Japanese Video Game Companies Increase Focus on Western Markets

Japanese Video Game Companies Increase Focus on Western Markets

In a tough 2022, Japanese video game publishers did surprisingly well in the high-end North American and Europe markets.  This is an indication of a trend of Japan IP having a larger impact on the global market.  It also highlights some major differences between pay-upfront business models and live services/free-to-play models. Japanese Companies Dominated the Late 1980s and early 1990s With the rise of Nintendo in the 1980s, publishers from .....
Konami Reports Flat Revenue for Third Quarter

Konami Reports Flat Revenue for Third Quarter

For its third fiscal quarter ending 12/31/22, Konami Group (9766.T-JP: Tokyo) (KONMY: OTC) reported a year-to-year revenue increase of 4% to Â¥78,519 million.  The digital entertainment division responsible for video games reported a 3% decline in revenue to Â¥53,721 million (68% of total revenue). For the nine months ended 12/31/22, overall revenue was up 5.5% over the previous year and digital entertainment revenue was up 1.6% to Â¥153,959 million.  Profit for the nine-mont.....
Konami Has Big Plans for 2023

Konami Has Big Plans for 2023

In the DFC Intelligence Interactive Entertainment Stock Index, the Konami Group (9766.T-JP: Tokyo) was one of the strongest performers with a 5% increase in stock price from January 2022 to January 2023.  The overall index was down 30%. Konami was actually one of the few companies to have a nice run in mid-2022.  In early June Konami stock was actually up 58% from January 2022.  Unfortunately, results for the first half of the year were just OK, nothing to get excited ab.....
Konami Shows Revenue Increase for First-Half Fiscal 2023

Konami Shows Revenue Increase for First-Half Fiscal 2023

Konami announced a 6% increase in revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2023, compared with 2022.  However, operating profit declined 35%. Digital entertainment (ie video games) has become the dominant revenue source for Konami accounting for 69% of revenue in the six months ending 9/30/22. Analysis Konami is in several businesses outside of video games including casino slot machines (Gaming & Systems division), arcade games and amusement.....
Genvid Announces Massively Interactive Live Event Based on Konami’s Silent Hill

Genvid Announces Massively Interactive Live Event Based on Konami’s Silent Hill

In 2023, Genvid Entertainment plans to launch Silent Hill: Ascension a massively interactive live event (MILE) based on the Konami horror franchise.  The experience is being produced in conjunction with J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot Games, Behaviour Interactive and DJ2 Entertainment......
Konami Announces Big Plans for Silent Hill Franchise

Konami Announces Big Plans for Silent Hill Franchise

Silent Hill is a pioneering horror video game franchise that has been dormant for many years.  Konami has announced multiple Silent Hill projects in the works to revive the franchise.  All the projects are being created in conjunction with outside developers. The original Silent Hill was a pioneer in horror video games when it launched for the first PlayStation in 1999.  It was followed by numerous sequels but has been dormant since Silent Hill: Downpour in 2012. .....
Electronic Arts FIFA License to End

Electronic Arts FIFA License to End

Starting in 2023, Electronic Arts’ soccer games will no longer use the FIFA license.  The deal was originally started in 1993.  In 2013, the license was extended until the end of 2022.  Starting with the July 2023 release, new soccer (football) games will be called EA SPORTS FC. Analysis This news comes as no surprise.  Last October .....