Gavin Budd’s Post

Love them or hate them, Funko’s Pop Vinyls are a global phenomenon, and they’re not going away any time soon as 10:10 Games and Funko just announced the Funko Fusion release date. The game features over 20 NBCUniversal franchises in the iconic Pop Vinyl style. Seemingly following in the footsteps of games like Fortnite with its plethora of licensed character skins and crossovers, Funko Fusion is “a festival of fandom like never before.” It’s also 10:10 Games’ debut title, but considering TT Games’ Jon Burton is one of the studio’s co-founders, Universal can trust that its IP is in good hands. If you don’t believe us, just look at the dozens of ultra-successful Lego games from TT. In fact, some early reactions online have compared Funko Fusion to the studio’s toys-to-life crossover game, Lego Dimensions. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eb4_27rk For all the latest mobile, Nintendo Switch, and industry news, follow Pocket Tactics, the biggest mobile and Switch gaming site in the world! #gaming #mobile

The video-game industry has recently hit another rough patch, with some games flopping and others experiencing delays. News such as this tends to restart the debate over whether gaming is just a bad industry for investors. But while video games are certainly a lumpy business, the industry is consistently very profitable. In fact, when looking at a chart of the economic returns over time for both the gaming industry and the Consumer Staples sector -- the least lumpy of businesses -- it's hard to tell which is which. If you’re scratching your head, read on: https://lnkd.in/eEJg8Pdx

Despite the company’s successful merger with Zynga, we’re still yet to see any Take-Two mobile games based on its legacy IP. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick addressed the radio silence during a recent interview at a TD Cohen conference. As well as owning mobile and social gaming giant Zynga, Take-Two Interactive also manages Rockstar Games, 2K, and indie games publisher Private Division, but games like GTA and the Red Dead Redemption series are still stuck on consoles and PC. When Take-Two announced the Zynga takeover, Zelnick discussed plans to develop and optimize new mobile games based on the company’s “core intellectual property” using Zynga’s success in the mobile market. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eBbDVbfn For all the latest mobile, Nintendo Switch, and industry news, follow Pocket Tactics, the biggest mobile and Switch gaming site in the world! #gaming #mobile

Your weekly dose of new games here

We've been hearing for months in games this mantra of "Survive to '25", so it's great to finally some good news about what we can expect coming out from VentureBeat. A couple of things that excite me particularly: ➡️ Seeing Nintendo emerge as a clear winner in the console sales race ➡️ More opportunities for smaller studios to launch new IP, as larger studios focus on live content and established franchises. #surviveto25 #indiegames #mobilegame #gamesindustry #cozygames #casualgames Simply Sweet Games #gamedev https://lnkd.in/gWxyGmvv

Microsoft Plans Boldest Games Bet Since Activision Deal, Changing How 'Call of Duty' Is Sold: Microsoft plans a major shakeup of its videogame sales strategy by releasing the coming installment of Call of Duty to its subscription service instead of the longtime, lucrative approach of only selling it a la carte. WSJ: The plans, which mark the biggest change to Microsoft's gaming division since it closed the $75 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, are expected to be announced at the company's annual Xbox showcase next month, according to people familiar with the matter. Call of Duty is one of the most successful entertainment properties ever, generating over $30 billion in lifetime revenue. Activision, which makes it, has long released new editions annually, selling about 25 million copies on average, selling for around $70 each in recent years. Before the Microsoft deal last year, Activision was reluctant to fully embrace subscription-based models for a game that still attracts a premium price. Microsoft's subscription service, Game Pass, costs $9.99 to $16.99 a month, and provides access to hundreds of games from Microsoft and dozens of other companies. Read more of this story at Slashdot.

The acquisition of Player First Games by Warner Bros. Games marks a pivotal moment in the gaming industry. This strategic move highlights the growing diversity of acquirers, expanding exit options and driving the sector towards unprecedented opportunities. 🎮 The increasing diversity of acquiring companies is expanding exit options for game developers, fostering a more dynamic and competitive landscape. This trend not only provides more opportunities for successful exits but also encourages innovation and growth within the industry. As we see more traditional media giants and new players investing in game development studios, the future looks bright for emerging and established developers alike. The ecosystem's robustness is being reinforced, offering a fertile ground for creativity and technological advancements. Exciting times ahead for the gaming sector! 🌟 #GamingIndustry #Acquisition #Innovation #GameDevelopment

What’s your favorite video game adaptation to date? No wrong answer here, it appears we are entering/entered a golden age of transmedia. The Fallout show on Amazon, coupled with the game being on sale on Steam, has propelled Fallout 4 to the top spot in European game sales and top 5 in the world on the platform. Fallout sales have skyrocketed by 7,500%, with four titles in the top 10 games. Video game adaptations into films and TV series can significantly boost player base and brand awareness, leading to increased game sales, player engagement, and franchise expansion. Adaptations vary, from direct narratives to TV series like "Fallout" on Amazon, bridging gaming and non-gaming audiences. Overall, these adaptations are pivotal in revitalizing games and broadening their appeal, as demonstrated by the success of the "Fallout" show and other games.

Fallout 4 launched in 2015. Today, it's the #1 game in Europe. To achieve that, it had to hit a 7,500% week over week gain. There were also THREE other Fallout games in the top 10. Transmedia, FTW. #1 - Fallout 4 #2 - Helldivers 2 #3 - EA Sports FC 24 #4 - GTA V #5 - CoD MW3 #6 - Red Dead 2 #7 - Hogwarts Legacy #8 - Fallout 76 (2018) #9 - Fallout: New Vegas (2010) #10 - Fallout 3 (2008) ...people who were born when Fallout 3 came out...are driving now. ...and, not to be overlooked: Fallout Shelter (mobile, 2015) hit #7 on the US iOS free games chart (highest ranking since 2018)...and showed dramatic increases: Revenue: $80,000/day (up from $20,000 pre-TV series) Downloads: 60,000/day (up from 20,000 pre-TV series) Quick History: One of the many reasons that transmedia didn't work so well in the past, is because all too often, there was a belief that the game and the movie/show needed to be released at the same time in order to maximize impact. That's not what happened. What happened: The movie/show had a hard, immovable premier date. Someone printed posters...therefore, it was locked. This was often way sooner than a good game could be built...so either an existing game would get re-skinned, the scope of the game was massively reduced, or the game got launched before it was fully baked...and you got runny brownies. The most recent (full) Fallout game was launched in 2018...yet here we are. Last of Us 2 came out in 2020...but HBO's brilliant series launched in 2023. League of Legends came out in 2009...Netflix posted Arcane in 2021. Btw...lest anyone forget, Arcane's first two episodes premiered on Twitch...to over 7MM viewers. Over 5,000 channels co-streamed it. Transmedia done right...is not about tying day-and-date launches. It's about ensuring quality production at both ends, knowing (and truly caring about) your source content...and knowing (and truly caring about) your audience. Congrats to Prime Video & Amazon Studios...congrats to Bethesda Game Studios...congrats to gamers and viewers. Now...when is Season 2...and when is Fallout 5? ...hopefully, not the same day. https://lnkd.in/gqw-PnKY

Microsoft Plans Boldest Games Bet Since Activision Deal, Changing How 'Call of Duty' Is Sold: Microsoft plans a major shakeup of its videogame sales strategy by releasing the coming installment of Call of Duty to its subscription service instead of the longtime, lucrative approach of only selling it a la carte. WSJ: The plans, which mark the biggest change to Microsoft's gaming division since it closed the $75 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard, are expected to be announced at the company's annual Xbox showcase next month, according to people familiar with the matter. Call of Duty is one of the most successful entertainment properties ever, generating over $30 billion in lifetime revenue. Activision, which makes it, has long released new editions annually, selling about 25 million copies on average, selling for around $70 each in recent years. Before the Microsoft deal last year, Activision was reluctant to fully embrace subscription-based models for a game that still attracts a premium price. Microsoft's subscription service, Game Pass, costs $9.99 to $16.99 a month, and provides access to hundreds of games from Microsoft and dozens of other companies. Read more of this story at Slashdot.