FIVE AT 5: TESTRONIC NEWS ROUND-UP

This week we take a look at the new indie publishing label from Devolver Digital, the games release strategy from fledgling publisher Shoreline Games, Epic’s new parental controls for Fortnite, the top mobile studios of 2024 and more…

Great news coming from Devolver Digital, which has announced the launch of Big Fan Games, a new publishing label and wholly owned subsidiary, which is focused on indie creators — specifically, on indie creators who are interested in making games licensed from existing franchises. VentureBeat has the skinny here - https://shorturl.at/J1d6B

More good news comes via Game Developer, which reveals that new indie publisher Shoreline Games already has multiple titles lined up for next year. Founded by industry veterans Keith Kawamura and Jenny Zha, the San Francisco company wants to focus on smaller, systems-based games. You can more here - https://shorturl.at/5fPB8

For any parents with Fortnite-obsessed kids, Epic’s announcement of its new parental controls will be very welcome. Time Limit Controls – as the name suggests – allow parents to set playtime limits and specific playtime windows. They can even choose to add more time during those playtime windows if the cries of ‘just half an hour more!’ become too loud… Read more via Eurogamer here - https://shorturl.at/tdEdD

Sticking with online play, bravo to Rovio and its chief sustainability officer Heini Kaihu, who has written a piece for Gamesindustry.biz highlight ‘Six ways to create safer places to play’. She says: “Gaming companies can and should do better. I believe that we have everything it takes to make virtual spaces not only entertaining and engaging, but also safe for all.” And her six guidelines for combatting toxicity and harassment include: Set clear community guidelines and follow them; Design the game to encourage positive player interaction; Make reporting easy for players, and moderation easy for moderators; Monitor proactively; Maintain transparency; Collaborate with the player community. Learn more here - https://shorturl.at/iqLW5

And finally, who are the biggest mobile studios of the year? Pocketgamer.biz has the answer, as it reveals the Top 50 Mobile Game Makers of 2024 - https://shorturl.at/Lpb4p

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