Hyper-Casual Trend Digest #21
As always, we have plenty to share about everything that happened this month. Get ready to dive in, starting with the latest news. Let’s go!
HYPER NEWS 🗞
Antitrust Proceedings:
🔗 US mulls Google breakup in antitrust case
🔗 CMA Investigates Apple and Google’s dominance in UK mobile market
🔗 Epic vs. Google: A Fight for Fair Play Store Practices Gains Momentum
The battle over Google Play’s monopoly on Android intensifies as Judge James Donato’s ruling forces Google to open its store to third-party platforms starting in 2025. Epic Games and Microsoft are pushing back against Google’s appeal, condemning its use of security concerns as a pretext to maintain control. Despite a temporary stay on some rulings, Google’s policies continue to face scrutiny, with the tech giant’s practices under fire from both competitors and regulators.
More legal battles between tech giants and government authorities:
🔗 Report: EU readies Digital Markets Act’s first-ever fine against Apple
🔗 EU orders Apple to open up its iOS ecosystem to rivals
🔗 Microsoft delays Xbox Android store after US court temporarily pauses Google Play remedies
🔗 Microsoft claims App Store’s 30% fee “makes it impossible” to monetise its cloud gaming service
🔗 The Pokémon Company Secures $15 Million in Copyright Infringement Case
The Pokémon Company has been awarded $15 million in damages after a Chinese court ruled that the game “Pocket Monster Reissue” unlawfully used characters such as Ash Ketchum and Pikachu. The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court found multiple companies liable for copyright infringement, with some defendants currently appealing the decision.
🔗 Unity Reverses Controversial Runtime Fee Policy Amid Developer Backlash
Unity has canceled its contentious runtime fee policy, effective immediately, following significant criticism from the game development community. The company will revert to a per-seat subscription model, with price increases for Unity Pro and Unity Enterprise tiers set to take effect on January 1, 2025.
🔗 Roblox Faces Allegations of Inflated Metrics and Safety Concerns
Hindenburg Research has accused Roblox of overstating user numbers by 25-42% and failing to protect children from harmful content. Roblox denies these claims, asserting that the report is misleading and serves the short seller’s agenda.
And here are some fresh stats for you 👀:
– UAE games market revenue could reach $492 million by 2027
– Swedish games industry revenue hit $3.3 billion in 2023
– Xsolla releases Autumn 2024 Report on the future of mobile gaming and game development
– Unity report finds that most repeat purchases happen within 30 days of original spending
HYPER TRENDS 📱
Time for movies and TV series
What’s Trending Right Now?
Moana 2
The sequel to Disney’s animated hit continues to enchant viewers with its stunning visuals and heartfelt story, bringing beloved characters back for a new adventure.
Wicked
This highly anticipated musical adaptation offers a fresh perspective on the classic Wizard of Oz tale, captivating audiences with its enchanting songs and compelling narrative.
Gladiator II
The epic historical drama returns, drawing viewers into its intense storytelling and breathtaking action sequences.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Premiered on December 2 on Disney+, this series explores new adventures within the Star Wars universe, focusing on a group of young characters navigating uncharted territories in space.
What’s Coming Soon?
Nosferatu (2024)
A haunting reimagining of the classic vampire tale by Robert Eggers, starring Bill Skarsgård and Lily-Rose Depp.
Severance (Season 2)
Returning on January 17, 2025, on Apple TV+, the second season dives deeper into the mysterious corporate world where employees’ work and personal memories are surgically divided.
Squid Game (Season 2)
The global phenomenon returns on December 26 on Netflix, continuing its intense, suspenseful competition with new twists and challenges.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
An animated epic set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, focusing on the legendary King Helm Hammerhand of Rohan.
Mufasa: The Lion King (2024)
A prequel to The Lion King, this Disney animated feature explores the origin story of the iconic lion king, Mufasa.
A Complete Unknown (2025)
Starring Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, this biographical drama traces the singer-songwriter’s rise to fame in the 1960s.
Trends on TikTok
What’s new on TikTok from last month’s trends, and what’s coming next? Let’s dive in!
Trending Now
This new AI-powered trend showcases a dog doing all kinds of wild and unexpected things you wouldn’t believe. It’s as crazy as it is entertaining!
We’re calling it now: this Plankton meme is headed for the meme hall of fame. It already feels like a classic in the making—huge, relatable, and hilarious.
It’s not just a trend—it’s the biggest theme of the year’s end. Yes, we’re talking about Spotify Wrapped! From the anticipation before its release to the flood of content afterward, it’s been massive. And it’s not just Spotify—other apps, like Google Photos and Duolingo, are joining in with their own year-end recaps.
This bizarre and somewhat enigmatic trend, “Queen Never Cry,” has taken TikTok by storm. Nobody’s quite sure what it means, but it’s big, bold, and undeniably intriguing.
Biggest Trends of Autumn
“Wait” became one of the standout trends of autumn. What started as an awkward dance morphed into a global phenomenon where people humorously translated song lyrics into various languages. Awkward? Yes. Funny? Definitely!
“Domingo” began as a comedic sketch on SNL featuring Ariana Grande. The combination of a trending Sabrina Carpenter song, Ariana’s hilariously missed notes, witty lyrics, and a charismatic SNL cast turned this into a viral sensation.
This trend hilariously highlights absurd rules, fierce competitors, and ridiculous situations. Packed with humor and creativity, it’s been one of the most significant trends of autumn 2024, sparking countless memes and jokes.
New TikTok effects
Check out these trending TikTok effects right now:
Trend-based projects
Here are some new trend-based projects for you to explore:
Bead Sort Puzzle Game | Idle Mining Factory Tycoon | Car Master: Racing and Battle
Capybara Life: Pet Story | Save Stick Man | Agent Hunt Shooting Games 3D
