SOLUTIONS
prnewswire | June 08, 2023
New research from Omdia reveals the majority of movies and series adaptations originating from games IP are animation. Japan has maximized opportunities from cross-media IP for decades, with Pokémon being the highest-profile global success. Three quarters (72%) of video-game adaptations since 1982 were from animation, with 65% of these adaptations coming from Japanese anime series.
"Many successful Japanese IP tend to be envisioned as cross-media from the beginning", commented James McWhirter, Senior Analyst at Omdia. "Investors on anime production committees reveal this multimedia breadth, where record labels, games publishers and TV broadcasters come together to fund new series. This reveals the interdependence between an anime's success and each funder's own form of media within the same IP".
The fruits of this multimedia-first approach are clear. 2021's bestselling anime series from Cygames' Uma Musume IP helped drive earnings of accompanying mobile game Uma Musume: Pretty Derby to over $1.2bn in net revenue across 11 million players*. It was accompanied by the release of over 30 drama and music CDs, and multiple manga series.
While anime in cinemas has been a slow burn driven by a handful of titles over many years in North America, things are changing. Box office takings climbed in 2022, with five major titles already slated for release in 2023. Larger anime titles used to receive a limited theatrical release. However, the release strategy is changing as popularity increases. Demon Slayer: Mugen Train saw a record box office performance for anime in North America, followed up by hits such as Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie and Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero.
David Hancock, Chief Analyst, in Omdia's media and entertainment practice notes "Global streaming services have changed the risk profile for anime, opening it to new audiences. Niche streamer Crunchyroll is also expanding its subscriber base after being acquired by Sony in 2021. With 10 million subscribers, the platform offers access to more than 40,000 episodes and has become the driving force behind an anime upsurge in the US. Anime is also fundamental to Netflix's competitive positioning against other streamers".
ABOUT OMDIA
Omdia, part of Informa Tech, is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets combined with our actionable insights empower organizations to make smart growth decisions.
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MEDIA AND BROADCASTING
businesswire | June 07, 2023
Diablo IV, the highly anticipated new installment of the iconic Diablo series, is now live. Already, it is Blizzard Entertainment’s fastest-selling game of all time, with Blizzard’s highest pre-launch unit sales ever on both console and PC*. In the four days since early access started on June 1, Diablo IV has been played for 93 million hours, or over 10,000 years --- the equivalent playing 24 hours a day since the beginning of human civilization.
Diablo IV features cross-platform play and cross-progression on Windows® PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, plus up to four player co-op, including two player couch co-op on consoles.
“This is a moment years in the making for the Diablo IV team,” said Rod Fergusson, general manager of Diablo. “We’re extremely proud to offer players the richest story ever told in a Diablo game. Players have a range of choices, including personal character customization, equipping personalized skills for battling horrific demons, or collecting Legendary loot to support your playstyle while discovering new ones. Since the game was first announced in 2019, the support from millions of players around the world drove us toward this release of our dark vision of Sanctuary. Hail Lilith, Blessed Mother.”
“Our vision at Blizzard is to create legendary experiences for all to share, and Diablo IV is an incredible realization of that vision,” said Mike Ybarra, President of Blizzard Entertainment. “With highly customizable gameplay, gripping storytelling, and plenty of options around how to engage with the world, this masterfully crafted expression of the Diablo universe is an outstanding example of what our talented development teams are capable of. Whether you’re a veteran of the series or diving into Sanctuary for the first time, we welcome players to the global launch of Diablo IV.”
Set 50 years after the events of Diablo III: Reaper of Souls®, Diablo IV opens with the summoning of Lilith, the Daughter of Hatred, back to the mortal realm of Sanctuary. The lands have become infested with horrific creatures, and only the bravest of souls will be able to stand against the threat of chaos. Players can customize their gameplay experience in directions that appeal to them, experimenting with skill trees to showcase complimenting spells and abilities as they fight to return Sanctuary to its citizens.
Diablo IV heralds an expansive overworld, which players can explore as their choice of five classes—the shapeshifting Druids, agile Rogues, elemental Sorcerer, brutal Barbarians, and ritualistic Necromancers. There is no golden path; players choose how they want to progress, whether it be pursuing Lilith with laser-focus or exploring the dark corners of each region, while building their skills. The land of Sanctuary is diverse with different biomes and demonic beasts, and players will test their mettle across five regions in over 120 dungeons and dozens of side-quests, all while confronting World Bosses and exorcising plagued Strongholds in a shared and cooperative open world.
But it doesn’t end there. After completing the main storyline, players can explore robust end-game activities to further their adventures and grow even more formidable in power. From the grueling and regularly occurring Helltide, to demonically challenging Nightmare Dungeons, there’s plenty of ways for players to utilize an updated Paragon Board system and continue customizing their adventures. Also featured is the Whispers of the Dead, which grant Legendary rewards for selected world bounties, and the Fields of Hatred, which offer designated grounds for battling other players and building PvP renown. Plus, players can remain embroiled in the happenings of Sanctuary with the regular release of Seasons and expansions, providing new gameplay features, questlines, characters, challenges, and Legendary loot.
Digital Purchase Editions & Bonuses
Diablo IV is available for digital purchase as a Standard edition ($69.99), Deluxe edition ($89.99), and Ultimate edition ($99.99). Each digital edition includes one or more items to enlist against the Hellspawn that plague Sanctuary:
Standard Edition: Includes the Inarius Wings & Inarius Murloc Pet in Diablo® III**, the Amalgam of Rage Mount*** in World of Warcraft®**, and the Umber Winged Darkness Cosmetics Set in Diablo® Immortal™**.
Deluxe Edition: Includes everything in the Standard edition, plus a Premium Seasonal Battle Pass Unlock for Season 1 in Diablo IV, the Hellborn Carapace Mount Armor in Diablo IV, and the Temptation Mount*** in Diablo IV.
Ultimate Edition: Includes everything in the Deluxe edition, plus an Accelerated Seasonal Battle Pass Unlock for Season 1 in Diablo IV (a Premium Seasonal Battle Pass Unlock plus 20 Tier Skips and a cosmetic), and the Wings of the Creator Emote in Diablo IV.
The devout can also purchase the Diablo IV Limited Edition Collector’s Box**** ($96.66), which includes a double-sided electric Candle of Creation, a cloth map of Sanctuary, an Occult Mousepad, a pin of the Horadrim, two matted fine art prints (18.54” x 10.79”), and a Diablo IV Collector’s Edition Art book. Available for purchase from the Blizzard Gear Store, and via select retailers in Australia and New Zealand.
About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc
Best known for iconic video game universes including Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. a division of Activision Blizzard is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment experiences. Blizzard Entertainment has created some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed and genre-defining games over the last 30 years, with a track record that includes multiple Game of the Year awards. Blizzard Entertainment engages tens of millions of players around the world with titles available on PC via Battle.net, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android.
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TECHNOLOGIES
businesswire | June 06, 2023
Global media and entertainment technology company Backlight™, will be sponsoring and participating in the StreamTV Show that is set to take place June 12-14 in Denver, Colorado. The annual conference brings together aggregators and platforms, along with leading streaming services and content providers.
Representatives from Backlight Streaming, the division of Backlight that provides cloud-based OTT video streaming, content management, media production, hyperdistribution, and monetization software, will be in attendance at the Show and available to provide demos of solutions from Backlight’s distribution product lines—Zype and Wildmoka.
On day two of the conference, Backlight Streaming’s Josh Yanus will join speakers from USA Today Network, Fuse Media, MagellanTV, and MYOutdoorTV for a panel discussion about how content owners can appeal to niche streaming audiences and derive the most value from their archive. Josh, a senior client success manager, works closely with Backlight clients who have voluminous libraries of content and who want to monetize their digital video assets. The panel discussion is set to take place at 3:55 PM MT on Tuesday, June 13.
To schedule a meeting with Backlight while at the StreamTV show, complete this form.
About Backlight
Backlight is a global media technology company that dramatically improves every stage of the video and entertainment content lifecycle - from creation through monetization. Backed by $200M in funding from PSG, Backlight has acquired six leading media software companies since launching in 2021. Video-forward organizations solve their mission-critical business and operational challenges by partnering with Backlight’s two divisions: Backlight Creative and Backlight Streaming. Backlight Creative provides award-winning software solutions for secure and efficient media management, production tracking and creative collaboration including iconik, ftrack, Gem and Celtx. Backlight Streaming provides cloud-based OTT video streaming, content management, media production, hyperdistribution, and monetization software, including Zype and Wildmoka, to world’s most innovative publishers and broadcasters.
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