Your Gaming and Esports Update
Deals
Unity Acquires Artomatix
Unity Technologies has officially acquired Irish software company Artomatix in a deal valued at up to $60 million (€52.8 million). Through this acquisition, it will create 100 jobs in Dublin over the next two years. Artomatix has developed artificial intelligence (AI) software technology known as ArtEngine, which significantly cuts the cost of content creation for animated movies, video games, and AR/VR applications through automation. The technology gives 3D artists the ability to speed up their workflow thanks to algorithms that can generate thousands of images based on the initial design and parameters that an artist provides.
Epic Games Acquires Cubic Motion
Epic Games has acquired Cubic Motion, a provider of automated performance-driven facial animation technology for video games, film, broadcast, and immersive experiences such as virtual reality. Cubic Motion has helped Epic on its quest to create graphically realistic virtual humans, which look and behave like real people. Cubic Motion’s part of that has been to capture the facial animation and movement of human faces, which is one of the hardest for artists to get right. Epic, flush with cash from the success of Fortnite and the Unreal Engine, did not disclose the purchase price.
Digital Development Management Acquires Digi-Capital’s Game-Data Platform
Game-consultation and talent agency Digital Development Management has acquired the industry-intelligence firm Digi-Capital’s game-data platform. DDM is launching the Games Investment Review platform. This service enables investors to get real-time reports on the value of various companies in the video games business. DM Games Investment Review aims to make that information more readily available to “empower companies, from independent developers to sizeable funds, as they look to secure equitable deals,” says Peggy Twardowski, business information director at DDM
PlatinumGames Raises $2.2M through Kickstarter
Platinum Games’ Kickstarter for the remake of its 2013 Wii U game The Wonderful 101 has finished with more than 40 times its initial goal. The campaign ended up with a total of $2,222,546 pledged by 33,199 backers, with almost $200,000 being pledged in the last 24 hours. While the Kickstarter didn’t quite make it to the last-minute $2.25 million stretch goal, which would see two new orchestral recordings added to the game, chatter on the project’s countdown livestream suggested that non-Kickstarter donations would still push them over that goal.
Facebook Acquires Sanzaru Games
Facebook has acquired Asgard’s Wrath developer Sanzaru Games for an undisclosed amount. “ As part of Oculus Studios and supported by our latest advancements in VR technology, Sanzaru will continue to make amazing VR game experiences for gamers around the world as an independently-operated studio. We couldn’t be more excited to see what they build next,” according to the official blog post.
VERITAS Entertainment Raises $10M
Berlin-based VERITAS Entertainment is preparing to open a gaming center, dubbed LVL, after raising $10 million in funding. The 2,500-square-metre establishment will be launched in partnership with G2 Esports, whose players will use the facilities as a training ground and content hub, and will be able to interact directly with fans through the venue. The first LVL arena will open on March 26th and expects to see 250,000 people pass through its doors through 130 live events on an annual basis, with tournaments set to be held across an array of esports titles.
Updates
Overwatch League Canceled through April due to Coronavirus
Activision Blizzard has canceled all scheduled Overwatch League homestand events for March and April due to the growing scare over coronavirus (COVID-19). The news comes following the cancellation of the Paris Eternal’s April homestand following France’s nationwide ban of events with more than 1,000 attendees. The league had previously canceled homestand weekend events in China and South Korea, but today’s move cancels all global events on the calendar through April.
FunPlus Phoenix Has Bought Into FLASHPOINT
Chinese organization FunPlus Phoenix has bought into team-owned Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league FLASHPOINT. FunPlus Phoenix is the eighth founding team of the league, which costs $2 million to buy in to. FunPlus Phoenix has reportedly acquired the roster that previously represented Danish organization Heroic — the team is ranked #14 in the world in HLTV.org’s system. Heroic is set to compete in the eleventh season of the ESL Pro League but, if the report is true, it’s unknown if the organization will have a roster to field in the competition.
Twitter: @taylor_konvoy
