Today we’re looking at live streaming getting a second wind, esports making its way to theaters in Southeast Asia and the state of Xbox’s hardware sales and what Playstation Plus is getting up to in 2026.

/ Esports Hits the Big Screen in South East Asia!

Malaysia has reached a new milestone in gaming and entertainment with the highly anticipated premiere of its first esports-themed movie, Soloz: Game of Life, on January 23. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Syafiq Yusof, who directed 2 of the 3 highest grossing movie in Malaysia, the film brings to life the inspiring journey of MLBB icon Faris “Soloz” Zakaria.

Produced by Key Billions in collaboration with MOONTON Games, the movie seamlessly blends real-life esports drama with stunning in-game animation, immersing audiences in Soloz’s rise to stardom. Soloz: Game of Life not only celebrates the competitive gaming scene but also cements esports as a mainstream form of entertainment and an inspiration for the next generation of gamers.

Boasting an 8.0 rating, the film has been released in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei with more markets to come

Shoutout to Mickael Piantchenko-Graf for the write up!

Live Streaming Sees Resurgence in 2024, Esports Thrives

According to Stream Hatchet’s latest report, live-streaming viewership rebounded in 2024, reaching 32.5 billion watch hours, marking a 12% increase from the previous year—the first growth since 2021. Twitch led with 61.1% of total watch hours, while YouTube Gaming (22.9%) and Kick (5.7%) gained traction. The shutdown of Twitch in South Korea drove viewers to local platforms like SOOP Korea and Chzzk, highlighting regional shifts. The most-watched games included GTA V (2B hours), League of Legends (1.9B hours), and VALORANT (1.1B hours). Esports remained strong, with the LoL World Championship peaking at 6.7M viewers and the Esports World Cup generating 103M watch hours. Co-streaming played a major role, accounting for 45% of esports viewership, emphasizing the increasing influence of individual creators.

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Xbox Hardware Sales Decline, But Game Pass Hits New Highs

Microsoft’s gaming division saw a 7% year-on-year revenue decline for the quarter ending December 31, 2024, largely due to a 29% drop in Xbox console sales. However, Game Pass revenue surged, with PC subscriptions growing by over 30%. A major driver was the day-one launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 on Game Pass, marking a first for the franchise. Despite being available on the service, Black Ops 6 still became the best-selling game on both Xbox and PlayStation, underscoring the franchise’s enduring appeal.

PlayStation Plus to Prioritize PS5 Games Starting 2026

Starting January 2026, PlayStation Plus will shift its focus to PS5 titles, with PS4 games becoming less frequent in the monthly lineup and game catalog. This move aligns with the growing player transition to PS5 and increased demand for next-gen content. However, previously redeemed PS4 games will remain accessible to subscribers as long as their membership stays active.

💡 Did You Know?

In PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), the frying pan's bulletproof nature was an unintended feature. Originally added as a melee weapon and homage to the Battle Royale film, developers discovered post-launch that the pan could deflect bullets due to its collision mechanics. Recognizing its unique gameplay potential, they decided to retain this characteristic, making the frying pan an iconic and functional element in PUBG.

📜 Quote of the Day

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