2025 Global Game Market Revenue Projected to Hit $188.9 Billion
Newzoo’s latest forecast shows �� that global game market revenue will reach $188.9 billion in 2025, revised upward by $2.8 billion. Growth momentum comes from the new console cycle ��, blockbuster IP titles, and stable mobile game performance ��. Mobile games remain the largest segment, with revenue expected to hit $103.1 billion; console platforms, boosted by the Switch 2 and "GTA VI", are projected to generate $459 billion. China’s market grew 5.6% overall ����, playing a key role in global growth. The global game market is expected to surpass $200 billion by 2027 ��.
�� "Game of Thrones" Mobile Game Earns over$1M in 36 Days
Netmarble’s "Game of Thrones: Kingsroad" earned $1.1 million on mobile within 36 days of its global launch on May 21 ��. According to AppMagic data, the game peaked in revenue during Week 2 on Google Play and App Store at $264,000, but declined over the next three weeks ��. As the official RPG licensed from HBO’s hit series, its monetization speed trailed Warner Bros.’ 2017 title "Game of Thrones: Conquest" (which hit $1M in 6 days), but the result remains impressive ✨. Warner Bros. recently soft-launched another strategy game, "Game of Thrones: Dragonfire", in Southeast Asia ��, continuing to leverage the "House of the Dragon" hype.
⚖️ Perfect World Issues Anti-Corruption Notice: Multiple Employees Detained
On July 1, Perfect World announced that several employees from its Baiwan, Qingyun, and Yinghe studios committed serious violations and even crimes ⚠️. Former Baiwan studio lead "Qin X" and others were detained for bribery, bonus misappropriation, and illegal operations. Qingyun studio’s "Li X" and others accepted bribes and embezzled company assets using their positions, and were also detained. Yinghe studio’s "Wang X" was similarly arrested for bribery. The company fired all involved and imposed a lifetime employment ban ��; relevant suppliers were blacklisted. This anti-corruption campaign is Perfect World’s "radical surgery" amid fierce industry competition and its own shift toward premium games ��. Since last year, the company has streamlined operations; Q1 2025 game revenue rebounded, but it faces challenges like "content drought" and "cost inflation". This crackdown may be a key step to break the deadlock ��.
⚔️ Blizzard Halts "Warcraft Rumble" Development, ~100 Staff Affected by Layoffs
Blizzard recently announced it will stop new content development for "Warcraft Rumble", retaining only basic maintenance and event updates ��. Launched in November 2023 as Blizzard’s first Warcraft-themed tower-defense mobile game, it failed to meet user growth and revenue expectations. The move is part of Microsoft’s restructuring; ~100 Blizzard staff face layoffs ��. "Warcraft Rumble" joins "Heroes of the Storm" and "StarCraft II" in maintenance mode. Blizzard stated resources will shift to higher-potential projects while supporting existing players. This reflects Microsoft’s cautious approach to mobile games post-acquisition, prioritizing long-term value and resource efficiency ⚙️.
�� NetEase’s "Justice Online" Mobile Returns to Top 5 Sales Charts with Abstract Marketing
In April 2024, NetEase Games rarely fell out of iOS’ Top 10 grossing charts, with multiple titles underperforming. But during summer, "Justice Online" mobile staged a comeback �� with its "largest update in 2 years" (2nd-anniversary expansion), re-entering the Top 4 ��. The game continued its pre-launch "absurdist marketing" style, rolling out a "Play Justice Online, Get an Internship Certificate" campaign from June 27 to August 29 ��. College students earn credits by completing in-game tasks, exchanging them for e-certificates with official seals. The activity tapped into graduation-season job anxiety, sparking viral discussions �� and praised as "more practical than in-game rewards". This bold strategy broke traditional promotion boundaries, attracting young users via emotional resonance ❤️. It helped NetEase escape its slump and reclaim a Top 5 grossing spot, becoming an industry case study ��. Meanwhile, "Naraka: Bladepoint" leveraged its "Persona 5 Royal" collaboration to further solidify NetEase’s market position ��.
�� Apple Adjusts EU App Store Rules to Comply with Digital Markets Act
Apple has modified EU App Store rules to align with the Digital Markets Act ����, introducing a two-tier service system:
l ier 1 Basic services (app review, Apple Support access) with a % commission
l ier 2 Enhanced services (auto-updates, search visibility) with a 3% commission(10% for small business program members).
Developers can change tiers quarterly ��. Apple also plans a "Core Technology Fee" (replacing the current fee in January 2026) for EU-distributed apps. The European Commission previously fined Apple $565 million for non-compliance ⚖️; Apple will appeal. Epic’s Tim Sweeney called the move "malicious compliance" ��.
�� Alibaba’s Cross-Border Business Booms: FY2025 Revenue Nears $1 Trillion
Alibaba’s FY2025 revenue approached $1 trillion, driven by cross-border business ��. AliExpress captured 85% of Chinese cross-border platform GMV in South Korea ���� and topped Australia’s shopping download charts in March ����. Alibaba.com surged to #3 in U.S. shopping apps ����, ranking Top 10 in 120+ countries. Subsidiaries Lazada and Trendyol also performed strongly. AliExpress attracted leading consumer electronics brands and manufacturers, forming a "Made-in-China Smart Fleet" to upgrade product mix and competitiveness ��️. Emerging markets became new growth engines ⚡️, with Alibaba’s globalization strategy focusing on localization and tech empowerment to build moats ��.
Musk’s xAI Completes $10B Funding Round
xAI recently closed a $10 billion funding round (mix of debt + equity ), earmarked for cutting-edge AI solutions, mega data centers, and flagship model Grok ��. Earlier, xAI raised $6B for AI data centers and Grok upgrades. After acquiring Musk’s social platform X in March 2025, the merged entity’s valuation hit $113 billion ��. However, xAI currently burns ~$1B monthly ��, lagging behind OpenAI in commercialization. The company optimistically projects profitability by 2027 ��.
