TESTRONIC NEWS ROUND-UP
Another week and another round-up of the biggest stories in games from over the past few days. From record-breaking game investments to Nintendo's next-gen console strategy, and music and TV cross-overs, here’s a look at the headlines...
Gaming Investments Skyrocket – $4.3 Billion Raised in 2024: According to a new report from Hiro Capital, global gaming investments saw a 38% increase in 2024, reaching an impressive $4.3 billion. GamesBeat reveals that this is a substantial jump from the $3.1 billion raised in 2023, highlighting renewed confidence from investors. One of the standout areas is the US, which contributed $2.9 billion to the total, nearly tripling its $1 billion investment from the previous year. A major driver behind this growth? Late-stage funding rounds, such as Epic Games' $1.5 billion raise, which indicate strong investor confidence in established games companies. So does this bring a note of optimism to the market? Luke Alvarez, founding managing partner at Hiro Capital, told GamesBeat: “Even in this tough market, I think 2025 feels pretty good. Sectors are picking up and people are growing again. It’s probably harder than ever to get cut through as an indie or as a new studio, but if you’re making something brilliant with amazing fun and an innovative gameplay loop, you can cut through.” It’s a weighty article and well worth a read here - https://shorturl.at/36BfS
‘Wizardry’ Remake Makes Grammy History: Video game music is getting the recognition it deserves, and the latest Grammy Awards proved it. The remake of?Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord?clinched the Grammy for?Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media, a category that was only introduced in 2023. What makes this win particularly significant is that?Wizardry, originally released in 1981, had?no?soundtrack. For the 2023 remake, award-winning composer Winifred Phillips crafted an entirely new score, bringing fresh life to the game while staying true to its old-school dungeon-crawling roots. This victory not only cements video game music as a legitimate art form, but also highlights the growing respect for game composers within the broader music industry. It’s another step forward in bridging the gap between gaming and traditional entertainment sectors. Read more on Polygon here – https://shorturl.at/uF2U7
‘The Last of Us’ Season 2: Unseen Game Content Comes to Life: From the world of music to the small screen… HBO’s?The Last of Us?took the world by storm with its faithful yet emotionally rich adaptation of the PlayStation classic. With Season 2 in the works, co-creators Neil Druckmann and Craig Mazin have teased that the new season will incorporate?cut content from the original game — material that was once considered too intense or complex for the interactive format. While the creators remain tight-lipped, they’ve hinted that it’s?“pretty brutal”?and will add even more depth to the story. Given the series’ reputation for gut-wrenching emotional beats and raw storytelling, these new elements could make Season 2 an even more unforgettable experience. With Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey reprising their roles as Joel and Ellie, expectations are high. It’s also been confirmed that Season 2 will only cover part of?The Last of Us Part II, suggesting a longer narrative arc spread across multiple seasons. GameRant has the inside scoop here - https://shorturl.at/ujhUJ
Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket Hits $500 Million in Record Time: Pokémon continues to dominate in the mobile space, including when it comes to revenues.?Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket has shattered records by surpassing?$500 million in revenue in just 22 days. To put this into perspective,?Pokémon Gotook?75 days?to hit the same milestone, according to Pocketgamer.biz. What’s driving this success? The game has cleverly tapped into nostalgia while making Pokémon card collecting more accessible than ever. The integration of augmented reality, live trading, and exclusive digital card drops has created a fresh yet familiar experience that resonates with both longtime collectors and new players. This milestone underscores Pokémon’s lasting cultural impact and its ability to adapt to modern gaming trends. With such an explosive launch,?Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket?could pave the way for more digital-first TCG experiences in the future. Find out more here - https://shorturl.at/vRpz4
EA Eyes Nintendo Switch 2 for Major Sports Titles: Electronic Arts is eyeing up Nintendo’s Switch 2, and it looks like?EA Sports FC?and?Madden NFL?might be coming to the upcoming platform. EA CEO Andrew Wilson recently expressed enthusiasm about bringing the company’s biggest sports franchises to Nintendo’s next-generation console, saying they could?“find real energy”?there. Learn more via Video Games Chronicle here –https://shorturl.at/1cK9i
Given increased investments, record-breaking sales and successful breakthroughs by games IP in other entertainment sectors, are we at a turning point for the industry? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
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Image by?Andreas Lischka?from?Pixabay
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