eSports, Gaming Archives - Page 3 of 6

Newborn Town Announces 2023 Annual Results with a YoY Increase of Nearly 300% in Profit

Newborn Town (Newborn Town; HKG: 9911), one of the frontrunners of the global social networking and entertainment industry, announced its 2023 annual results on March 21st.

The company’s revenue increased solidly in 2023, reaching RMB3,308 million with an 18% YoY increase. The revenue of the social networking business reached RMB2,972 million, while the revenue of the innovative business was RMB336 million.

According to the announcement, Newborn Town’s high-quality growth strategy has continued in 2023. The company’s net profit increased by 165% YoY to RMB761 million. The profit attributable to equity shareholders of the company reached RMB513 million, representing a 294% YoY growth. The adjusted EBITDA was RMB675 million, representing a rise of 80% compared to the corresponding period in 2022. The gross margin reached 52%, up 14 percentage points.

Since its debut in the global markets in 2013, Newborn Town has grown into a leading tech company in the social entertainment industry. The company has focused on its core business, the ‘pan-audience social networking business’ while eyeing the ‘diverse-audience social networking’ and ‘quality game’ businesses for years.

MICO, YoHo, SUGO and TopTop are four flagship apps under Newborn Town’s ‘pan-audience social networking business’ and have made rapid strides as they’ve evolved into top-notch platforms that aim to meet users’ diversified social demands among emerging markets such as the MENA region and South East Asia.

The year of 2023 has witnessed a series of upgrades in this business segment’s social apps. Among the ‘first-mover’ apps, MICO has tailored more services to meet the social needs of MENA users. YoHo, an audio-based social platform, has added more localized features and refined its operations, leading to a continued increase in profit. In 2023, these two apps continued to keep their leading position on the top 30 of the list of Chinese non-game publishers in terms of overseas revenue released by data.ai.

TopTop, the game-oriented social platform in Newborn Town’s ‘second-mover’ apps portfolio, has progressed in enhancing its user growth system and fostering a lively atmosphere within the community. These efforts have led to an over 2x YoY increase in revenue and an over 6x YoY rise in profit.

As another ‘second-mover’ app, the companion-based social app SUGO has gained over 3x YoY increase in revenue and over 6x YoY rise in profit in 2023 as it optimized the in-app matchmaking strategy. This app has also been a frequenter in the above-mentioned list from data.ai since 2023 and has seen a continued uplift in ranking.

Notably, Newborn Town is the social entertainment company with the most number of apps on data.ai’s list, which is the result of its endeavors to implement the ‘replication’ strategy for social apps in this business segment and a reward for Newborn Town’s unremitting exploration of the MENA region.

Since 2017, Newborn Town has taken steps to explore the MENA region, which is considered as a promising market for the social networking and entertainment industry.

By diving deep into Muslim users’ social needs and carving out multiple social scenes with localized quality content, Newborn Town has achieved a 30% YoY increase in revenue from its core apps in the MENA region; from 2020 to 2023, the growth CAGR was ~32%.

Plus, Newborn Town has also focused on the social needs of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2023, Newborn Town officially consolidated the ‘diverse-audience social networking business’ to start a new chapter exploring this realm.

The ‘diverse-audience social networking business’ mainly targets global markets. Based on a comprehensive observation of social trends among LGBTQ+ people, Newborn Town launched the social app HeeSay, which aims to encourage LGBTQ+ people to share, express, and connect.

This platform leverages the user base and brand influence that the international version of Blued has accumulated in different markets. It completed the ‘dating app to community app’ upgrade and officially debuted in over 70 countries and regions on January 1st, 2024.

As the annual result revealed, the ‘diverse-audience social networking business’ contributed to revenue of RMB353 million and profit of RMB102 million. HeeSay was expected to accelerate its global exploration due to Newborn Town’s deep localized operations capabilities.

Newborn Town’s innovative business also achieved remarkable breakthroughs during 2023 as its flagship game, Alice’s Dream: Merge Island, witnessed a continued rise in monthly revenue.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, Alice’s Dream reached an average monthly revenue of over 8 million US dollars and has frequently been at the forefront of Sensor Tower’s lists regarding overseas revenue and downloads.

Based on that success, Newborn Town rolled out new apps like Taylor’s Secret, Merge Cove and Sudoku. And Sudoku ranked third on the US mid-core casual games list for June 2023, as released by data.ai.

The global casual games market is estimated to reach approximately 25 billion US dollars in 2027. Based on the forecast, Newborn Town will further upgrade flagship apps’ monetization capabilities and profitability. Furthermore, the company will create more quality games with high lifetime value while steadily incubating new products.

“The company will stick to its high-quality growth strategy and continue its commitment to the ‘pan-audience social networking business’ in the MENA region. Besides, we won’t stop tapping into the LGBTQ+ social networking and quality games industries to explore more possibilities and engage more global users, thus achieving diversified and sustainable growth,” Li Ping, CEO of Newborn Town said.

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Kingsoft Announces 2023 Annual and Fourth Quarter Results

Continued Investment in R&D of AI and Collaboration Solid Growth for Kingsoft Office Group
Expanding the Advantages of Long-term Operation of Prime Games Strong Growth for JX3 Online

Kingsoft Corporation Limited (Kingsoft or the Company; HKG: 3888), a leading Chinese software and Internet service company, has announced its 2023 annual results and fourth quarter results for the period ended 31 December 2023.

For the year of 2023, the revenue of Kingsoft increased 12% year-on-year to RMB8,533.6 million. Revenue from the office software and services, and online games and others represented 53% and 47%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue for the year of 2023. Gross profit for the year of 2023 increased 14% year-on-year to RMB7,030.3 million, while operating profit increased 19% year-on-year to RMB2,226.9 million.

For the fourth quarter of 2023, the Company’s revenue increased 9% year-on-year and 12% quarter-on-quarter to RMB 2,310.1 million. Revenue from the office software and services and online games and others represented 56% and 44%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023. Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2023 increased 9% year-on-year and 13% quarter-on-quarter to RMB1,896.3 million, while operating profit amounted to RMB714.8 million.

Mr. Jun LEI, Chairman of Kingsoft, commented: “In 2023, the Group’s overall performance maintained solid growth despite challenges. We actively promoted our core businesses to lay a solid foundation for sustainable development in the future. Focusing on the strategy of ‘multiscreen, cloud, content, collaboration, AI’, Kingsoft Office Group continued to invest in R&D of AI and collaboration, and strengthened the competitiveness of its products through technological innovation, product iteration, performance enhancement and other initiatives. In terms of online games business, we adhered to the original intention of creating prime games and insisted on long-term operation. As developing wuxia games, we are also making incremental progress in exploring new game genres.”

Mr. Tao ZOU, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsoft, added: “In 2023, the Group’s businesses demonstrated growth resilience, with the Group’s total revenue of RMB8,533.6 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 12%. The office software and services business maintained solid operations, with annual revenue of RMB4,556.5 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 17%, driven by the growth of domestic individual and institutional subscription businesses. Revenue from online games and other businesses amounted to RMB3,977.1 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 6%, mainly driven by the strong growth of JX3 Online. Operating profit of the Group amounted to RMB2,226.9 million in 2023, increasing by 19% year-on-year. These results reflected our efforts to adhere to the technology-driven business, continuously invest in products and technologies, and enhance user experience.”

BUSINESS REVIEW
Office Software and Services
In 2023, revenue from office software and services business increased 17% year-on-year to RMB 4,556.5 million. Revenue in the fourth quarter increased 18% year-on-year and 17% quarter-on-quarter to RMB 1,285.7 million. The increases were mainly due to the growth of both domestic individual office subscription business and institutional subscription business, partially offset by the decrease in institutional licensing business of Kingsoft Office Group.

Kingsoft Office Group has released WPS AI, an intelligent office application powered by large language models, focusing on the development of three strategic directions: AI Generated Content (content creation), Copilot (intelligent assistant), and Insight (knowledge insight). WPS AI officially launched public beta testing in the Chinese Mainland in the fourth quarter, laying a solid foundation for further commercialization. We have also upgraded the WPS Office to improved user experience. In addition, we continued to improve the end-to-cloud integration experience, and enhanced user activity in the cloud. While adhering to long-term membership strategy, we have upgraded the membership benefits structure, launched the super membership system to meet the needs of different users through a flexible combination of benefits.

For institutional customers, Kingsoft Office Group has upgraded WPS 365, new productive forces in office, to provide content creation, office collaboration, open ecosystem and digital asset management capabilities. We continued to promote the end-to-cloud integration and collaboration process, focused on the business scenarios of government and premium customers of state-owned and private enterprises. We deepened our product capabilities to serve industries such as finance, transportation, energy, publishing, healthcare, consumer retail, high-end manufacturing and the Internet, incubated secure and efficient solutions that can be applied across the industry, and continued to replicate typical cases for widespread adoption. Meanwhile, we have been continuously collaborating with premium customers to explore feasible solutions for the implementation of WPS AI in government and enterprise office scenarios to advance its application in various industries and office settings. In the field of public cloud service, we encouraged customers to use cloud and collaboration applications, enabling them to manage their digital assets, and expanded market reach with channel partners. By highlighting the features of our products, we attracted enterprise customers and increased their user engagement and payment retention.

In 2023, Kingsoft Office Group has closely monitored the localization industry policy changes and customer demand, and taken the initiative to tap local government market in advance. Starting from the replacement needs of localization industries such as finance, energy and operators, we promoted the adoption of the new license mode and deepened their cloud and collaboration office process.

Kingsoft Office Group put users first and officially shut down domestic third-party advertising business in December 2023. In terms of overseas business, based on our solid foundation in the mobile sector, we continued to cultivate our user base on desktop platforms. Looking ahead, Kingsoft Office Group will continue to focus on AI and collaboration, further polish the products, and provide high-quality AI collaborative office products and services to individual and institutional users.

Online Games and others
Revenue from the online games and others business for the year of 2023 increased 6% year-on-year to RMB 3,977.1 million. The year-on-year increase was primarily attributed to the remarkable resilience of flagship game JX3 Online, which introduced new gameplay and content updates, and revenue contribution from new titles like Snowbreak: Containment Zone and World of Sword Origin, partially offset by the decline in revenue from certain existing games. Revenue for the fourth quarter of 2023 kept flat year-on-year and increased 7% quarter-on-quarter to RMB1,024.4 million. The quarter-on-quarter increase was primarily driven by the revenue contribution from World of Sword Origin released in Chinese Mainland in September, partially offset by decreased revenue from certain existing games.

In 2023, the online games business saw steady growth. The flagship game JX3 Online demonstrated resilience and strong vitality. It has been in operation for fourteen years and achieved a record high in annual revenue. JX3 Online continued to iterate and release new expansion packs with upgraded graphics, providing players more diverse and enriched gaming experience. World of Sword Origin was successively launched in Vietnam and Chinese Mainland, attracting dedicated players with its classic gameplay and nostalgic appeal, while also contributed to the global reach of traditional Chinese culture. The global release of the anime shooter game, Snowbreak: Containment Zone, expanded the user base of anime and overseas markets. The sci-fi mech game Mecha BREAK made its debut at The Game Awards at the end of the year, gaining widespread attention from the international market for its art design and innovative gameplay, eagerly awaited by global players.

Looking forward to 2024, the release of JX3 Ultimate will offer players brand new experience across multiple platforms. We will continue to expand into new genres, refine scifi mech game Mecha BREAK and continuously optimize anime game Snowbreak: Containment Zone.

Mr. Jun LEI concluded, “In 2023, our core businesses have steadily advanced. In 2024, Kingsoft Office Group will firmly seize the opportunities of digital economic development and continuously explore the business opportunities of digital office services. We will continue to carry out product innovation and user experience optimization around ‘multi-screen, cloud, content, collaboration, AI’ to continuously improve service quality and provide individual and institutional users with more efficient and intelligent office solutions. At the same time, we will deepen our presence in the field of wuxia games and make progress in the new genres of sci-fi mech games, bringing players all-new gaming experience. Looking ahead, we will continue to leverage technology, embrace AI and seize new opportunities to pursue high-quality and sustainable development.”

About Kingsoft Corporation Limited
Kingsoft is a leading software and Internet services company based in China listed on the stock exchange of Hong Kong. It has three main subsidiaries including Kingsoft Office, Seasun and Kingsoft Shiyou. Following the implementation of its “mobile internet transformation” strategy, Kingsoft has completed the comprehensive transformation of its overall business and management models, and formed a strategic platform with office software and interactive entertainment as the pillars and cloud services and AI as the new directions. The Company has more than 7,000 staff around the world and enjoys a large market share in China. For more information, please visit http://www.kingsoft.com.

Kingsoft Investor Relations:
Yinan Li Tel: (86) 10 6292 7777 Email: ir@kingsoft.com

For further queries, please contact Wonderful Sky Financial Group:
Angie Li Tel: (852) 6150 8598 Email: po@wsfg.com

Jason Lai Tel: (852) 9798 0715 Email: po@wsfg.com

TCG World Metaverse and Lux Lions Unleash the Roar of Partnership, Paving the Way for an Immersive Virtual Experience

Lux Lions, the trailblazing NFT brand on the XRP Ledger, proudly announces its strategic partnership with TCG World Metaverse, marking a significant leap towards redefining the virtual landscape. This collaboration enables users to dive into a dynamic virtual experience, where the essence of NFT culture and metaverse exploration merge to create unparalleled opportunities for engagement and creativity.

Since its inception in 2022, Lux Lions has rapidly evolved, blending cutting-edge NFTs with engaging play-to-earn games. The Lux Lions NFT Brand has become synonymous with exclusive experiences, and the partnership with TCG World Metaverse is set to amplify this ethos.

Lux Lions Founder, YouTube Personality Ripple Van Winkle, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are thrilled to join forces with TCG World Metaverse. This partnership allows us to expand the boundaries of the Lux Lions Brand and create a unique space where users can truly immerse themselves in a Web3 world of creativity and opportunity.”

This partnership is about more than uniting two brands; it’s about setting a new standard for what’s possible in the virtual world. By leveraging Lux Lions’ innovative NFT solutions and TCG World’s expansive metaverse platform, this collaboration is poised to offer users a rich, immersive experience that stands at the intersection of art, entertainment, and community.

“Partnering with Lux Lions marks a pivotal moment for TCG World Metaverse. It’s more than just a collaboration; it’s a fusion of our visions to create an immersive ecosystem where creativity meets opportunity. Together, we’re not just building virtual landscapes; we’re crafting experiences that resonate on a personal level with our users,” said Justin Del Giudice, Vice President of TCG World Metaverse.

In aligning with Lux Lions, an esteemed NFT collection on the XRP Ledger, TCG World Metaverse is taking a monumental step towards weaving the XRPL community into the fabric of the metaverse. This partnership marks the beginning of an exciting journey to bridge the digital divide and draw the spirited XRP community into the heart of virtual innovation. With the introduction of dedicated galleries and interactive spaces, tailor-made for XRPL enthusiasts, TCG World Metaverse is thrilled to open its doors wider to this dynamic community.

As we continue to push the boundaries of what the metaverse can be, Lux Lions and TCG World Metaverse invite everyone to be part of this visionary journey. Together, we are crafting a future where digital worlds provide meaningful, engaging experiences that connect and inspire people across the globe.

Learn More About Lux Lions: Lux Lions Discord | Ripple Van Winkle YouTube | Twitter

About TCG World:

TCG World is at the forefront of the gaming industry, creating immersive and interactive metaverse experiences. With a commitment to innovation, TCG World is developing a virtual world that offers endless possibilities for exploration, creativity, and entertainment.

Contact details:
PlatoAiStream.com
Zephyr@platodata.io

TCG World Announces Partnership with Chooky Records to Revolutionize Entertainment in the Metaverse

In an innovative fusion of music and virtual experiences, TCG World, a trailblazer in the development of immersive metaverse environments, has joined forces with the dynamic music label, Chooky Records. This collaboration is set to enrich the metaverse with unparalleled musical and visual entertainment, starting with the exclusive metaverse premiere of the music video “Chooky” featuring Elesia Iimura, O.T., and the legendary Busta Rhymes.

TCG World is carving a unique path in the gaming industry by creating a one-of-a-kind metaverse that goes beyond traditional gameplay. Their focus on crafting immersive experiences allows users to explore, interact, and enjoy content in a fully realized virtual world. With the highly anticipated launch in 2024, TCG World is currently captivating audiences with its web GL browser-based game, designed explicitly for entertainment and virtual experiences, accessible at tcg.world.

The partnership with Chooky Records marks a significant step in TCG World’s commitment to integrating high-quality entertainment into the metaverse. The “Chooky” music video, which has already seen remarkable success on platforms like Spotify, will be streamed within TCG World, providing users with an exclusive and engaging entertainment experience that bridges the gap between music and virtual reality.

Justin Del Giudice, Vice President of TCG World, shares his vision for the partnership, “Collaborating with Chooky Records allows us to bring a new dimension of entertainment to the metaverse. The metaverse premiere of ‘Chooky’ is just the beginning. We’re dedicated to providing our community with rich, immersive experiences that push the boundaries of what virtual worlds can offer. TCG World is not just a game; it’s a destination for exploration, creativity, and now, exclusive musical events.”

The executive team at Chooky Records, echoed the excitement for what this partnership represents for the future of entertainment, stating, “This collaboration with TCG World is a milestone for us at Chooky Records. It’s thrilling to see our artists like Elesia Iimura, O.T., and Busta Rhymes lead the way in merging music with the metaverse. The potential for creative expression and connection in this space is limitless, and we’re proud to be at the forefront with TCG World.”

This partnership between TCG World and Chooky Records is not just a step forward for both entities but a leap towards redefining entertainment within the metaverse. As TCG World continues to develop its immersive virtual environment, and with the browser build already live, this collaboration promises to offer users an entertainment experience like no other, setting a new standard for what’s possible in the convergence of gaming, music, and virtual experiences.

For more information about TCG World, Chooky Records, and their innovative partnership, please visit TCG World and Chooky Records.

About TCG World

About Chooky Records

Chooky Records is a pioneering music label focused on discovering talent and pushing the boundaries of music and entertainment. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Chooky Records is exploring new avenues for artists and fans to connect in the digital age.

GammaStack is Exhibiting Its iGaming Offerings at ICE 2024

With a motive to uncover new layers of innovation in the iGaming industry and showcase its comprehensive iGaming offerings including but not limited to iGaming platform, sports betting software, provably fair casino games, online casino software, sweepstakes casino, slot development, retail betting, licensing services and iGaming staffing, GammaStack is all set to exhibit at ICE London 2024 from February 6-8, 2024, at S1-222.

GammaStack is prepared to demonstrate its presence as an exhibitor at ICE London 2024. They are all set to showcase their detailed iGaming offerings at stand S1-222. Having a remarkable presence in the industry for more than 13 years, GammaStack has gained significant recognition for offering state-of-the-art iGaming software development solutions and services which include but are not limited to iGaming platform, online & crypto casino software, sports betting software, slot development, provably fair casino games, retail betting, licensing services, sweepstakes casino, online lottery software, iGaming staffing, and bespoke development services. You can count on them to avail fully owned iGaming solutions with low or no GGR share and smoothly run your iGaming business. You can also make quick market entry with their turnkey iGaming solutions.

“Our team is super thrilled to catch up with industry experts at ICE London 2024 and pave ways for mutual growth through fruitful discussions with our industry companions,” says Arturs Zagurilo, CCO of GammaStack, Latvia.

Whether you have plans to migrate your land-based iGaming business to an online model or enhance your existing iGaming platform with advanced features, GammaStack can be your perfect helping hand. After successfully rolling out an array of iGaming projects for clients from all over the globe, they are known in the industry for providing bespoke and ultra-modern solutions and services.

About GammaStack
GammaStack is an iGaming software solutions and services provider possessing 13+ years of industry experience and a strong team of more than 500 professionals who boast unrivaled expertise and knowledge about the industry. Whether you are seeking feature-rich sports betting software, online casino software, slot game development, provably fair casino games, iGaming platform, retail solutions, sweepstakes casino software, or licensing services, they can readily assist you with your iGaming business needs in the most efficient manner.

Book a meeting at sales@gammastack.com

Know more at https://www.gammastack.com/ice-london/

Media Contact:
Arturs Zagurilo
Visit: https://www.gammastack.com/

Source: GammaStack

International buyers return at first three Hong Kong trade fairs in 2024

Bright start to trade-show year as business opportunities abound

Three fairs attracted some 83,000 buyers from 135 countries and regions, with a significant rise of visitors from Mainland China, India and ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore
A US buyer found potential suppliers via the digital Click2Match platform, planned to purchase US$3-4 million worth of products
A Baby Products Fair exhibitor from the UK expects the fair to generate US$1 million of orders

The 50th HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, 15th HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and 22nd Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair concluded successfully at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today. The four-day physical fairs attracted some 83,000 buyers from 135 countries and regions and saw international buyers return, a promising start for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) trade shows this year.

As the first round of trade fairs this year, the trio brought together over 42,000 buyers visiting the Toys & Games Fair, while more than 26,600 buyers attended the Baby Products Fair and some 13,900 came to the Stationery & School Supplies Fair. Asian buyers came from Mainland China, ASEAN, Japan, Korea and India, and European buyers flew from United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Russia. The fairs also received buyers from South Africa, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. Buyer numbers from Mainland China, India and ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore grew significantly.

The fairs adopted the HKTDC’s hybrid EXHIBITION+ model, which includes the physical shows and virtual access through the Click2Match platform, connecting exhibitors and buyers until 18 January.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “Stepping into the new year, the HKTDC has been actively boosting international trade in all aspects, stepping up our promotional efforts and strengthening Hong Kong’s status as an international trade and convention and exhibition centre. Being one of the longest-standing trade fairs at the HKTDC, Toys & Games Fair entered its 50th edition this year, carrying significance for the industry. Over the decades, it has served as a comprehensive platform for the Hong Kong, mainland and global toy industries, helping businesses expand their networks and explore opportunities. We are pleased to see exhibitors and buyers from Hong Kong, the mainland, Asia, Europe and the United States come to the three exhibitions to promote and launch new products. Many of them have secured new orders onsite, making a good start to a new year of business.”

Business opportunities flourish
Themed Innovative Play: A Legend Across Time, the three fairs attracted over 2,600 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions, including pavilions from Hong Kong, the mainland, Asia and Europe. In response to market trends, Green Toys, Collectible Toys zones and an ODM Hub, presenting original design manufacturers, debuted this year at Toys & Games Fair.

A long-term supporter of the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, Kintoy Die-Casting Manufactory Limited has developed worldwide -market exposure by exhibiting at the fair through the years. Its products are now exported globally, with Europe and the US being its major markets. Managing Director Pax Lam said the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair was a well-established and large-scale toys fair that attracted buyers from all over the world, adding that buyer traffic at this year’s Fair was back to pre-pandemic levels. ”We have met with buyers from Europe, the US and local trading companies. Some buyers have picked our products and will place orders soon,” he said.

Toy Box, a wholesaler of learning and STEM toys from the US, returned to the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and the Hong Kong Baby Products Fair. Toy Box CEO Richard Toth described the fairs as the best platforms to look for new products and suppliers. He said it was worthwhile for him to take a long-haul flight from the US to source in Hong Kong. “The Click2Match platform helped me identify five potential suppliers. The two fairs showcase a wide range of new and innovative learning toys and STEM toys. I plan to spend US$3-4 million on purchasing products from the two fairs.”

The ODM Strollers and Gear zone debuted at the Baby Products Fair. The fair also launched the Selection of Europe group pavilion and a Huzhou pavilion. UK exhibitor, Euro Stock Traders Ltd, announced the official launch of their Mercedes-Benz and the Mercedes-AMG collection at this year’s fair. CEO Harry Jhamat said: “Responses from buyers are amazing. More than 20 new contacts from Israel, Russia, South Africa, South America and Southeast Asia who are distributors and retailers are very interested in developing exclusive partnerships with us. Buyer traffic at our booth is substantially higher than previous years and the quality of buyers is very good. We expect the fair will generate US$1 million in new orders to our company.”

The Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair featured the latest in school and office supplies, creative art supplies and gift stationery. Marketing Director Ada Lee of Accutone Technologies Limited, a Hong Kong exhibitor was pleased with the positive visitor response during the fair. “We have met with about 10 prospective customers hailing from diverse countries such as Mexico, Russia, Malaysia, Singapore and India on the first day of the exhibition. The Mexican and Malaysian buyers are going to place orders with a combined value estimated at US$200,000.”

Upgraded Asian Toys & Games Forum brings market insights
Themed Unlocking the Asia Market: Insights for the Toy Industry, the flagship event of Toys & Games Fair was upgraded into Asian Toys & Games Forum. The panel discussion was moderated by Bryant Chan, Chairman of Hong Kong Toys Council, and the four speakers shared insights on key topics shaping the toy industry’s development, including changing demographics, sustainability, as well as potential collaboration with franchises and digital platforms.

Clifton Chiu, Senior Analyst of Toys and Games at Euromonitor International, said kidults were increasingly important targets for the toy industry as birth rates declined around the world. Kidults were drawn to toys that could arouse nostalgia and help them rediscover childhood memories. The demographic now accounts for 25% of toy sales, a percentage expected to rise further.

For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit the following websites:
HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair:
https://www.hktdc.com/event/hktoyfair/en/success-stories
HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair:
https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkbabyfair/en/success-stories
Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: https://www.hktdc.com/event/hkstationeryfair/en/success-stories

Fair Websites
HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair: http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/
HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: http://hkbabyfair.hktdc.com/
Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: http://hkstationeryfair.com/

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3vFv8gA

Media enquiries
HKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:
Jane Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4137, Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: (852) 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

About HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Twitter @hktdc and LinkedIn

Super Bowl 2024: Las Vegas Legends Live Bridging the Superbowl Spirit with a Legendary Event and Metaverse Innovation

January 9th 2024. As the Super Bowl fervor grips Las Vegas, Legends Live is set to amplify this excitement with a one-of-a-kind event, Legends Live, on February 4th, 2024, at Vu Studios. This event, building up to the Super Bowl weekend, offers a unique blend of sports legends’ stories and cutting-edge Metaverse streaming technology in partnership with TCG World.

Legends Live presents a rare opportunity to hear from sports icons in the lead-up to one of the biggest sporting events of the year. The event will feature:

Legendary Journeys: Insightful discussions on the paths to greatness.
Triumphs and Challenges: Reliving the moments that defined careers.
Victory Stories: Captivating tales of sporting success.
Faith and Determination: Exploring the deeper motivations behind extraordinary achievements.

In a groundbreaking move, Legends Live PPV, together with TCG World, is streaming this unique event into the Metaverse. This partnership allows fans worldwide to be part of the excitement, transcending traditional boundaries and offering a new way to experience the legends’ stories.

Whether you’re in Las Vegas for the Super Bowl or joining from afar, Legends Live PPV offers an unmatched experience. Attend in person at Vu Studios for an up-close and personal encounter, or immerse yourself in the Metaverse stream with TCG World.

Tickets are now available for this unparalleled event. Choose to join the live excitement at Vu Studios or engage virtually through the innovative Metaverse experience.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit:

Legends Live – [legendsliveppv.com]https://www.legendsliveppv.com

TCG World – [tcg.world]https://www.tcg.world Tickets go on sale January 16, 2024

About TCG World

TCG World Metaverse is a leading Metaverse platform that offers immersive experiences in various domains, including gaming, education, and entertainment. With a focus on innovation and technological advancement, TCG World Metaverse seeks to redefine the way we interact with digital content.

Other notable Super Bowl LVIII Week events in Las Vegas February 2024

Shaq’s Fun House on Friday, February 9, 2024
https://shaqsfunhouse.com/

Taste of the NFL on Saturday, February 10, 2024
https://tasteofthenfl.com/

Gronk Beach on Saturday, February 10, 2024
https://gronkbeach.com/

Media Contact
Justin Del Giudice
Justin@tcg.world
TCG World US, INC.

50th HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair spotlights new zones and pavilions

Event returns together with the Baby Products and Stationery fairs

Themed Innovative Play: A Legend Across Time, the trio brings together over 2,600 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions
The 50th Toys & Games Fair introduces a historical photo gallery and Green Toys zone while the Collectible Toys zone in Kidult World also debuts
Diverse toy pavilions include World of Toys led by European exhibitors, as well as pavilions from Korea and Taiwan. The Mainland China pavilion includes companies from Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shandong provinces; among them, Pinghu city sets up a pavilion for the first time
Revamped Asian Toys & Games Forum – themed Unlocking the Asian Market: Insights for the Toy Industry – gathers international experts to discuss trends

The 50th HKTDC Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair, the 15th HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair and 22nd Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair will return to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8 to 11 January. The Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair and Hong Kong Baby Products Fair are organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), while the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair is jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd.

Sophia Chong, HKTDC Deputy Executive Director, said: “The three exhibitions – themed Innovative Play: A Legend Across Time – draw over 2,600 exhibitors from 35 countries and regions, including various pavilions from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Asia and Europe. We have also invited nearly 200 buying missions to come to Hong Kong for sourcing.”

The International Trade Centre reports that sizeable emerging markets such as the mainland, Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Poland continue to drive global toy sales. Statista predicts that toy market revenue in Asia for last year would reach US$38.34 billion and continue to grow at an average 3.5% from 2023 to 2028, surpassing the expected 2.6% global growth.

Over the past two years, ASEAN has also become a key export market for the Hong Kong toy industry, with its share of Hong Kong toy exports growing from 8.4% in 2021 to 17.8% in 2022. Between January and November last year, the figure reached 20.4%, signifying great potential in Southeast Asia.

Flagship industry event in Asia, Toys & Games Fair, enters 50th edition
Since the first edition in 1975, the Toys and Games Fair has witnessed the development of Hong Kong’s toy industry. Entering its 50th edition this year, the HKTDC presents the Toys & Games Fair Photo Gallery to showcase valuable photos and videos of past fairs, offering visitors a walk down memory lane to recap the fair’s development over half a century.

Zones that debut this year include

A Green Toys zone showcases products incorporating green and environmentally friendly elements in the material, design, manufacturing process and packaging. For buyers’ easy reference, green exhibitors at the Toys and Stationery fairs also display a Green Leaf label.

Kidult World at Hall 3B introduces a Collectible Toys zone this year. The Hong Kong Brand Toy Association is hosting a group pavilion at the Toys Fair for the first time, promoting Hong Kong’s innovative industry, brands and collectible toys. A two-metre Ultraman figurine and 1.5-metre tall HK Machines model outside the hall give visitors photo opportunities.

The ODM zone helps buyers source products from original design manufacturers.

The impressive exhibitor line-up includes those at the World of Toys pavilion, led by European firms along with Korean and Taiwanese pavilions. The Mainland China pavilion hosts companies from Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Fujian and Shandong provinces, and introduces Pinghu city’s pavilion displaying children’s electric cars. Other highlights include the Brand Name Gallery, which brings together more than 220 well-known toy brands, and the Smart Toys and Games zone that features toys and games integrating innovative technology.

Selection of Europe pavilion debuts at Baby Products Fair
The ODM Strollers and Gear zone debuts at the Baby Products Fair, helping buyers source products from original design manufacturers. The fair also launches the Selection of Europe group pavilion, showcasing European brands and products, while a new Huzhou pavilion will present baby and children’s fashion products from the mainland. Other fair highlights include the Brand Name Gallery bringing together more than 40 renowned baby product brands; World of Strollers & Gear zone showcasing quality strollers, car seats and bassinets; and Apparel, Footwear & Accessories zone.

Jointly organised by the HKTDC and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, the Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair will feature the latest in school and office supplies, creative art supplies and gift stationery. The organisers continue to cooperate with renowned industry associations in different regions, including China Stationery and Sporting Goods Association, Malaysia Stationery Importers And Exporters Association and The Federation of Stationers And Booksellers Association of Malaysia.

Revamped Asian Toys & Games Forum and seminars explore prospects
On 9 January, the second day of fair, the revamped Asian Toys & Games Forum – themed Unlocking the Asian Market: Insights for the Toy Industry – will be held. International toy and game industry experts will discuss market trends and share views on toy industry development and opportunities. Hong Kong Toys Council Chairman Bryant Chan will host the panel discussion on Forging Collaborative Approaches to Create Engaging Play Experiences.

The fairs will host seminars covering such topics as green toy trends, sustainable maternity and baby product market development, latest toy safety and regulations, toy compliance, testing and certification, stationery industry trends, digitalisation and artificial intelligence applications, keeping visitors up to date on trends.

Under the hybrid EXHIBITION+ model, the Click2Match smart business-matching platform for online business meetings augments physical exhibitions. This year, the HKTDC also offers the Scan2Match service for buyers to scan QR codes at exhibitor booths with the HKTDC Marketplace App bookmarking favourite suppliers. This will allow them to extend face-to-face interaction to the online platform and help exhibitors connect with more opportunities after physical fairs close.

Photo Download: https://bit.ly/48laFw2

Fair Websites
HKTDC Hong Kong Toys and Games Fair: http://hktoyfair.hktdc.com/
HKTDC Hong Kong Baby Products Fair: http://hkbabyfair.hktdc.com/
Hong Kong International Stationery & School Supplies Fair: http://hkstationeryfair.com/

Media enquires
Please contact HKTDC’s Communication & Public Affairs Department:
Jane Cheung, Tel: (852) 2584 4137, Email: jane.mh.cheung@hktdc.org
Agnes Wat, Tel: (852) 2584 4554, Email: agnes.ky.wat@hktdc.org

HKTDC Media Room: http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

WinZO achieves 40% growth in retention rate with CleverTap

CleverTap, the all-in-one engagement platform today announced that mobile gaming platform, WinZO, has achieved 40% growth in retention rate following the CleverTap rollout.

Founded in 2018, WinZO is today at the forefront of India’s mobile gaming revolution; the company has over 175 million users, making it the country’s largest mobile social gaming platform. WinZO hosts 100+ games across multiple formats in more than a dozen regional languages.

WinZO is dedicated to providing product value and fostering user retention. The challenge was to quickly analyze data to enhance user retention. CleverTap’s integrated partnership with WinZO’s technology stack, helped nurture more robust customer relationships, bolster user engagement, and increase retention rates. Today, WinZO has 5 billion micro in-app transactions every month, and delivers highly personalized experiences to gamers.

“In the current highly competitive environment, where users have an abundance of options with numerous apps and brands competing for their attention, our goal is to craft experiences that are highly responsive and based on real-time interactions,” said Angad Sehdev, Strategy and Growth, WinZO. He further added, “CleverTap doesn’t just provide data; it equips us with the insights, segmentation, and tools needed to execute swiftly. In this kind of an ecosystem, if you’re not acting on the data in real time, you lose your user base. You need to understand what the user wants before the user has even expressed the need.”

CleverTap offers comprehensive tracking and analytics, enabling WinZO to gain insights into customer interactions with its products. This real-time feedback on new app updates aids in refining rollout strategies.

Sidharth Pisharoti, Chief Revenue Officer, CleverTap said, “Customer retention has always been at the heart of everything we do at CleverTap, and we’re thrilled to have helped WinZO increase their retention rates by 40%. It’s been an immense pleasure working with WinZO over the last 5 years. Today, they are one of India’s largest mobile gaming platforms. This is a result of their deep understanding of customer behavior and the team’s ability to deliver on those expectations. As WinZO embarks on an ambitious journey to expand its user base to 700 million and introduce new gaming formats, CleverTap remains a steadfast partner in this tech-driven gaming revolution.”

About CleverTap

CleverTap is the all-in-one engagement platform that helps brands unlock limitless customer lifetime value by helping them create personalized experiences to retain their most valuable customers. The platform empowers businesses to orchestrate experiences for individuals across their lifecycles and design personalized journeys that span a lifetime. It offers analytics that encompasses every aspect of the lifecycle, enabling businesses to measure and optimize each experience in real time. Its unique AI capability is insightful, empathetic, and prescriptive, facilitating smarter and faster decisions. The all-in-one platform unifies experiences from every touchpoint, paving the way for a new era of customer engagement.

The platform is powered by TesseractDB™ – the world’s first purpose-built database for customer engagement, offering both speed and economies of scale.

CleverTap is trusted by 2000 customers, including Electronic Arts, TiltingPoint, Gamebasics, Big Fish, MobilityWare, TED, English Premier League, TD Bank, Carousell, AirAsia, Papa John’s, and Tesco.

Backed by leading investors such as Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Accel, CDPQ, and 360 One, the company is headquartered in Mountain View, California, with presence in San Francisco, New York, São Paulo, Bogota, London, Amsterdam, Sofia, Dubai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Singapore, and Jakarta.

For more information, visit clevertap.com or follow us on:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clevertap/
X: https://twitter.com/CleverTap

About WinZO

WinZO is the largest social gaming and interactive entertainment platform in India with over 175million users from T2-T5 Bharat. Launched in early 2018, the company partners with third-party developers to host games on its Android app, offering users personalized multiplayer gameplay experiences. The platform is available in 12 native languages. WinZO’s platform facilitates over 5 billion micro-transactions per month across a portfolio of 100+ games, contributing to 1 in 250 UPI transactions of India happening on WinZO’s platform. The company is dedicated to building an enthusiastic community of gamers and gaming influencers in India. WinZO envisions a future where its platform can deliver culturally relevant and enjoyable experiences to the global audiences, monetized through a unique micro-transaction model.

WinZO, a series-C funded venture, has raised $100 million from Marquee gaming and entertainment investors such as Griffin Gaming partners, Courtside ventures, Maker’s fund, all of whom made their first investment in the Indian start-up ecosystem through WinZO.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this press release may represent CleverTap’s belief in connection with future events and may be forward-looking statements, or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. CleverTap cautions that such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties that could result in the actual outcome being absolutely different from the results anticipated by the statements mentioned in the press release.

Factors such as the development of general economic conditions affecting our business, future market conditions, our ability to maintain cost advantages, uncertainty with respect to earnings, corporate actions, client concentration, reduced demand, liability or damages in our service contracts, unusual catastrophic loss events, war, political instability, changes in government policies or laws, legal restrictions impacting our business, impact of pandemic, epidemic, any natural calamity and other factors that are naturally beyond our control, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different, from those anticipated by such statements. CleverTap does not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated or revised status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will CleverTap and its affiliate companies be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction.

For more information:
SONY SHETTY
Director, Public Relations, CleverTap
+91 9820900036
sony@clevertap.com

IPSHITA BALU
Consultant
Archetype
+91 9590111798
ipshita.balu@archetype.co

Kingsoft Announces 2023 Third Quarter Results

Kingsoft Office Group Focuses on AI and Collaboration
Online Games Business Continues to Iterate on High-Quality Games

Kingsoft Corporation Limited (Kingsoft or the Company, HKG: 3888), a leading Chinese software and internet service company, has announced its unaudited quarterly results for the three months ended 30 September 2023 (period under review).

For the third quarter of 2023, Kingsoft’s total revenue reached approximately RMB2,059.7 million, representing an increase of 12% from the same period last year. In particular, revenue from the office software and services business amounted to approximately RMB1,098.3 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 9% and accounting for 53% of the total revenue, while revenue from the online games and others business amounted to approximately RMB961.4 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 15% and accounting for 47% of the total revenue. Gross profit amounted to approximately RMB1,676.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 14%. Operating profit amounted to approximately RMB376.1 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 13%.

Mr. Jun LEI, Chairman of the Company, commented, “In the third quarter, our core businesses have made steady progress. Focusing on the priority strategies of ‘artificial intelligence (“AI”)’ and ‘collaboration’, Kingsoft Office Group continuously optimized the AI performance of products. Online games business continued to iterate and upgrade self-developed premium games.”

Mr. Tao ZOU, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, added, “In the third quarter, the Group maintained stable financial performance. The total revenue was RMB2,059.7 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 12%, mainly due to the steady growth of JX3 Online and the sustainable growth in subscription businesses of both individuals and institutions from Kingsoft Office Group.”

BUSINESS REVIEW
Office Software and Services
For the third quarter of 2023, Revenue from the office software and services business increased 9% year-on-year and decreased 2% quarter-on-quarter to RMB1,098.3 million. The year-on-year increase was mainly due to the growth of Kingsoft Office Group’s domestic individual office subscription business and institutional subscription business partially offset by the decrease in revenue from domestic institutional licensing business. The slight quarter-on-quarter decrease was mainly due to declined institutional licensing business, partially offset by the sustainable growth of institutional subscription business.

During the period under review, for individual office subscription business, Kingsoft Office Group optimized its membership system, improved user experience across its products, and achieved steady increases in both the paying ratio and the average revenue per paying user. To enhance the AI performance of products, Kingsoft Office Group invested in independent development of small and medium-sized models. We have reached strategic cooperation with Alibaba Cloud and iFlytek to jointly build a digital and intelligent service ecosystem.

Regarding institutional subscription business, Kingsoft Office Group actively promoted cloud integration and collaborative office progress for government and enterprises, and developed high-quality digital office solutions to assist them in the digital transformation. Through WPS 365, Kingsoft Office Group continued to facilitate customers’ adoption of cloud and collaborative applications, and made significant progress in expanding user base in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. In order to strengthen regional service construction, Kingsoft Office Group organized a series of digital office activities in many cities in China and continuously expanded penetration in multiple industries including energy, education and finance.

Online Games and Others
Revenue from the online games and others business for the third quarter of 2023 increased 15% year-on-year and decreased 10% quarter-on-quarter to RMB961.4 million. The year-on-year increase was mainly due to revenue growth from JX3 Online and revenue contribution from Snowbreak: Containment Zone launched in July, partially offset by decreased revenue from existing games. The quarter-on-quarter decrease was primarily attributed to the decline in revenue from JX3 Online, which had a relatively high base in the second quarter.

During the period under review, JX3 Online updated constantly and sustained good atmosphere in the player community. In August, JX3 Online celebrated the 14th anniversary with players. In October, it launched the beta test with ultimate graphic quality and a new expansion pack, ensuring the ongoing success of the IP. World of Sword Origin was transformed from PC game through optimizing and upgrading the graphics and gameplay details while retaining traditional 2D graphics and classic gameplay. This mobile game was released in China in September and received recognition from players. We also optimized the anime game Snowbreak: Containment Zone on an ongoing basis. Looking forward, the mobile version of JX3 Ultimate has received the license approval and is expected to be launched in the first half of next year to achieve cross-platform operation.

Mr. Jun LEI concluded, “In the third quarter, we committed to refining and optimizing our core products and services. Going forward, Kingsoft Office Group will continue to focus on AI and collaboration, restructure office software, to provide users with intelligent product experience. Meanwhile, online games business will continue to develop premium games and maintain long-term operations to better serve players. We will remain our focus on investing in the R&D of our core businesses, to enhance our core competencies and achieve high-quality and sustainable growth.”

About Kingsoft Corporation Limited
Kingsoft is a leading software and Internet services company based in China listed on the stock exchange of Hong Kong. It has three major subsidiaries including Kingsoft Office, Seasun and Kingsoft Shiyou. Following the implementation of its “mobile internet transformation” strategy, Kingsoft has completed the comprehensive transformation of its overall business and management models and formed a strategic platform with office software and interactive entertainment as the pillars and cloud services and AI as the new directions. The Company has more than 7,000 staff around the world and enjoys a large market share in China. For more information, please visit http://www.kingsoft.com.

Kingsoft Investor Relations:
Francie Lu Tel: (86) 10 6292 7777 Email: ir@kingsoft.com

For further queries, please contact Wonderful Sky Financial Group:
Ada Di Tel: (852) 3977 1838 Email: po@wsfg.com
Daphne Pang Tel: (852) 9653 6911 Email: po@wsfg.com