Michael Witz

Aniimo launched on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox on September 16, while mobile will follow one week later on September 23. I was looking at the one-week gap and wondering why. With the power of UA on mobile, one week may not make a big difference in building the overall player base. So why put PC and console first? Looking deeper, there may be a bigger picture behind Aniimo. FunPlus has built much of its core business around mobile games. But the company describes Aniimo as part of its next phase which is an "IP-centric cross-platform vision." It is also their biggest bet to date in terms of budget and ambition. I don't think we should look at this simply as a staggered platform launch. My initial thought was that launching PC and console first could help establish that player base before mobile comes in. But there could be technical, operational or other reasons behind the one-week gap as well. FunPlus has not stated the reason, so we shouldn't assume. What is clear is the direction. Aniimo is not just a mobile game being extended to more platforms. FunPlus is using it as part of a much broader move into cross-platform games and original IP. Source: This Is Game SEA / FunPlus #GrabberMedia #ThisIsGameSEA #GamePublishing #GamingIndustry #SoutheastAsia

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California needs to act to protect the incredible game development talent present in the state. We should not accept this as a losing battle.

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Here are the reasons GamesBeat is the best: 1) The sheer volume of quality output is wild. It is like The Economist of video games. The depth, consistency, breadth, and amount of thoughtful coverage is extraordinary. 2) Accountability matters, but so does kindness. Dean Takahashi and the team don't do gotcha journalism. They ask difficult questions and cover difficult subjects, but the purpose is never to embarrass people who don't deserve to feel embarrassed. There is a fundamental decency to their work. 3) I believe they do more to highlight and acknowledge the good, social, and community parts of our industry than anybody else. They consistently shine a light on people making a positive difference, including those whose contributions might otherwise go unnoticed. 4) They keep finding ways to bring more people under the tent. Seemingly every annual cycle brings new panels, talks, awards, and initiatives recognizing different parts of our industry, whether women, mobile gaming, startups, or so many other communities. They aren't content to serve the same audience in the same way. 5) They have an institutional memory that is almost impossible to replicate. Dean has covered this industry for decades. GamesBeat understands not only what is happening today, but how we got here, what has been tried before, and which cycles we keep repeating. That perspective is a gift. 6) They understand that video games are both an art form and a business. They cover the games themselves, but also the people, companies, economics, technology, investment, and decisions that make the entire industry work. 7) Their main job is not reporting on the industry. It is bringing our industry together. Through events, conversations, panels, and introductions, GamesBeat creates relationships and opportunities that otherwise might never exist. Some publications cover communities. GamesBeat actually helps build one. 8) They manage to remain optimistic without being blind to our industry's problems. They don't ignore layoffs, business failures, or difficult realities. But they also remind us that there are good people doing good things, important innovations happening, and plenty of reasons to believe in the future of games. 9) They keep investing in games journalism when doing so has become incredibly difficult. At a time when so many publications have downsized, disappeared, or reduced their coverage, GamesBeat keeps finding ways to build, expand, and serve this industry. That persistence deserves enormous respect. GamesBeat makes good things happen to our industry and to its people. That is their greatest legacy to me. And I think that is a wonderful thing for all of us to support. Thank you THE GREAT Dean Takahashi, THE INVINCIBLE Gina Joseph, and to the entire GamesBeat team!

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