Why make millions when we can make…billions?
Continue reading “Netmarble Posts $1.8 Billion Sales In 2019 Fiscal Year”
Tag: Press Release
Ghost Recon Breakpoint “Very Disappointing” Says Ubisoft
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint’s critical and financial performance have been “very disappointing” according to an Ubisoft report released today. Ubisoft released a statement revising financial targets to offer the bad news that the 2019-2020 fiscal year isn’t going to be so hot for the French developer/publisher. Worst of all is that net bookings are expected to end up at €1.45 billion, an admittedly large amount but a long way away from the anticipated €2.185 billion. Operating income has plummeted from an anticipated €480 million to just €20-50 million.
The drop off in sales is primarily due to the “very disappointing” reception of Ghost Recon: Breakpoint which launched in early September on PC and consoles. In addition, Ubisoft notes that development for Watch Dogs: Legion, Gods & Monsters, and Rainbow Six Quarantine will all be extended and will not be released until the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
“However, we have not capitalized on the potential of our latest two AAA releases. For Ghost Recon Breakpoint, while the game’s quality appeared on track – based on E3, Gamescom, previews and our latest internal playtests –, critical reception and sales during the game’s first weeks were very disappointing. As we have done with past titles, we will continue to support the game and listen to the community in order to deliver the necessary improvements.”
Breakpoint has been getting slammed by critics and the public since its launch last month. The game has seen a lot of backlash due to an extensive cash shop that appeared to get priority billing over the game itself which launched with severe bugs and performance issues. Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot does not address any of the criticisms in the press release, instead blaming the game’s subpar performance on difficulty generating interest for a sequel to a live service game, imperfect implementation of gameplay innovations (whatever that means), and not enough differentiation factors to stick out among the crowd.
“In this overall context, we have decided to postpone the releases of Gods & Monsters, Rainbow Six Quarantine and Watch_Dogs Legion until 2020-21. While each of these games already has a strong identity and high potential, we want our teams to have more development time to ensure that their respective innovations are perfectly implemented so as to deliver optimal experiences for players. This decision will have a very significant impact on our financial results for this fiscal year and goes against our recent successes in building a more stable development model. However, it is in line with our strategy to maximize the future value of our brands for the long term benefit of our employees, players and shareholders. We expect it to have a positive impact on our financial performance as from 2020-21.”
Source: Ubisoft Press Release
Apple Rejects Steam Link Streaming App For iOS
Apple has rejected Valve’s Steam Link app for iOS, the company announced this week. The app, released on Android with no apparent problems, allows users to stream their Steam library to their tablets or phones. According to Valve’s press release, quoted below, Apple cited business conflicts as the reason for their rejection of the app.
“On Monday, May 7th, Apple approved the Steam Link app for release. On Weds, May 9th, Valve released news of the app. The following morning, Apple revoked its approval citing business conflicts with app guidelines that had allegedly not been realized by the original review team. Valve appealed, explaining the Steam Link app simply functions as a LAN-based remote desktop similar to numerous remote desktop applications already available on the App Store. Ultimately, that appeal was denied leaving the Steam Link app for iOS blocked from release. The team here spent many hours on this project and the approval process, so we’re clearly disappointed. But we hope Apple will reconsider in the future.”
In other words: It allows people to play games without Apple getting a cut of the revenue.
(Source: Valve Press Release)
Nexon Celebrates Chaos Chronicle One Year Anniversary
Nexon America is currently celebrating the one year anniversary of Chaos Chronicle, 2D mobile MMORPG available on Android and iOS, and is hosting a variety of events over the course of this week. The content, listed below, is available for new and returning players and includes a new Play Points gameplay feature to assist players in obtaining rewards.
- Special Attendance Disciple Contract – Get the Disciple Contract and receive access to powerful Special Heroes and numerous popular items such as rare Rubies and formidable Elite Accessories just by logging on between Aug. 3 and Sept. 6;
- Increased Hero Contract Mileage – Sign-in between July 30 and Aug. 6 to receive an unprecedented 150 percent mileage increase on all player Hero Contracts purchased in the shop;
- New Play Points Gameplay Element – Play Points are earned by completing in-game quests. Players can acquire up to 30 unique rewards, including the mighty Disciple Equipment Box, a Hero Selection Contract and an Elite Accessory Box;
- Limited-Time Discounted Items: Between July 30 and Aug. 6, players have the opportunity to refine equipment for a 50 percent discount on valuable Rubies.
Chaos Chronicle is available on iOS and Android.
(Source: Nexon press release)
Riders of Icarus Launches Corruption of Light Update
Riders of Icarus just got bigger, as Nexon America has launched the latest update: Corruption of Light, delivering new zones, new dungeons, and more to the waiting player base. The update introduces two new zones, Ellora Sanctuary and Windhome Canyon, where adventurers will travel to reclaim the Demonic Stone from the Chaos Legion before it can summon the God of Ruin.
Corruption of Light raises the level cap to 55, introduces two new field bosses, new gear sets, and three new legendary dungeons to explore and conquer. More details on Riders of Icarus can be found at the official website.
(Source: Riders of Icarus press release)
Mechanist Games Will Compensate Players
As plenty of you already know, City of Steam’s English servers under R2 Games are shutting down November 21st. In a press release by Mechanist Games sent out today, the developer has revealed plans to compensate backers and restore the faith of their community. While not all of the details are final, when City of Steam: Arkadia launches in November, supporters will find their Electrum restored.
We will recharge all original supporter accounts their total Electrum’s worth on the new Mechanist servers. We want to restore faith in our players, especially those early adopters who believed in us.
Unfortunately, characters created on R2’s servers will not be brought over to Arkadia, however accounts will be compensated based on how far they managed to get in the original game.
Mechanist will be opening new servers, not continuing R2’s servers. But to honor the loyalty of returning players, compensation will be given on these new servers based on the specs of their old characters. We have a strong desire to give everyone the fresh new start this game deserves, but we also really want to thank the loyal players who stuck with City of Steam and welcome them home, whether they spent Electrum or not.
Gamers in City of Steam’s other territories will be happy to know that their service will be mostly uninterrupted. Foreign language versions of City of Steam will also be upgraded to Arkadia, but will continue to enjoy their current publisher.
Those game versions are not affected by the English version’s publishing handover. They can continue playing now, and enjoy the improvements that come along with City of Steam: Arkadia when it is ready. And just like any other version upgrade, all the non-English language versions will also receive it.
(Source: City of Steam)
3000AD Announces Line of Defense Digital Comics
Line of Defense is the upcoming MMOFPS by 3000AD, and while the game is still a long way from release, you can already get your hands on the first copy of the companion comic book. In a recent press release, DC Comics has confirmed that it will publish a twelve chapter series based on the world of Line of Defense, with the first three chapters releasing over the course of this month, and the rest coming scattered over the rest of the year and into July 2014. The series will be digital only, available on Comixology and DC Comics apps.
The full release schedule:
October 8 – “Payback” Chapter 1
October 15 – “Payback” Chapter 2
October 22 – “Payback” Chapter 3
January ‘14 – Chapters 4 to 6
April ‘14 – Chapters 7 to 9
July ‘14 – Chapters 10 to 12
Line of Defense is still on schedule for release before the coming apocalypse.
(Source: DC Comics Press Release)
Let’s Ask John Smedley: Keynote Speech Edition
When I said that there were unconfirmed reports that John Smedley had made the same speech of:
“Traditionally, massively multiplier online games have been about three basic gameplay elements – combat, exploration and character progression. In Everquest 2, we’ve added a fourth element to the equation; a story“
in 2004, I definitely should have done some more digging. In fact, after further research after I published the article, I found that the reports had come from, who else, Derek Smart. It was Mr. Smart himself posting on the Kill Ten Rats blog.
Apparently it didn’t come to mind to any of us (except for myself, despite what I imagine to be numerous restraining orders by John Smedley against me attempting to communicate with him and all of my phone calls to him being directed to the local county police office), to actually contact John Smedley and ask if he said that back in 2004. That is, all of us except our best friends (as of ten seconds before I got the idea for this article) at N3rfed. John Smedley’s answer? Never been to New Orleans.
“Um. I’ve never been to New Orleans. That was the one year I missed it for family reasons 😉
I have no idea of [sic] I ever said that. But given that he’s attributing it to me in new orleans I doubt it. Maybe I said it some other year.”
So not a confirmation that it wasn’t said, and there exists no transcription of events to prove it, so we’ll leave it at this question: How is plagiarizing a quote from 2004 any better than a quote from 2008?
We do have one confirmation, however, that the coincidental misspelling of “multiplier” and “everquest” were due to rogue spell checkers.
More on Alganon as it appears. I promise this is the last article I will run on this issue.
MMO Fallout 