For the first time since data was made available 14 years ago, China’s video game sector revenue is on the decline. The world’s biggest video game market is clearly still hurting from government regulations and tightening oversight, which has reduced the number of gaming licenses issued and severely limited play time for teens.   The industry’s combined revenue declined 1.8% to $21.8 billion in the six months ended June, according to a recently published report by a state-backed group. The same report also showed that the number of gamers nationwide fell for the first time ever, dropping ..read more

Guild Esports is making moves to provide better support for the mental health and well-being of its team members and staffers. This comes after the organization hired Kit Brunswick to be the company’s safeguarding and well-being lead. In this role, Brunswick will be tasked with managing the Guild Esports academy prospects and athletes. This is a huge moment for esports because a press release from Guild said that this is “esports’ first-ever safeguarding and wellbeing lead.” However, as Esports News UK points out, other orgs, like the British Esports Federation, have also reportedly trained sp ..read more

Congratulations to Australian soccer player Sam Kerr who is set to become the first woman to ever be featured on the cover of a FIFA video game. Electronic Arts recently announced that Kerr will be featured on the cover of FIFA 23 alongside Paris Saint-Germain and French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. Presenting your #FIFA23 Cover Stars:@samkerr1 and @KMbappe Two phenomenal forces up front. One ultimate strike partnership. See the full reveal on July 20 https://t.co/yjXnlCteDR pic.twitter.com/oOWyqoqBzB — EA SPORTS FIFA (@EASPORTSFIFA) July 18, 2022 “It’s an honor and a dream come true to be ..read more

Since its 2019 release, Apex Legends has been one of the most popular games in the world. And a quick look at the last three years of Apex Legends esports confirms that, as Twitch viewership has steadily increased during that time as well. On July 8th and 9th, the PlayApex channel hit 200,000 viewers during the ALGS Championship, and has officially solidified its place as one of the biggest competitive esports in the world. The $2 million LAN tournament peaked at 632,000 concurrent viewers, eclipsing the Split 2 Playoffs in Stockholm in hours watched: 11.2 million compared to 9.6 million. Fans ..read more

Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, is launching their Professional Esports Productions Bachelor of Science degree program this upcoming fall. The program will teach students skills in graphic design, video editing, motion graphics, and post-production. It will also include classes from other degree programs at the University so as to achieve a cross-disciplinary degree that can be used in a variety of professional industries related to esports. “With Ferris well established in Digital Animation and Game Design instruction, we can lean on that expertise to help our students learn ..read more

Live-streaming platforms like Twitch have become breeding grounds for advertisers and sponsors looking to increase brand awareness. But what brands have really taken advantage of this new area for growth? Electronic hardware companies top the list of highest brand logo presence, unsurprising given those companies deep stake in the gaming industry. Gaming computers and PC companies definitely have a personal interest in showcasing their products to as many gamers as possible. After hardware, apparel (appearing in 7.3% of unique channels), household goods (4.3%), beverages (4.2%), and automotive ..read more

For the first time ever, the Milwaukee Public School (MPS) system is offering students the opportunity to take esports classes, opening the door to a career in the booming industry. The MPS is providing the funding for the 15 students currently enrolled in the inaugural IT and esports class, which the organizers hope will set them up for esports scholarships opportunities at the next level. “Esports is a burgeoning industry — a billion dollar industry,” said Wendell Willis, Executive Director of Milwaukee Public Schools Foundation. “But also, at the high school and college level there are espo ..read more

Gamers who play frequently exhibit superior sensorimotor decision-making skills and enhanced activity in key region of the brain when compared with non-players, potentially giving them useful life tools in perceptual decision-making. Researchers at Georgia State University used functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) to discover that gaming could provide people with skills that they wouldn’t otherwise have. “Video games are played by the overwhelming majority of our youth FOR more than three hours every week, but the beneficial effects on decision-making abilities and the brain are not ex ..read more

A Wordle board game will be coming our way soon. On July 14th, Hasbro announced it was joining forces with The New York Times to launch a Wordle board game called Wordle: The Party Game. This comes several months after The New York Times purchased the mobile game from creator Josh Wardle back in late January. For those of you that have been able to avoid giving in to the trend, congratulations. But, let’s also explain how Wordle works. In this web-based puzzle game, users are tasked with guessing a new five-letter word on a daily basis in six tries or less. However, unlike the original wordle ..read more

One of the most popular and highly regarded games in recent memory is receiving its first console port. Devolver Digital recently announced that it would be launching its hit game, Inscryption, on PlayStation 4s and 5s next month. For those of you unfamiliar with this hit 2021 computer title, let’s break it down. Inscryption is a game where players come across a found footage video blog that features a character discovering a computer game called Inscryption… I know, meta, right? As players interact with a mysterious dealer in a dark cabin, they discover more secrets about the fictional histor ..read more