Week in Views – Xbox App Store appetite, Zuck’s Vision Pro diss and Japan goes g | Pocket Gamer.biz

Microsoft’s app retailer intentions, new {hardware} and an Xbox Cloud Gaming app on iOS?

 All of the speak going into Xbox’s enterprise replace final evening had been with reference to Microsoft doing the inconceivable and ditching platform particular exclusives. Being born in an age the place Sonic was Sega, Mario was Nintendo and Sony was… what was Sony once more?… So Xbox – Microsoft’s first console – had its Halo.

The prediction was that within the wake of changing into swollen with Activision Blizzard multi-platform video games (and promising that Name of Responsibility would stay on different platforms as a way to dodge monopoly bullets) that Xbox was about to throw open its doorways and throw its fanboys to the wolves.

And with all their video games in all places, and far of the final yr’s Aquiblizz chat being slowed down in cloud gaming debate, would they even hassle making one other Xbox once more?

Within the occasion, whereas the multi-platform unique query did come up because the entrance and centre subject, the reveal of their plans was restricted to the truth that sure, 4 video games which can be presently Xbox exclusives could be shifting to as but unannounced rival consoles. At a time that once more, is presently unannounced. And so they couldn’t title the 4 video games in query.

Um… Thanks for the replace.

Much more attention-grabbing was the facet chat regarding the truth that new {hardware} IS on the way in which (and all of the bets are on a Xbox Cloud Gaming participant/moveable) and that the Xbox App Retailer is definitely now solely whisker away following the EU’s physique blows to Apple.

That $68 billion for Sweet Crush, Diablo Immortal, Name of Responsibility and extra is beginning to appear to be cash properly spent.

Embracer sees report $1.2 billion in Q3 earnings after axing 1,400 employees

Embracer’s troubles want little introduction. This week, the writer stated its restructuring program has resulted in roughly 1,400 job losses – round 8% of its international workforce. On the identical time, the corporate posted report income of $1.2 billion in Q3. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless forecast to be off track for decreasing web debt and is contemplating promoting off property, consolidating present groups and doubtlessly shedding extra employees..

The corporate is sitting between a rock and a tough place completely of its personal design. Nevertheless it provided a very callous manner of overlaying its errors and desperately attempting to persuade shareholders {that a} brighter future awaits.

“Our overruling precept is to all the time maximise shareholder worth in any given scenario.”

Embracer Group CEO Lars Wingefors touted in an earnings name, courtesy of In search of Alpha, how vital it was it posted report income throughout a interval of serious restructuring, and that this was “an achievement we needs to be pleased with”.

However certainly that highlights the issue: regardless of report income it nonetheless isn’t making sufficient cash. And that may be a consequence of a method of development in any respect prices.

Regardless of the corporate’s collapse, Wingefors stays as CEO. It might be that traders and the board do belief his imaginative and prescient to show the corporate round, whereas capitalising on the all IP it has scooped up. Notably, these traders embrace Lars Wingefors AB, the personal funding firm based by Wingefors himself, which is the only largest shareholder in Embracer Group at 19.6%, whereas holding a 37.76% share of voting rights.

However that Embracer ever acquired into this place within the first place needs to be seen as an indictment on the way in which it has carried out its enterprise, with builders sadly bearing the brunt of these pricey selections.

Zuckerberg tries Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional: “Quest 3 is the higher product. Interval.”

In fact, it was solely a matter of time earlier than Zuckerberg had his say on the Apple Imaginative and prescient Professional, and actually, it could be weirder if he stated something aside from “our product does it higher”, however is there any fact in what he has to say?

I discover the VR market attention-grabbing and one with plenty of potentialities. I perceive how folks can get carried away and begin pondering that sooner or later it’ll be Prepared Participant One, however for actual (minus the real-world chaos, please). However in all honesty, I don’t know if VR is as far alongside because it seems to be. Sure, the expertise is spectacular, however it’s getting folks to wish to and even have the ability to use it recurrently, and that’s the center of the problem.

This brings me again to Zuckerberg’s factors. I’m not a VR knowledgeable or a Zuckerberg fan, however he does carry up some good factors. He cannot outright declare it’s the higher product total because the Professional has some nice options, however with folks returning the Imaginative and prescient Professional because of the simplest of causes, such because it being uncomfortable to put on and generally tough to navigate it’s a must to surprise if the lighter Quest 3 with it’s hand-tracking controller assist and naturally a lot cheaper price level often is the VR product that extra folks steer in the direction of.

I believe the important thing to the VR {hardware} market gained’t essentially come right down to who has the general higher high-end product; it’ll be the one which does all the straightforward issues properly and at a sensible value level.

Japan generates 50% of worldwide geolocation sport spending

Ever because the 2016 phenomenon that was Pokémon Go, numerous builders have tried to take a slice of the location-based pie, however solely few have succeeded. Go stays the preferred within the West and continues to make Niantic its hundreds of thousands, however 2023 noticed its second main success with Monster Hunter Now.

One other Japanese IP, Now understandably took off in Japan and rapidly surpassed $100 million in income, whereas additionally changing into one of many 5 largest geolocation video games in its IP’s house nation.

Sq. Enix’s Dragon Quest Stroll along with Niantic’s two titles made up the highest three location-based video games in Japan final yr, whereas the highest 5 generated $620 million in income. It’s a hefty sum, and doubly spectacular contemplating it accounts for half of the style’s international income final yr – displaying simply how prepared Japanese gamers are to get exterior and stroll.

It’s additionally simply the most recent little bit of proof of how prepared they’re to spend…