The hottest Gaming Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Even Diabetes Research Foundations Are Trying to Connect With Kids Through Roblox

Crossplay • 235 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Online Communities Digital marketing Health tech
  1. JDRF used Roblox to create spaces for kids with type 1 diabetes to connect and learn about the condition.
  2. When trying to engage with a younger audience on platforms like Roblox, it's important to understand the platform and its audience well.
  3. Charity Walk Simulator in Roblox by JDRF incentivized players to walk and learn about diabetes, showing success with over 2,500 virtual bears given away in 24 hours.

Betting the kingdom

SuperJoost Playlist • 176 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Entertainment Finance Media Online Platforms
  1. Disney's $1.5 billion investment in gaming highlights the shift of entertainment firms towards the gaming industry.
  2. Microsoft's potential move to release Xbox games on PlayStation has stirred controversy among fans.
  3. Nintendo's decline in earnings, future of the Switch, and Roblox's strategy of user-generated content indicate interesting trends in the gaming industry.

Homeland Beta is LIVE!

The Lunacian • 230 implied HN points • 24 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming NFTs Blockchain Community Updates
  1. Axie Infinity's Homeland Beta is now live, allowing players to cultivate land plots or become Stewards.
  2. New players can join Homeland by downloading the game on Mavis Hub, applying to become a Steward through the Land Delegation Marketplace, and starting to play upon acceptance.
  3. Gameplay in Homeland includes gathering materials, producing and crafting items, and engaging in Passive Adventure to equip NPC adventurers for battles.
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How this solo-dev 'incremental' game hit 100k+ sales!

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 235 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Artificial Intelligence Piracy
  1. The solo-developed 'incremental' game Gnorp Apologue sold over 120k copies in a month on Steam.
  2. The game attracted players and YouTubers with unexpected upgrades, swift scaling, and adorable pixel art helpers.
  3. The developer priced the game low at $6.99 to make it accessible and enjoyable for players, leading to its unexpected success.

Which countries played PC and console games... recently?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 176 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Streaming platforms
  1. Research showed which countries had the most players of PC and console games in the last two weeks, with China, the U.S., and some European countries standing out.
  2. The most streamed games in January included Palworld, Escape From Tarkov, and new releases like Enshrouded and Tekken 8.
  3. Recent game platform and discovery news included updates on Nintendo Switch sales, Steam iconography changes, and Roblox's revenue growth in 2023.

Cyberpunk 2077 is Reactionary

The J. Burden Show • 299 implied HN points • 05 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Gaming Media Politics Technology
  1. Cyberpunk 2077 is considered reactionary due to its anti-capitalist themes and illiberal elements.
  2. The game presents a dystopian world with diverse characters, rampant drug use, and themes of human modification and transhumanism.
  3. The protagonist is led by a middle-aged female president in a highly immersive, futuristic setting.

PC game discovery in China: how does it work?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 196 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Social media Market Trends Game Development Influencer Marketing
  1. In China, PC games are discovered through popular themes and genres like prison break planning and Wuxia-style RPGs.
  2. Key Chinese services for game discovery include platforms like Bilibili and Douyin, similar to YouTube and TikTok.
  3. Game developers can boost player engagement by giving away in-game cosmetics through personalized codes.

Living Evil: Covid, Counter-Strike And An Unnecessary Rebranding

Richard Lewis • 1886 implied HN points • 28 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Management Branding
  1. Evil Geniuses faced challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic with management disregarding safety protocols and putting staff at risk.
  2. The Counter-Strike team's decline was highlighted by poor management decisions and player dissatisfaction.
  3. An unnecessary rebranding at Evil Geniuses led to public ridicule and internal disapproval, showcasing a disconnect between management and staff.

🎮 How is Gen. AI Impacting the Gaming Sector?

Overlooked by Alexandre Dewez • 157 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🕹 Technology AI Gaming Infrastructure
  1. The gaming industry is challenging for infrastructure startups due to various factors like the long tail of independent studios and project-based nature.
  2. Generative AI tools can automate up to 50% of the gaming value chain, accelerating game development and enhancing quality.
  3. Gaming companies are at varying stages in adopting AI tools, from experimenting with asset generation to integrating AI into core game development operations.

IGN is unionizing

Updater, Shannon Liao's gaming newsletter • 137 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Tech industry AI
  1. IGN employees are forming a union with the majority of them signing union authorization cards due to current industry instability and a desire for protection.
  2. Xbox reassured employees in a town hall that they have no plans to stop making consoles amidst rumors of Xbox exclusives moving to the PS5.
  3. Disney is investing in Epic Games, hinting at a possible metaverse collaboration without using the term explicitly. The potential partnership is seen as a strategic move by Disney after past gaming industry setbacks.

Apeiron's Ecosystem Token $APRS is Launching on Ronin!

Ronin’s Newsletter • 73 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Blockchain Cryptocurrency Gaming Web3
  1. Apeiron's $APRS token is launching on Ronin, allowing users to purchase through partners at Impossible Finance between March 12th and 15th for $0.11 USDC per token.
  2. The $APRS token will have vesting and unlock requirements to ensure a sustainable ecosystem, holding investor token allocations in escrow until they vest.
  3. There will be community rounds for Apeiron NFT holders and the Ronin community to purchase $APRS, with key dates including a wRON staking period, APRS purchase period, and APRS claim period.

Want to play AAA Games in Your Car?

More Than Moore • 233 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Computing Automotive Gaming AI Hardware
  1. At CES, AMD announced new automotive APUs for in-car entertainment, driver safety, and autonomous driving.
  2. The new AMD chips support a gaming experience in cars, with potential for multiple displays and better graphics performance.
  3. AMD's acquisition of Xilinx enhances their presence in automotive technology, particularly in ADAS with their Versal AI Edge processors.

House Flipper 2: how the sequel 'cleaned up' in the charts

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 176 implied HN points • 10 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Streaming Surveys Statistics
  1. House Flipper 2 sold well with 131,000 units in 3 days and was profitable after 3 days.
  2. House Flipper 2's success was attributed to a viral concept, a successful demo, and support from the original game.
  3. The game discovery news highlighted December's most-streamed games, including GTA V, Call of Duty, and new releases.

You Forgot One, Ben Franklin

Fireside Chat Logs • 79 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Job search Skill development Personal Projects Industry insights
  1. Layoffs are a common experience in the games industry, and it's important to be prepared for them.
  2. During a period of unemployment, focus on updating resumes, exploring benefits, networking, and pursuing personal projects.
  3. Embracing creativity by working on passion projects like developing games can be a fulfilling endeavor during challenging times.

Origins Juggling Update

The Lunacian • 92 implied HN points • 14 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Gaming
  1. Axie Infinity is addressing the issue of juggling in the game to ensure fairness and genuine achievement among players
  2. A new rule requires that axies used in the Arena during the last 3 days of an era must stay in the user's account until the era ends to be eligible for rewards
  3. Players are no longer allowed to juggle, borrow, or share axies as a shortcut to win against more competitive opponents

Insomniac breach

SuperJoost Playlist • 216 implied HN points • 21 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Data Breach Cybersecurity Tech industry Software Development
  1. The business of hacking video game publishers is growing, with recent incidents showing flaws in hackers' business fundamentals.
  2. Hacking video game companies does not always result in financial gain for the hackers, as evidenced by unsuccessful attempts to sell stolen data.
  3. Leaking information about upcoming video games may actually generate more excitement and interest in the games rather than spoil the experience for players.

Under the microscope: Three Dirty Dwarves

Rings of Saturn • 61 HN points • 01 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Gaming Analysis Development
  1. A hidden cheat code 'MOSHOLU' in Three Dirty Dwarves unlocks 'CHEAT MODE', allowing selection of starting levels.
  2. Discovering hidden features like 'SUPERHERO' and 'JOYRECORD' by examining memory snapshots and exploring password encoding in the game's data.
  3. The decoding process revealed the original purpose of password codes like 'GUNHILL' was to access different game levels, and 'JOYRECORD' likely allowed control over in-game demo playback.

Is Monopoly GO really "PROFITABLE"?

The GameMakers Letter • 137 implied HN points • 17 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Gaming User Acquisition Marketing Mobile Gaming Monetization
  1. Monopoly GO seems to be a successful mobile game, generating significant revenue and downloads
  2. The concept of profitability in free-to-play games can be complex, with various factors influencing true financial performance
  3. There may be discrepancies in claims of profitability, as success in the game industry can be evaluated differently

448: Tyranny of Marginal Users, Twitter Paywall, Airbnb AI, Softbank, Microsoft + Nintendo?, Renaissance Tech, and Rodrigo y Gabriela

Liberty’s Highlights • 432 implied HN points • 20 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Social media Artificial Intelligence Gaming Documentaries Virtual reality
  1. Question the norm and be open to different ways of doing things.
  2. Be cautious of catering solely to marginal users in product design.
  3. Consider the implications of platforms like Twitter potentially implementing paywalls.

How many games do PC/console players own, & do they 'main' just one?

The GameDiscoverCo newsletter • 294 implied HN points • 30 Oct 23
🕹 Technology Gaming Data Analysis
  1. PC and console players tend to own a large number of games, with varying preferences on the amount of games owned
  2. Steam players show a trend where the number of games owned impacts the diversity of playtime spent on each game
  3. Console players, such as Xbox and PlayStation users, display different patterns in game ownership compared to Steam users