Pixel P&L: Kratos Gaming Network Projects $10M Revenue by Year-End

Good Morning. It’s Monday, July 22. We regret to inform you that the release of our feature story scheduled for today has been delayed as we incorporate additional inputs to enhance its depth and accuracy. In the meantime, we bring you comprehensive coverage on several significant developments including Kratos Gaming Network's rapid growth, Tencent Games' conflict with Huawei, and Skyesports' new tournament for The FINALS. Stay tuned for these stories and more as we continue to bring you the latest insights and developments from the gaming world.

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Kratos Gaming Network (KGeN), previously known as IndiGG, is on a notable growth path under CEO Manish Agarwal. According to Agarwal's recent LinkedIn post, the company has achieved a $6 million annualized revenue run rate by mid-year and projects an annualized revenue of $10 million by the end of the calendar year.

In June 2024, KGeN reported its first positive cash flow month, a notable milestone for a company that is only 20 months old. Additionally, KGeN signed its first million-dollar revenue contract during this period.

Agarwal emphasized the importance of trust and transparency in the company's operations, particularly in the web3 and blockchain sectors, which often face scrutiny and skepticism. He highlighted that KGeN has adopted a disciplined approach to sharing quarterly results, similar to practices typically seen in publicly traded companies.

The company's growth is supported by its extensive gamer data pool, which includes 113 million attributes from 5.8 million gamers. This data underpins the Gamer Reputation or Proof of Gamer (PoG) score used by the network. KGeN's multi-chain technology stack supports player liquidity across multiple ecosystems, including Polygon, Aptos, and Klaytn.

KGeN has also built a community of gamers from Brazil and India, two of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally. The company's operations are driven by a team of 90 members, supported by over 20,000 community contributors.

Multiple video game titles from Tencent Holdings have vanished from the top lists of Huawei Technologies' app store, signaling escalating tensions between the two Chinese tech giants, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

As of Friday, nearly all Tencent mobile games were absent from Huawei’s top game rankings, with NetEase’s Eggy Party, Identity V, and Fantasy Westward Journey taking the leading spots. Previously, Tencent’s Dungeon & Fighter (DnF) Mobile and The Golden Spatula held prominent positions in the rankings as of June 18.

The dispute became public last month when Tencent removed DnF Mobile from Huawei's store, citing expired contracts with major Chinese Android platforms. This move followed the game’s removal from other Android platforms like Oppo and Vivo.

While some Tencent titles remain available through the search function in Huawei's app store, their absence from top rankings highlights the ongoing conflict. The rift first surfaced publicly in January 2021, when Huawei briefly removed Tencent’s games, only to restore them after "friendly negotiations."

Skyesports launches THE FINALS Online Community Cup with a $10,000 prize pool

Skyesports has launched THE FINALS Online Community Cup, a $10,000 esports tournament open to all players in India. This initiative allows players to register individually or find teams through the official Discord server. The competition will use the 5v5 Terminal Attack mode, popularized by the recent Esports Revolution Showdown. Skyesports CEO Shiva Nandy noted the community's call for an open tournament to showcase their skills. The tournament includes a Group Stage and Playoffs and is expected to attract interest from prominent esports organizations looking for new talent.

Blackpink’s Born Pink World Tour Concert Film to Hit Indian Theaters

PVR Inox Pictures announced that the South Korean girl group Blackpink’s Born Pink World Tour concert film will soon be released in Indian theaters. The film will feature exclusive concert footage, celebrating the group's 8th anniversary. Limited screenings will begin on July 31, in formats including ScreenX, 4DX, and ULTRA 4DX, offering fans an immersive experience of Blackpink's historic tour.

Anime Streaming Giant Crunchyroll Unveils New Brand Design

Crunchyroll has introduced a new brand design, featuring a modernized logo, a new font set called 'Crunchyroll Atyp,' and a vibrant color scheme of orange, black, white, and taupe. This update aims to capture the joy and celebration of anime. President Rahul Purini stated that the rebrand seeks to appeal to a growing global audience while preserving the core elements fans love. The new identity includes a balanced eye symbol, a glyph system with over 139 anime-inspired characters, and a seven-second audio-visual mnemonic. The rebrand will debut at San Diego Comic-Con and roll out across all platforms starting July 25.

Paramount Cancels Live-Action Halo Series After Two Seasons

Paramount has canceled its live-action Halo series for Paramount Plus, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. However, the show's producers are seeking new platforms to continue the series, offering fans a glimmer of hope for a third season. The Halo series, which premiered in 2022, starred Pablo Schreiber as Master Chief and ran for two seasons. Paramount expressed pride in the ambitious series, thanking partners Xbox, 343 Industries, Amblin Television, showrunner David Wiener, and the cast and crew for their efforts. The second season debuted earlier this year to mixed reviews.

Baldur's Gate 3 is the most played game on Steam Deck over the past year. This single-player RPG has captivated players with its immersive storytelling and intricate gameplay, surpassing even the immensely popular Elden Ring, the beloved farming simulator Stardew Valley, and the indie hit Vampire Survivors.

What's surprising is how different this lineup is compared to Steam's usual top spots, typically dominated by multiplayer giants like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, PUBG, and Naraka: Bladepoint. Baldur's Gate 3's popularity highlights a growing trend towards rich, single-player experiences on handheld platforms.