Recently, Bato.to (also known as Bato), a long-operating and highly influential piracy resource site among global manga and anime enthusiasts, has become inaccessible. Its official Discord announcement confirmed that the website and its existing servers will be permanently shut down with “no return.” The management team stated bluntly in the announcement that “Bato has to go,”[…..] […]
As we enter 2026, the virtual reality (VR) industry, once a subject of hype followed by a period of quiet, is quietly gathering an unprecedented powerful synergy. Three key signals—policy, capital, and product—are being released simultaneously, all pointing to the same conclusion: the VR industry is transitioning from a technology exploration “laboratory phase” towards an[…..] […]
New German games industry study reveals great dynamics and even greater potential Number of games companies in Germany grew by 81 per cent between 2018 and 2024 German game productions achieve a 5.5 per cent share of the domestic market 63 per cent of games companies say that tax incentives would improve competitiveness The proportion[…..] […]
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) officially announced this week the initiation of two separate investigations into Activision Blizzard, a gaming company under the Microsoft Group. The focus is on two of its popular mobile games, Diablo Immortal and Call of Duty: Mobile. The regulator alleges that the company engaged in “misleading and aggressive commercial practices” during operation,[…..] […]
On the heels of landmark achievements such as Black Myth: Wukong setting new global online records, Hangzhou-produced series The Legend of the Hidden Sea reaching 190 countries and regions, and overseas readership for online literature exceeding 160 million, Hangzhou is systematically transforming its industrial strength in the cultural “New Trio” (web novels, web series, online games) into global influence.[…..] […]
With the successful conclusion of the 2025 China Game Industry Annual Conference at the West Bund International Convention and Exhibition Center in Shanghai’s Xuhui Binjiang, the host district, Xuhui, has once again become the focus of national attention in the gaming industry. Data shows that in 2024, the gaming industry revenue in Xuhui District exceeded 70[…..] […]
To thoroughly implement the national strategic plan for developing new quality productive forces and accelerating new industrialization, eight departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Commerce, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the[…..] […]
At the recent Xsolla industry conference held in Guangzhou, Sally Nguyen, Chief Operating Officer of the well-known Vietnamese local publisher OEG, provided a detailed analysis of the current state, opportunities, and challenges of Vietnam’s game market. As one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is becoming a hotly watched emerging destination for global[…..] […]
The National Radio and Television Administration issued a notice on December 31, announcing a one-month special campaign to regulate “AI-modified” videos across the country, effective from January 1, 2026. The campaign targets the malicious alteration, vulgar deconstruction, and unauthorized reinterpretation of classic films, television shows, and animations using artificial intelligence technology in recent years. Its[…..] […]
Recently, India’s Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP Act) has officially come into effect, bringing profound changes to one of the world’s largest gaming markets with over 500 million players. By strengthening data collection transparency, clarifying platform responsibilities, and protecting children’s data, the Act is driving India’s and even the broader Asian gaming industry from[…..] […]
