Cover-Credits:
AFK Gaming
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, September 11. In today’s feature story, we sit down with Anuj Mankar, CEO and founder of JetSynthesys' Nautilus Mobile, to explore the secrets behind the Real Cricket™ phenomenon and its new, highly anticipated release, Real Cricket™ Swipe. Mankar reveals how his leadership propelled the mobile cricket game to over 350 million downloads, and his vision for its expansion into esports.
Elsewhere, we analyze Ubisoft’s ongoing stock decline, as the gaming giant faces mounting challenges amidst delays and underperforming titles. We also cover the reveal of the PlayStation 5 Pro, as Sony doubles down on high-performance gaming, and the confirmed release date for Honor of Kings: World
If this is your first time reading this, sign up here.
Anuj Mankar Reveals How Real Cricket™ Conquered India’s Gaming Scene—And What’s Next!
How did Real Cricket™ go from a small bedroom project to India’s most downloaded sports game with over 350 million installs? We sat down with Anuj Mankar, the mastermind behind JetSynthesys' Nautilus Mobile, to uncover the secrets behind Real Cricket™’s meteoric rise—and their new title: Real Cricket™ Swipe!
Mankar’s leadership has guided the game through significant milestones, including the adoption of 3D development with Unity, which set it apart from competitors. Collaborations with Indian Premier League (IPL) teams boosted the game’s visibility and monetization, while the soon-to-launch Real Cricket™ Swipe, a version designed for casual players, signals the next evolution of the franchise.
In our feature story, Mankar reveals his ambitious plans to expand Real Cricket™ into the esports arena, positioning it as a potential global export from India. By introducing immersive multiplayer features and a focus on community engagement, he aims to take Real Cricket™ to new heights in both the domestic and international markets
Ubisoft Stock Drops Further Amid Investor Push for Privatization and New Leadership
Shares of Ubisoft Entertainment plunged 7.1% on September 9 after Slovakian hedge fund AJ Investments urged the video game maker to go private and install new leadership, citing dissatisfaction with its performance and strategic direction.
In a letter to Ubisoft’s management, AJ Investments, which holds less than 1% of the company, criticized delays in key releases, including “Rainbow Six Mobile” and “The Division Resurgence,” now pushed beyond fiscal year 2025. The hedge fund also pointed to Ubisoft’s decision to halt development on “The Division Heartland,” reallocating resources to larger projects like “XDefiant,” which is now on “borrowed time”. Over the past year, Ubisoft’s share price has fallen more than 50%.
AJ Investments' founder, Juraj Krupa, called for the Guillemot family, which holds a 13% stake, to not block any sale process and urged the installment of a new chief executive willing to explore selling studios and reducing staff to cut costs.
Ubisoft, founded in 1986 by the Guillemot brothers, has historically resisted takeover attempts, including a near-acquisition by Vivendi in 2016. Despite pressure, CEO Yves Guillemot has previously emphasized Ubisoft’s independence and robust game portfolio as key to its long-term strategy.
Quick Bytes
India and Japan to Host Anime Event Showcasing Japanese Pop Culture in New Delhi
India and Japan will co-host Mela! Mela! Anime Japan!! at Pacific Mall, New Delhi, from September 28-29, 2024. The event, supported by both governments, will feature anime, manga, games, cosplay, and Japanese intellectual properties (IPs). Film screenings, including fan favorites like Your Name and Godzilla Minus One, are set alongside cosplay contests, Japanese cuisine stalls, and exclusive merchandise booths. This collaborative effort between the public and private sectors aims to highlight Japanese pop culture, and entry is free for all attendees. More information is available on the event’s official website.
Sony Unveils PlayStation 5 Pro, Launching November with Enhanced Graphics and AI Features
Sony has officially unveiled the long-awaited PlayStation 5 Pro, set to launch on November 7, 2024, for $699.99. The Pro model, introduced by lead architect Mark Cerny, boasts a larger GPU, advanced ray tracing, and AI-driven upscaling for enhanced graphics performance at 60 frames per second. It will be a digital-only console, with an optional attachable disc drive for $79.99. Additional features include Wi-Fi 7, VRR, 8K resolution support, and a 2TB SSD. Developers are already optimizing titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows for the PS5 Pro’s improved capabilities.
Netflix Games Surpass 210 Million Downloads
Netflix games have surpassed 210 million downloads, according to a new report from mobilegamer.biz via Appmagic. Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto franchise continues to lead, with GTA: San Andreas racking up 25.2 million downloads, followed by GTA: Vice City and GTA 3 with 7.8 million and 3.6 million downloads, respectively. Storyteller from Annapurna and Spongebob: Get Cooking from Tilting Point took second and third place with 15 million and 10.7 million downloads. Over the past month, GTA: San Andreas remained Netflix’s top performer, with over one million downloads in the last 30 days alone.
Apple Reveals 2025 Release Window for Tencent's Honor of Kings: World at iPhone 16 Launch
At the iPhone 16 launch event, Apple surprised attendees by announcing the release window for Honor of Kings: World, Tencent's upcoming open-world RPG. The reveal came after nearly a year of silence from the game’s social media channels. Set for a 2025 global release, Honor of Kings: World will be optimized for the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, showcasing advanced graphics powered by the A18 chip. Apple emphasized the game's “ultra graphics mode,” highlighting enhanced visuals, lighting effects, and expanded viewing distance.
Did You Know?
Halo 2, one of the most iconic titles in the Halo franchise, faced an unexpected delay when porting to PC in 2007—but not for the usual technical reasons. The delay was caused by an unlikely culprit: a Bungie dev's butt.
The prank began at Bungie during Halo 2's development, when lead engineer Charlie Gough secretly mooned Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer during a studio visit. The prank photo made its way into Bungie’s workspace, eventually being embedded into an error message in a proprietary 3D file format.
This image was buried deep within a tool used by the environment artists and could only be triggered by a very specific file error. However, it was eventually discovered, leading to panic within Microsoft. With Halo 2 boxes already shipped, the discovery caused significant concern given the game's rating during the sensitive "Hot Coffee" era of gaming scandals.
The ESRB threatened to fine Microsoft unless the game’s rating reflected the nudity, resulting in a recall of product boxes to apply new labels with the descriptor “Nudity.” This delay cost Microsoft an estimated half a million dollars. While no one at Bungie was fired, the incident left a lasting mark on the studio and stands as a legendary example of how an innocent prank can spiral into a costly debacle.
Quote of the Day
The Difference Between a Novice and a Master Is That a Master Has Failed More Times Than a Novice Has Tried.”Koro-Sensei, Assassination Classroom
