Is Harry Potter: Wizards Unite the Next Pokemon Go?

Is Harry Potter: Wizards Unite the Next Pokemon Go?

On summer solstice, the highly anticipated mobile game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was released for Android and iOS devices.  This game is from Niantic makers of Pokemon Go, one of the highest earning mobile games of all-time.  Considering Harry Potter has a larger fan base than Pokemon will Harry Potter: Wizards Unite be just as big or even bigger? The short answer is no.  While it is still too early to make an ultimate judgment, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is destined to be a much.....
Forecasting New Video Game Platforms and Market Opportunities

Forecasting New Video Game Platforms and Market Opportunities

Every February, DFC Intelligence looks to assess the performance of the previous year and issue new video game market forecasts. Last year, the video game market performed better than expected. However, investors are leery of the future potential for the industry. In order to help people better understand the game industry opportunities, DFC is launching a major new segmentation for its forecast.  This includes forecasting new video game platforms that have not even been announced. Ov.....
Video Game Industry Segments: Games as a Service versus Traditional Games

Video Game Industry Segments: Games as a Service versus Traditional Games

The recent DFC report The Business of Video Games breaks the game industry into multiple segments. At a high level the biggest distinction is between traditional pay-to-play games and games as a service. These are almost two entirely separate businesses and it will be interesting to see how many companies can play in both segments. Overview Pay-to-play is what most people think of as the traditional console .....
NCSoft Mobile Game Success Shows Potential For EA, Nintendo and Others

NCSoft Mobile Game Success Shows Potential For EA, Nintendo and Others

Last week we discussed the success casual PC game companies had going to mobile games.  Meanwhile, AAA game companies have struggled finding success with mobile games.  However, when they do it they can hit big.  The most recent example is Korea’s NCSoft.  NCSoft’s mobile game success may show that companies like Nintendo and Electronic Arts really do have untapped potential in mobile. NCSoft is perhaps best known in Western markets for their Guild Wars games.  However, th.....
Mobile Game Market Lures PC Game Companies

Mobile Game Market Lures PC Game Companies

The newly released DFC Intelligence report The Business of Video Games, looks at the diversity of the ever expanding video game market.  On a top level, one of the biggest issues is the bifurcation of the industry into two separate segments.  One segment is the core video game players.  The other is the more casual users that are increasingly playing on mobile devices.  The mobile game market has mainly lured the more c.....
Pokémon GO Takes Off

Pokémon GO Takes Off

JULY 11, 2016 • Since its release on July 6, Pokémon GO has become a mobile sensation, with some reports saying the smartphone game is near Twitter in the number of daily active users it draws on Android devices. Niantic, Inc., the software company that co-developed Pokémon GO with The Pokémon Company, reported so many people were playing the game in the days after the title was released in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand that Niantic’s servers were.....