Pixel P&L: Zupee's AI Bet, Remakes Outpace Remasters, Krafton’s $1.5M Esports Plan

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

• Zupee acquires AI storytelling startup Nucanon, pivoting from real-money gaming after regulatory crackdowns.

• Gamers spend twice as much on remakes vs remasters, new study reveals.

• EA pledges creative freedom after Saudi-backed buyout announcement.

• KRAFTON unveils $1.5M BGMI esports plan for 2026 with pathway to Riyadh's Esports World Cup.

• Egypt leads African gaming at $368M revenue while Nigeria dominates player count.

Let's get into it.

Zupee Bets on AI Storytelling With Nucanon Acquisition

Indian gaming platform Zupee acquired Sydney-based AI startup Nucanon, marking its push into interactive storytelling as it pivots from real-money gaming following regulatory crackdowns.

The deal brings Nucanon's narrative AI technology to Zupee's 200 million users, complementing its September launch of Zupee Studio, a short-form content platform. Nucanon, formerly Stori, specializes in creating branching narratives and dynamic characters for games and digital worlds.

"We believe the Pixar of the next century won't emerge through traditional film or animation," said Zupee founder Dilsher Singh Malhi, emphasizing India's potential as a global entertainment hub.

The acquisition follows India's ban on real-money games, which forced Zupee to diversify beyond its core Ludo and Carrom offerings. The company, valued at $600 million in 2022, has since entered esports and launched subscription service Zupee Plus.

Gamers Spend Double on Remakes Over Remasters, Study Finds

Video game consumers spent twice as much on remakes compared to remasters over the past two years, according to new research from Ampere Analysis.

The study examined 42 titles released between January 2024 and September 2025, including 15 remakes and 27 remasters, finding they attracted 72.4 million players across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. Total spending reached $1.4 billion, with average remake spending hitting 2.2 times that of remasters.

"As games and IP development costs escalate, publishers are increasingly raiding their back catalogues," said Katie Holt, Senior Analyst at Ampere Analysis.

However, remakes demand "substantially higher investment in development, marketing, and time," while remasters "offer faster turnaround and lower cost but generally deliver less engagement," the research noted.

Notable outliers exist: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered generated $180 million in consumer spending and reached 7 million monthly active users.

⚡️Quick Bytes

EA Pledges Creative Freedom After Buyout Announcement

Electronic Arts insists it will "maintain creative control" and "creative freedom" following its all-cash acquisition by a consortium including Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners. In internal communications, EA told staff its "mission, values, and commitment to players remain unchanged" and denied financial distress. CEO Andrew Wilson will stay, with no immediate changes to jobs or teams. The deal, expected to close within nine months, faces scrutiny from U.S. regulators.

KRAFTON Unveils $1.5 Million BGMI Esports Plan for 2026

KRAFTON India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn announced a 2026 esports roadmap for Battlegrounds Mobile India featuring four major tournaments, four open events, and the inaugural KRAFTON India Awards. The prize pool exceeds $1.5 million across seven LAN tournaments, tripling 2025's total. Winners of BMPS 2026 will represent India at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh next July, establishing "a structured pathway for Indian gamers to rise from grassroots to the global podium," Sohn said.

Egypt Tops Africa's Gaming Revenue at $368 Million

Egypt leads African gaming revenue forecasts for 2025 with $368 million and over 20 million players, according to Maliyo Games' Nigerian Gaming and Esports report. Nigeria commands the largest player base at 46.5 million gamers, with 90% on mobile, generating $250 million to $300 million. South Africa follows with 26.5 million players and $278 million in revenue. Africa's overall gaming market reaches $2.1 billion, while esports generates $40 million, expected to surpass $60 million by year-end.

⚔️Side Quest

🤣Laugh:

📺 Watch: Fallout co-creator Timothy Cain weighs the shift from physical to digital distribution, finding neither format superior. While digital enables easier patching, broader indie access, and quicker releases, Cain argues publishers haven't passed cost savings to consumers, instead pocketing the difference. He also critiques reduced bug-testing incentives, market oversaturation, and lost resale rights, concluding both formats carry significant trade-offs worth examining.

🎮 Play: Master of Command fixes what frustrates Total War fans. This roguelike real-time strategy game set in the mid-18th century makes tactical choices matter through weapon ranges, veterancy, and equipment bonuses that force genuine adaptation. Battles end when they should, campaigns feel consequential, and creative tactics replace repetition. Lean, smart, and historically accurate, it's designed for strategy enthusiasts seeking depth over spectacle.

📚 Read: How Outfit7's Talking Tom franchise has amassed over 26 billion downloads since 2010. The virtual pet series has quietly become one of mobile gaming's biggest success stories, putting it in the same league as Subway Surfers and Candy Crush Saga. This interview unveils the secret behind its 15-year staying power, and whether the franchise can continue growing as the mobile market saturates and competition intensifies.

💡Did You Know

Goombas, Super Mario Bros.' iconic mushroom enemies, were a last-minute addition born from necessity. Playtesters found Koopa Troopas too challenging as initial enemies, prompting developers to create something simpler. However, with minimal storage space remaining in the game's code, the team had to get creative.

The solution was elegant: a single sprite that flipped back and forth to simulate walking motion. This technical constraint resulted in one of gaming's most recognizable foes. The Goomba's simple design and behavior made it the perfect introductory enemy, easing players into Super Mario Bros.' mechanics before facing trickier challenges like the shell-kicking Koopa Troopas that had stumped early testers.

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