Pixel P&L 27 July Special

Pixel P&L Special Edition (27 July) : Rethinking Engagement: Monetization, Skyesports Turbulence, and More

July 27, 2024

Pixel P&L: A Daily Gaming and Esports Recap by AFK Gaming

It’s Saturday July 27th - and that means there’s no feature story today! To compensate, allow me to leave you with some interesting thoughts I’ve grappled with before taking you through the week that was in gaming, esports and youth culture.

 | “Engaged Session Duration” is an Overrated Metric for Monetization

Higher time spent in a video game / app / website does not necessarily reflect quality engagement or spending behavior. If this were the case - crossword games would be much bigger opportunities than they are. The fundamental flaw lies in the nature of advertisements which are essentially a distraction from the content that one intends to consume. This means that every ad is essentially in competition for a slice of the user’s attention with the very app / game / platform that it is being displayed on.

Time spent on a product has been viewed as an indication of quality users, but I’m starting to think that we’ve got it wrong. The only quality user is one who pays and returns to spend more time on something they’ve already paid for - be it a video game, an OTT subscription, or dare I say.. an AFK Gaming subscription? - Nishant Patel (CEO, Co-Founder, AFK Gaming)

The Week Gone By

In case you missed them, stories crafted to keep you informed and ahead in the fast-paced world of gaming, esports, and youth entertainment.

 // Skyesports Hits Turbulence in 2024

By Vignesh Raghuram

Rotten tables with nails protruding, electrical issues, no internet connectivity—conditions that would make it impossible for any esports athlete to compete effectively. Such dismal settings harken back to the infamous India Gaming Carnival of 2012, a debacle still etched in the collective memory of the Indian gaming community.

Unfortunately, these descriptions are not merely the relics of a distant memory but rather the current state of affairs at The Skyesports Championship 2024.

 // The FGC Doesn't Want To Be Esports - And That’s Okay

By Michael Hassall

Evo 2024 achieved a historic milestone by becoming the largest physical esports event in history based on competitor numbers, boasting over 10,000 entrants, and even more attendees.As esports organizations flood the FGC with sponsorships, developers who crave control over esports freedom join the fray, and esports faces internal challenges, the anti-esports sentiment looks to split the room. Read: https://afkgaming.com/global/the-fgc-doesnt-want-to-be-esports-and-thats-okay

 // Unlimited Games, Unfulfilled Promises: The Pitfalls of Subscription-Based Gaming

By Abhimannu Das

Subscription-based gaming services felt like dream products for gamers on a budget, promising unlimited access to vast libraries of games for a monthly fee. Why spend $60 on a single game when you can have hundreds at your fingertips for a fraction of the cost?

Despite their promise they may have led to subscription fatigue instead.

 // Understanding Generative AI in Video Games

By Vignesh Raghuram

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly becoming a cornerstone across various applications, from food delivery platforms like Zomato to messaging services such as WhatsApp integrating AI into their essential functions. The gaming industry is no exception.

Will generative AI truly revolutionize the video game industry, or is this merely the latest industry hype, destined to follow the path of Web3 games?

⚡Quick Bytes

• Mayhem Studios Raises Money from Lumikai

MPL backed Mayhem Studios, developer of upcoming battle royale game Underworld Gang Wars (UGW), has raised an undisclosed sum of money from interactive media and gaming venture capital firm Lumikai. While KRAFTON’s Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) continues to dominate the airwaves of the Battle Royale genre in India, things are starting to heat up with Mayhem raising fresh capital and SuperGaming taking pre-registrations live on the App Store.

• KRAFTON India Partners with Paralympic Committee of India for Paris Paralympics 2024

KRAFTON India has announced a partnership with the Paralympic Committee of India for the Paris Paralympics 2024. KRAFTON will sponsor training kits, bags, and caps for the Indian team, which secured 19 medals in the Tokyo Paralympics. CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn emphasized the importance of supporting traditional sports, while Paralympic Committee President Devendra acknowledged KRAFTON's contribution. This partnership continues KRAFTON's involvement in promoting Indian sports talent, including previous collaborations with Olympic Champion Neeraj Chopra, the Abhinav Bindra Foundation, Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians and others. The Paris Paralympics will take place from Aug 28 to Sep 8, 2024.

• Global Kartel Partners with Ampverse DMI for College Rivals Season Two

Indian marketing and advertising agency Global Kartel has partnered with Ampverse DMI for the second season of College Rivals, an esports and entertainment college talent hunt. College Rivals combines music, pop culture, and comedy to create a unique experience for participants. The collaboration will see Global Kartel, along with its youth marketing arm BoomPanda, bring their marketing expertise to the event. The second season of College Rivals will feature on-ground activations across 50+ colleges in 20 cities, with students competing in games like BGMI and Valorant for a prize pool of INR 50 lakhs.

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