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$3.5B Move for Pokemon GO? Scopely on Niantic’s Gaming Division

Written by our partner InvestGame According to Bloomberg, US-based AR gaming company Niantic, Inc. plans to sell its gaming business, including its flagship title, Pokémon GO. The game development division could be acquired by US-based mobile gaming company Scopely for $3.5B. This deal would significantly shift the AR and location-based gaming market if true. ABOUT NIANTIC Niantic was established as an internal startup at Google in 2010 by John Hanke (previously CEO of Keyhole, which was acquired by Google and became the foundation of Google Earth). In 2015, it spun out as an independent company with backing from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), Nintendo (TYO: 7974), and The Pokémon Company. Today, the company employs almost 1,000 people, with main offices in the US, Japan, and the UK. Since 2015, Niantic has raised over $765m across four funding rounds: in Oct’15, the company […]

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Due Diligence on Games: What Publishers Look For

When a publisher evaluates a game or studio, they’re not just looking at the concept, they’re assessing quality, risk, potential, and long-term viability. So, what does due diligence actually involve? Let’s break it down:🎯 Game Evaluation – What Is The Current State Of The Game?Depending on where the game is in development (MVP vs. Soft Launch), publishers assess:🔹 Marketability – Does it have strong creative potential? How does it perform in test campaigns on Facebook vs. Unity?🔹 Retention & Monetization – Are D1, D7 retention, ARPU, LTV strong enough to outpace CPI and ensure profitability?🔹 Gameplay & UX – Is it polished and meeting genre benchmarks? The product team will find issues, be proactive in addressing them!🔹 Scalability – Can the game grow profitably while covering studio burn and UA costs at higher volumes?🔹 Commercial Viability – What’s the investment […]

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Farming vs. Hunting: Right Games for Publishers

You may have heard the terms Farming and Hunting before, commonly used in sales strategies. But how do they apply to game publishing? Let’s break it down:🌱 Farming – The “Come to Us” ApproachThis strategy relies on publishers building platforms or portals where developers can submit their games. Companies like Voodoo, Supersonic, and Kwalee have dedicated submission portals to capture inbound leads.🔹 The goal? High quantity over quality.🔹 The BD team reviews submissions daily, selecting games for testing.🔹 Automated campaigns (or manual tests by the growth team) determine potential hits and quality.🔹 The success rate? Roughly 1 in 300-500 hundred games make it through, genre depending.🎯 Hunting – The “Go to Them” ApproachHere, the BD team proactively searches for top-tier games and studios. This is a quality-first approach:🔹 BD teams use LinkedIn, emails, and industry tools to scout promising games.🔹 […]

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Meta’s $50M for Mobile: Creator Fun for Devs

Meta has launched a $50 million Creator Fund for developers building games for its online virtual space Horizon Worlds. Meta said it will pay devs monthly based on factors such as engagement, retention, and in-world purchases. As part of this initiative, Meta is also introducing its first creator competition of the year. The first will be a $1m mobile-focused contest, which is set to start on Tuesday, March 11th. Moreover, the company said that Meta Horizon Creator Program members can increase earnings through in-world purchases, which will expand to 18 more countries on Monday, February 24th. Meta has also released the Horizon Worlds desktop editor in early access. It supports new features, including custom model import for building worlds, TypeScript support for complex game logic, and mobile optimisation tools. In the US, it also features generative AI tools such as […]

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Unity in 2024: 5,000 Layoffs at cost of $214m

Unity made a bold, high-stakes move in 2024, trimming its ranks to 4,987 full-timers—a dramatic cut costing $214M. In a sweeping reorganization, the game engine and ads powerhouse shuttered 23 offices, shrinking its global presence from 57 locations in 2023 to just 34 by year’s end. The cost breakdown? $15M in revenue expenses, $48M in R&D, $58M in sales and marketing, and $93M in general and admin—plus an extra $53M in restructuring charges. This follows earlier plans to slice 25% of the workforce in Q1, building on the near 1,800 employee drop from 2023 and a steeper decline from 2022’s 7,703 staff. Yet, even amid cost-cutting and a leaner footprint, Unity isn’t standing still. Despite revenue softness in its Chinese market and an accumulated deficit now at $3.7B, key customer contributions are on the rise, and the company holds $1.5B […]

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How do publishers find and sign new games?

If you’re a game developer looking to get noticed by a publisher, understanding how their sourcing process works is key. Who’s responsible for finding your game? Where do they look? And most importantly, how can you improve your chances of being discovered?🎯 The People Behind Game DiscoveryMost publishers have a dedicated “new business” or “sourcing” team whose main job is to scout new games. In some cases, this responsibility falls under the publishing manager, who not only finds and signs developers but also manages the commercial relationship post-signing.Regardless of their job title, this person is your gateway to the publisher. Making them an advocate for your game and studio can be the difference between getting signed or staying in the shadows.🕵️‍♂️ Where Do Publishers Find Games?Game scouts use a mix of tools and strategies to discover potential hits before their […]

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Current state of publishing in Mobile Games?

Mobile game publishing is set to thrive in 2025, building on the momentum of a strong 2024. Hits like Hexa Sort and Twisted Tangle have demonstrated the power of effective publishing strategies, and it’s no surprise that 9 out of the top 10 gaming companies by downloads have dedicated publishing divisions or strategies in place.For developers, partnering with a strong publisher has never been more essential. Here are my three key reasons why: 1. Funding challenges are growing.Investment in game studios is at a five-year low. According to the latest Konvoy report (see graph in the comments), Q4 2024 saw a 47% QoQ decline in funding. While early-stage investments are still happening, they are primarily small checks meant for prototyping or MVP development. Securing the capital needed for scaling and doing UA at scale? highly unlikely, or at least most […]

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Apple Just Removed 135,000 Apps across EU App Stores

The deadline came, and Apple didn’t hesitate. Over 135,000 apps vanished from EU App Stores overnight, casualties of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The new rule? Developers must publicly list their address, phone number, and email to keep their apps live. No compliance, no app. Apple made it crystal clear: as of February 18, 2025, any app without a verified “trader status” is gone. And they’re not coming back until developers cough up the required details. While the DSA aims for transparency, it’s hitting small and indie developers the hardest. Many work from home, relying on a simple support email rather than sharing personal contact details. Now, they’re scrambling for solutions—virtual offices, coworking spaces, and burner numbers—just to stay compliant without sacrificing privacy. The rule applies to any app that makes money—whether through in-app purchases, ads, or even one-time downloads. […]

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Hasbro 2024 Financials: MONOPOLY GO! contributed $112M

Hasbro’s playing Monopoly GO! in real life. Cool numbers, right? Let's also check how Scopely is doing there! In 2024, Monopoly GO! got 2.2bn IAP & 60.5M Downloads. 🚀 Wizards of the Coast & Digital Gaming Soar as Hasbro Charts a Winning Course Hasbro isn’t just playing the game, changing it. Delivered on its 2024 promises, and leveled up profitability. 🎮 Gaming Leads the Charge MONOPOLY GO! was a massive hit, contributing $112 million in 2024. Wizards of the Coast & Digital Gaming revenue climbed 4%. MAGIC: THE GATHERING held strong despite the tough comparison against last year’s Lord of the Rings set. Digital & Licensed Gaming surged 22%, showing Hasbro’s IP expansion is a game-changer. 📊 Financial Power-Ups Adjusted operating profit skyrocketed 76% to $839 million, thanks to cost efficiencies and a sharper business mix. Operating cash flow hit […]

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50 reasons Why VCs say NO to Startups

Here are 50 reasons why VCs say NO to startups: Market & Opportunity Concerns1. Can't see a venture-scale outcome ($100M+ annual revenue potential)2. No clear user problem that is being solved3. Market timing seems wrong (too early or too late)4. No clear differentiation from competitors5. Me-too product without unique innovation6. Market is already dominated by well-established incumbents7. The market is too mature for new entrants8. Unclear go-to-market strategy9. Customer acquisition costs likely to be too high10. For later stages, not enough evidence of product-market fitTeam Concerns11. Missing critical team members (e.g., CTO, game designer)12. Lack of relevant industry experience13. No clear CEO among co-founders14. Team lacks business creativity15. Founders still working at other companies16. Founders taking massive salaries17. Insufficient founder commitment level18. Past startup failures without clear learnings19. Key team members living in different countries20. Team lacks technical expertise for […]

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Scopely Control 76% of the Location-Based Market

Acquiring Niantic = Scopely Controlling 76% of the Location-Based Market Scopely is reportedly in talks to acquire Niantic for $3.5B. If the deal goes through, it will be one of the biggest M&As in gaming history! For us, this is a perfect moment to take a closer look at the genre and Niantic’s role in it:🔷 Niantic owns 4 out of the top 10 location-based games, generating 76% of total market revenue. This is one of the most monopolized segments in gaming, with incredibly high entry barriers.🔷 Having a major IP is almost essential in this market, yet even that doesn’t guarantee success. Despite its dominance, Niantic has seen multiple failures with titles based on Harry Potter, NBA, Transformers, Catan, and Marvel.🔷 While Pikmin and Monster Hunter are performing better, they’re still far behind Pokémon GO, which alone accounts for […]

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Why does CVC play a bigger role than ever?

Written by our partner, InvestGame. Lately, with financial investors less keen on backing gaming studios, many studios are exploring alternative options—returning to the industry’s roots with publishing partnerships and strategic investors taking the lead. Corporate-led transactions aren’t just funding studios; they’re shaping the industry’s future. Look no further than Epic Games: Disney’s $1.5B investment made headlines, but it wasn’t the only one—Sony and Kirkbi led another massive $2B round. And consider FromSoftware, the creator of the souls-like genre (Elden Ring, Dark Souls series), which has been backed by Sony and Tencent. These deals aren’t just capital injections; they represent strategic, long-term bets on the future of gaming. We’ve tracked this shift for years, but 2024 made one thing clear: corporate-led transactions aren’t just creeping in—they’re taking over private investments in gaming. Over 40% of gaming’s nine-figure deals are now corporate-backed, and we predict that corporate influence will continue growing in […]

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