Geekonomy

Any given Friday. The three most interesting facts from the Economy of Pop Culture of the last 7 days. Here are the ones from this week.

1) Superman’s trailer hits Over 250 million views in 24 hours, sets record for DC and Warner Bros.

The launch of the Superman teaser trailer has made history, with James Gunn announcing it as the most-watched trailer in the history of both DC and Warner Bros. According to Gunn, the trailer surpassed 250 million views in just its first 24 hours.

“Krypto really took us home,” Gunn shared on social media. “With over 250 million views and a million social posts, Superman is officially the most viewed and talked-about trailer ever for DC and Warner Bros. This is all thanks to our incredible fans. We can’t wait to share this movie with you in July. Happy Holidays!”

The Superman teaser outperformed several major trailers released this year. Comparatively, the first teaser for Joker: Folie à Deux garnered 167 million views within the same time frame, while Inside Out 2 - the year’s highest-grossing film - saw 157 million views. However, Marvel’s Deadpool and Wolverine still holds the all-time record with 365 million views.

The trailer offers fans their first glimpse of David Corenswet as Superman, alongside Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor and a variety of other DC heroes, including Krypto the Superdog, Hawkgirl (Isabela Merced), Green Lantern Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), Mister Terrific (Edi Gathegi), and Metamorpho (Anthony Carrigan). It also teases the romance between Superman and Lois Lane, played by Rachel Brosnahan.

Gunn’s Superman will premiere in theaters on July 11, promising to redefine the iconic character for a new era of the DC Universe.

Source Variety

2) Sony acquires 10% stake in Kadokawa: a game-changer for global media and entertainment.

Sony has officially announced the acquisition of a 10% stake in Japanese media giant Kadokawa, cementing its position as Kadokawa’s largest shareholder. This move is expected to reshape the creation, production, and global distribution of Japanese entertainment products.

In a statement, Sony revealed it will acquire 12,054,100 new Kadokawa shares for approximately ￥50 billion (￡253,000). This includes shares previously acquired in a 2021 "capital alliance." The partnership builds on a history of collaboration, with both companies aiming to enhance the value of their intellectual properties (IPs) through a deeper business alliance.

Key initiatives will include:

·??????? Global adaptations of Kadokawa’s IPs into live-action films and TV dramas.

·??????? Co-productions of anime and expansion of their global distribution.

·??????? Broadened publishing efforts for Kadokawa’s games.

·??????? Development of human resources for virtual production.

Sony’s Hiroki Totoki stated, “By combining Kadokawa’s IP creation ecosystem with Sony’s strengths in global entertainment, we aim to realize Kadokawa’s ‘Global Media Mix’ strategy and Sony’s ‘Creative Entertainment Vision.’”

Kadokawa CEO Takeshi Natsuno added, “This alliance will strengthen our IP creation and expand global media mix options, allowing us to deliver our IP to more users worldwide and enhance corporate value in the mid-to-long term.”

The acquisition comes amidst contrasting financial performances. Sony recently reported a 73% year-on-year increase in operating income for its second quarter, driven by strong gaming and imaging sales. Conversely, Kadokawa faced significant setbacks from a cyberattack earlier this year, resulting in reduced sales and profits. Despite this, its Animation/Film and Gaming segments showed resilience, helping to mitigate losses.

This partnership marks a turning point in the media and gaming industries, leveraging Sony’s technological and distribution expertise alongside Kadokawa’s creative content. The collaboration is poised to drive innovation, expand Japanese entertainment's global reach, and redefine cross-media storytelling.

Sony and Kadokawa are set to deliver groundbreaking experiences to audiences worldwide, blending technology and creativity to shape the future of entertainment.

Source International Business Times

3) European Video Game sales in 2024 down 29%, with Dragon Age: The Veilguard missing Top 50.

As 2024 wraps up, the European video game market reveals a challenging year for new releases. Sales of new games fell by 29% compared to 2023, with many struggling to compete with established titles.

Top 20 Best-Selling New Games in Europe (2024)

1.????EA Sports FC 25 (#1 overall)

2.????Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (#3 overall)

3.????Helldivers 2 (#6 overall)

4.????Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 (#12 overall)

5.????Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO (#13 overall)

6.????The Last of Us Part II Remastered (#20 overall)

7.????Super Mario Party Jamboree (#22 overall, physical sales only)

8.????Astro Bot (#34 overall)

9.??? Dragon’s Dogma 2 (#37 overall)

10.? Not disclosed

11.? Not disclosed

12.? Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (#43 overall)

13.? Not disclosed

14.? Star Wars Outlaws (#45 overall)

15.? Not disclosed

16.? Not disclosed

17.? Not disclosed

18.? Not disclosed

19.? Dragon Age: The Veilguard (#68 overall)

Despite a few standout performances, only six new games cracked the overall top 20, and one of them—The Last of Us Part II Remastered—is a revamped version of a 2020 release. Franchise titans like EA Sports FC 25 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 led the pack, cementing their place as industry staples.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard failed to break into the top 50, landing at #68 overall. Titles such as Astro Bot, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth struggled to gain traction, missing the top 30 entirely.

The top five overall best-sellers of 2024—EA Sports FC 25, EA Sports FC 24, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, GTA V, and Hogwarts Legacy—highlight the enduring appeal of older games and franchises. Fallout 4 also surged, ranking 16th overall, likely boosted by the popularity of Amazon’s TV adaptation.

Newer titles are increasingly overshadowed by established blockbusters and remastered classics. The decline in sales suggests challenges for the industry in balancing innovation with the consumer demand for familiar experiences.

In summary, 2024 was a tough year for new releases, with established franchises continuing to dominate the European gaming market. The data underscores the evolving dynamics of consumer preferences, where older titles often outshine fresh entries in both sales and staying power.

Source gameworldobserver.com