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ESRB Seeks FTC Approval for ‘Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation’ Program
The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has submitted an application to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) seeking approval for a new "Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation" program.
- The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) has applied to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for approval of a new 'Privacy-Protective Facial Age Estimation' method to verify parental consent under COPPA regulations.
- The proposed system, developed in partnership with Yoti and SuperAwesome, uses facial scanning to estimate a user's age without storing personal identity information, as the image is deleted immediately after the estimation is complete.
- If the system cannot confirm an adult's age, users are prompted to use alternative verification methods, such as providing a payment card, driver’s license, or Social Security number.
FaZe Clan Q1 2023 Financial Results
FaZe Clan’s financial performance for the first quarter of 2023 highlights a period of significant fiscal instability, characterized by declining revenues and rising operational costs.
- FaZe Clan reported a net loss of $14.04M for Q1 2023, an increase from the $9.54M loss recorded in the same period of 2022.
- Total revenue fell 20.6% year-over-year to $12.55M, driven by declines in both brand sponsorships and content business revenue.
- The company’s cash position dropped to $26.83M as of March 31, 2023, down from $37.21M at the end of Q1 2022.
Astralis Board Initiates Strategic Review
The board of directors for the esports organization Astralis has initiated a formal strategic review to evaluate the company’s future position and ownership structure.
- The board of directors at esports organization Astralis has initiated a strategic review to explore options including delisting from the stock exchange, issuing new shares, or selling company assets.
- The review was prompted by the company’s share price trading at a material discount compared to its initial public offering price of DKK 8.95.
- Astralis reported net revenue of DKK 87.5M ($12.8M USD) for fiscal year 2022, an increase from DKK 75.0M ($10.9M USD) in 2021.
Chicago Not So Bullish on Esports Projects in 2023
The landscape for large-scale esports infrastructure in Chicago faced significant setbacks in early 2023, as multiple high-profile development projects were either rejected or abandoned.
- Chicago officials rejected a $104 million proposal to convert the former Chicago Board Options Exchange building into a mixed-use facility featuring an esports arena, citing the project's ineligibility for city tax increment financing subsidies.
- Developer Scott Greenberg has officially abandoned plans for a $30 million virtual reality esports arena at 2500-48 S. Wabash Avenue, citing a lack of market appetite and shifting conditions in the gaming industry.
- The rejected $104 million Chicago Board Options Exchange project, supported by LeagueSpot and Phoenix Sports Partners, aimed to transform the building's trading floor into an esports competition space alongside student housing and wellness facilities.
Workers at Activision Blizzard Studio Proletariat Organize
In December 2022, a supermajority of employees at the Boston-based game studio Proletariat announced their intent to unionize, filing for a representation election with the National Labor Relations Board.
- A supermajority of workers at the Boston-based studio Proletariat have filed for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board, seeking representation through the Proletariat Workers Alliance/CWA.
- If successful, Proletariat would become the third Activision Blizzard studio to unionize, following Raven Software and Blizzard Albany, though it is the first to include the entire studio workforce rather than just QA staff.
- Microsoft, which is in the process of acquiring Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, has signed an agreement with the union to remain neutral regarding organizing efforts.
QA Workers at Activision Blizzard Albany Officially Unionize
Quality assurance workers at the Activision Blizzard studio in Albany, New York, have officially unionized, forming the Game Workers Alliance Albany.
- Quality assurance workers at Activision Blizzard Albany have officially unionized as the Game Workers Alliance Albany following a 14-0 vote.
- The U.S. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) rejected an appeal from Activision Blizzard management, which had argued that the bargaining unit should be studio-wide rather than limited to QA staff.
- Management challenged four additional votes on the grounds that they were not submitted in time, despite organizers attributing the delays to issues such as mail delivery problems.
Majority of Motorsport Games Board Members Resign
In November 2022, the virtual racing game developer Motorsport Games faced a significant corporate governance crisis when a majority of its board of directors resigned.
- Motorsport Games' board of directors resigned en masse on November 9, 2022, following a dispute with majority shareholder Motorsport Network LLC regarding capital-raising proposals that would have been dilutive to the shareholder.
- The mass resignation included independent directors Peter Moore, Neil Anderson, and James Allen, leaving CEO Dmitry Kozko as the sole remaining board member alongside newly appointed independent director John Delta.
- The company fell out of compliance with NASDAQ listing rules, specifically failing to maintain a board with a majority of independent directors and an audit committee consisting of at least three independent members.
Netflix Exec Jeremi Gorman Joins GameSquare Board of Directors
GameSquare Esports has appointed Jeremi Gorman, the President of Worldwide Advertising at Netflix, to its board of directors as an independent director.
- Netflix President of Worldwide Advertising Jeremi Gorman has joined the board of directors at GameSquare Esports as an independent director.
- GameSquare aims to leverage Gorman’s extensive background in advertising and marketing to accelerate revenue growth and scale the company's position in the gaming and esports industry.
- Gorman brings significant executive experience to the board, having previously served as Chief Business Officer at Snap and Head of Global Large Customer Sales at Amazon.
Classic Game Postmortem: Wolfenstein 3D
This retrospective on the development and marketing of the seminal PC title Wolfenstein 3D chronicles the strategic evolution of iD Software during the early 1990s.
- The iD Software team achieved rapid development cycles by releasing multiple titles, such as Commander Keen 4, 5, and Catacomb 3-D, which allowed them to master game mechanics before building Wolfenstein 3D.
- The developers secured the Wolfenstein IP for $5,000 by purchasing the rights from an individual who had acquired the assets of the defunct original publisher, Muse Software.
- iD Software successfully utilized a shareware distribution model that generated $50,000 per month, a figure that caught the attention of industry peers like Sierra.
Playtika Holding Corp. Q4 and Full Year 2021 Earnings Release
Playtika Holding Corp. reported strong financial growth for the fourth quarter and full year ending December 31, 2021, characterized by increased revenue and net income.
- Playtika reported 2021 full-year revenue of $2.58 billion, an 8.9% increase over 2020, with net income rising significantly to $308.5 million from $92.1 million.
- Fourth-quarter 2021 revenue grew 13.2% year-over-year to $649 million, while the company announced it is currently evaluating strategic alternatives.
- Casual games now account for 51.8% of total revenue, with the casual portfolio experiencing 31.5% year-over-year growth in Q4 2021.
Playtika Holding Corp. Q3 2021 Prepared Remarks
Playtika Holding Corp.’s third-quarter 2021 earnings presentation outlines a strategic transition toward long-term growth through portfolio diversification, technological infrastructure upgrades, and expansion into non-gaming mobile applications.
- Playtika reported Q3 2021 revenue of $635.9 million, representing a 4% year-over-year increase despite difficult comparisons to COVID-19 lockdown periods in 2020.
- The company is diversifying beyond traditional gaming by acquiring Reworks, the studio behind the interior design app Redecor, marking its first strategic move into non-gaming mobile apps.
- Casual games now account for approximately 49% of total revenue, led by Solitaire Grand Harvest, which grew 45% year-over-year, and Bingo Blitz, which grew 15%.
Three Reasons Why You Should Consider Adding Social Elements to Your Mobile Game
The integration of social elements into mobile games, traditionally reserved for midcore titles, has become a successful strategy for increasing engagement across diverse genres, including casual puzzle games.
- Social features are increasingly vital for retention in traditionally single-player genres, with guild mechanic utilization in the top 100 grossing casual Match3 games increasing by 23% between September 2020 and September 2021.
- Implementing social elements like co-op modes, guilds, and communal tasks improves player stickiness by leveraging social pressure and the desire to contribute to a team.
- Social integration creates new opportunities for horizontal content expansion, such as communal events and co-op PvE modes, which in turn provide additional monetization sinks.