Hyper-Casual Trend Digest #15
Welcome to the new edition of Trend Digest. This month is impressively full of controversial news and awesome trends!
HYPER NEWS 🗞
🔗 SAG-AFTRA actors union signs AI deal, enabling voice replicas in games
SAG-AFTRA has announced a groundbreaking AI voice agreement at CES, allowing game makers to license voices of SAG-AFTRA members via Replica Studios technology. This deal puts an end to unauthorized AI voice likenesses, ensuring fair compensation for actors.
🔗Unity to lay off another 1,800 employees, representing 25% of its workforce
Unity, the maker of a popular video game engine, is cutting 1,800 jobs to boost financial performance. Despite past layoffs and fee structure changes, the stock remains down. Last year, controversy over pricing led to CEO resignation and a “reset” for the company.
🔗Netflix’s Q4 earnings show gaming success with GTA leading the charge
Netflix’s Q4 earnings reveal remarkable growth, adding 13 million paid subscribers and a net income surge to $938 million. The company aims for healthy revenue growth in 2024, driven by its core offerings and expansion into gaming, sports, and live entertainment. Grand Theft Auto titles on Netflix have been a huge success, fueling anticipation for future exclusive offerings in the gaming realm.
🔗 Netflix considers adding in-app purchases and ads to games, report says
Netflix is reportedly considering monetizing its gaming business, possibly through in-app purchases, premium titles, or ads. While Netflix has previously emphasized player enjoyment over monetization, discussions hint at a potential shift. The move could help offset stagnating growth and recent layoffs, aligning with past strategic shifts like introducing an ad-supported tier and cracking down on password sharing.
🔗Reading the fine print of Apple’s DMA rules: 25 things app developers need to know
Apple has introduced new rules for EU app developers in compliance with the Digital Markets Act. The changes aim to increase competition by allowing alternative app downloads, revising commission structures, and more. Developer responses are mixed, with larger companies like Epic Games, Spotify, and Microsoft expressing concerns. Key points include reduced commissions, a Core Technology Fee, and expanded options for developers, but controversies and caveats remain.
🔗 Meta and Spotify aren’t impressed with new Apple rules for EU
Spotify calls Apple’s DMA compliance plan ‘extortion’ and a ‘complete and total farce’. At the same time Mark Zuckerberg calls Apple’s DMA rules ‘so onerous’ he doubts any developer will opt-in.
🔗 “Nice in-game outfit – I’ll take it!” Walmart and Unity team up for new in-app purchase API
Walmart and Unity collaborate to offer a real-world purchase API for Unity developers, enabling in-game shopping and purchases of Walmart products. The API seamlessly integrates in-game items with Walmart’s inventory, allowing players to purchase items without leaving the game.
🔗Homa wins Craft Island court case against Voodoo, ending almost three years of uncertainty
French games publisher Homa successfully defends against legal claims from Voodoo regarding similarities between Lumbercraft and Craft Island. After a lengthy appeal process, the Paris Court of Appeal rules in favor of Homa, affirming Craft Island’s distinctiveness. Homa emphasizes its commitment to protecting creativity in the gaming industry.
And some fresh stats for you 👀 :
- New State of Mobile 2024 report by data.ai includes a lot of year-over-year numbers, such as mobile ad spend (+8%), total hours spent playing (+6%), daily time spent per user (+6%), etc.
- Investors Press Pause On Gaming Startups, crunchbase reports
HYPER TRENDS 📱
Time for movies and TV series
Cady Heron is a hit with the Plastics, an A-list girl clique at her new school. But everything changes when she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
During WWII, five miles above the ground and behind enemy lines, ten men inside a bomber known as a “Flying Fortress” battle unrelenting flocks of German fighters.
Cassandra Webb is a New York City paramedic who starts to show signs of clairvoyance. Forced to confront revelations about her past, she must protect three young women from a mysterious adversary who wants them dead.
A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save a world at war — and fight a ruthless enemy bent on stopping him.
Trends on YouTube, TikTok, Imgur, etc.
In general, in January we see a slight decline in relevant trends and in overall updating of platforms with new products. But nevertheless there are interesting examples, so let’s take a look.
Dancing Toothless is a fun trend that has grown into different formats: animations, templates for videos, costumes.
luweboy | yuyu020206 | ambxrrycosplay
- Find the king 🃏
- Noodle man assemble!
- A product that has gone viral on the internet particularly on TikTok is the Stanley thermos cup. Another example.
woodyandkleiny | the_deep_chaos | danimarielettering
New TikTok effects
On the platform we see a large number of different filters in game format and also CapCut templates.
- A game-format filter on the theme of parking lots,
- Traffic Moving Puzzle,
- A puzzle with painting an object.
whoknowspraise | ethancaf | jay_cup15
ethancaf | ethancaf | ethancaf
Popular CapCut templates (dog and muppet) and using a character from the show.
dr.mfarr | millennialmemer | gamingbible
Trend-based projects
In January, we noticed a slight downturn in these kinds of projects, but we still managed to find some examples of familiar trends.
Friendship Bracelet Trade Swap → Trend | Fruit Doctor Clinic Surgery 3D → Trend | Epoxy Color – DIY Jewelry → Trend
FOOD FOR THOUGHT 🤔
Lately, trend-based games just haven’t been hitting the mark like they used to a few years ago. We’re starting to wonder if we’ll only see trends in ad creatives and certain parts of games going forward, or if we’ve just been missing out on any exciting trends lately. What do you think about all this? Share your thoughts in the comments!
