News Mash-Up: Week 15

Key insights

6 takeaways

01
China approved 45 new games in April 2022, ending a regulatory freeze that had been in place since July 2021.
02
Chinese authorities have implemented a temporary ban on the livestreaming of 'unauthorized' video games, citing concerns over teenage addiction and chaotic online content.
03
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 became the highest-grossing video game film adaptation in history after eight days of release, earning over $100 million domestically and approximately $230 million worldwide.
04
Following a UK Competition and Markets Authority investigation, Sony will terminate inactive subscriptions for users who do not respond to reminders, and Nintendo will remove auto-renewal as the default setting for Switch Online.
05
Intel plans to launch laptops featuring Arc GPU technology by the end of Q2 2022, aiming to eliminate the need for dedicated GPUs in portable gaming devices.
06
SEGA is developing a 'super game' initiative that intends to integrate cloud gaming and NFT technology to connect various game titles and cultures.

Summary

This industry update provides a summary of key developments in the global gaming sector during the third week of April 2022. The report highlights significant regulatory shifts, commercial milestones in film adaptations, and emerging hardware and business strategies within the gaming industry.

Regulatory activity remains a primary focus, particularly in China, where the government has resumed game approvals after a prolonged hiatus while simultaneously tightening restrictions on livestreaming unauthorized titles. These measures are framed as efforts to curb teenage addiction and chaotic online behavior. In the United Kingdom, the Competition and Markets Authority has successfully prompted Sony and Nintendo to adjust their subscription service terms, specifically regarding auto-renewal defaults and inactivity notifications, to improve consumer transparency.

Commercial performance and technological innovation also feature prominently. The film Sonic the Hedgehog 2 achieved record-breaking success, becoming the highest-grossing video game-based film within its first eight days of release, with global earnings projected at $230 million. In the hardware space, Intel is preparing to launch its Arc laptop series, aiming to integrate dedicated GPU performance into smaller form factors. Meanwhile, SEGA has signaled a strategic pivot toward "super game" projects, expressing interest in integrating cloud gaming and NFT technologies to foster greater connectivity between titles. The report concludes with a list of new game releases for the week of April 18, 2022, spanning various genres and platforms, including titles such as Postal 4: No Regerts and Chernobylite.