Pixel P&L: Krafton’s InZOI Could Be the Sims Killer We’ve Been Waiting For

Good morning, it’s Wednesday, September 4. In today’s feature, we examine how Krafton is poised to revolutionize the life simulation genre with its latest venture. We also delve into ESL’s new tournament initiative in Southeast Asia, a strategic move aimed at expanding its regional influence. Meanwhile, pre-registration for FAU-G: Domination has gone live, we also report on Valve’s latest acquisition, and more in today’s edition.

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South Korean gaming giant Krafton has set its sights on a new frontier: life simulation. At Gamescom 2024, Krafton unveiled InZOI, a game designed to rival EA’s The Sims, a franchise that has reigned supreme for over two decades. The Sims 4, with its 70 million players and consistent content updates, has long been the uncontested leader in the genre. However, InZOI’s advanced customization options and cutting-edge technology are generating significant buzz.

InZOI’s innovative features, such as AI-driven pattern generation and advanced character creation, have captivated early adopters, hinting at the potential to reshape the life simulation landscape. As excitement builds, the question remains: can InZOI, with its fresh approach, dethrone The Sims, a game deeply entrenched in the hearts of millions?

Our feature article delves into why The Sims franchise could be in trouble. With EA’s reluctance to innovate further in The Sims franchise, Krafton’s bold entry might just be the catalyst needed to push the genre into new and exciting directions. The stage is set for a showdown, and the gaming world is watching closely.

Leading esports tournament organizer ESL has officially announced that ESL One Bangkok 2024 will take place in Thailand from December 13th to 15th. The prestigious Dota 2 tournament will feature 12 of the world’s top teams, competing for a share of a $1 million prize pool.

As part of the Dota 2 ESL Pro Tour (EPT), ESL One Bangkok 2024 will see four teams qualify based on their EPT leaderboard standings, while the remaining eight will battle through regional qualifiers. The event will follow a group stage format leading into the playoffs, where teams will vie not only for the prize money but also for valuable EPT points that contribute to their global rankings.

Tickets for the event are set to go on sale on December 5th at 12:30 IST / 15:00 SGT. Fans can choose between two ticket options: ฿2633.75 (approximately $73) for a 3-day Infield seating pass or ฿1685.60 (approximately $47) for Bleacher seating. Additionally, a Premium Add-On, which includes an event goodie bag and priority access to signing sessions, is available for ฿1580.25 (approximately $44).

This marks the first time ESL One will be held in Bangkok, signaling the growing prominence of Southeast Asia in the global esports landscape.

FAU-G: Domination Pre-Registrations Go Live on Google Play Store

FAU-G: Domination, a first-person mobile shooter developed by Dot9 Studios and nCore Games, has quietly opened pre-registrations on the Google Play Store. The game, published by Nazara Publishing, was expected to make a significant announcement on September 5, 2024, but pre-registrations became available unexpectedly on September 3. Featuring a variety of weapons modeled after real-life counterparts and maps based on Indian cities like Chennai and Delhi, FAU-G: Domination has also teased exclusive rewards for early registrants. The early launch has sparked curiosity about what might be revealed in the coming days.

Redd+E Merges with Team Flash, Acquires Burn Gaming

Singapore-based esports marketing agency Redd+E has merged with Southeast Asian esports organization Team Flash, which has also acquired Cambodia-based Burn Gaming, rebranding it as Team Flash KH. Under the merger, Team Flash will continue managing its esports rosters, while Redd+E will handle media rights and event management, with plans to expand into esports education and community outreach. Yip Ren Kai will remain as the head of Redd+E, and Joanne Tan will assume a regional marketing role at Team Flash, overseeing event management as part of the integration.

Valve Acquires Hopoo Games, Halting Independent Operations

Valve has acquired Hopoo Games, the developer behind the acclaimed Risk of Rain series, marking the end of Hopoo as an independent studio. Announced on X, Hopoo's co-founders Duncan Drum and Paul Morse, along with their team, will integrate into Valve, halting work on their unannounced project codenamed Snail. Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed. Hopoo’s transition echoes Valve’s 2018 acquisition of Campo Santo, which similarly paused its independent projects. While the exact roles of Hopoo developers at Valve are unclear, the team expressed excitement about continuing to create games under Valve's banner.

BFI Unveils eFIBA India Qualifiers with Skyesports as Esports Partner

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has announced the eFIBA India Qualifiers, with Skyesports as the esports partner, to select Team India for Season 3 of the eFIBA tournament, played on NBA 2K24. This initiative will determine a 12-member squad to represent India at the Regional Finals for Asia/Oceania. A victory there would secure a spot in the World Finals in December, competing for a share of the €50,000 prize pool. Jet Skyesports will oversee the qualifier process, helping identify the top NBA 2K24 players in the country. Registrations are open until September 5, 2024.

During the development of the first Hitman game, the iconic baldness of Agent 47 wasn't a stylistic choice but rather a practical one. Danish video game company IO Interactive, the creators of Hitman: Codename 47, faced significant challenges with the technology available at the time, particularly when it came to rendering realistic hair.

Creating and animating hair for the main character proved to be too complex and resource-intensive. As a result, the developers decided to make Agent 47 bald, simplifying the character's design and reducing the technical demands on their system. This decision not only streamlined the development process but also inadvertently gave birth to one of the most recognizable features of the character.

Agent 47's bald head, paired with his barcode tattoo, became a defining trait, contributing to his mysterious and menacing persona in the world of gaming. What started as a technological limitation ultimately evolved into an iconic element of the Hitman series, cementing Agent 47's place in gaming history.