News Mash-Up - Week # 30 & 31

Top News Items

• • A number of video game companies have released their calendar Q2 2021 financials. For year-on-year revenue for software sales , Nintendo, Activision Blizzard, Take Two, Square Enix and Ubisoft all reported declines, meanwhile Electronic Arts reported an increase in revenue. The declines were mostly attributed to fewer game releases in Q2 2021 compared to last year and the spike in sales for catalogue games that came with Covid-19 lockdown during Q2 2020. 

  • Sony has announced 10 million PS5 have been sold, making it the fastest selling PlayStation console ever. The issue is somewhat compounded by the fact supply constraints are hampering demand, which could imply that the 10 million number could be even higher if more units were available .

  • Although no sales figures were given, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella has also claimed the Xbox Series is the fastest selling Xbox console within the Xbox brand. Nadella revealed that in Q2 2021, Xbox hardware revenue increased by +174% compared to last year (although it should be noted the Xbox Series launched in calendar Q4 2020).

  • AMD has had a stellar year. Revenue doubled to $3.9 billion. The increase in revenue is due to the high demand for CPU components and the fact its Zen and Zen 2 processors are 2x faster than its previous generation. AMD’s gross profit margin was +48%, up 4 percentage points year-over-year.

  • Activision Blizzard is facing two class action lawsuits, one from employees and one from investors over allegations of misconduct in the workplace.

  • Square Enix made Marvel’s Avengers free on Steam during July 29th and August 1st. This resulted in a multiple-fold increase in players for the game on the platform.

  • Pre-orders for a new pocket size black and white handheld called Playdate sold out in 20 minutes. Only 20,000 units were available in the first round of pre-orders.

  • Belong, the social space for LAN parties in retail environments which was once owned by UK company GAME has opened its first U.S. venue in Houston. Belong plans to launch 300 gaming centers across the U.S. within the next five years, 12 times the number of venues that currently reside in the UK.

  • It appears that Google is set to license Stadia technology to any publisher that wishes to host its own streaming service. A job listing by Stadia has been spotted that describes the “white-labelling” of the technology.

  • Facebook has temporarily stopped all sales of its popular Oculus Quest 2 VR headsets. This was due to some customers complaining the set gives them a skin rash. All headsets are being recalled in the U.S. and in Canada and Facebook will roll out a new silicon cover as a replacement to all owners globally. Facebook is launching a new 128GB model of the Oculus Quest 2 on 24th August 24. This new model will include the silicone covers.

     

New games

Week commencing Monday 9 August 2021