The Sydney Morning Herald’s Post

It's been a surprisingly busy one, so buckle in. Today on GamesIndustry.biz... (Tuesday, January 16th, 2024) 1. Take-Two is reportedly in a trademark dispute with Remedy over the letter 'R' - specifically whether the Alan Wake firm can use it as a logo given that Rockstar also uses it. I try to remain impartial with these things, but I would point out that the Remedy 'R' has the word 'Remedy underneath it, and the Rockstar 'R' has a star attached (cos Rock*star*, innit), so not sure who would be confused by the two. https://lnkd.in/eRX5wFse 2. Chris Dring has the December monthly charts from GSD for video games sales across Europe, which shows 26.6 million PC and console were shifted last month, led by EA Sports FC 24 https://lnkd.in/evjkZr-P 2b. With December's figures in, Chris was also able to produce a full-year report, which shows European video game sales were up 1.7% in 2023 with 182 million PC and console titles sold https://lnkd.in/eDyEiQUe 3. Our Get into Games special continues with a writeup of a panel discussion about the barriers facing underrepresented groups. The talk not only covered what folks from these groups need to be aware of and how they can tackle these barriers, but also how games companies can improve things for those from minority backgrounds https://lnkd.in/eDNSe8Qp 4. Tencent significantly reduced the number of investments it made in 2023. After pouring money into 299 deals in 2021 and 95 in 2022, it only invested in 39 deals last year across 37 companies https://lnkd.in/eubGwGd3 5. Microsoft has passed Apple as the most valuable company in the world, thanks to its efforts in AI https://lnkd.in/eUyN3Ckn 6. And finally, the latest video game to be heading to the silver screen is the LKA-developed Martha is Dead. The film adaptation will be led by Swedish production company Studios Extraordinaires in partnership with the Italian developer and its publisher, Wired Productions https://lnkd.in/eU_NuFef That's it for today, same time(ish) again tomorrow!

Save the date! The Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) is gearing up to host its annual Gaming Regulators European Forum (GREF) conference. An insightful event bringing together key regulators to discuss and shape the future of the gaming industry. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d_TJS5Dv #MGA #GREFConference #GamingRegulation

New Post: ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ is getting a new expansion, report confirms - https://lnkd.in/dye2s6EA - Black Myth: Wukong launched just a few weeks ago, August 19, but it’s already due to get an expansion, a report confirms. READ MORE: ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ review: a mind-bogglingly beautiful action adventure Black Myth: Wukong sold quickly and became the second-most concurrently played game of all time on Steam with 2.2 million players. It sold 18 million copies since its launch, making it one of the fastest-selling games ever. Forbes reports that developer Game Science will be capitalising on the game’s success by releasing an expansion, although there is currently no indication what this expansion will entail, when it will come out, or how much it will cost. Black Myth: Wukong is based on the Chinese novel Journey to the West, and has done exceptionally well in China, which accounts for around 85 to 90 per cent of its total players. These huge sales records have come despite the game only launching on PlayStation 5 and PC. It skipped last-gen consoles entirely and isn’t yet available on Xbox. The Xbox version was originally supposed to launch alongside the PS5 and PC ones, but Game Science claimed it was “currently optimising” the game so it would meet “our quality standards.” However, Microsoft gave a statement that seems to imply the reason the game isn’t on Xbox yet is because of some sort of secret exclusivity deal between PlayStation and Game Science. Normally, exclusivity deals are made apparent so that players are encouraged to buy the game on the exclusive platform rather than waiting for a port. For now, the real reason remains a mystery. It’s possible an Xbox version of the game will come out before the expansion, or launch concurrently with it in order to entice new players to the game. In other news, Astro Bot reviews are in, and critics are calling the PlayStation 5 exclusive one of the finest platformers ever made. The post ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ is getting a new expansion, report confirms appeared first on NME. - #news #business #world #jobs #school #passion

GST Council's next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow and there are various speculations about what it may or may not decide. Of all the things, hope of rationalising GST on online gaming is perhaps the most optimistic. I would welcome a lower GST rate on online gaming, but the events that preceded the statutory amendment on actionable claims/online games hardly provide any basis of optimism. Of course, I'm also speculating based on public information. Maybe the Union and some States have pivoted in their tax attitude towards online gaming. Wait and watch for now. #GSTCouncil #onlinegaming

Online Gaming Cos improvise Strategies to Reduce impact of 28% GST #onlinegaming #strategies #reduce #impact #gst #taxscan #taxnews Read More: https://lnkd.in/gE6chgnJ

Navigating global gaming regulations has just got easier. In the world of casino and slot gaming, adhering to regulatory standards is crucial, yet time consuming. Stay ahead of the curve with Quixant’s 2024 Guide to Navigating Global Gaming Regulations: https://lnkd.in/ePi_qJHK Learn how to seamlessly comply with standards while focusing on what you do best — creating top-tier games and gaming experiences. Download your free guide now and unlock expert insights to ensure your games meet global compliance standards effortlessly, and deliver ultimate results. #G2E2024

SPAIN: CNMC Considers New Measures to Limit Deposits on Gaming Platforms The CNMC is evaluating measures to introduce voluntary deposit limits per player across all gaming operators. This initiative aims to balance consumer protection with market dynamics, ensuring fairness and competitiveness in the gaming sector. #GamingRegulation #ConsumerProtection #MarketCompetitiveness

Tomorrow, the first shot in California's tribal gaming war against sweeps and DFS 2.0 will be fired. You won't want to miss it. The New Normal: California’s Gray Market Invasion: Sweepstakes Gambling & DFS 2.0 Oct 16, 2024 10:00 AM (PST) As sweepstakes gambling and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) 2.0 continue to exploit legal loopholes, California’s tribal gaming industry is under increasing pressure from these unregulated and untaxed operations. In this episode of The New Normal, we’ll examine the gray market activities, the risks they pose to consumers, and the broader implications for tribal gaming. Join us for an in-depth discussion on how California tribes are confronting these challenges to safeguard their gaming sovereignty. This session is essential for tribes, gaming professionals, regulators, and policymakers who want to understand why California tribes are taking a stand to shut down sweepstakes gambling and DFS 2.0. James Siva, Chairman, California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) Victor Rocha, Conference Chairman, Indian Gaming Association Jason Giles, Executive Director, Indian Gaming Association

🌟 One Year On: 28% GST Review Tops the Wish List for Online Gaming Companies! 🎮💡 It’s been a year since the introduction of the 28% GST on online gaming, and the industry is still eagerly awaiting a review. 🧾🎲 This heavy tax burden has raised concerns for online gaming platforms and players alike, with many calling for a reduction to encourage growth and innovation in this fast-evolving sector. 💬 What are your thoughts? Should there be a change in the GST policy to foster a healthier gaming ecosystem? Let's discuss! 👇 #GST #OnlineGaming #28PercentGST #TaxReforms #GamingIndustry #ArayiEnterprises #GSTConsultant #TaxConsultantChennai #StayInformed 9094407286

No Full Rollback on 28% GST for Online Gaming! The 28% GST on online gaming is here to stay, with no full rollback in sight. The industry continues to grow despite this hefty tax, but concerns over past GST notices persist. These issues might be revisited after the elections at the next GST Council meeting. Industry leaders are calling for a balanced approach to support ongoing innovation and expansion. #Gaming #Gst #Esport