A new department for Xbox, a close partnership between Japan and Europe, and ongoing consolidation – it was a business-focused day in the news.
The question is gradually becoming clearer, dear readers,
as to where Xbox is headed. The establishment of the new XP unit, along with the subsequent management changes, suggests that CEO Asha Sharma will position Microsoft’s games division as a hybrid of a (traditional) media group and a technology-based (social media) platform. It is a sensible approach in the battle for customers’ entertainment time. After all, the competition is no longer limited to rivals within the industry itself. In terms of content, it’s all about franchises, not only games; technically, it’s about access and engaging target audiences. Xbox is anything but poorly positioned in this regard. But neither are its major competitors.
Here are the news of the day!
Your Stephan Steininger
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma is making further changes to the leadership team of Microsoft’s gaming division: Kayleen Walters heads the new XP business unit, which includes the licensing business. Maria Angelidou-Smith, a former manager at Meta and Personio, is taking charge of Mojang and Minecraft.
(Read more...)
by Stephan Steininger
The European agency group 1SP and the Tokyo-based digital marketing agency Orinas have agreed to form a strategic partnership. The aim is to establish close, cross-border collaboration where clients have such a need.
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by Stephan Steininger
With yesterday's big update, Milestone has made the unique twin-stick controls of anime racing game Screamer optional. We spoke to Federico Cardini, Game Director, on implementing player feedback even if that contradicts with the artistic vision of a game.
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by Pascal Wagner
Enad Global 7 has announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Fireshine Games, has acquired Fair Games. The Danish game studio, based in Aarhus, is the developer and owner of the survival-crafting PC game Necesse, which has sold approximately 2.5 million units to date.
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With their Four Billion Gamers campaign, charity Safe in Our World wants to put better visible mental health resources into games and game spaces. For this, it is looking for studios to participate.
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Stephan Steininger
Atari, Retro Games and Plaion Replai are bringing back the 8-bit home computer with a mechanical keyboard, 25 built-in games, cartridge support and HDMI connectivity. The 800XL is set to be released in April 2027.
(Read more...)
Sandwiched between several Universes Beyond franchise and mini sets, Reality Fracture had a lot to prove. But the current Magic: The Gathering set is one of the best of the year, if not the best altogether.
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Marcel Kleffmann
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