Gaming Grid - Nintendo Reports Decline in Sales, South Korean Gaming Giant to Launch $10M Gaming Accelerator Program, and much more

Gaming Grid Newsletter is curated to share the latest gaming insights in the Asia region for all gaming enthusiasts. Our goal is to be an insightful gaming source that readers look forward to reading every week.

💡 This Week’s Highlights:

• Nintendo reports decline in Switch and game sales, but digital sales see a boost 📈

• South Korean Gaming Giant NEOWIZ joins hands with Intella X to launch $10M Gaming Accelerator Program 🇰🇷

• 13,000 New Holders Join Imaginary Carnival Gaming Ecosystem 🎪

• Star Symphony postpones NFT mint due to market volatility ⚠️

• The Sandbox joined forces with Singapore-based Web3 firm Affyn 🤝

👀 GAMING INSIGHTS IN ASIA

Nintendo reports decline in Switch and game sales, but digital sales see a boost 📈

Nintendo's financial earnings reports for FY2023 showed a decrease in profits, Switch sales, and overall game sales, but digital sales increased and accounted for nearly half of total software sales. Nintendo attributed the increase to a rise in packaged software and Switch Online sales, as well as the weakness of the yen. However, Nintendo's outlook for FY2024 is conservative with a forecasted decrease in Switch and software sales.

South Korean gaming giant NEOWIZ joins hands with Intella X 🇰🇷

Intella X and NEOWIZ have joined hands to launch a $10M Gaming Accelerator Grant Program for talented game developers building on the Polygon Network, aimed at revolutionising the Web3 gaming landscape. NEOWIZ, a South Korean gaming titan with a proven track record in publishing, co-developing, investing in world-renowned titles such as Crossfire, FIFA Online 2, and Fortnite, will collaborate on the initiative.

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13,000 New Holders Join Imaginary Carnival Gaming Ecosystem 🎪

The Imaginary Rides NFT collection has been fully deposited. The collection is part of the larger gaming ecosystem known as Imaginary Carnival, created by Singapore-based gaming company Imaginary Ones. The intention behind it is to bring new holders into the fold. With 13,888 new Imaginary Rides holders now on board, the team is excited to embark on this journey together.

Star Symphony postpones NFT mint due to market volatility ⚠️

Star Symphony, a rhythm game developed by Malaysia-based gaming firm Isekai Studio, has postponed its mint due to the fluctuation in the high gwei (gas fees) of the current market. Presale holders can request a refund starting May 9 until May 24 where all funds will be deployed back to the holders within three days after the submission closes. Star Symphony will also share details of their development ranging from short to long term during the Route Map AMA on May 11. Eligibility to mint in the upcoming mint can be checked on the wallet checker starting May 15.

The Sandbox has joined forces with Singapore-based Web3 firm Affyn 🤝💻

Affyn is known for developing games and metaverses with integrated geolocation and augmented reality features. This collaboration aims to advance interoperable metaverse experiences, creating a unique, community-oriented open metaverse that unites creators and collaborators worldwide. During Affyn's keynote event, Evolution (May 10), the company unveiled further information on their new game set to debut this year and announced The Sandbox as a prominent web3 ecosystem partner.

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Mocaverse Partners with Digisport & Lympo 🏋️

In recent developments, Mocaverse has announced an official partnership with Digisport, and Lympo, a company known for building a sports NFTs ecosystem that includes NFTs with the intellectual property rights of world-famous athletes and clubs. This collaboration will introduce a limited edition adventure to the FIGHT REALM with UFC fighter Rose Namajunas. With this partnership, fans can look forward to an engaging one-two combo of an AMA (Ask Me Anything) session and a giveaway featuring the champion fighter.

🌎 GLOBAL HOT GAMING NEWS BY XGA LIN

Valve's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Reaches New Peak with 1.8M Concurrent Players 💥

On May 6, the popular shooter game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) reached a new all-time high for concurrent players with 1.8 million players, beating its previous record of 1.5 million in March. CS:GO now holds the second-highest all-time concurrent peak on Steam, behind only PUBG: Battlegrounds. While the game currently has 1.35 million concurrent players, Valve plans to release Counter-Strike 2 in June as a free upgrade for Global Offensive. As the future of the 2012 game remains unclear, players are seizing the opportunity to play the current game now, even for something as simple as an in-game emblem.

PUBG creator is coming to Web3! 🚀

KRAFTON and NAVER Z, the creators of the wildly popular online game PUBG and operator of Asia's largest metaverse, respectively, are joining forces to launch a new metaverse platform called Migaloo. The platform, set to launch later this year, will feature a Create-to-Earn (C2E) system, which incentivizes content creators to build works in the metaverse that users can purchase and own using blockchain technology and NFTs.

Get creative & win 50,000 SAND in The Sandbox’s Steve Aoki Game Jam 🏆

A two-week game-making competition has been launched by The Sandbox, the decentralised virtual gaming platform. The Steve Aoki Game Jam is centred around the theme of exploring the creativity and inspiration of legendary artist and DJ Steve Aoki. Participants are encouraged to create games that showcase Aoki’s unique perspective, sound, and artistry. The competition has a prize pool of 50,000 SAND. Winners will have their games showcased on The Sandbox platform, and be granted the opportunity to work with Aoki’s team to bring their games to life.

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Axie Infinity started its fourth season called “Origins Season 4” 🌟

The new season comes with some exciting updates, with one of the significant updates being the introduction of “Card Draw”, where both players can draw four cards in Round 2 (Turn 3 and 4). Additionally, the “Keep” feature will now cost Energy Fragments instead of Energy, and any unused energy will be converted into Energy Fragments. There are also several balancing changes for Cards, Runes, and Charms. The fourth season of Axie Infinity began on May 10, offering players new and exciting features to explore.

Check out here

🔥 COLLECTIBLES SALE:

• CSGO Karambit Blue Gem Knife sold for $124,000!!!

🎮️ GAME OF THE WEEK: Spider Tank by Gala Games

That’s right! I have been playing a lot of Spider Tank recently along side Gala Game’s “May Mayhem” event to super boost rewards to players. Spider Tanks is a PVP Brawler designed and developed by the award-winning Netherlands based studio GAMEDIA. Gamers can customize their Tank from a wide variety of Parts in the garage, then battle it out in high octane 3v3 mayhem.

I really like the fact that this game is Free-to-Play and has a good Play-and-Earn model. Not only that, there are many different tanks, weapons, game modes and more that makes the game super dynamic and competitive within a 3 minutes fast-paced battle.

Play for free here: https://app.gala.games/games/spider-tanks

Disclosure: Game of the Week is not a sponsored space. Games featured are what I am playing recently that fulfill multiple criteria including Free-to-Play, playable, fun, great player progression, event-based, reward-based and more.

🗓️ GAMING EVENT IN ASIA: CONQUEST (JUNE 2023)

CONQUEST Festival is back this summer, celebrating the best of the Filipino gaming and pop culture scene. The three-day event will take place from 2-4 June 2023 at SMX Manila and will feature meet-and-greets with popular streamers, gaming tournaments, the latest tech exhibits, and live performances by local and international artists such as Korean rock band The Rose.

Gamers will have plenty to do with the chance to meet and greet popular streamers such as Valkyrae, Fuslie, and Sykkuno, as well as participate in various tournaments and challenges for games like Valorant, League of Legends, and Mobile Legends. Tickets for the event are available online now, with various pass options to choose from. Don't miss out on this exciting event!

Use code “YellowPantherCQ23” to enjoy 5% off all CONQuest 2023 tickets at https://www.conquestph.com/tickets

🖥️ SOCIALS