Investment
Ongoing coverage on Investment.
Latest coverage
Saudi Arabia-owned Scopely continues its mobile investment spree with Umamusame: Pretty Derby director's new company Studio AuKnow
Mobile gaming giant Scopely has made a strategic investment into Studio AuKnow, a new company founded by the former director of the popular mobile game Umamusume: Pretty Derby. This investment is part of Scopely's ongoing commitment to the Japanese market and broader Saudi Arabian efforts to invest in the growing mobile gaming sector.
"I literally built an investment firm that wouldn't have funded my own pitch" – Why the money isn't reaching the games that need it
A workshop at the Madeira Games Summit revealed a significant gap between game developers and investors, leading to funding being concentrated on established companies and risk-averse projects. Participants, including former PlayStation executive Adam Boyes, found that when tasked with designing investment funds, they prioritized tools and infrastructure over traditional game content. The core issue identified is a difference in mindset and communication, with developers needing to articulate financial returns more effectively to secure investment for original games.
South Korea's president declares that it will invest over $580 billion in its AI chip industry, with Samsung and SK…
South Korea, through President Lee Jae Myung's declaration, plans to invest approximately 900 trillion won ($583 billion) in its AI chip industry over the next decade. The majority of this investment, 800 trillion won, will come from major companies Samsung and SK hynix, aiming to secure the nation's position in AI hardware manufacturing.
Steam Machine sticker shock, even more Ubisoft layoffs, and another Xbox price hike - Patch Notes #58
This week's gaming news highlights include the high pricing of the Steam Machine starting at $1,049, Ubisoft laying off 93 employees and closing studios, and Microsoft increasing Xbox console prices again. Grand Theft Auto 6 will retail for $79.99, while Kingdom Come: Deliverance II has surpassed 6 million sales. Tencent is reportedly considering exiting some Japanese studios.
Why new investment house Denmu has $50m to give to "auteur" developers
Denmu, a new investment firm founded by Ryan You and Michael Fan, has launched with $50 million to support "auteur" developers, prioritizing creative vision over traditional publisher advances. The firm aims to provide flexible capital solutions and leverage its East-West network to help games reach global audiences. Denmu has already invested in titles like The Hundred Line: The Last Defense Academy and is looking to back unique projects from both Asian and Western studios.
Tencent reportedly negotiating exits from various Japanese studios including Marvelous
Tencent is reportedly negotiating to sell its minority stakes in several Japanese game studios, including Marvelous, potentially at a loss. Investments in PlatinumGames, FromSoftware, and Kadokawa Corporation are unaffected. The company is shifting its focus towards user-generated content games and its existing portfolio teams.
Tencent is reportedly looking to back out of several studio investments like Story of Seasons developer Marvelous, but…
Tencent is reportedly looking to divest from several minority investments in video game studios, including a 20% stake in Marvelous, the developer of Story of Seasons. This reassessment of its portfolio may involve selling stakes back to original management, even at a loss. Investments in studios like PlatinumGames and FromSoftware are reportedly unaffected.
Tencent Looking to Offload Game Dev Investments, Even at a Loss
Chinese company Tencent is reportedly looking to divest from several of its Japanese game development investments, even if it means taking a financial loss. This move is attributed to the current industry downturn and Tencent's focus on AI development. While specific studios are not all named, Marvelous is mentioned as one of the companies Tencent seeks to exit. Despite these potential sales, Tencent has stated its continued commitment to the video game industry and its presence in the Japanese market.
Elden Ring, Death Stranding Movie Studio Gets $75 Million From Google For AI Research, Report Says
Google is reportedly investing $75 million into the movie studio A24 for AI-based research, with the aim of developing new tools for movie production. While A24 is producing films based on Elden Ring and Death Stranding, the investment is not expected to directly impact those projects. This move marks Google's first investment in a movie studio and comes amid growing concerns about AI's role in creative industries.
New TIGA Board reinforces commitment to championing the UK games industry
TIGA, the UK video games industry's trade association, has appointed new members to its Board of Directors, including Gemma Brown, Ben Gunstone, Dan Hett, Greg Howson, Marco A. Minoli, Stuart Muckley, Tim Repa-Davies, Sitara Shefta, and John Tearle. These appointments aim to strengthen TIGA's advocacy for games businesses across the country, focusing on growth, skills development, and policy initiatives. The new board members bring diverse expertise from various studios and specialisms within the UK games sector.
Türkiye's domestic mobile revenue grew 6% to $347m in 2025
Türkiye's mobile revenue reached $347 million in 2025, a 6% increase, while developer revenue surged by 450% to $2.7 billion over six years. Despite a 4% decline in downloads, the market shows a trend towards monetization, with puzzle games dominating revenue. Dream Games led the market, contributing significantly to the country's growing mobile gaming sector and securing substantial investment.
Intel targets India for a new $3.3 billion factory that will make the base substrates for its next generation of chips
Intel plans to invest $3.3 billion in partnership with 3D Glass Solutions, Inc. to build a semiconductor substrate manufacturing facility in Odisha, India. The plant, expected to take six years to complete, will produce high-density interconnect and advanced packaging glass core substrates. This initiative is part of India's 'Make in India' program aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing.
Trio Lapor Pak! Ajak Anak Muda Yogya Melek Finansial
The 'Lapor Pak!' comedy group participated in the Jogja Financial Festival 2026 in Yogyakarta, aiming to educate young people about financial literacy and the importance of saving. The event featured discussions on saving for various goals, investment opportunities for beginners, and the role of LPS in protecting investors.
Daftar Line Up Penampil Jogja Financial Festival 2026
The Jogja Financial Festival 2026 will take place from May 22-24, 2026, in Yogyakarta, featuring discussions on finance, business, and economics. The event will include talks from prominent figures like Chairul Tanjung, Erick Thohir, and Giring Ganesha, alongside entertainment from artists such as Ari Lasso and Juicy Luicy. The festival aims to connect stakeholders in the financial sector and will also host a 5K and 10K fun run.
Former NetEase exec's new investment group is funding Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic because 'everyone wins' if you 'give the best creator the opportunity to work on a dream project'
Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a successor to Knights of the Old Republic being developed by original director Casey Hudson, is being funded by GreaterThan Group, a new investment company founded by former NetEase executive Simon Zhu. Zhu aims to support developers impacted by industry turmoil, stating that giving creators the opportunity to work on their dream projects benefits everyone involved. GreaterThan Group has also invested in BulletFarm, a studio founded by David Vonderhaar.
PS6 price and release window is still undecided, but Sony reports "an increase in investments" into the…
Sony has not officially announced the PlayStation 6, but the company is increasing investments into its next-generation platform, suggesting the PS6 era is approaching. While the exact price and release window remain undecided, Sony's financial reports indicate a significant allocation of resources towards future console development.
Old School RuneScape coal has outperformed one of the world's most popular cryptocurrencies
Old School RuneScape coal has shown a higher yearly growth rate than the cryptocurrency Ethereum between May 2025 and May 2026. While Ethereum saw a 31.84 percent increase, OSRS coal grew by approximately 42.65 percent, attributed to increased player demand driven by the game's growing popularity and in-game events.
Meet the indie studios funding other indie studios
Several successful indie game developers, including Innersloth, Landfall, and Kinetic Games, have launched initiatives like Outersloth, Evil Landfall, and a new publishing business to financially support other independent studios. These funds aim to provide crucial investment, ranging from $50,000 to $2 million, to help indie developers bring their projects to fruition, especially during a period of low overall investment in the video game industry. The transparency of these funding models, including contract terms and recoup percentages, has been positively received by the development community.
Former PlayStation Exec Believes Recent Layoffs Are a Result of Over-Investment During Covid-19
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida attributes recent widespread gaming industry layoffs to over-investment and over-hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic's period of rapid growth. He suggests companies misjudged sustained demand, leading to adjustments and layoffs as the industry returned to steady growth. Despite the sad reality of job losses, Yoshida remains optimistic about the industry's long-term health, noting that overall employment numbers may still be increasing.
Gamescom Latam shows Brazil's dev scene has huge potential, but it's waiting for a spark | Opinion
Gamescom Latam in São Paulo highlights Brazil's growing game development scene, which possesses strong industry infrastructure and government support frameworks. However, a significant lack of funding and investment is hindering its potential to reach the next level, with industry figures emphasizing the need for financial incentives and tax breaks to attract further investment and foster growth.
