News Mash-Up - Week # 12

• • During GDC week Microsoft announced 2 new initiatives geared to help indie developers, both using cloud-based technologies. “ID@Azure” is a suite of free tools and resources that help developers integrate cloud-based gaming services into their titles (such as cloud backup, shared leaderboards and analytics) regardless of which platforms they're developing for. “Azure Game Development Virtual Machine” will enable developers to access a suite of pre-installed tools, such as DirectX, Visual Studio or Unreal Engine, as well as training and support services to develop and build their games regardless of PC specs or location.

  • During GDC, Google’s product director, Greg Hartwell, announced that a dedicated Steam app will be coming to Chromebooks. Google has been working with Valve to support Steam on ChromeOS and a development alpha test version will be rolled out to testers for some Acer, ASUS and HP Chromebooks (most probably high end). There are no details as to when the app will be come to Chromebooks or if it comes with any new subscription pricing.

  • Sony has acquired ex-Stadia’s Jade Raymond new studio, Haven Studio. The game development house is less than a year old and has not released a game yet.

  • Netflix has acquired game studio Boss Fight Entertainment, known for free-to-play mobile title Dungeon Boss. Netflix has revealed a new Tekken anime series, called Tekken Bloodline. The series is expected to air later this year.

  • Unity released a showcase tech demo video of its latest engine. The video is called “Enemies”. In a GDC presentation Unity stated its engine has improved with technologies gained from its acquisition of F/X film studios Ziva Dynamics and Weta Digital.

  • Nintendo has added folder functionality to the Switch OS. The new feature is called “Groups” and will enable gamers to create their own folders and manage their game inventory. Up to 100 groups can be created, each containing up to 200 titles.

  • On the 29th March Rockstar has released a new subscription service for GTA Online called GTA+. For $6 per month players will receive a GTA$500,000 Shark Card (worth $10 if bought separately), early access to DLC, new skins and vehicles and extra level ups for races.

  • Epic Games will donate all the proceeds from Fortnite micro-transactions for 2 weeks, between 20th March to the 3rd April. In the first 24 hours it already raised $36 million.

  • Tencent released its fiscal 2021 numbers. Its games division (including mobile) made $27 billion, which is 31% of its total revenue. International games made approximately 8% of its total revenue (an increase of 1 percentage point on 2020 fiscal), which is equivalent to $7 billion. Year-on-year international games revenue increased by +31%. Tencent is the biggest video game company in the world.

    
    
    

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Week commencing Monday 28 March 2022