Pixel P&L: Banijay-Nodwin Alliance, MLBB's $130M Sponsorship, $1B Fortnite Battle Ends

Welcome to another Pixel P&L. This issue takes 5 minutes to read. If you only have one, here are the 5 most important things:

• Banijay Asia and Nodwin Gaming form strategic partnership to transform Indian esports — learn about their plans below.

• Mobile Legends: Bang Bang hits sponsorship milestone with $130.2 million in brand value from a single tournament.

• Microsoft blames Apple for delaying its Xbox mobile store launch.

• Epic's Fortnite returns to iOS after a $1 billion legal battle spanning four years.

• Doom: The Dark Ages sets record launch with 3 million players, becoming id Software's biggest release in 33 years. 

Let's get into it.

Banijay Asia, Nodwin Gaming Form Strategic Partnership

Banijay Asia and Nodwin Gaming have announced a strategic partnership to develop esports and gaming content for India's growing youth market. The alliance will see Banijay Asia produce "Playground," Nodwin's flagship gaming reality show, while both companies collaborate on new intellectual properties across gaming and esports platforms.

"Gaming is not just a sport; it's a culture, a lifestyle, and a massive content opportunity," said Deepak Dhar, Group CEO of Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India.

The partnership aims to leverage Banijay's content expertise with Nodwin's gaming industry knowledge to capitalize on India's rapidly expanding gaming sector, estimated to reach $8.6 billion by 2027.

Nodwin Gaming’s Managing Director Akshat Rathee said the companies plan to scale Playground "across multiple languages and markets, with the ambition of building an international format."

🎮 On Our Radar: Mobile Esports' Sponsorship Breakthrough

Moonton Games reports that its Mobile Legends: Bang Bang M6 World Championship delivered an impressive $130.2 million in brand value: $71.6 million from streaming platforms and $58.5 million via social media.

The numbers are compelling: sponsors appeared 3.4 million times across 7,400 hours, generating 85 billion impressions as viewers logged 170 million hours watching content with brand assets. With 1.5 billion installations worldwide, Mobile Legends has become 2024's most-watched mobile esports title, accumulating one billion watch hours.

Perhaps most significant for marketers: exclusive sponsorship assets delivered 70% higher returns than shared placements, signaling a shift toward more measurable, high-value sponsorships.

We're watching closely as mobile esports continues proving its commercial viability. Will these quantifiable results permanently change how brands allocate their esports marketing budgets?

⚡Quick Bytes

Microsoft Blames Apple for Xbox Mobile Store Delay

Microsoft revealed in a court filing Tuesday that Apple's App Store policies have "stymied" its planned Xbox mobile store, originally slated for July 2024. The company's amicus brief supporting Epic Games challenges Apple's appeal of an injunction allowing developers to advertise alternative payment methods without additional fees. Microsoft claims the ruling is crucial for launching its cross-platform gaming marketplace.

Epic's 'Fortnite' Returns to iOS After $1 Billion Legal Battle

Epic Games' Fortnite has returned to iPhones and iPads after a four-year absence following Apple's App Store review approval. The popular game was removed in 2020 when Epic deliberately violated App Store policies by implementing direct payment options to bypass Apple's 30% commission. The ensuing legal battle cost Epic over $1 billion but resulted in modified App Store anti-steering provisions.

'Doom: The Dark Ages' Sets Record Launch for id Software

Bethesda Softworks announced Doom: The Dark Ages has exceeded three million players since its May 15 release, becoming id Software's biggest launch in the studio's 33-year history. The medieval-themed shooter reached this milestone seven times faster than its predecessor "Doom Eternal," signaling strong performance for Microsoft's gaming division following its Bethesda acquisition.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: YouTube Shorts product lead Todd Sherman explains the new ad revenue sharing model and strategies for success in the short-form content ecosystem.

🎮 Play: Journey to the Savage Planet blends comedy with exploration as you scan and traverse an alien world, combining Metroid-style gameplay with humor that makes its standard platforming mechanics shine.

📚 Read: Bryant Francis explores gaming's shifting economics at PAX East, where "wandering through these booths, I found a mix of truly excellent and inspiring games, but also found myself bubbling with frustration—few of the developers on display were working on teams larger than three people," raising critical questions about an industry where artists, writers, and audio professionals increasingly struggle as small teams and solo developers dominate.

💡Did You Know

Did you know The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered sold more copies in just one week than the original did in its first 15 months? This shadow-dropped remaster topped April 2025's U.S. sales charts and already ranks as the year's third best-selling title.

According to Circana, the remaster generated more revenue in a single month than the 2006 version did in its first 14 months, despite being an 18-year-old game many fans have already played.

📜 Quote of the Day

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