Pixel P&L: Nazara's UK Buy, Moonton's Africa Push, Epic's AI Trouble

Welcome to another Pixel P&L edition. This issue takes 6 minutes to read. If you only have one, here are the 5 most important things:

• Nazara Technologies acquires UK's Curve Games for $27.5 million.

• Moonton launches lightweight MOBA version targeting African markets.

• Judge confronts Apple over Epic Games case compliance, demands explanation for "insubordination."

• NetEase posts 9% profit growth thanks to strong gaming segment performance.

• Epic Games hit with unfair labor practice charge over AI-generated Darth Vader voice — details below.

Let's get into it.

Indian Gaming Firm Nazara Acquires UK's Curve Games for $27.5 Million

Nazara Technologies has acquired UK-based indie publisher Curve Games for $27.5 million, furthering the Indian gaming company's global expansion strategy beyond mobile platforms.

The acquisition bolsters Nazara's portfolio with Curve's PC and console publishing capabilities, supporting cross-platform development and strengthening its international presence as part of its strategy to build "a diverse portfolio of businesses" through strategic acquisitions.

"Curve's proven expertise makes them an ideal partner as we expand our focus beyond mobile into high-quality cross-platform gaming," said Nazara CEO Nitish Mittersain, who added that Curve will serve as a gateway to global markets for Indian game developers.

Founded in 2005 by Jason Perkins, Curve is recognized for publishing indie titles including Human: Fall Flat, Dungeons of Hinterberg, and The Ascent. The company will continue its vision of building a leading global indie platform as part of the Nazara family.

The deal follows Nazara's $108 million fundraising last September to support its acquisition strategy, which included purchasing Fusebox Games for $27.2 million a month earlier.

Moonton Games Targets African Markets with Lightweight MOBA Version

Moonton Games has launched Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Lite, a streamlined version of its popular mobile MOBA, targeting Android users in four African markets: Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa.

The strategic release aims to expand the game's 1.5 billion global player base by penetrating markets with predominantly lower-end devices and less reliable internet connectivity.

MLBB Lite maintains the core 5v5 gameplay experience while reducing technical requirements, allowing Moonton to capture previously untapped segments in emerging markets. The version includes an AI system that temporarily controls characters during connectivity issues, addressing a common barrier to mobile gaming adoption in these regions.

The launch could inspire other mobile game developers to create market-specific versions of successful titles, optimizing for regional infrastructure limitations while preserving essential gameplay elements.

This targeted expansion follows the industry-wide push to increase market share in Africa, where mobile gaming growth continues to outpace global averages by roughly six times.

⚡Quick Bytes

Judge Confronts Apple Over Epic Games Case Compliance

A federal judge has demanded Apple explain why it's ignoring court orders to allow alternative payment options in Fortnite. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers called Apple's actions "insubordination" and a "gross miscalculation," requiring a company official to appear at a May 27th hearing if unresolved. Apple seeks a stay while appealing the landmark ruling that found its App Store practices "anticompetitive."

NetEase Posts 9% Profit Growth Thanks to Gaming Strength

NetEase reported Q1 gross profit of $2.5 billion, up 9% year-over-year, with total revenue rising 7% to $4 billion. The Chinese developer's gaming segment contributed 83% of revenue, reaching $3.3 billion. Recently launched RPG Where Winds Meet has attracted 30 million players, while its renewed Blizzard partnership has delivered record concurrent players for Overwatch in China.

Epic Games Hit With Unfair Labor Practice Charge Over AI Vader Voice in Fortnite

SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Epic Games for using AI to generate Darth Vader's voice in Fortnite. The union claims Epic's subsidiary, Llama Productions, replaced human performers with AI technology "without providing any notice" or bargaining over terms, violating their signatory agreement. The AI feature has already faced technical issues with players exploiting loopholes to generate inappropriate content.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: A sobering look at how AI's proliferation is transforming the internet from a space for human creativity into an echo chamber of automated, low-quality content

🎮 Play: If you've somehow missed The Witcher 3 for the past decade, quit living under a rock already. Arguably, the greatest RPG of all time is now 90% off, practically begging to consume your next 150 hours of gaming time.

📚 Read: Deconstructor of Fun explains why the ultimate success for unicorn founders might not be the coveted exit, but rather maintaining control while letting investors cash out.

💡Did You Know

Did you know that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City was originally planned to be just an expansion pack for GTA III? According to Obbe Vermeij, former Rockstar North technical director, it was Rockstar New York's idea to set the game in 1980s Miami. The project began as a mission pack, but around six months into development, as the game started to look "sufficiently different from GTA III" and after seeing GTA III's massive success, Rockstar made the decision to release it as a standalone title. This proved to be an excellent choice, as Vice City went on to become 2002's best-selling game and remains one of the most beloved entries in the series to this day!

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