Amazon Web Services’ insights into gaming for 2021
VentureBeat reports: “No one has a bird’s eye view of the game industry like Amazon. The company’s Amazon Web Services division provides online services for 90% of the industry.”
Capcom raises forecasts thanks to growing digital sales
Gamesindustry.biz reports: “Capcom has raised its full-year financial forecasts ahead of next week’s Q3 results report, thanks to high digital sales of its games.”
Will 2021 Herald a Golden Age of Artist Partnerships for Independent Labels?
Music Business Worldwide: “While the current COVID-19 pandemic transforms aspects of the “norm” worldwide the recorded music business, which continues to be sustained by streaming income, has remained relatively insulated from any commercial downturn so far.”
ViacomCBS to Launch Pluto TV in France, Vowing to “Transform” Market
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “ViacomCBS will launch advertising-supported streaming service Pluto TV in France next month, vowing to “transform” the country’s TV and streaming market.”
Roku’s Scott Rosenberg Dishes on the WarnerMedia and Quibi Deals
Variety reports: “2020 may have been a breakout year for Roku, but it’s really just setting the stage for what’s to come next for the upstart streaming company.”
Facebook and Instagram’s AI-generated image captions now offer far more details
TechCrunch reports: “Every picture posted to Facebook and Instagram gets a caption generated by an image analysis AI, and that AI just got a lot smarter. The improved system should be a treat for visually impaired users, and may help you find your photos faster in the future.”
South Korea’s Naver Buys Wattpad Storytelling App for $600 Million
The Hollywood Reporter reports: “The Canadian storytelling app Wattpad has unveiled a deal to be acquired by Naver, the South Korean Internet conglomerate and home of Webtoon, the global digital comics platform as part of a cash and stock deal valued at $600 million.”
Future of TV Briefing: Free, ad-supported streaming TV bubble nears an inflection point
Deadline reports: “The free, ad-supported streaming TV market has quickly expanded to the point of becoming overgrown. Now it’s in need of some pruning.”
Valve and five PC games publishers fined $9.4M for illegal geo-blocking
TechCrunch reports: “A four-year antitrust investigation into PC games geo-blocking in the European Union by distribution platform Valve and five games publishers has led to fines totaling €7.8 million (~$9.4M) after the Commission confirmed today that the bloc’s rules had been breached.”
Netflix Stock Soars to Near Record Highs on Q4 Subscriber Beat, Positive Free Cash Flow Forecast
Variety reports: “Netflix shares saw their biggest single-day gains in four years after the streamer reported strong Q4 subscriber growth that topped Wall Street expectations.”
