Massive news for the UK competitive landscape, Vodafone and 3 UK merger confirmed
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Piers Harding-Rolls
@PiersHR
Games industry analyst. Games research Find me on Mastodon @piershr@home.social Hive After comments? DMs open
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The FTC has been granted a temporary restraining order to stop the Microsoft-Activision deal closing while it seeks a preliminary injunction
The next couple of weeks are going to be pivotal for the outcome of this huge deal
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Embracer Group announces comprehensive restructuring program
Embracer is going to be implementing a form of centralisation to improve efficiency and cut costs - it will re-org publishing groups and close studios
This is a major restructuring across its operations
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Embracer Group announces comprehensive restructuring program with immediate implementation
embracer.com/releases/embra
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Embracer Group announces comprehensive restructuring program with immediate implementation
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Looks like the FTC are filing an injunction to stop Microsoft closing the Activision deal sooner rather than later
There’s been talk/speculation about MS closing the deal even with the appeals process going on in the UK
This will be a litmus test for the FTC’s arguments
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Asked whether Xbox will release a mid-cycle upgrade, Spencer says the company is set on the hardware they have. No Xbox Series X Pro on the horizon.
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Microsoft: 'Our first-party games now have over 150 million monthly active users'
We estimate around 70% of those are off console
#XboxShowcase
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Microsoft is bringing PC Game Pass to Nvidia’s GeForce Now service
If you want to know more about why Microsoft is using this strategy, you can check the free report here: ampereanalysis.com/request_report
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Microsoft highlighting that its cloud gaming commitments to the EC re: the Activision acquisition are aligned to its expansion strategy
Extending Game Pass via third-party ‘bring-your-own-game’ cloud gaming service providers like GeForce Now
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A little more detail on that last point. Note the word "select"
"Game Pass members will soon be able to stream select PC games from the library through Nvidia GeForce NOW."
news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/06/
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That #Starfield trailer was really well put together. Inon Zur's soundtrack really delivered
Do you think you can visit Arrakis?
#XboxGamesShowcase
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Bigger storage Carbon Black 1TB SSD Xbox Series S coming 1st of Sept for $349
Is this larger drive because the Starfield file size is huge lol
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Payday 3 coming to Game Pass on release
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Strong start with Fable. Nice to see as a giant
A lot of breaking the fourth wall in that trailer - think that might broaden its appeal
#XboxGamesShowcase
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Apple Vision Pro
What many would define as a VR headset but that is AR-first, and revealed focused on 2D content/screen use cases
Disruptive, but not in the way we might have expected
Focus is on the here and now, using technology that is, seemingly, very robust
#WWDC23
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If you want to read the full report, you can download it here:
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- With a cross section of BYOG companies penning deals with Microsoft already, Ampere expects remaining BYOG companies would feel more compelled to offer streaming of Activision titles to remain competitive
- Some multi-game services may add support for BYOG to compete
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- Game Pass would remain the cheapest access point for consumer licenses for new Activision games - As such, these commitments would extend the reach of Game Pass through 3rd-party BYOG cloud gaming providers
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- Very unlikely that new Activision games would be in any sub service other than Game Pass - licensing would be cost prohibitive to competitors
- As such, the commitments would generally supports one part of the cloud gaming industry - BYOG - more than the other
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Implications:
- Benefits to direct Game Pass competitors (cloud multi-game subscription services) are not clear - although there are mixed-model services (Amazon Luna) where the BYOG model would fit
- Adding a game to a subscription catalogue would be a separate negotiation
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Show this thread
These commitments would result in more Acti game streaming choice for gamers and would support bring-your-own-game cloud gaming service providers (GeForce Now, Boosteroid)
Consumers would need to buy a game (or subscribe to Game Pass) and pay for the streaming service
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Microsoft’s Activision deal: Implications for the cloud gaming market & industry
MS's commitments to EC competition authority around streaming of Activision games has a collection of implications for the cloud gaming industry
Report download here: ampereanalysis.com/request_report
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Despite PC being the core platform for #MMORPG, a number of titles still perform well on console. The average age of an MMO across #PlayStation & #Xbox consoles is five years, underlining how difficult it is to introduce a new #MMO.
#Insight by :
hubs.ly/Q01SrfQZ0
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Apple VR/AR/XR headset
If announced, what do you think the price will be?
#WWDC23
- $500-9995.1%
- $1000-$149920.5%
- $1500-$199917.9%
- $2000+56.4%
39 votesFinal results
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#MMORPGs represent less than 1% of MAUs across #PlayStation & #Xbox, but players are highly engaged
For every one person playing an MMO, 30 are playing an FPS title
Read more: ampereanalysis.com/insight/mmorpg
#gamesindustry #consolegaming
GIF
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Quest 3 is Launching with Its Own New Controllers, But Will Also Support Touch Pro ow.ly/hZot50OC0xU
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Games industry investment activity, Q1 2023
> Deal volume down 2% QOQ and 40% YOY
> Investment value dropped by 74% QOQ
> AI solution companies emerge as early-stage investment targets
> Savvy’s Scopely acquisition inflates deal value in early Q2 2023
ampereanalysis.com/insight/games-
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Sign up to our #freewebinar: hubs.ly/Q01RKhpk0
Ahead of the Women's #WorldCup, Research Director and Analyst Danni Moore look at what is driving this growth, what the optimal distribution strategies are and what #WomensFootball is offering that is unique. #WWC2023
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Multi-game subscription services, April 2023
> Netflix plans to release 40 games by the end of 2023
> Ubisoft+ launches previously PC-only offer on Xbox consoles
> Blacknut and Radian Arc partner to simplify cloud gaming integration for media companies
ampereanalysis.com/insight/multi-
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- With a cross section of BYOG companies penning deals with Microsoft already, Ampere expects remaining BYOG companies would feel more compelled to offer streaming of Activision titles to remain competitive
- Some multi-game services may add support for BYOG to compete
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Show this thread
- Game Pass would remain the cheapest access point for consumer licenses for new Activision games
- As such, these commitments would extend the reach of Game Pass through 3rd-party BYOG cloud gaming providers
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Show this thread
- Very unlikely that new Activision games would be in any sub service other than Game Pass - licensing would be cost prohibitive to competitors
- As such, the commitments would generally supports one part of the cloud gaming industry - BYOG - more than the other
1
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Show this thread
Implications:
- Benefits to direct Game Pass competitors (cloud multi-game subscription services) are not clear - although there are mixed-model services (Amazon Luna) where the BYOG model would fit
- Adding a game to a subscription catalogue would be a separate negotiation
1
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Show this thread
These commitments would result in more Acti game streaming choice for gamers and would support bring-your-own-game cloud gaming service providers (GeForce Now, Boosteroid)
Consumers would need to buy a game (or subscribe to Game Pass) and pay for the streaming service
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Show this thread
New report!
Microsoft’s Activision acquisition: Implications for the cloud gaming market and industry
The commitments that MS has made to the EC competition authority around streaming of Activision games has a collection of implications for the cloud gaming industry
🧵
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Show this thread
- Marathon14.3%
- Metal Gear Solid 3 remake42.9%
- Spider-Man 242.9%
35 votesFinal results
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