Nintendo revised earnings forecast upwards, citing strong sales of the Nintendo Switch 2
On November 4, Nintendo revised its earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 upwards, citing strong sales of the Nintendo Switch 2, with the sales forecast revised upward from JPY 1.9 trillion to JPY 2.25 trillion (93.1% increase from the previous year), and its net profit forecast upward from JPY 300 billion to 350 billion yen (25.5% increase from the previous year). The company has also raised its sales plan for Nintendo Switch 2 this fiscal year to 19 million hardware units (previously 15 million units) and 48 million software units (previously 45 million units).
Why this matters: Demand for the Nintendo Switch 2 continues to remain high, and it is continuing to roll out and increase support in new markets such as Southeast Asia. One thing to watch going forward will be if demand is sustained through year 2 and 3, and whether software sales can match or exceed those of the original Switch. There have been 2 games sold for every Switch 2 sold so far, with nearly half of those being bundled copies of Mario Kart World. While the Switch 2 is backwards compatible, Nintendo’s growth will rely on increasing that tie ratio.
Link to original article (Japanese) →
Valorant reaches 50m MAU in China across PC and mobile versions
Riot Games’ Valorant Mobile and Valorant PC have surpassed a combined 50 million monthly active users (MAU) in China. Riot and Tencent chose to take a dual platform approach to the IP, with the PC and mobile versions being complementary ecosystems, rather than a single cross platform title. Valorant Mobile debuted in China on August 19, 2025, and was able to successfully differentiate itself from the PC version, which launched in China on July 12, 2023.
Why this matters: While the PC edition targets hardcore FPS enthusiasts seeking precision control and high visual fidelity, the mobile version caters to competitive players with more fragmented playtime, adapting the Valorant experience to mobile-friendly ergonomics without sacrificing core mechanics. Valorant joins League of Legends as a top IP in China, both developed by Riot Games. The shooter genre has grown significantly in China over the past year, with titles including Valorant, Delta Force and CS2 joining the likes of Peacekeeper Elite / PUBG and CrossFire at the top of the charts.
Link to original article (Chinese) →
Calls to ban online games such as PUBG Mobile arose following a school attack in Jakarta
The provincial government of Jakarta pledged full support for the Indonesian government’s plan to restrict or ban certain online games such as PUBG Mobile, citing concerns that violent gaming content may influence youth behavior. This comes after an explosion at a high school in Jakarta that injured 96 people, with the perpetrator found to be a student who allegedly got the idea from online sources including video games. Indonesia’s Child Protection Agency (KPAI) also supports the government’s efforts to restrict violent or sexual‐content online games, although it argues such restrictions alone are insufficient to tackle student violence in schools, warning that underlying issues like bullying, lack of supervision and school culture also need to be addressed.
Why this matters: Indonesia is currently promoting the country’s own Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS) with the aim of protecting the children from harmful contents within video games. The latest school attack is seemingly going to strengthen the effort, with banning games coming back to the table. Previously, the Indonesian government had temporarily banned several games and game platforms, including Steam and Epic Games Store, in 2022 for not following the country’s electronic system provider (PSE) regulation.
RELATED : Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to respond to the Indonesian government following calls to ban Korean games due to a school explosion
Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) announced an official response to the Indonesian government to stress the lack of connection between the bombing and Krafton’s PUBG. An official from the MCST stated that they will respond after confirming the facts through channels such as the embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as reminding that linking the bomb incident to a Korean game is insufficient.
Link to original article (Korean) →
Roblox cooperates with Malaysian government to ensure improved safety
Roblox has pledged to enhance safety through a mixture of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and human monitoring. Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh stated that Roblox Corporation expressed its willingness to cooperate with the government, particularly on data sharing and compliance with regulations through a Facebook post on November 3
Why this matters: The statement follows an incident on October 27 in Batu Pahat, Johor, where a six-year-old boy was slashed by his nine-year-old brother with a sharp object due to a Roblox-related quarrel. Roblox has been under fire in several countries due to concerns regarding child protection and safety, with the Roblox Corporation also enacted similar policy in Indonesia in September 2025.
NCSOFT acquires three casual mobile game companies, to focus on the global market
NCSOFT stated that it has decided to acquire a total of three companies, one technology platform company and two casual mobile game companies, with no details provided on the companies being acquired. The company recorded an operating loss in the third quarter of 2025, with mobile game sales fell 22% year-on-year amid the absence of new releases, while PC online games grew 9% over the same period.
Why this matters: NCSOFT previously established a mobile casual game center and appointed Managing Director Arnel Zemann as its head. The company is expected to move from inward focus on Korean gamers to the global market, with its newest title Aion 2 to be released globally on November 11 and Lineage W to be re-released in Southeast Asia in early 2026.
Link to original article (Korean) →
Xbox Cloud Gaming launches in India via Game Pass
Microsoft has launched Xbox Cloud Gaming in India on November 11, making cloud play available through its monthly Game Pass subscription (Essential for $5.63, Premium for $7.89, Ultimate for $15.68) and the Xbox app, with an India-localized cloud page now live. The company also shared that it will collaborate with content creators, partner with Indian studios to support made-in-India games, retail and device partners like LG, Samsung, and Amazon, and participate in industry events.
Why this matters: Xbox originally launched its cloud gaming service in 2020, with the India launch coming 5 years later. Cloud streaming lowers the hardware barrier for premium games and, combined with Microsoft’s broader move to extend cloud access beyond Ultimate, should help convert price-sensitive users into paying subscribers. Competition is set to intensify as Nvidia’s GeForce NOW is also set to roll out later this year.
NetEase shuts down two more game studios
Canada-based Bad Brain Game Studios, founded by former Ubisoft veterans behind Watch Dogs: Legion and other major franchises, will officially close on November 17 after failing to secure continued funding from Chinese publisher NetEase Games. The studio was developing Midnight Riders, a story-driven, open-world action-adventure title inspired by 1980s cult cinema. Jackalyptic Games, another NetEase backed studio, has also closed down. The studio was led by City of Heroes and City of Villains developer Jack Emmert and was working on an MMORPG based on the Warhammer IP.
Why this matters: The closures follow NetEase’s broader retrenchment from its Western development push which began a few years ago. More than half a dozen Western studios have been shut down at this point. The decision reflects a strategic pivot within NetEase’s global portfolio as it reassesses ROI amid rising development costs, extended production timelines, and post-pandemic corrections in Western AAA markets. Chinese publishers are now taking a more selective and strategic approach to overseas investments, prioritizing projects with clear market potential.
Honor of Kings Grand Final breaks record for in-person viewership
The 2025 King Pro League (KPL) Grand Final, the flagship esports tournament for Honor of Kings, has achieved the Guiness World Record for the largest live audience at an esports event. A total of 62,196 people attended the finals on November 8, 2025, at Beijing’s National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) which has a 91,000-seat capacity. The Grand Final caps a milestone year for Honor of Kings, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary with a reported 139 million daily active users (DAU) in China and 260 million monthly active users (MAU) globally.
Why this matters: Tickets for the event sold out in just 12 seconds, setting a new national record for Chinese esports ticket sales. The event also featured a total RMB 70 million ($9.8 million) prize pool, positioning it among the highest-paying single esports events globally and the most lucrative in mobile esports history. The previous record for the largest live audience at an esports event was 45,000 spectators, set during the Pro Evolution Soccer EURO 2016 tournament in France.
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Earnings Roundup
Square Enix reported its latest earnings report for the six-month period ending September 30, 2025, with net sales dropped 15% YoY to JPY 133.9 billion ($875 million) and net income of JPY 10 billion ($66 million), a decline of 14.5% YoY. The company is also restructuring its international business, with layoffs reported in its North America and Europe operations.
KRAFTON reported its Q3 2025 total revenue of KRW 870.6 billion ($602 million) or a 21% growth YoY, with operating profit also rising by 7% YoY to KRW 348.6 billion ($241 million). PUBG remains the main driver of the revenue, although the company is pushing for several new game projects including Palworld Mobile.
NCSOFT reported its Q3 2025 total revenue of KRW 360 billion ($245 million), down 10% YoY, with operating loss of KRW 7.5 billion ($5.1 million). The company, however, saw KRW 347.4 billion ($238.5 million) net profit following the sale of its office building in Seoul. Sales from mobile game titles fell 22.2% YoY, while PC game sales increased by 9% YoY. The company is pushing for its latest MMORPG title AION 2 to drive growth in the next quarter.
NEXON reported its Q3 2025 total revenue of JPY 118.7 billion ($770 million) or a 12% decline YoY, with operating income also declining by 27% YoY to JPY 37.5 billion ($243 million). The company is optimistic, however, with 61% YoY revenue growth from the MapleStory franchise and the successful launch of ARC Raiders on October 30 which is expected to drive revenue for the next quarter and beyond.
Sea’s digital entertainment arm Garena reported its Q3 2025 revenue of $841 million, up 51% YoY, its best quarter since 2021. The successful collaboration between Free Fire and popular IPs such as Squid Game and Naruto Shippuden are the major drivers of the growth for the last quarter.
Events
GamesBeat NEXT
San Francisco, USA
November 12-13, 2025
Speaker: Lisa Hanson
Use GBN25LHAN for 25% off ticket
G-STAR
Busan, South Korea
November 13-15, 2025
Attendee: Shin Young Kim
The Roblox safety initiative in Malaysia is intresting, especially given the recent incident in Johor. It seems like a proactive step to address parental concerns before they escalate into broader regulatory action. The combination of AI monitoring and human oversight could set a model for other platfrms operating in Southeast Asia. I wonder if this will eventually lead to stricter age verification systems or content moderation standards across the region.