Jordan Fragen

Adding context to your favorite gaming and esports data 📈🎮 Formerly: @GamesBeat @EsportsInsider, @NewzooHQ, @esportsobserved, @tnlmedia

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

.@TeamFOLON launched its epic "DLC-sized" Fallout London mod today.

Developed by a team of 100 fans, the ambitious mod features the voices of @NeilNewbon and fmr UK Speaker of the House of Commons, Jon Bercow, on a map that rivals the size of Fallout 4. https://t.co/gVYjWobrIZ

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

Team FOLON launches 'DLC-sized' Fallout London mod https://t.co/3D3Up8ISyE

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

#DeadpoolAndWolverine hits theaters on Friday. In its all out marketing blitz, the film leveraged partnerships with video game brands like @Xbox, @FortniteGame and @MARVELSNAP

https://t.co/82YuXLmkAU

[Dean Takahashi @deantak]

Bethesda Game Studios workers unionize under Communications Workers of America https://t.co/sIUjnh65sX via @GamesBeat #BethesdaGameStudios #Fallout

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

EA officially returns to NCAA football with the launch of #CFB25 today. Thanks to NIL changes, @EASPORTSCollege features all 134 FBS schools and thousands of college athletes. https://t.co/WXlWy9j27A

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Great to see so many fans (and sponsors) embracing the FGC! #EVO2024

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

Evo expects 60,000+ to attend largest fighting game event ever https://t.co/3cfpQyrJbU

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Riot is doubling down on its open bracket LAN experiment with the TFT Macau Open.

H/T @RiotSherman for his insights on its previous #TFT Open and what Riot learned from the experience.

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

Exclusive: Riot Games has announced its next @TFT Open is heading to Macau December 13-15. @RiotSherman told us more about what the dev learned from its first experiment in Vegas. https://t.co/Va0MRR33GZ

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

.@offbrand_games is the latest creator-led game publisher. Backed by @LudwigAhgren, @NathanStanz and now @PirateSoftware, the label will publish @RivalsofAether's sequel later this year. https://t.co/HGbuEGyCLS

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Congrats to @Solarpunk_Game, @Screenbound, @KirtOlson, @wizordum and @ComboDevils on their wins at #OTKGamesExpo

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

.@OTKGamesExpo and @CashApp awarded $50,000 to five indie devs at this year's #OTKGamesExpo
https://t.co/WrLPqu4ImN

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

.@notostudios unveils Legacy: Steel & Sorcery at @OTKGamesExpo. @ckaleiki told GamesBeat how WoW's world PVP inspired Legacy's mix of fantasy and emergent PvP gameplay. https://t.co/rcR8zOjxZM

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

RIP #Blizzcon2024 - Blizzard is cancelling its flagship conference and plans to make announcements at other events.

Likely due to a combination of disappointing turnout for Blizzcon 2023 and $MSFT evaluating strategy post-acquisition

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

.@Blizzard_Ent is cancelling Blizzcon for 2024. Instead, it will make its major announcements at other industry trade shows and events. https://t.co/octiWsP2oD

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

From @InvestGameNet on Q1 2024 Gaming Investments:

⭕️ Excluding Disney's $1.5B investment into Epic, games funding totals down 30% vs. Q1 2023
⭕️ Average deal size remains consistent
⭕️ Pre-seed/seed funding strong, but investors remain cautious for Series A+

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

Private investments totaled $2.2B in Q1 2024 per @InvestGameNet. - While there are some early signs of recovery, investors remain cautious. https://t.co/jE7iuuveox

[The Esports Advocate @TEAdvocated]

A Welcoming Kingdom: @iesf_official President HRH Prince Faisal sent a letter to members of the federation (obtained by TEA) telling them that any apprehension related to concerns about the safety of players, staff, or fans is unwarranted:

✍🏼@jfudge

https://t.co/8aHP1QKtJo

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Very cool experiment from Ubisoft, Nvidia and Inworld AI.

Neo NPCs respond dynamically to players in unscripted conversations. Lots of potential for @Rainbow6Game to include dynamic in-game announcements or the potential for players to be a detective ala LA Noire.

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

Ubisoft debuts GenAI-powered Neo NPCs and gameplay prototype https://t.co/HxlkPvrfWa

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Instead of signing direct partnerships, esports publishers are indirectly supporting betting providers through @GRIDesports data partnerships. Everyone benefits from having a 3rd party to verify data.

R6 is on the upswing too thanks in part to @jynxzi

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

As a part of its multiyear agreement with @Ubisoft and @R6esports, @GRIDesports is launching its esports data portal for pro teams. #R6S #R6esports https://t.co/FNrK2MJDxG

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

k-ID’s scalable and affordable legal compliance for indie devs looking to make games for kids has the potential to be a game changer.

Big win for @a16zGames, @konvoyventures and @TIRTAVentures

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

.@k_idofficial is democratizing access to kids online privacy and safety compliance for game developers of all sizes. https://t.co/8ebuWQ8mwQ

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

@NRG_Cory @NRGgg @fullsquadgaming @amiller 💪🏻💪🏻

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Samsung is tapping @NRGgg and @fullsquadgaming to reach gamers, creators and students.

"Our audience is 62% Gen Z -- not a lot of properties can offer that at the scale we can" - @amiller

Meanwhile, NRG is growing its footprint globally through mobile esports.

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

Exclusive: @NRGgg and @fullsquadgaming are partnering with @SamsungMobile in a deal that spans:
- NRG Galaxy @EsportsPUBGM team based in NA
- Spring Break + Back to School content series with FSG
- Samsung Game Jam for indie devs

https://t.co/UPAYhMfshA

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

@ghostkcmo Good question. EFG didn't disclose, but some senior staff were cut, including:
- Director of Collegiate esports at FACEIT
- Sr. Director Global Brand Partnerships at EFG
- Sr. Director of Strategy & Integration at Vindex

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Hate to see it, but reducing staff after a merger is common. Wishing good luck to those affected.

ESL FACEIT Group is still the largest independent esports company post-layoffs

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

.@ESL @FACEIT has laid of 15% of its global staff 2 years after its $1.5B merger

https://t.co/Uql0OgJOiN

[Jordan Fragen @JFragen_]

Buckle up, 2024 is shaping up to be rough for game devs.

Over the last week, roughly 2,000 gaming jobs were cut across @EA, @Sony, @ESL @Faceit, @SuperMGames and more.

It isn't even March and we've lost ~80% of 2023's layoff total per @dekaf's videogamelayoffs.

[GamesBeat @GamesBeat]

In addition to cutting 5% of its workforce, @EA is shuttering new licensed games like an untitled Star Wars FPS in-development at @Respawn. $EA https://t.co/Z1QmtLmq77