Tencent launches Roco Kingdom: World in China
Roco Kingdom: World became one of the strongest mobile debuts of the year in China, and more news...
Tencent launched Roco Kingdom: World on March 26, 2026 in China, achieving one of the strongest mobile debuts of the year. Building on the original 2010 PC IP, the game transitions the franchise into a 3D open world pet collection RPG with over 400 pets, turn based combat, and expanded exploration systems. Pre launch momentum was significant, with over 60 million pre registrations, while day one performance reached 15 million players and #1 rankings on China’s iOS download and grossing charts. The title also charted at #8 by viewership on our China Games & Livestreaming Tracker during its first week.
Why this matters: This is Tencent’s attempt at revitalizing a nostalgic IP and building on the success of titles such as Palworld which have evolved the traditional Pokémon formula. The game’s monetization model is also notable for strong emphasis on cosmetic driven spending rather than direct pay to win mechanics. Planned updates include new seasons, expanded maps, additional story content, and a pipeline of over 200 new pets annually, signaling a long term evergreen approach.
RELATED: Livestreaming Tracker March 2026 Highlights: Tencent’s New Roco Kingdom: World Breaks into March’s Top 10 RPG Viewership Rankings
RPGs continued to dominate China’s livestreaming scene in March 2026 thanks to Roco Kingdom: World. What’s behind the surge, and what it signals for the market? Read more in Niko’s China Games & Livestreaming Tracker March 2026 Highlights.
Indonesia Game Rating System Heavily Criticized on its Rollout
Indonesia Game Rating System sparks criticism following its brief appearance on Steam.The labels have since been removed, with Steam clarifying that the the technical bug and miscommunication were behind the temporary display of IGRS betwen April 2 and April 5. Read the full story in our latest blog post.
RELATED: Indonesia’s lower purchasing power was revealed as Steam released a new regional pricing guidance
On March 31, through Steamworks update, Valve’s Steam platform highlighted that its appeal in markets such as Indonesia is strongly driven by discounts and regional pricing aligned with local purchasing power. Steam has introduced a new pricing guidance tool for publishers, leveraging support for more than 35 currencies including the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), to help set regional prices using a USD reference. The tool offers three pricing reference methods: direct currency conversion, a purchasing power based model that suggests Indonesian pricing at around 30% of the original USD price.
Why this matters: Steam’s updated regional pricing guidance underscores the growing importance of emerging PC markets like Indonesia, where purchasing power constraints are shaping platform level tools and publisher monetization strategies. Wider adoption could influence launch pricing norms and revenue optimization across Southeast Asia.
Link to original article (Indonesian) →
Tencent to take full control of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile development and publishing
Nexon has announced that operations of Dungeon & Fighter Mobile in China will transition from a dual management structure to a fully Tencent-led model. Previously, Nexon subsidiary Neople oversaw live service operations while Tencent handled localization, publishing and marketing. Under the new structure, Tencent will assume full responsibility for live operations in China, while existing structures for the PC version remain unchanged.
Why this matters: The shift reflects an expansion of the existing partnership between the two companies and comes at a critical time, as Nexon recently reported declining revenue from Dungeon & Fighter Mobile. Centralizing operations under Tencent is intended to streamline decision making, improve localization quality, and accelerate content cadence in China, which remains one of the largest and most competitive mobile game markets globally.
Memory contract prices set to surge despite temporary drop in consumer prices
Recent declines in DDR5 consumer memory prices, down as much as 30% in the US and China, are expected to be offset by tightening conditions in the enterprise segment, with TrendForce projecting DRAM contract prices to rise 58% to 63% QoQ in Q2 2026. The increase is driven by surging demand for high capacity RDIMMs used in AI infrastructure, as hyperscalers and enterprise clients prioritize data center deployments. Despite this short term consumer price correction, structural supply constraints remain intact.
Why this matters: The supply imbalance is also impacting the GPU market, where limited allocation of GDDR6 and GDDR7 is expected to constrain production of gaming graphics cards, leading to higher prices and potential shortages in the coming quarters. This is particularly relevant as PC gaming demand stabilizes post pandemic, but faces renewed cost pressures on hardware. The sustained pressure is expected to dampen upgrade cycles and slow high end PC gaming growth.
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UAE Ministry of Culture opens fifth cycle of National Grant program
The UAE Ministry of Culture has launched the fifth cycle of its National Grant Programme for Culture and Creativity, expanding support for Emirati talent across sectors including games, film, music, and design. Applications are open until June 26, 2026, with the initiative positioned as a key funding mechanism to transform creative concepts into commercially and culturally viable projects.
Why this matters: Participation has steadily scaled across previous cycles, with 26 beneficiaries in the first round, increasing to 43 in the second, 44 in the third, and 41 in the fourth cycle completed in December 2025. This initiative is particularly significant as the UAE continues to position itself as a regional hub for game development and creative industries under broader economic diversification strategies.
Super Mario Galaxy Movie opens to $372m globally
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, produced by Nintendo, Illumination, and Universal Pictures, generated an estimated $372.5 million globally within its first five days, debuting at No.1 in North America. The film earned $190.1 million domestically over five days alongside $182.4 million across 80 international markets, spanning 54,000 screens at 23,500 locations. Nintendo is also leveraging the film launch to drive hardware and software sales with a $20 discount when purchasing the Nintendo Switch 2 alongside Super Mario Galaxy 1 and 2.
Why this matters: The performance builds on the success of The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023), which generated nearly $1.4 billion globally, establishing Mario as one of the most commercially successful video game IP adaptations in film. Notably, the new film has yet to release in Japan, where it is scheduled for April 24, suggesting additional upside in one of Nintendo’s core markets. Nintendo is continuing to diversify beyond its traditional console business into movies, TV shows, merchandise, and even theme parks.
Nexon to publish Overwatch in Korea through partnership with Blizzard
Nexon has entered a publishing agreement with Blizzard Entertainment to operate Overwatch in South Korea. The partnership will see Nexon manage live service and business operations for the PC version in Korea, while Blizzard retains control over core development and the global IP. The collaboration emphasizes “hyper localized content” and a renewed focus on Korea’s internet gaming room ecosystem. Nexon will leverage its local expertise in live ops, monetization, and player management to tailor the experience for Korean users, while both companies plan to recruit additional local talent to support ongoing operations.
Why this matters: This move reflects Blizzard’s increasing reliance on regional partners to optimize performance in key markets. Korea has historically been a stronghold for Overwatch and competitive shooter titles, but shifting player preferences, the rise of competing games, and changes in the PC bang ecosystem have required more localized strategies to maintain engagement. It’s also worth noting that Nexon has experience operating live service shooter titles such as Sudden Attack and Arc Raiders in Korea.
Logitech apologizes for insensitive Douyin ad
Logitech has issued a public apology after a promotional video on its Douyin account triggered backlash in China for allegedly insulting consumers. The account published an advertisement for a computer mouse captioned: “When you say, ‘I won’t spend another cent,’ the moment I lower the price, you still come running like dogs.” The ad was interpreted as demeaning and quickly drew criticism from users on Douyin. Logitech stated that its Douyin page is operated by a third party and that the content was published without approval.
Why this matters: Despite the clarification, consumer dissatisfaction has persisted, reflecting limited tolerance among Chinese users for perceived disrespect from brands, particularly foreign companies. Douyin is a critical ecommerce and marketing channel, where viral sentiment can rapidly influence brand perception and sales performance. Missteps in tone or messaging can escalate quickly, especially given the platform’s scale and algorithm driven amplification.
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