Nintendo shares rise on lifting of CN console ban
Shares in Nintendo rose 10.76 per cent to 15,850 JPY in Tokyo following China's announced suspension of a ban on game consoles from overseas firms.
Nintendo had operated in China prior to the ban, distributing China-specific products like the iQue Player, which played Nintendo...
iOS app sales US$10B in 2013; 1B Android users by 2014
Apple has announced that the company's App Store for iOS devices posted US$10 billion in global revenues for 2013.
Popular games last year included Candy Crush Saga, Puzzles and Dragons, Minecraft and Clumsy Ninja. Apple also revealed that iOS developers have earned over US$15...
Sony unveils PlayStation Now streaming game service
Sony has announced the PlayStation Now game streaming service at CES in Las Vegas. Developed by Sony-owned streaming technology provider Gaikai, the platform will allow Sony hardware owners (including PS4/PS3 consoles, handheld PS Vita and other Sony devices like HDTVs, tablets and smart phones)...
MS confirms 3M Xbox One sold in 2013; supply delays in remaining regions
Microsoft has announced over 3 million Xbox One units sold from the game console's mid-November launch in thirteen markets to end of 2013. As reported earlier, the Xbox One debuted in thirteen territories on 21 November, including the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand....
Nintendo confirms Inazuma 11 NA release for 2014
Japanese sports RPG Inazuma Eleven (Lightning Eleven) will launch in North America for Nintendo 3DS in the first quarter of 2014, according to a statement by Nintendo.
The popular franchise from Japanese studio Level-5 was first published domestically in 2008, with the original game's European...
SQEX cancels Hitman sequel at MTL studio; mob dev continues
Square Enix has confirmed that a next-gen Hitman sequel in production at the company's Eidos Montreal studio has been cancelled.
"IO Interactive is developing a new, AAA Hitman game that will be coming to PC and next-gen consoles," said the publisher in a statement. "Square...
Ban on game consoles suspended in CN
The Chinese State Council has lifted a 13-year long ban on the sale and manufacture of games consoles by overseas companies in China.
According to a government statement, foreign-funded enterprises with production and sales operations in the Shanghai Trial Free Trade Zone will be permitted...
Happy holidays from InsideGamesAsia.biz
InsideGamesAsia.biz wishes our readers a very happy Christmas and wonderful New Year. Our staff is on holiday break and we will return with our regular news postings on 7 January.
We started the website and weekly newsletter a few short months ago, and both our...
Line charity stickers raise over US$500K for PH typhoon relief
Japanese mobile messaging app publisher Line has raised 57.4 million JPY (circa US$552,000) from global sales of a charity sticker pack to aid disaster stricken Philippine communities in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan.
The eight sticker charity pack features popular Line's characters and will...
CyberFront board dissolves JP publisher
Cyberfront, the localisation publisher of Western titles like The Walking Dead and Portal series in Japan, has been dissolved.
Established in 1998, Japanese firm made major management changes earlier this year following a buyout by Kaga Electronics, and suggested continuing business difficulties in the dissolution...
Sony confirms PS4 launch in India next month
Sony PlayStation 4 will go on sale in India on 6 January for 39,990 INR (US$641), with 20 games available at launch.
"We have received an overwhelming response for PlayStation 4 globally," said Sony India MD Kenichiro Hibi. "(We) are hoping to replicate this...
Tecmo Koei to develop Zelda-DW crossover for Nintendo
Nintendo has announced that Japanese game developer and publisher Tecmo Koei is creating a Zelda-Dynasty Warriors crossover action title for the Nintendo Wii U.
The new game, tentatively called Zelda Musou (Hyrule Warriors), will combine the action of Tecmo Koei's Dynasty Warriors franchise with the...
PS4 sold out in AU; Sony pledges to restock by February
Sony has confirmed that January stocks of the company's next-generation PlayStation 4 console have sold out in Australia, as overwhelming demand combined with a near simultaneous launch worldwide (excluding Japan, scheduled for 22 February) have created a pre-holiday supply shortage.
“If you haven’t pre-ordered, it...
Perfect World to publish console games
Beijing-based F2P publisher Perfect World Entertainment has announced the establishment of console game publishing division.
"Perfect World Entertainment has long been the leader in free-to-play PC titles,” said Perfect World CEO Alan Chen. “Bringing our titles to consoles is a natural progression for us, and...
Android titles led Asian markets in 2013
According to a year-end report from app analytics firm Distimo, Google Play Android app revenues led in Korea and Japan this year, two of the three fastest growing mobile game markets worldwide.
In China, the third rapidly expanding market in the group, Android games...
Knights & Dragons yields US$5M in monthly earnings for Gree
Japanese mobile game publisher Gree has announced that revenues from Iugo Mobile Entertainment's Knights & Dragons title have now topped US$5 million worldwide over the last 30-day period.
“Our relationship with Iugo, a leader in building high-quality mobile games, is a great illustration of how...
Samsung launches new Android smartphone gamepad
Korean mobile device manufacturer Samsung has announced a new version of the company's Android smartphone gamepad and mobile console app.
The Samsung GamePad connects with smartphones and tablets through Bluetooth pairing, is compatible with devices running Android 4.1 OS or higher and ranging from 4-6.3...
Mobile gaming portal WePlay launches in SG
Android social gaming and app store platform WePlay has launched via Google Play for SingTel subscribers in Singapore. Singapore-based telecom SingTel and US mobile game publisher PlayPhone announced a partnership to develop the Asian mobile game distribution portal in November.
“Discovery of games is a...
Nexon to launch Lost Saga in Europe next year
Nexon will release Korean developer IO Entertainment's Lost Saga in Europe next year, the Tokyo-based publisher has announced. The popular MMO is also available in Korea, Indonesia, Thailand and North America.
“We’re incredibly pleased to have this prestigious title added to our already large and...
MA15+ ratings upheld after AU review
Australia’s Classification Board has decided to uphold the MA15+ ratings of 12 games reviewed at the request of South Australian Attorney-General John Rau in November.
The Australian Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) had been critical of the move and voiced supported for the board's...
