SEGA’s SFCC 2026 surpasses 2 million downloads
SEGA announced that SEGA FOOTBALL CLUB CHAMPIONS 2026 (SFCC 2026), which is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iOS, Android, and PC (Steam), has surpassed 2 million downloads. To commemorate this milestone, SEGA will reward players with in-game items from February 20 to March 22, 2026. SFCC 2026 is the latest installment in the long-running soccer simulation series. It was released on January 22, 2026. The game focuses on player development and club management, with players acting as team managers.
Why this matters: The game offers a free-to-play (F2P), cross-platform, and cross-play football management experience across mobile, PC, and console. The low graphic requirements also make it popular among Asian sports/football gamers, most of whom are mobile-first and tend to lean to more casual games.
Link to original article (Japanese) →
UAE video game regulator strengthens oversight on child safety and advertising regulations
The UAE’s National Media Authority stated that electronic video games will receive licenses only after confirming they align with Emirati societal values and national identity. During a session of the UAE Children’s Parliament, the Authority reiterated that its “Advertiser License” prohibits using children to gain followers or increase online reach, emphasizing that global game developers must adhere to and enforce the UAE’s age rating requirements. The Authority further reaffirmed its support for children through the announcement of various empowerment initiatives.
Why this matters: The UAE recently passed its new Child Digital Safety Law that introduced a comprehensive framework to safeguard minors from harmful content and digital exploitation. The statement this month stressed that all these regulations and penalties also apply to video games. The measures also come after Roblox had certain chat and voice features temporarily disabled in September 2025, due to concerns over child safety. Roblox was previously banned in the UAE between 2018 and 2021 before being allowed again, and is now requiring Roblox Corp. to enhance its Arabic moderation tools and implement age checks.
Link to original article (Arabic) →
Krafton appoints Chief AI Officer as it transitions to AI First company
Krafton has appointed Kangwook Lee as its first chief AI officer (CAIO), formalizing AI leadership as the company accelerates its push to integrate artificial intelligence across gameplay, development tools, and long-term research. Krafton said the newly created role is intended to centralize strategy and execution across AI-driven gameplay systems, internal productivity tools, and experimental initiatives. Lee has led Krafton’s AI efforts since 2022 as head of Krafton AI, and his elevation signals a shift from exploratory R&D to company-wide operationalization, aligning AI more directly with product development and studio workflows.
Why this matters: The appointment follows Krafton’s 2025 declaration that it aims to become an “AI First” publisher. Shortly after that announcement, the company launched a voluntary resignation program, framing it as an opportunity for employees to reassess their “growth direction” amid structural changes driven by AI adoption. Krafton has since emphasized three parallel AI focus areas: enhancing player-facing gameplay experiences, supporting development teams through tooling and automation, and pursuing longer-horizon experimental research.
Tencent’s Peacekeeper Elite surpasses 90m DAU during Chinese New Year
Tencent’s flagship mobile battle royale game in China, Peacekeeper Elite, recorded a major engagement milestone during the 2026 Chinese New Year period, with daily active users (DAU) reaching 90 million on Chinese New Year’s Eve. Notably, the game’s UGC-focused module, World of Wonder, also set a new record with 58 million DAU, up sharply from 33 million during the 2025 National Day holiday. The surge was closely tied to the game’s 2026 Spring Festival update, themed around “Silk Road Dunhuang.” The content blended traditional Chinese New Year elements with Silk Road civilization motifs, integrating the Year of the Horse into gameplay, environments, and cosmetics.
Why this matters: Peacekeeper Elite topped China’s iOS game revenue chart for three consecutive days starting February 7, highlighting strong monetization alongside engagement. Tencent further amplified momentum through IP collaborations and celebrity-driven campaigns, extending the in-game festival atmosphere into broader social media discourse. The hashtag “Peacekeeper Elite Silk Road New Year” generated 850 million views on Douyin and nearly 200 million views on Xiaohongshu, reflecting substantial visibility. According to our China Games & Livestreaming Tracker, Peacekeeper Elite was the #2 most viewed mobile title for the 14 day period ending February 17.
Link to original article (Chinese) →
Scopely acquires majority stake in Turkey’s Loom Games at valuation above $1 billion
Scopely, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Savvy Games Group, has acquired a majority stake in Istanbul based developer Loom Games in a deal valuing the studio at more than $1 billion. Loom Games is best known for its hit mobile title Pixel Flow!, which has surpassed 10 million global players and ranked among the top grossing mobile games in the United States. The studio will continue to operate with creative independence while receiving production and distribution support from Scopely.
Why this matters: The deal strengthens Scopely’s footprint across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and underscores the rising prominence of the Turkish mobile games’ ecosystem. This move also enhances Scopely’s presence in the hybridcasual space. It’s worth noting that Pixel Flow! only released in October 2025, yet has already attracted more than 10 million downloads, and broke into the top 20 grossing games charts in the US app store. Scopely has built a strong portfolio of games via acquisition and IP licensing with Pokémon Go, Stumble Guys and Monopoly Go being its top titles.
Link to original article (Arabic) →
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Esports World Cup Foundation has been rebranded as “Esports Foundation”
The Saudi Council of Ministers has amended the charter of the Esports World Cup Foundation, rebranding it as the “Esports Foundation” to mark a shift from tournament organization to broader global esports governance. The Foundation will continue providing technical and operational support for top tier tournaments, backed by major prize pools including $75 million for the Esports World Cup and $20 million for the Esports Nations Cup, alongside strict national representation rules.
Why this matters: The rebrand supports Saudi Arabia’s National Gaming and Esports Strategy and positions the Foundation as an industry wide regulatory and development body rather than a project specific organization. Its expanded mandate includes managing the Esports Nations Cup, standardizing competitive frameworks, and supporting initiatives such as national team development programs and global qualification circuits.
Qualcomm expands partnership with Hero Esports to promote Snapdragon chips
Qualcomm has signed a strategic partnership with Hero Esports to expand adoption of its Snapdragon 8 Series mobile platform across China’s leading mobile esports ecosystem. Under the agreement, Snapdragon chips will become the official processors for four major mobile esports leagues operated by Hero Esports and owned by Tencent: King Pro League (Honor of Kings), the Peace Elite League, the CrossFire Mobile League, and the QQ Speed Mobile S League. Qualcomm has served as the official chip provider for the KPL since 2021, but this marks the first expansion of the partnership to cover multiple flagship leagues.
Why this matters: The esports competitions in the partnership represent the highest-profile mobile esports properties in China, with large-scale offline events, extensive live streaming reach, and strong ties to device performance standards. All four leagues exclusively use Android smartphones as competition devices, rather than Apple’s iPhone, and going forward they will all use Snapdragon 8 series processors. Qualcomm has long been seen as the premier chip maker in the mobile gaming space and is now reinforcing its position in the world’s largest video game and esports market.
NetEase parts ways with Anchor Point, and initiates layoffs at Spliced Inc
NetEase has parted ways with another overseas internal studio, as Anchor Point Studios transitions to operate as an independent developer. The studio, which NetEase unveiled in April 2023, confirmed the change through CEO Paul Ehreth, formerly lead designer on Control. Anchor Point maintains offices in Seattle and Barcelona and was originally established to develop premium action-adventure titles for PC and console. At the same time, NetEase owned studio Spliced Inc is set to initiate layoffs according to LinkedIn posts from multiple employees indicating the studio has initiated a redundancy process and warned staff that their roles may be at risk.
Why this matters: Over the past year, the company has shuttered or cut ties with multiple Western studios, including Bad Brain Game Studios, T-Minus Zero Entertainment, and Fantastic Pixel Castle. These actions follow NetEase’s earlier statements that it would prioritize structural efficiency and focus resources on studios and investments with clearer revenue visibility, rather than funding long-cycle AAA development in Western markets. Rising development costs, longer production timelines, and uncertain hit rates have made large-scale overseas incubation less attractive in the current environment.
Qiddiya City’s RTS now have full control of EVO
RTS, the esports organizer owned by Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya Investment Company, have announced that they have fully acquired the rights to the Evolution Championship Series (EVO). Initially made co-owner late last year, RTS has since purchased Indian esports organizer Nodwin Gaming’s stake in EVO. Qiddiya will now have full ownership of the most prestigious fighting game competition in esports. Through a press release, RTS has promised that “Evo’s traditions, values, and identity will remain unchanged...” and that key leadership will remain in place.
Why this matters: By taking full ownership of EVO, Saudi Arabia has truly established itself as a leading player in the global esports ecosystem. Saudi Arabia now owns esports brands like ESL and FACEIT, with major tournaments such as the Esports World Cup and Esports Nations Cup being run in the country. While EVO 2026 is scheduled to go ahead in Las Vegas as planned, it is surely a matter of time before a future edition takes place in Saudi. EVO was initially co-purchased by PlayStation and RTS in 2021, before the Sony entity divested to NODWIN.
Honor of Kings announced $5.9 million creator program in Indonesia
Honor of Kings announced the HOK Indonesia Creator Program 2026, committing IDR 100 billion ($5.9 million) in cash grants and an equivalent amount in in‑game items and coupons to support creator participation and ecosystem growth. The program aims to strengthen the Indonesian community ecosystem through support for community activations, content creation, events, and in‑game resources. Creators participating in the program will receive benefits including early access to game content, direct communication channels with developers for feedback, and official verification.
Why this matters: Similar strategies were launched in Malaysia and the Philippines last year with smaller investment amount. Honor of Kings’ sizable investment signals intensified competition for creator mindshare and community building in Indonesia. The scale of commitment suggests Tencent is preparing to strengthen HOK’s regional presence, challenging existing MOBA ecosystem leaders.
Link to original article (Indonesian) →
Events
GDC Festival of Gaming
March 9-13, 2026
San Francisco, USA
Attendees: Lisa Hanson, Alexander Champlin
India Gaming Show
April 17-19, 2026
Chennai, India
Attendee: Narinder Kapur
GamesBeat Summit
May 18-19, 2026
Los Angeles, USA
Speaker: Lisa Hanson