Rhys Elliott | MIDiA Research

Sony buying Elden Ring’s media conglomerate would be a match made in IP heaven

Rhys Elliott

22 Nov 2024

Japanese media conglomerate Kadokawa recently confirmed that Sony sent it a letter of intent to acquire Kadokawa (increasing its current 2% stake). Kadokawa owns FromSoftware, the developer of Elden Ring...

min read

A fifth of gamers love couch co-op, so where are all the games?

Rhys Elliott

15 Nov 2024

console gaming

PC

EA

Couch co-op gaming, when two or more players in the same room play together co-operatively, already has some proven success stories: It Takes Two , a co-op-only platformer from EA studio Hazelight, has...

min read

Cultural touchpoints: Nintendo’s music app underlines its cross-entertainment future

Rhys Elliott

8 Nov 2024

Games

Music

Business Strategy

Nintendo is at the forefront of the cross-entertainment trend. Alongside console games and hardware, Nintendo’s strategy spans theme parks, Hollywood (including the billion-dollar-grossing Super Mario...

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The Activision acquisition pushed Xbox to gaming growth in Q3 as Black Ops 6 makes a big splash

Rhys Elliott

1 Nov 2024

xbox

Games

Product Strategy

Microsoft’s Q3 2024 results (fiscal Q1 2025) continue to reflect Xbox’s shifting strategy: Xbox’s gaming revenue grew 43% year-on-year , but essentially all of this growth came from the Activision...

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Horizon Zero Dawn's price changes signal why consoles are pushing for no discs

Rhys Elliott

10 Oct 2024

Playstation

playstation 5

PC

PlayStation recently launched a remaster of 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn forPS5 and PC. As part of a specialpromotion from Sony, anyone who already owns the original Horizon Zero Dawn can paya $10 upgrade...

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Most gamers prefer single-player games

Rhys Elliott

3 Oct 2024

Playstation

console gaming

PC

It’s no secret that the bulk of AAA games market revenues come from in-game purchases , mostlyfrom live-service games. It’s also impossible to ignore that the live-service market is fiercely competitive....

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The single-player opportunity
Course correcting from a red to blue ocean

Cover image for The single-player opportunity

Rhys Elliott

September 2024

YouTube

Netflix

xbox

The AAA PC and console games market is facing growth issues, money is more expensive, and developers are facing pressure to become leaner, more profitable, and take fewer risks. Many game makers, including...

In-game cosmetics remain a huge opportunity for brands across music, TV, sports, and fashion

Rhys Elliott

19 Sep 2024

Fortnite

brands

in-game monetisation

While the games market is facing growth challenges, in-game spending will remain a key pillar for revenue growth. In-game spending generated revenues of $125.7 billion in 2023. In the coming years, that...

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Sony's $700 PS5 Pro is for superfans – it won’t really grow PlayStation’s playerbase

Rhys Elliott

10 Sep 2024

playstation 5

xbox

console gaming

Sony just announced its worst-kept secret, the PS5 Pro. It's launching for $700 in November 2024, four years after the debut of the original PS5. Compared to the original, PS5 Pro will offer better visuals...

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Concord has been taken offline: What went wrong? And what’s next for live services?

Rhys Elliott

5 Sep 2024

PlayStation Studios

Concord

Playstation

PlayStation is taking its PVP hero shooter Concord off the market after just two weeks. The game’s Steam numbers point to incredibly low sales. ‘’At this time, we have decided to take the game offline...

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GTA 6 is an unmissable opportunity for marketers and brand teams across all sectors

Rhys Elliott

31 Jul 2024

gta

grand theft auto

brands

Grand Theft Auto VI ( GTA 6 ) is due to launch in autumn 2026. It will be one of the century's biggest entertainment launches, and its impact will ripple through culture for years to come. Remember how...

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High tide raises all ships
Leveraging the cultural tidal wave of Grand Theft Auto VI

Cover image for High tide raises all ships

Rhys Elliott

July 2024

Audience Insight

Grand Theft Auto VI ( GTA 6 ), due to be released in autumn 2025, is on track to be one of the biggest entertainment launches of all time. It will capture a significant amount of consumer attention. Marketers...

Gamers aren’t finishing games, and that’s a problem

Rhys Elliott

24 Jul 2024

RPGs

Assassin's Creed

Playstation

Every segment in the games market is facing challenges. While some experts remain optimistic about gaming’s growth pace returning in the near future, the truth is that many arguments for this never-ending...

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Game Pass’ updates mark a new era for Xbox

Rhys Elliott

19 Jul 2024

xbox

Microsoft

Games

Xbox recently announced significant changes to its subscription offering ahead of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 hitting the service. In September 2024, Xbox is: Increasing prices for Game Pass Ultimate from...

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Bigger is not always better
Premium gaming’s AA opportunity

Cover image for Bigger is not always better

Rhys Elliott

July 2024

Business Strategy

Following the post-pandemic slowdown of global games revenue growth, cost-cutting measures are now in full force. However, games continue to grow in scope and length with budgets often exceeding hundreds...

Xbox’s impressive Games Showcase 2024 points to subscription gaming’s fate

Rhys Elliott

13 Jun 2024

xbox game pass

xbox

Games

“Play it day one with Game Pass.” These words flashed on the screen 15 times during the Xbox Games Showcase 2024, which wowed critics and fans alike with a lineup of 30 Xbox games. Most of the titles...

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Filling in the IP blanks: Sony’s State of Play underlines PlayStation’s family-friendly ambitions and IP strategy

Rhys Elliott

6 Jun 2024

Playstation VR

playstation 5

Sony

Sony’s second State of Play marketing event of 2024 has increased anticipation for the company’s upcoming game releases. The roughly 30-minute presentation advertised 14 games consumers can look forward...

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Older gamers are a growth opportunity for AA(A) publishers – here is how to capture it

Rhys Elliott

29 May 2024

console gaming

PC

minecraft

The days of gaming as a hobby only for young people are clearly over. Unlike in the past, gamers are now sticking with console and PC games into adulthood and old age. Consumers aged 55+ account for a...

min read

Golden years, golden opportunity
Older gamers are a key growth opportunity in a challenging games market

Cover image for Golden years, golden opportunity

Rhys Elliott

May 2024

Unlike in the past, gamers are now sticking with games through adulthood and into old age, leading to a growing segment of older gamers. Older gamers are a valuable segment posing a key growth opportunity...

The New York Times leverages gaming to level up and stay current

Rhys Elliott

May 2024

Audience Insight

Read the case study …