MapleStory sequel confirmed, beta in 2014
MapleStory publisher Nexon and developer N Square have announced that a 3D follow-up to the popular F2P MMORPG title is in development.
The companies also revealed that the sequel's beta launch is scheduled for 2014.
As reported earlier, Sega has also partnered with Nexon to...
SQEX confirms FF X and X-2 HD PS Vita release overseas
Square Enix has announced that the PlayStation Vita HD versions of the popular Final Fantasy X and X-2 titles will launch overseas on the same dates as the upcoming PlayStation 3/PlayStation Network releases. The PS Vita versions will also be available as bundled titles,...
KR StarCraft pro recognised as athlete by US
US immigration authorities have granted Korean professional StarCraft II player Kim 'viOLet' Dong-hwan a five-year athletic visa.
Kim's P-1A visa approval, reserved for 'internationally recognized athletes' visiting the US, comes after Canadian League of Legends professional Danny 'Shiphtur' Le became the first esports player to...
Samsung partners with Fingerprint to curate edugames
Samsung has partnered with US-based app selection platform Fingerprint to offer consumers in Asia a branded subscription channel featuring games for smaller children.
"Parents do feel nervous about apps because it is less familiar to them than books and TV," said Fingerprint CEO Nancy...
Nintendo Wii U/3DS hardware, game sales up
Nintendo has announced that Wii U sales in North America rose 340 per cent in November compared to the previous month, with the Wii U title Super Mario 3D World also selling over 215,000 digital and physical copies since the game's North American launch...
Namco Bandai confirms development of Tales sequel
Namco Bandai has announced that Tales of Zestiria, the next title in the Japanese publisher's popular Tales RPG franchise, is in development for PlayStation 3. The upcoming game will also be globally released, the publisher confirmed.
"Over the past few years the Tales Of team...
MS sells over 2M Xbox One worldwide
Microsoft has announced “record-setting” initial sales of over 2 million units for the company's recently launched Xbox One game console.
“Demand is exceeding supply in our thirteen launch markets," said Microsoft SVP Yusuf Mehdi. "Xbox One is sold out at most retailers.”
As reported...
NIS to launch Ys: Memories of Celceta in Europe next year
Japanese game publisher NIS has confirmed the European release of Nihon Falcom's action RPG Ys: Memories of Celceta for PlayStation Vita on 21 February.
Ys: Memories of Celceta is the official fourth edition in the Ys series, developed franchise creator by Nihon Falcom. Earlier licensed...
JP smartphone use up 50 per cent, game app sales soar
Japanese consumers have shifted rapidly from feature phones to smartphones over the past year, according to game data research firm Newzoo, with smartphone penetration rising from 28 per cent last year to 42 per cent in 2013.
"The adoption of smartphones is much faster than...
DeNA to publish upcoming Crytek mobile F2P title worldwide
German game developer Crytek has announced that Tokyo-based DeNA will release the studio's new F2P mobile title The Collectables worldwide on DeNA's Mobage game service in 2014.
“DeNA offers unparalleled experience in the mobile gaming space, and we’re excited to be collaborating with their team...
KR online gaming addiction legislation gaining momentum
The Korean assembly is now considering legislative measures to give the government authority to apply the same legal restrictions to online games as alcohol, gambling and drugs.
A government study earlier this year claimed that two per cent of all Koreans aged 10-19 needed treatment...
China’s Yodo1 secures US$11M in second round funding
Chinese mobile game publisher Yodo1 has secured US$11 million in Series B funding. The investment round was led by GGV Capital, and included new investors Pavilion Capital and Iris Capital. GGV partner Jenny Lee will also join Yodo1's board of directors.
As reported earlier, Singapore’s...
Storm8 launches HK dev’s hit Tower of Saviors overseas
US mobile studio Storm8, creators of Bubble Mania and the popular 'Story' series, is expanding into game publishing with the overseas release of Hong Kong-based Mad Head Limited's War of Dragons (Tower of Saviors in Asia).
According to Storm8 CEO Perry Tam, the company's new...
Fortumo expands carrier billing platform to Indonesia
Estonia based mobile payment company Fortumo has partnered with Indonesian operators Telkomsel, XL Axiata, Indosat and Axis networks to provide carrier billing for online transactions, extending the service to 205 million mobile device users in Indonesia.
Fortumo carrier payment platform allows subscribers to charge app,...
Google Play gift cards launch in Japan
Google has released Google Play gift cards for Android devices in Japan, the first Asian territory to receive the pre-paid cards.
Japanese Google Play gift cards are available in denominations ranging from a minimum 1,500 JPY (US$15) to maximum 20,000 (US$195) - much higher than...
Twitch raises US$90K for PH typhoon relief
Live game streaming provider Twitch has raised US$90,000 to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.
Twitch and online retailer Teespring partnered to collect more than US$80,000 via t-shirt sales to the Twitch gaming community, and a cash donation from Twitch raised the...
Mobile browser use tops 30 per cent in Asia
According to the latest data from StatCounter, mobile devices accounted for a record 32.91 percent of Asian web browsing in November.
Mobile browsing has risen steadily both in the Asian region and worldwide since 2009, when mobile devices accounted for less than on per...
MS parity clause to delay AU indie’s multiplatform release
Australian game studio Witch Beam claims that the new Microsoft ID@Xbox developer program's 'day one parity' clause will force the company to delay the Sony PlayStation 4, PS Vita and Nintendo Wii U release of their newest title, Assault Android Cactus.
The ID@Xbox program only...
Tecmo Koei, GungHo implement JP spending caps
Following a series of incidents where online and social game players have spent large amounts on in-app purchases, publishers Tecmo Koei and GungHo Online have introduced spending limits for younger gamers in Japan.
The Japanese publishers will restrict children under 15 to 5,000 JPY (US$50)...
Konami requests Skullgirls removed from PSN/XBLA
Following the termination of Lab Zero Games' publishing agreement with Konami, the Japanese publisher has requested that the US studio's popular 2D fighter Skullgirls be removed from the PlayStation Network on 17 December, and the Xbox Live Arcade version delisted by 31 December.
Skullgirls was...
