Author: Tim Rogers
Spotify, a music streaming service, has strongly criticized Apple’s new rules for compliance with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, calling them a “complete and total farce” that “does not comply with the letter and the spirit of the law.”The aim of the DMA is to identify ‘gatekeepers’ – large online platforms, and enforce regulations to create a “fairer business environment” for all companies. In Apple’s case, the requirements include opening up the App Store and iOS ecosystem to third-party marketplaces and payment options.In response, Apple’s new business terms propose reducing its revenue share to 17% – with a further…
Do you want to get the latest gaming industry news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters here. Microsoft announced this week that it is laying off 1,900 people following its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. These layoffs appear to affect staff across almost every department of Microsoft’s gaming division. This is not the only company that has laid off a large number of employees in 2024. According to videogamelayoffs.com, over 5,000 layoffs have been reported in just 26 days into the new year. Comparatively, in the entire year of 2023, a conservative estimate put…
Entertainment company Bushiroad has made a surprising game announcement by revealing that Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 Miracle Live will be launched globally in February and also shut down in May. Love Live! School Idol Festival 2 Miracle Live is an anime-themed rhythm action and adventure game, serving as the sequel to Love Live! School Idol Festival that was initially released in 2014. In a tweet from the game’s official handle posted here, it was expressed, “We appreciate the love and support you’ve shown, and we’re committed to making these last few months an unforgettable moment.” Debuting in April…
Spotify is not happy with how Apple is complying with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The streaming music company issued its response to Apple’s new DMA rules, criticizing the new fees on developers as “extortion” and calling Apple’s compliance plan “a complete and total farce.” According to Spotify, Apple’s actions demonstrate that the tech giant believes the rules don’t apply to them. Earlier this week, Apple announced changes to comply with the EU law, including reduced commissions for app developers, but also introduced a new “core technology fee” and a 3% payment processing fee. Epic Games’ CEO Tim Sweeney…
Do you want to get the latest gaming industry news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our daily and weekly newsletters here. Following Riot Games’ layoffs earlier this week, the company’s esports ambitions seem to be under scrutiny. While Riot Games committed to integrating esports into its other products, staff cuts for the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and its unreleased esports streaming platform indicate a significant shift in ambitions. The League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) has been one of Riot’s most watched regional leagues, but the recent layoffs included key production staff such as the executive…
We are now five days into the BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2024, with only two more days of competition remaining. One team has performed impressively, while two have not met expectations. Here are the main talking points from the day to keep you updated on the action. G2 looking comfortable Credit: Stephanie Lindgren | © BLAST G2 managed to defeat NIP in a 2:0 series at the BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2024. The standout player has been m0NESY, showcasing exceptional skill and contributing significantly to the team’s success. G2 aims to compete for various trophies in 2024 and their victory…
Good news for Fortnite fans in Europe! The iOS version of the game is finally making a comeback after being unavailable for some time due to the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games. Although the lawsuit has been resolved, the game remained inaccessible on the app store. However, a recent regulatory change in Europe has paved the way for Fortnite to return to the iOS app store in that region. Source: @FortniteGame Fortnite iOS Coming Back in Europe Mobile players have been unable to access Fortnite for a significant period, limited to experiencing only up to Chapter 2 Season…
Beijing has quietly pulled the proposed curbs on the video game industry from the official website, weeks after the draft guidelines wiped tens of billions of dollars off the market value of local titans. The link to the draft rules was no longer accessible as of this morning, Haitong Securities reported earlier on Tuesday. Shares of Tencent and NetEase jumped on the news. “This could possibly indicate that there will be further changes in the new measures,” wrote Haitong analysts in the note, accessed via S&P Global Market Intelligence. The move follows Beijing also removing a key official – the…
While the games industry is constantly evolving, there are certain stories that remain relevant long after they are first reported… To delve deeper into some of these compelling topics, we have created a weekly digest where the PocketGamer.biz team shares their insights on the most interesting events in mobile gaming from the past week. Daniel Griffiths Editor – PocketGamer.biz Daniel Griffiths is a seasoned journalist with experience on major entertainment media brands. He has interviewed numerous celebrities and covered various releases in the fields of video games, music, movies, tech, and more. He has held editorial positions at leading publications…
Backbone Backbone, a mobile game controller maker, is set to release a limited-edition version of its Backbone One controller with a Death Stranding theme. The release is paired with a free code for the iOS version of Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, which will launch alongside the controller next week. This limited-edition controller is based on the second-gen USB-C Backbone One controller. It features a beige see-through design on the grip, inspired by the BB Pod from Death Stranding. The controller also bears the logos of both Backbone and Kojima Productions, making it instantly recognizable and appealing to fans of Death…