vietnam, recognized for its rapid digital evolution and tech-savvy population, is carving out a notable position in the global gaming arena. As part of this development, key industry players are stepping in to foster the nation’s gaming prowess and catapult it onto the world stage.

During the Games Industry Showcase event, Google Cloud revealed advancements aimed at assisting Vietnamese game businesses to attain a global reach, aligning with the Ministry of Information and Communications’ ambition to boost the local gaming sector’s earnings from US$600 million to US$1 billion in five years.

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Google Cloud’s expanded partnerships with VNGGames, Amanotes, and Wolffun Game were unveiled, as these game entities tap into Google Cloud’s robust infrastructure, data analysis, and AI offerings. This collaboration aims to better cater to large player bases, unearth game insights, hasten product launches, and elevate real-time gaming experiences.

Toan Duc Nguyen, Google Cloud’s country manager for Vietnam, reflected on the past, noting that as smartphone adoption surged a decade ago, Vietnamese game developers were quick to capitalize on the trend.

The Worlds First Web3 Gaming Esports Center! 🎮

Congrats to @gemsgg_official for launching this in Saigon Vietnam! 🇻🇳

Featured games included @Spider_Tanks & @oneuniverseCA from @GoGalaGames and @CitizenConflict

Web3 gaming is inevitable! pic.twitter.com/2xmi18DZaP

— Justin (@Justin_The_Mind) October 7, 2023

The mobile-first gaming evolution in Vietnam

Nguyen observed, “Today, nearly half of the planet plays games; the majority through their mobile device. Vietnam’s mobile-first consumer economy and vast developer talent pool, combined with investments in full-fiber networks by telcos like FPT Corporation and games companies’ willingness to embrace new technologies to supercharge game production, could very well enable its games industry to leapfrog established games markets—which are better known for console and PC games—in exporting high-quality mobile games for the rest of the world.”

With predictions suggesting global gaming revenue surpassing US$187 billion in 2023 – over five times the expected global cinema ticket sales for the same year – the potential for global expansion in the gaming sector is evident.

The future of the gaming industry is firmly anchored in live service games. In 2022, the list of the top 10 most engaged games consisted entirely of such live games, continually captivating players with fresh content and gameplay dynamics.

Powering Vietnam’s developers and publishers. (Source – Pexels)

Google Cloud offers developers the tools to link players with game servers on the most extensive and secure network in the world.

Consider the challenge of game launches. They’re tricky because developers must preemptively gauge their game’s success. Questions like, “Will my game attract thousands or millions of simultaneous players?” arise. Paradoxically, the worst-case scenario can sometimes be overwhelming success: failing to accommodate all the players eager to engage with the game.

Serving the largest player audiences

For game developers, success should be a cause for celebration, not concern.

VNGGames, an Asian game publisher, utilizes Google Cloud’s infrastructure and protection tools, assisted by Cloud Ace, for games like Gunny Origins and Dead Target. This ensures fast, secure content delivery to their global player base. Their use of Google Cloud’s database service ensures players’ progress is never lost.

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Le Trong Giap, the chief of Game Publishing Platform at VNGGames, explained that the foundational tech that backs massive live services like Google Search and YouTube is now empowering them to offer real-time gaming to players across various regions. “We do not need to compromise between achieving performance, manageability, and scale, since Google Cloud services have effectively eliminated the need for manual infrastructure configurations,” he added.

Wolffun Game, launching titles Thetan Arena and Heroes Strike internationally, employed Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) and Cloud Kinetics for a smooth player experience. This setup enabled global eSports connectivity, scaling to meet demand. Both games, backed by Google Cloud, have attracted millions of gamers worldwide. Wolffun Game is further enhancing its new game, Thetan Rivals, with Agones—a server solution by Google Cloud and Ubisoft—for optimized player pairing.

Gaming’s global appeal

With over three billion global gamers, developers need to smartly segment players using analytics and AI. This helps predict new game feature success, customize player offers, and adapt games for different regions.

Amanotes, a music game publisher, employs Google Cloud’s real-time analytics to merge separated player and game data. This aids in everything from gameplay decisions to music licensing. As a result, titles like Magic Tiles 3 have found success in numerous countries, including the UK, US, and Brazil.

Embracing AI as a tech breakthrough, Amanotes collaborates with Google Cloud and Cloud Ace for machine learning, ensuring efficient game development and delivery to their expansive user base.

Bill Vo of Amanotes credits Google Cloud’s AI and analytics for the firm’s three billion game downloads, highlighting the critical support from Google’s expert team.

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Similarly, VNGGames utilizes Google Cloud’s Translation API for quick game localization, recognizing game-specific terms. This has enabled faster market entry for games like Revolution Thien Du in Southeast Asia.

Giap underscores the importance of culturally and linguistically tailored games, praising Google’s advanced translation services for streamlining the traditionally lengthy localization process.

The leap into generative AI for gaming creativity in Vietnam

Game content creation is a significant cost for studios in terms of money and manpower. As player demand rises, many teams find it tough to produce new content, especially when scaling globally.

Generative AI allows rapid creation of new content types using foundational models. It can help teams expedite the content creation process, from code to dialogue.

Google Cloud is boosting Vietnam’s gaming potential. (Generated with AI)

Wolffun Game plans to use Google Cloud’s Vertex AI for advanced chatbots in Thetan Rivals. These chatbots will interact naturally with players and generate custom game assets on-the-fly. Wolffun also aims to leverage generative AI in Thetan Creator, producing unique game elements based on player feedback.

Wolffun Game’s CEO, Nguyen Dinh Khanh, said that finalizing Thetan Rivals took over six months, particularly focusing on its artistic aspects. He noted, “We chose Google Cloud because its enterprise-grade generative AI includes built-in mechanisms that allow us to harness this technology while respecting intellectual property rights and safeguarding our proprietary data.

“With AI enhancing human creativity to accelerate future game production, our goal for Thetan Rivals is to attract 100 million players worldwide and provide a customizable system for every player to freely express themselves through user-generated content.”

Generative AI’s impact on gaming will be as transformative as 3D graphics and smartphones were. Embracing such tech positions the gaming industry as an innovation leader.

To help Vietnam gaming businesses to make the best use of generative AI, Google Cloud has launched training modules and tools, offering free courses like the Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path and The Arcade.

The post How Google Cloud is setting the gaming scene in Vietnam appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In the digital age, technological wonders have unfurled at an astonishing pace. While many gaming enthusiasts own powerful desktop rigs designed for immersive experiences, sleek smartphones filled with captivating mobile games have become indispensable too. In many living rooms, consoles like the Xbox Series X or the elusive PlayStation 5 stand next to TVs, epitomizing gaming fervor.

As technology has advanced, various gaming platforms—from mobiles to consoles and PCs—have turned into goldmines for businesses. Whether nestled in a café corner or awaiting a flight, these platforms deliver endless gaming escapades, ensuring gamers remain continually engrossed.

Globally, the preferred gaming platforms differ widely. But what determines these choices? Several factors influence these platform decisions.

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The key ingredients: Accessibility, graphics, and performance

One primary factor is accessibility. The rapid evolution of technology has positioned mobile gaming at the forefront of the industry, propelled mainly by smartphones’ widespread availability and convenience. The very essence of a smartphone is its portability, allowing gamers to play virtually anywhere. 

In contrast, consoles require a dedicated investment, making them less appealing to a casual audience. However, PCs remain a cornerstone in the gaming ecosystem, bolstered by various platforms that offer vast game collections.

Next, consider graphics. Mobile gaming has come a long way, continuously integrating the latest in hardware technology and improving the visual appeal of its games. Even though smartphones might not always match up to other platforms, they’re making strides with impressive 4K displays that ensure a crisp gaming experience. 

On the other hand, consoles, with their specialized hardware, excel in delivering graphics that are often breathtaking, plunging gamers into visually immersive worlds. Still, when it comes to the pinnacle of visual experiences, PCs reign supreme. Their ability to be customized allows for graphics often unmatched in detail and depth by any other platform.

Lastly, the performance of the platform can’t be ignored. The experience on mobile can vary greatly, depending on the technological capability of the device. That can lead to different frames per second (FPS) rates, and the occasional disruptive lag. In contrast, consoles promise a steadier gaming journey. Given that their games are often designed specifically for their platform, they provide consistent FPS, ensuring a seamless experience. 

PCs stand apart in this comparison. Their performance is contingent on the quality and configuration of their components. But when optimized, they can deliver a gaming experience that’s incredibly smooth and unparalleled.

Mobile gaming 2023: dominating the global market

Behind these attributes, data projections from data.ai and IDC reveal that mobile gaming holds the lion’s share in the industry. For 2023, mobile gaming is predicted to command a staggering 56% of the global consumer spending in gaming. This dwarfs the projected 22% for consoles and 21% for PC/Mac.

Interestingly though, 2022 marked a slump in mobile gaming spend, a first since the genesis of app stores. However, the current year indicates a resurgence, heralding a potentially bullish phase for mobile gaming, even if 2023’s figures slightly underperform the previous year’s.

Wild Rift – A billion-dollar mobile behemoth

A testament to this growth is League of Legends: Wild Rift by Riot Games, which has clocked in over US$1 billion in global player expenditure since its 2020 inception, as per data.ai. This feat places the title in the elite club of 101 games that have crossed the billion-dollar threshold on iOS and Google Play.

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Remarkably, League of Legends: Wild Rift clinches the fourth spot in the highest-grossing Action-MOBA category, outshining contenders like Onmyoji Arena and West Arena 2. Data.ai’s analytics, underpinned by its Game IQ taxonomy, also peg Wild Rift as the fourth most downloaded game in its category, leaving behind formidable competitors like Marvel Super War and Pokémon Unite.

In the span of a year, from September 2022 to August 2023, China has emerged as the game’s dominant market, closely trailed by Vietnam and Brazil. Globally, downloads reached an astounding 22.4 million, catapulting its total lifetime downloads to 111 million.

The first half of 2023 was particularly lucrative for Wild Rift. It seized the third spot in global grossing rankings among Action-MOBA games, amassing over US$188 million in global player expenditure.

Mobile gaming is dominating consumer spending on games. (Source – Pexels)

A deep dive into consumer spending unveils China as the game’s gold mine, with nearly US$141 million in revenue. The US trailed, generating a still-commendable US$8.2 million.

Given its PC counterpart’s intricacies, what propelled League of Legends: Wild Rift to mobile gaming’s zenith?

The linchpin: adapting to mobile without compromise.

The mobile version preserves the original’s core gameplay, pairing champions in a streamlined three-lane battlefield, but fine-tunes it for mobile with touch-based controls. Matches are condensed, clocking 15-20 minutes. Graphics and animations are optimized for compact displays, yet they encapsulate the grandeur and intense combat for which the series is celebrated.

For novices, the game extends an inviting hand with intuitive tutorials, while a revamped progression system keeps seasoned players hooked. In essence, Wild Rift on mobile doesn’t overshadow its PC sibling but rather complements it, offering players a robust mobile counterpart.

East vs. west: gaming patterns of mobile gaming 2023

A comparative study between Eastern and Western gaming patterns reveals notable differences and intriguing similarities among mobile gamers globally.

A comprehensive survey conducted by Coda, encompassing nine distinct markets with 3,600 participants, illuminated that battle royale and MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) are the most popular genres in the East. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, PUBG Mobile, and Free Fire topped the charts in these genres. Conversely, Western gamers preferred Call of Duty: Mobile, Free Fire, and the football sensation, FIFA.

PUBG Mobile is among the most played games in mobile gaming. (Source – AFP)

This extensive research engaged over 3,600 participants from diverse countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and the USA.

Focusing on Malaysia, the leading games include Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, with a share of 11.7%, followed by PUBG Mobile at 10.9%, and Call of Duty: Mobile at 7.2%. Produced by Moonton, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang boasts over 80 million active players monthly, establishing itself as a widespread favorite irrespective of age or gender.

Mobile gaming 2023: spending habits in the mobile gaming landscape

Gamers’ motivations are distinctively varied based on their geographic locations. Western gamers find allure in a game’s structural design, including available levels, modes, and maps. The multifaceted ways through popular games, which range from first-person to battle modes or even specialized modes like team play or Humans vs. AI, provide a rich gameplay experience, be it solo or collaborative.

In-game maps significantly enrich the gaming journey. Maps are indispensable in renowned mobile battle arenas like Free Fire and PUBG Mobile. They assist in player navigation, resource location, strategic planning, and monitoring the ever-contracting play zones.

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Conversely, Eastern gamers are driven by the allure of collectibles and in-game character features’ adaptability. These elements not only motivate gameplay but also influence their in-game purchasing decisions. 90% of these gamers are inclined to spend on in-game commodities, primarily purchasing in-game items and currency.

However, there’s a deviation in spending patterns. Eastern gamers predominantly splurge on exclusive limited-time event items, characters, or pets. Meanwhile, Western gamers display a penchant for unlocking additional game levels, modes, or maps, signifying a hunger for diversity.

Habits of gamers in Malaysia and beyond. (Source – Coda)

Malaysian gamers display spending motivations that shift with age. The younger demographic, aged 18-24, is captivated by the charm of amassing game collectibles or acquiring items and characters. A classic example is Mobile Legend: Bang Bang, where gamers can buy items like borders, skins, heroes, and more. Yet the slightly older group, aged 25-34, manifests a heightened competitive streak, prioritizing advancing levels or obtaining additional game lives or moves.

Payment modalities for in-game purchases also exhibit regional disparities. The East sees a dominance of e-wallets, while credit and debit card transactions remain prevalent in the West. Malaysia, for instance, has a fondness for e-wallets like GrabPay, TnG, Boost, and MAE. Recognizing these diverse payment preferences, Coda supports over 300 secured payment methods across 60+ markets.

In terms of monetary investment, Malaysians spent an average of RM121 over a quarter. Though this surpasses the average spend of Indonesians and Filipinos, it’s dwarfed by the Thai expenditure. A noteworthy trend in Malaysia reveals that younger female gamers outspend their male counterparts considerably.

Clocking in: Gaming durations around the world

Playing durations on smartphones exhibit regional variations. Eastern gamers, on average, clock in more gaming hours than their Western counterparts. For instance, while Malaysia recorded a 38% rate for gamers playing over 16 hours a week, nations like Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines registered higher percentages. Western countries like Brazil, Mexico, and the USA lagged in comparison.

In conclusion, gamers’ inclination to explore a new game is predominantly driven by their affinity for the genre and positive reviews. The primary sources of game information are recommendations and word-of-mouth from their social circles.

Wild Rift offers compelling gameplay on mobile devices.

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Even though the latest Android smartphones can easily handle popular games from the Play Store as well as nostalgic emulators, there’s something uniquely captivating about a device engineered for gaming. This niche charm has catapulted platforms like Nintendo Switch into the limelight, tempting major tech players like Razer and Logitech to venture into handheld gaming.

Making waves in this dynamic landscape is Ayaneo’s upcoming launch of Pocket AIR, an Android gaming device aimed at satiating the appetites of gaming enthusiasts. Although Ayaneo’s heritage is rooted in crafting Windows-based gaming gadgets, the company is broadening its horizons by exploring the untapped potential within the Android gaming ecosystem.

At least for now, the Ayaneo Pocket AIR’s engine room will feature MediaTek’s Dimensity 1200 chipset. This could soon be eclipsed by the new lineup of specialized gaming processors from Qualcomm that’s taking the stage.

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Qualcomm’s triple threat: Introducing the Snapdragon G1, G2, and G3

Closing out 2021, Qualcomm set the bar high by rolling out its Snapdragon G3x Gen 1, which has found a home in flagship devices such as the Razer Edge. Far from resting on its laurels though, Qualcomm is upping the ante by unveiling not one, but three groundbreaking processors designed to redefine handheld gaming as we know it.

• The Snapdragon G1 aims to energize fanless handheld devices made primarily for game streaming, be it locally or through cloud services. With a focus on seamless connectivity and extended battery life, the G1 allows for high-quality streaming of console and PC games. The platform’s inaugural model, the Snapdragon G1 Gen 1, features an 8-core Qualcomm Kryo CPU and a Qualcomm Adreno A11 GPU.
• The Snapdragon G2 is engineered for uncompromising mobile and cloud gaming experiences. It comes equipped with state-of-the-art 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6E capabilities, thanks to the Qualcomm FastConnect 6700 Mobile Connectivity System. Its first iteration, the Snapdragon G2 Gen 1, combines the latest 8-core Kryo CPU with an Adreno A21 GPU and the Snapdragon X62 5G Modem-RF System.
• The Snapdragon G3 is the premium tier, developed with gaming fans in mind. Building on positive reviews from its earlier version used in the Razer Edge 5G, the new Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 platform showcases significant upgrades. These include a 30% faster CPU, a GPU that’s twice as fast, and advanced features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and Wi-Fi 7 High-Band Simultaneous (HBS) support.

Qualcomm has made the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 handheld gaming reference design available for select manufacturers to expedite the production of next-gen handheld gaming devices. Details on specific products from these partnerships will be announced soon.

The new Qualcomm gaming processors.

Mithun Chandrasekhar, Senior Director of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, explained that “Dedicated handheld gaming devices are the best way to experience mobile games. But gamers want to be able to play all their favorite games across devices and ecosystems, be it their console, their PC, or on a cloud service. The new generation of Snapdragon G Series-powered devices will be the best place for gamers to play their favorite titles, offering them the ability to choose from the cloud, console, Android, or PC while on the go.”

All these new chips are intended for Android systems. Though there was some discussion about future Linux or Windows handhelds, they appear unlikely for this generation. These chips, especially the G2 and G3x Gen 2, are primarily geared toward Android titles, including cross-platform games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Minecraft.

G Series t iers (Source – Qualcomm)

Designed with personal screens in mind, the G1 chip focuses on home use, for example, when others occupy your sacred gameplay TV. In contrast, the G2 and G3x offer more versatility, with the added ability to power devices at home and on the go. They even provide the potential for active cooling systems for high-intensity gaming.

Following Qualcomm’s announcements, Ayaneo wasted no time revealing its Pocket S, featuring the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 platform. This not only serves as Ayaneo’s first venture into Snapdragon-based handheld gaming, but also marks the world’s first handheld gaming device to integrate the Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 platform.

What the future holds for handheld gaming

What does the future look like for handheld gaming?

The handheld gaming landscape is rapidly evolving, enriched by technological advances and increased competition. Companies like Ayaneo are breaking new ground by entering markets previously dominated by traditional players like Nintendo, while established tech giants like Qualcomm are fueling this transformation with specialized processors.

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The intense focus on performance, versatility, and connectivity underscores a future where handheld gaming devices are not just an alternative but stand as formidable competitors to consoles and PCs.

Looking ahead, the future of handheld gaming appears incredibly promising. As processors become more powerful and energy-efficient, and as cloud and 5G technologies mature, we can expect handheld devices to offer gaming experiences that rival, if not surpass, those available on more traditional platforms. Features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing, once the preserve of high-end PCs, are making their way into the palm of your hand.

Moreover, the convergence of various ecosystems means that the lines between console, PC, and handheld gaming will continue to blur. That will allow for a more integrated and flexible gaming experience, with your favorite titles accessible anytime, anywhere.

As handheld gaming devices become increasingly sophisticated, they offer a compelling argument for gamers to reconsider how and where they engage with their favorite digital worlds. Whether you’re a casual gamer looking to pass the time on a commute or a dedicated enthusiast seeking high-quality experiences, the golden age of handheld gaming may very well be on the horizon.

The post Qualcomm vs MediaTek: Who will power the future of handheld gaming? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The gaming industry is tipped to maintain its rapid growth, and could be worth US$321 billion by 2026, a PwC report says. Continuous technological advancements in the gaming industry are significantly propelling the industry’s growth. They are enhancing the way games are created and improving the overall gaming experience of the users.

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While console games like PlayStation and Xbox have been dominating the industry for many years, mobile phone gaming is now the biggest contributor to the gaming industry. Revenue in the mobile games market is projected to reach US$377 billion and have 2.3 billion users by 2027.

Popular mobile phone games like PUBG, Pokemon Go, and bMobile World Legends continue to push growth for the gaming industry. China remains the country that will generate the most revenue in gaming, despite regulations being made on the number of hours school students can play games.

At the same time, there is also an increase in cloud gaming services. These games focus on leveraging hyper-scale cloud capabilities, streaming media services, and global content delivery networks to build the next generation of social entertainment platforms. These factors have an anticipated positive impact on market growth. Cloud technology in the gaming market is likely to drive the demand and engagement of multi-players for different games.

Global gaming industry revenues are expected to exceed $320 billion by 2026. (Image: PwC)

Southeast Asia’s gaming industry

The gaming industry in Southeast Asia is a rather unique one. While the level of digital transformation and technology adoption varies in each country, when it comes to gaming, almost all ASEAN nations are moving at the same pace.

With half of Southeast Asia’s leading mobile game publishers being Chinese companies, some western companies are also beginning to move their headquarters to this part of the world.

The gaming developer community is also growing in Southeast Asia. Companies such as Tencent Holdings, NetEase, Nexon, and Garena are among the major players, developing and publishing successful games catering to this market. Garena, a Singaporean company, was the biggest gaming company in Southeast Asia in 2021, in terms of profits.

In Malaysia, UK-based gaming company Double Eleven expanded in 2022 and opened a studio in Malaysia, where it plans to build its SEA base. In 2023, Xsolla, a video game commerce company headquartered in the US, officially opened its new Kuala Lumpur office. The Malaysian location will reportedly be Xsolla’s largest office outside of Los Angeles.

In Singapore, the country’s approach to developing the gaming sector has focused on posturing itself as a regional gaming hub for top global studios like Ubisoft, Riot Games, and Bandai Namco. The Singapore government has also provided funding and support for Ubisoft and other multinational companies in the country, in the hope that these studios will help cultivate more local game developers.

A Tweet on Vietnam’s growing gaming industry.

Vietnam’s gaming industry

While Malaysia and Singapore continue to develop game developers, Vietnam is actually making a big mark in the gaming industry. In the first half of 2023, Vietnam is one of the top five nations in terms of mobile game downloads, as indicated by data.ai.

Remember Flappy Bird? It remains the most popular game to come out of Vietnam. Since then, Vietnamese gaming developers have faced growing challenges in the industry, especially with stricter data collection regulations.

According to a report by Bloomberg, despite being one of the five countries under communist governance, the burgeoning gaming sector’s growth in Vietnam isn’t particularly surprising to those familiar with its economy. The nation boasts remarkably high smartphone penetration rates in Asia, coupled with a youthful demographic where nearly half of its population is below the age of 30.

Driving this phenomenon is a burgeoning group of game developers and fledgling publishing startups in the local gaming industry. Amanotes, renowned for its mobile music-themed games, and OneSoft, the publisher behind Falcon Squad, exemplify this ascent.

Furthermore, their success reflects Vietnam’s accomplishments in strengthening its educational framework. Vietnamese students consistently outshine their peers in the U.S. and other countries on PISA test evaluations, while a fervent interest in engineering and technology prevails. Coding camps tailored for children are progressively gaining traction, and academic institutions have incorporated game development into their curricula.

The government appears to be supporting the growth of Vietnam’s gaming industry as well. It recently decided to scrap plans for taxing online gaming services, providing some relief to domestic gaming companies.

Interestingly, Vietnam is already a popular alternative for US companies that are looking to move manufacturing out of China. Perhaps this could also lead to more American gaming companies setting up hubs in Vietnam as well. For now, Vietnam’s gaming industry seems to be headed in the right direction and could be a powerhouse in the future.

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