Venture Beat reports: “Bravo Ready has raised $3 million to develop BR1: Infinite Royale, a never-ending battle royale game that uses non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The skill-based game uses a “win-to-earn” model, where players wager money to enter a battle royale match and earn tokens for each kill that they get. The title marries NFT technology and smart contract automation.”
Tech Crunch reports: “TikTok announced today a new initiative designed to help small businesses better market themselves on its app — and eventually become TikTok advertisers. The company is introducing a free program called “Follow Me,” which will offer guides to using TikTok’s range of business and creative tools, advertising and promotional features, as well as coaching from other small business owners.”
Variety reports: “Netflix is rolling out a new way to bring theater-like immersive audio to streaming customers worldwide — using existing stereo speakers. The streaming giant announced that it is launching spatial audio through a partnership with audio-technology company Sennheiser. According to Netflix, the spatial audio tech helps translate the “cinematic experience” of immersive, surround-sound audio to any stereo.”
Tech Crunch reports: “The music catalog of the Universal Music Group (UMG), the world’s largest record company, will be available to users of Africa-focused streaming service, Mdundo, following the signing of a licensing deal. Mdundo said the deal will strengthen its offering to its 17 million active monthly users, and accelerate its growth across Africa.”
Social Media Today reports: “Meta has announced that, as of next month, Meta VR users will no longer need to have a Facebook account to create a VR profile, which, up till now, has been a requirement of VR connection. The move will separate Meta’s metaverse push from its traditional social media business, which could help Meta add a degree of distance from its Facebook brand – while users will still be able to link up their social media and VR profiles if they wish.”
Deadline reports: “NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed longtime speculation that the league’s Sunday Ticket rights will be going to a streaming service after nearly 30 years on DirecTV. “I clearly believe we will be moving to a streaming service,” the commissioner told CNBC. He was speaking from Sun Valley, ID, where he is attending the Allen & Co. conference along with an array of media and tech execs, many of whom are NFL rightsholders.”
Hollywood Reporter reports: “John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co. has a new home. The production outfit headed by Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius has signed an overall deal with Universal Studio Group’s UCP that covers scripted programming, as well as a first-look deal for unscripted content. Get Lifted moves to UCP from Disney’s ABC Signature.”
Games Industry Biz reports: “Rockstar Games has confirmed what many Red Dead Online players suspected by this point: it is no longer working on major content updates for the game’s multiplayer mode. In an update on its website, the developer discussed its plans for both Red Dead Online and Grand Theft Auto Online, revealing that it will be winding down the former — in part as the studio concentrates on its next blockbuster.”
The Verge reports: “Secret Service Director James Murray is retiring from his post for a new position as Snap’s chief security officer at the end of the month, Snap confirmed to The Verge on Thursday. Murray’s private sector move was first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday, shortly after the longtime protective service official’s departure from government was announced by the Secret Service in a public statement.”
Deadline reports: “Multimedia Music, an emerging player in the film and TV music rights arena, has finalized three separate deals to acquire works by composers Tyler Bates, David Buckley and Michael Corcoran. The exact value of the transactions was not disclosed, but each is understood to be in the eight-figure range. Bates composed scores for the Guardians of the Galaxy and John Wick franchises.”
