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Scout Gaming the Leading Provider of B2B Daily Fantasy Sports Enters US Market via Partnership with SCCG

Scout Gaming, the leading provider of B2B daily fantasy sports, sportsbook and fantasy betting products, has made its debut in the US market after signing a deal with new sports league, the Masters Cup Series.

The five-year deal will see the Masters Cup Series leverage Scout Gaming’s Social Sportsbook Platform, a new product that has been developed specifically for the US market and aimed at online and retail operators as well as sports venues and franchises.

Scout Gaming’s Social Sportsbook Platform allows Master Cup Series to tap into the fast-growing sports wagering segment by offering a fun and low barrier of entry, next-generation ‘sports betting-like’ experience without the involvement of real money wagering. Through the combination of its proprietary Player Account Management system, award-winning B2B Daily Fantasy Sports solution and new Social Sportsbook, Scout Gaming offers US operators and franchises an end-to-end managed sports entertainment product.

The Masters Cup tour is a new sporting event spearheaded by industry legend and Hall of Fame pro billiard player, Rodney “Rocket” Morris. The event will comprise of eight professional players who will compete in weekly MCS Tour Stop events. Players will accumulate points each week, based on performance, to determine their playoff position, weekly winner, and overall Masters Cup Champion.

The event will be nationally televised and offer both on-screen real-time wagering like gameplay as well as next generation stats. In addition to Scouts standard games, fans will also be able to experience play on events directly tied to and developed in collaboration with the Masters Cup Series.

The partnership with Scout will allow the sports franchise to provide a way for fans and viewers to engage with sports game play action 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while also generating significant revenue for the series.

Andreas Ternstrom, Chief Executive Officer at Scout Gaming, said: “We are thrilled to be officially entering the US market for the first time and to also unveil another addition to the Scout product line that will be launching with the Masters Cup Series. We’ve noticed a gap in the market that we can fill and we’re hoping to unveil similar partnerships in the months and quarters to come.”

Rodney “Rocket” Morris, Chief Executive Officer at Masters Cup Series, said, “I’m excited to have joined forces with Scout Gaming and feel honoured to be the first partner for the company in the USA. Its Social Sportsbook is an incredible product that will bring tremendous value to the series.”

As the US business development partner for Scout Gaming Group, Stephen Crystal, CEO and Founder of SCCG Management said of the event, “We are proud of the success this team has realized throughout this process. The biggest winners will be the fans who get to experience highly engaging and competitive interaction through the real-time gameplay powered by the Scout Gaming platform. SCCG has been driving strategies to bring social sports betting to restaurants, bars, and arenas, and this is the first execution on this plan.”

About Scout Gaming

Scout Gaming Group is a multiple award-winning licensed and regulated premium provider of B2B Fantasy Sports & Sportsbetting. The company offers a flexible and customizable sports entertainment platform with the core pillar being the network-based Fantasy Sports solution (SGN) and a fully-managed Sportsbook capable of being tailored to market needs, whether real money Fantasy Sports, odds-based sports wagering or Free2Play. Technology and operations are 100% proprietary, having developed from the ground up and operated in-house, – allowing for virtually any sport, league, or game format to be offered. The company has achieved several industry-first’s such as the world’s largest globally pooled DFS network (SGN), Fantasy Matchups, Bet-on-my-team, Player Odds and the world’s first natively integrated DFS and Sportsbook solution – all via one single integration. The Group has 100+ employees and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden with development and operations in Bergen, Norway, and Lviv, Ukraine and Malta. Scout Gaming is listed on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market and the Certified Adviser is Redeye AB. Contact details: Certifiedadviser@redeye.se, +46 (0)8 121 576 90.

About Masters Cup Series (MCS)

The Masters Cup Series (MCS) is a billiards tour with a revolutionary new scoring system, created by Hall-of-Famer Rodney “Rocket” Morris. The executive team, based in Oklahoma, has stellar reputations within and access to the entire billiard industry. Not only will the new scoring system inject excitement into the game, it will also open the game up to thousands more players and solve decades long issues for the community. MCS will be televised and streamed and utilize AR/VR experiences as well as licensed gaming, gambling and fantasy sports to create a continuous engagement loop with its customers. MCS has partnered with 21 Lakes Productions and GhostDawg Consulting for ideation and execution within the broadcast and gaming areas, respectively.

About SCCG Management

SCCG Management is a consultancy that specializes in sports betting, iGaming, sports marketing, affiliate marketing, technology, intellectual property protection, product commercialization, esports, capital formation, M&A, joint ventures, casino management, and governmental and legal affairs for the casino and iGaming industry. Visit us at https://sccgmanagement.com.

Contact
Stephen A. Crystal
SCCG Management
+1 702-427-9354
stephen.crystal@sccgmanagement.com

Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Source:Plato Data Intelligence

Esports Publisher GGRecon & SCCG Management Announce Partnership

GGRecon, an esports and gaming publisher, has announced that they are expanding partnerships into the US with help from SCCG Management. The media company is planning on focusing on US partnerships and commercial opportunities, which SCCG specialises in. SCCG management will be assisting by managing GGRecon’s partnership operations, finding new and exciting clients, and assisting with commercial strategy.

GGRecon was founded in December 2019, and since its inception has had a heavy focus on esports. They cover titles such as VALORANT, CS:GO, Call of Duty, Overwatch, and many others.

As we continue to grow, serving our customers with the content that they clearly love, we felt now was a good time to expand more of our offering into the US,” says Chris Young, Managing Director at GGRecon.

As a result of ensuring they have high-quality content and a solid editorial strategy, GGRecon has seen their Page Views increase from 47k a month from when they started, to over 2.5 million a month in August 2021. In the last month alone, GGRecon’s Facebook Page has achieved nearly 251,000 reactions on their content, which is more than established brands such as GamesRadar+, GameByte, Eurogamer, and the official pages of Xbox, PlayStation UK, SEGA, and Epic Games. As it stands, their portfolio of social Pages equates to over 1.2m followers.

SCCG Management is a consultancy that specialises in esports, among other disciplines. The company consults with, and invests in, gaming clients worldwide in various casino development, internet gaming (iGaming) and gaming technology endeavours. Founder, Stephen A. Crystal, has spent over 20 years directly involved in all aspects of the casino and iGaming technology industry, including as an attorney representing public and private gaming companies, as a president and CEO of numerous casino holding and public gaming companies, and as an investor and advisor on over $4 billion dollars of project finance, mergers and acquisitions in the casino gaming space.

Chris Young, Managing Director at GGRecon, said: “We are thrilled to be working with SCCG management. As a well-respected and established company with someone like Stephen at the helm, we know that GGRecon’s future is in good hands. As we continue to grow, serving our customers with the content that they clearly love, we felt now was a good time to expand more of our offering into the US.

“The US is a market that we are keen to explore, as well as being able to show what GGRecon can do. Our audience is loyal and smart, which is a killer combination. We hope to be able to provide them with partnerships that are authentic as well as exciting.”

Founder of SCCG Management, Stephen A. Crystal, said: “It’s been a pleasure working with Chris over the last couple of years, and watching their business grow in the UK. As we expected, the content resonates well within the US market, which represents the majority of the GGRecon traffic. We look forward to helping GGRecon extend its presence in the US.”

About SCCG Management

About GGRecon

GGRecon is an Esports and Gaming publisher with the aim to inform, as well as entertain, their audience. With editorial content ranging from features, guides, opinion pieces, leaks, and trending esports news, their passion for the industry is palpable.

Since 2019, they have been a team of esports fans writing content for fans with the same enthusiasm, ensuring that all bases are covered. They now also have a video team, whose aim is to make original, high-quality content for esports fans all over the world.

Follow their social media accounts to keep up to date with GGRecon.
GGRecon Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/GGReconEsports
GGRecon Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/GGReconEsports
GGRecon Instagram – http://www.instagram.com/GGReconEsports
GGRecon YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/GGRecon
GGRecon TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@ggrecon
Rocket League Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/RLRecon
Call of Duty Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/CoDNewsRecon
VALORANT Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/VALORANTRecon.com
League of Legends Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/LoLRecon

Stephen A. Crystal
SCCG Management
+1 702-427-9354

Source: Plato Data Intelligence.

Highstreet Enriches VR Metaverse with Upcoming Launch of FOMO Duck NFTs

The FOMO Duck NFTs will introduce new users to Highstreet’s commerce-centred metaverse

Highstreet is launching NFTs of its mascot FOMO Duck, which will serve as a guide for new users who become community members of the world’s first commerce-centred metaverse.

Highstreet’s Metaverse provides accessibility to gaming, entertainment, real estate, crypto, and other scenarios for its users. Highstreet World consists of fully explorable islands powered by brands and partners alike, each with residential areas as well as various phygital products – digital assets pegged to real-world products – sold as NFTs.

Highstreet Market is a special marketplace located in Highstreet City inside the metaverse. It specializes in redeemable limited edition phygital products, meaning every token represents both the digital and physical components of the product. Highstreet Market’s StreetSmart bonding curves utilize a smart contract vault to ensure liquidity for the buyer at all times. By tokenizing each individual product into ERC-20 tokens, Highstreet Market eliminates the logistical overhead for third-party asset traders, ensuring that only creators and true collectors possess and handle the items.

With the help of recognizable companies like HTC, Highstreet not only allows users to buy actual products through digital means but also allows friends to join parties to shop and earn together in a growing metaverse.

Highstreet’s marketplace can be navigated through web browsers. For those with access to native VR, Highstreet’s metaverse is a real place where users can tap into face-to-face interactions using high-quality, 3D avatars thanks to its recent partnership with Tafi.

The denizens of Highstreet’s metaverse will encounter FOMO Duck, a mascot with an integral role in the shared digital environment. Highstreet plans to launch FOMO Duck as an NFT on September 17, 2021, with 250 released each day until the total supply of 10,000 FOMO Ducks has been minted.

FOMO Duck NFTs can be minted by anyone who completes a list of tasks on Gleam. The minting fee is 0.069ETH and limited to one Duck per address. Each FOMO Duck has 3 attempts to enter the Highstreet Moon Vault and obtain a $HIGH Voucher. Holders of FOMO Ducks will also qualify for exclusive bonuses leading up to our metaverse unveil and launch near Halloween.

Highstreet has two affiliated Subsidiaries: Sundance-backed LumiereVR Studio and Retinad Analytics. Acquired in 2018, Retinad is a gaze and eye-tracking technology company that automates consumer insights collection for brands.

For more information about Highstreet, please visit the official website: https://www.highstreet.market/

About Highstreet
Highstreet is a commerce-centric metaverse that allows players to explore a vast MMORPG world where in-game items are real products by real brands. Highstreet’s Merchant portal enables the shopify for gaming experience for brands where an easy to use UI built upon the Metaplex protocol allow companies to easily set up shop both on web3 as well as in Highstreet World.

Website: https://www.highstreet.market
Medium: https://medium.com/highstreet-market
Twitter: https://twitter.com/highstreetworld
Telegram: https://t.me/highstreetworld
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/439FhsrMu2
Media Contact for brands: merchants@highstreet.market
General inquiries: info@highstreet.market

Following CMGE’s Footprints through its 2021 Interim Financial Report

CMGE Technology, the leading international IP-oriented game-based company in China, released its 2021 Interim Financial Report, recording total revenue of RMB2.18 billion, gross profit of RMB840 million and adjusted net profit of RMB402 million, representing increases of 27.2%, 58% and 17.6% respectively, compared with the First Half 2020.

In studying the financial report, we were surprised as the growth potential of CMGE (HKG:0302) became apparent. Expansion to overseas markets contributed a lot to corporate performance with a significant increase in gross profit of 58%. According to the above data, CMGE saw a considerable increase in both its revenue and gross profit for the first half of 2021, and especially, its gross profit recorded a much greater increase than its revenue.

When measuring the revenue in different business segments, for the first half of 2021, CMGE recorded a total revenue of RMB1.5253 billion in its game publishing business, RMB567 million in its game development business, and RMB87.8 million in its IP licensing business, representing increases of 2.4%, 156.8% and 2012.6% respectively, as compared to the First Half 2020.

It is noticeable that in the first half of 2021, CMGE performed excellently in its overseas publishing business, and gained a total revenue of RMB219.7 million in those markets, representing an increase of 6250.4% as compared with the First Half 2020. CMGE’s outperformance in overseas markets is mainly attributed to its advantageous products and game publishing strategies.

In terms of products, CMGE pitches high-quality and hot-selling products tested by the domestic market to overseas markets to make certain of hitting a great success in overseas markets. In terms of game publishing strategies, CMGE focuses on in-depth localization and brand awareness to give full play to its great potential in overseas markets.

For the Second Half 2021, CMGE will continue its efforts to expand overseas markets. For example, “The New Legend of The Condor Heroes: Iron Blood and Loyal Heart” will be launched in Vietnam, South Korea and Thailand; “Reborn!” will be launched in South Korea; “Sword and Fairy 7” will be simultaneously launched in mainland China and overseas markets.

Seek the “unchanged” in a changing era: focus on core IP and keep integrating R&D and operations
All Internet businesses are essentially dependent on traffic, products and operations. Games are a typical business centring on “Internet content”. CMGE mainly adopts the IP game strategy which, specifically speaking, is intended to build a business closed-loop based on the game publishing business, R&D business and IP licensing business that centres on “supply, cultivation, development and back-feeding” of IP, with IP as the core and with games as the foundation.

Why does CMGE stick to its core proprietary IP strategy?
First of all, IP can effectively reduce traffic acquisition costs and extend the game lifecycle. From the angle of operating data, IP games with a fan base have a higher fan conversion rate and have their fans showing stronger willingness to pay for games.

Moreover, IP ecological operation will enhance IP vitality and create greater added value. Film and television, animation, online literature, derivatives and other diversified businesses deriving from IP will increase CMGE’s corporate revenue and profitability.

Furthermore, organic IP operation will lead to higher IP popularity and further enhance the vitality of games.

Therefore, CMGE prefers to form an ecological closed-loop by relying on core product assets such as IP and conducting IP-based research and development. As a result of its adherence to the IP game ecological strategy for years, CMGE currently possesses 118 IPs (including 50 authorized IPs and 68 proprietary IPs), making it a game company with the most IPs in China.

Whether an IP can be transformed into competitive game products is determined in R&D, which is an important step in the process of IP core realization. Besides, in view of the severe homogeneity of game products and the scarcity of IP-based independent R&D capabilities, R&D strength matters a lot in the current game industry.

To ensure independent research and development, CMGE is also continuing its investment in outstanding producers and its acquisition of outstanding developers, and established “Man Tian Xing Workshop”, “Ling Dian Workshop” and “Da Yu Workshop” in the 1H of this year. From Nov 2016 to April 2021, CMGE invested in nearly all game development companies such as Phonecool Game and Love Games. In 1H 2021, CMGE completed its investment in R&D companies such as Shenzhen Heyao Network, Beijing Xinrui Game and Fuzhou Tornado.

By means of investment, CMGE has gained a continuous supply of high-quality games and has also achieved certain results in this respect. For example, “One Piece: The Voyage” jointly launched with Nuverse, “Soul Land: God of Battle Arise” independently published by CMGE, and “Dynasty Warriors: Hegemony” developed by EZFUN, invested by CMGE and published by Tencent on August 10 have ranked first among the Top Free Games in Apple’s App Store in Mainland China, and have been repeatedly recommended in “Hot Games Today” and “Best-selling Games” in the Apple Store since its launch.

In addition, operational efficiency and channel control are also of great importance for game companies.
Game operations essentially involve planning, organization, implementation and control of the entire production and R&D process and lifecycle of games. CMGE does this well. For example, “The World of Legend – Thunder Empire” and “Legend of Dragon City”, two games independently developed by CMGE, went online before 2020 and remained a stable contribution to CMGE’s revenue and profit in the first half of 2021, reflecting CMGE’s high operational efficiency and its strength in researching and developing high-quality games.

“Channel”, also known as “distribute”, is a process by which game products are made available to players. High-quality channels can synergize with games and lead to business expansion. In 1H 2021, CMGE reached strategic cooperation with Huawei on the game business. On April 29, 2021, Bilibili, previously acting as the cornerstone investor in CMGE’s IPO, increased its shareholding ratio in CMGE and served on CMGE’s board of directors.

Through strategic cooperation with top traffic platforms, CMGE has become more capable of dealing with channels. When disadvantages are eliminated and an ecological closed loop is formed, CMGE will surely thrive in the future.

Give back to society while seeking great development
Enterprises, as part of the social economy, must find a balance between corporate and social interests while seeking profits and growth, so as to achieve long-term development. CMGE takes strict control of its product by connecting to a real-time authentication system, with anti-addiction and age limit reminder systems, and by limiting the cumulative monthly spend by minors between the ages of 16 and 18 in games to RMB400. In 1H 2021, minors (under the age of 18) contributed only about 0.026% to CMGE’s game revenue in China.

CMGE has also made due contributions to public welfare and charity. It set up the eighth “CMGE Dream Libraries” in the Central Primary School of Lvcongpo Town, Badong County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei in April this year, and donated RMB1 million to Henan Charity General Federation to help fight the heavy rainfalls hitting Henan Province in July this year.

Contact:
Jing Gao, Peanutmedia
E: gaojing@czgmcn.com
U: https://www.Peanutmedia.com

Innovative Sports Betting and iGaming Geolocation Security Company to Launch Formally in USA at G2E 2021

Xpoint, the leading geolocation and compliance technology company which specializes in the U.S. sports betting and iGaming markets, has announced that it will launch formally in the U.S. at G2E, 2021, taking place in Las Vegas from October 4-7. Xpoint has also announced that it is partnering with SCCG Management, the specialist sports betting, iGaming, casino and sports marketing consultancy, as Xpoint begins its rollout throughout the U.S. market.

“Xpoint will change the sports betting and iGaming compliance landscape in the U.S., and we are proud to formally unveil Xpoint for the first time at G2E, 2021, in partnership with SCCG Management,” says Marvin Sanderson, Xpoint Tech’s CEO and Co-Founder.

Xpoint, founded in 2019, brings innovative, partner-focused solutions to the established geo-compliance marketplace, facilitating safe and compliant betting and gaming for its partners, as well as providing enhanced marketing benefits for its partners that can be used across multiple business functions.

“Xpoint will change the sports betting and iGaming compliance landscape in the U.S., and we are proud to formally unveil Xpoint for the first time at G2E, 2021, in partnership with SCCG Management,” commented Marvin Sanderson, Xpoint Tech’s CEO and Co-Founder. “Xpoint changes the previous concept of geolocation technology as a regulatory box-checker. Our platform provides our partners with the safe, compliant framework within which they have to operate in the USA, and, uniquely in the global geolocation market, with the ability to develop a range of marketing benefits that can be deployed across multiple business functions.”

“The opportunity to partner with the leading geolocation and compliance platform for USA sports betting and iGaming is an honor for SCCG Management,” added Stephen Crystal, Esq., Founder of SCCG Management. “We pride ourselves in bringing “best in class” technology to the USA gaming industry!”

For more details on Xpoint, please go to xpoint.tech and follow Xpoint on social media via LinkedIn.

About Xpoint Service LLC

Xpoint provides essential geolocation security solutions and sales and marketing opportunities to the global sports betting and iGaming industries. The innovative Xpoint platform ensures Xpoint’s partners meet their regulatory geo-compliance obligations, and delivers enhanced value to its partners by through the generation of data that can drive marketing programs. Founded in 2019, with U.S. offices in Miami, Florida, and led by Xpoint’s CEO and Co-Founder Marvin Sanderson – a global sports betting and iGaming industry leader – Xpoint is changing the global geolocation market, bringing innovation to an industry that has, to date, viewed geo-compliance as utility, not a new business opportunity. Find out more about Xpoint by going to xpoint.tech and follow Xpoint on LinkedIn. #Xpoint.

About SCCG Management

XPOINT MEDIA CONTACTS
Tom Webb
E: tom@redknotcomms.com
T: (+1) 512 952 9369
Camilla Wright
E: camilla@redknotcomms.com
T: (+44) 7968 166 031

SCCG MANAGEMENT MEDIA CONTACT
Stephen A. Crystal, CEO, SCCG Management
E: Stephen.Crystal@SCCGManagement.com
T: +1 (702) 427 – 9354
Stephen A. Crystal
SCCG Management
+1 702-427-9354

SCCG and Northwoods League Announce Partnership to Promote Organized Baseball within the Casino Gaming Industry

SCCG Management Founder and CEO, Stephen Crystal announced today that it has partnered with the Northwoods League to promote its organized baseball organization within the casino gaming industry.

The new baseball league, the Northwoods League, was born in 1994, beginning with affiliates in Kenosha, Wausau and Manitowoc, Wisconsin; Dubuque, Iowa and Rochester, Minnesota. This League was made up of “All-Star” teams of college players who competed in a 56-game schedule between June and August. At the end of the first season, approximately 70,000 fans attended Northwoods League games and the Rochester Honkers had claimed the first League title with a 31-15 overall record.

Twenty-six years later, in 2020, the Northwoods League drew more fans than any baseball League, at any level, in North America. This incomprehensible fact summed up the sports scene in a year the American public was ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic. Innovatively leading the sports industry, the Northwoods League managed Federal, State and Local health regulations to play 498 games by 22 teams in six States and 15 Upper Midwest cities, drawing 214,584 fans.

Crystal said of the announcement, “As a firm, we are committed to the promotion of a broader slate of sports entertainment choices within the casino gaming industry. Bringing attention to these highly engaging sports presents a more comprehensive picture of sports in the US. They represent broader content propositions to the gaming industry as sports wagering opportunities, expanding available markets for bettors.”

“As we venture further into this space we were looking for a partner that could help us navigate the complex and ever-changing gaming world,” said Matt Bomberg, Northwoods League Great Lakes Division President. “It became evident very quickly that Stephen and his impressive team at SCCG were the correct group for us.”

About The Northwoods League

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 265 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (LAD), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove finalist and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.

About SCCG Management

SCCG specializes in investment in and developing worldwide brands, representation before governmental agencies for complex regulatory matters, intellectual property, and strategic business development within international, land-based casinos, internet gambling, gaming, esports, and entertainment markets.

Contact:
Stephen A. Crystal
SCCG Management
+1 702-427-9354
stephen.crystal@sccgmanagement.com
Visit us on social media: LinkedIn

Source: https://sccgmanagement.com/sccg-news/2021/8/25/sccg-management
Plato Data Intelligence – https://platoaistream.net/sccg-management-and-northwoods-partner-to-promote-its-baseball-league-within-the-gaming-industry/

NextPlay Technologies Enters into Agreement to Acquire Crypto Technology from Token IQ to Enhance Fintech and ICO Portal Offerings

NextPlay Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTP), a digital business ecosystem for digital advertisers, consumers, video gamers and travelers, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of the assets of Token IQ, a leading innovator in digital asset management with its smart compliant token technology. Token IQ has many unique capabilities, but its greatest attributes are its ability to afford cryptocurrency owners a solution to replace their assets should they lose access to, or control of, their assets and its handling of “Know Your Customer” (KYC) issues — solving many key regulatory requirements. NextPlay will not only look to license the IP, but also plans to integrate the service into its wholly owned Bank — NextBank International to better serve its cryptocurrency customers.

Mark Vange, CTO of NextPlay and founder and CEO of Token IQ, stated, “Token IQ was built upon the early recognition that many digital assets may in the future be treated as securities. I’m excited that we can now make Token IQ part of NextPlay, given the many synergies that have developed around digital asset management across NextPlay’s ecosystem.”

One of the primary issues associated with crypto investing is the existential custody risk associated with the loss of passwords or wallet seeds, resulting in the inability to access assets. A critical function of Token IQ is the ability to allow issuers to manage this risk across public distributed ledgers — a key solution needed by any cryptocurrency owner, and a technology that we anticipate will become a cornerstone for all of our NextBank and Longroot coin offerings. This patent-pending technology also allows issuers to control the flow of tokens. The Token IQ technology can be invaluable in the enforcement of “Know Your Customer” (KYC) and other regulatory requirements which is a sensitive area that regulators around the world are increasingly focused on. The platform also supports vesting, lockups and asset freezing, which can enhance market making and liquidity while also reducing risks around custodianship, inheritance, and other legal circumstances related to proper asset disposition. We plan to pursue patents for this proprietary technology in key markets around the world.

The Token IQ foundational IP is designed to reconcile legal and regulatory requirements around digital assets, including KYC, Anti-money laundering (AML) and shareholder rights enforcement, all common pain points within the crypto markets today. It has been designed to do so across a distributed ledger, including Ethereum and Stellar.

According to NextPlay co-Chairman, J. Todd Bonner: “We see Token IQ technology becoming core to all our fintech-related activities, from Longroot’s cryptocurrency portal and HotPlay’s in-game tokens, to powering our NextBank fintech and planned NextTrip medical tourism offerings. We also expect the Token IQ acquisition to bring valuable technology and software development talent which is expected to support rapid integration with our platform and those of our partners, as well as further IP development.”

To learn more about Token IQ, visit tokeniq.io.

The acquisition of Token IQ is subject to certain closing conditions, including the approval of NextPlay’s shareholders. Future details of the acquisition can be found in NextPlay’s Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov or the investor relations section at NextPlayTechnologies.com.

About NextPlay Technologies

NextPlay Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTP) is a technology solutions company offering games, in-game advertising, crypto-banking, connected TV and travel booking services to consumers and corporations within a growing worldwide digital ecosystem. NextPlay’s engaging products and services utilize innovative AdTech, Artificial Intelligence and Fintech solutions to leverage the strengths and channels of our existing and acquired technologies. For more information about NextPlay Technologies, visit nextplaytechnologies.com and follow us on Twitter @NextPlayTech and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and within the safe harbor provided by the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations, opinions, beliefs or forecasts of future events and performance. A statement identified by the use of forward-looking words including “will,” “may,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimate,” “should,” and certain of the other foregoing statements may be deemed forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future activities and results to be materially different from those suggested or described in this news release. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks and uncertainties related to our need for additional capital which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, which raises questions about our ability to continue as a going concern; the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and is expected to continue to have, a significant material adverse impact on the travel industry and our business, operating results and liquidity; amounts owed to us by third parties which may not be paid timely, if at all; certain amounts we owe under outstanding indebtedness which are secured by substantially all of our assets and penalties we may incur in connection therewith; the fact that we have significant indebtedness, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition; uncertainty and illiquidity in credit and capital markets which may impair our ability to obtain credit and financing on acceptable terms and may adversely affect the financial strength of our business partners; our ability to close, timely, or at all, the acquisitions of certain intellectual property assets from Fighter Base and Token IQ, as previously disclosed; that the officers and directors of the Company have the ability to exercise significant influence and voting control over the Company; stockholders may be diluted significantly through our efforts to obtain financing, satisfy obligations and complete acquisitions through the issuance of additional shares of our common or preferred stock; if we are unable to adapt to changes in technology, our business could be harmed; our travel business depends substantially on property owners and managers renewing their listings; if we do not adequately protect our intellectual property, our ability to compete could be impaired; our long-term success depends, in part, on our ability to expand our property owner, manager and traveler bases outside of the United States and, as a result, our business is susceptible to risks associated with international operations; unfavorable changes in, or interpretations of, government regulations or taxation of the evolving ALR, Internet and e-commerce industries which could harm our operating results; risks associated with the operations of, the business of, and the regulation of our recent acquisitions of Longroot Holding (Thailand) Company Limited (Longroot), HotPlay Enterprise Limited (HotPlay) and NextBank International (formerly IFEB); the market in which we participate being highly competitive, and because of that we may be unable to compete successfully with our current or future competitors; our potential inability to adapt to changes in technology, which could harm our business; the volatility of our stock price; risks associated with the integration of the operations of HotPlay, Longroot and IFEB, which acquisitions we recently competed; the fact that we may be subject to liability for the activities of our property owners and managers, which could harm our reputation and increase our operating costs; and that we have incurred significant losses to date and require additional capital which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by NextPlay are detailed from time to time in NextPlay’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, under the headings “Risk Factors”. These reports are available at www.sec.gov. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Company’s future results and/or could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company takes no obligation to update or correct its own forward-looking statements, except as required by law, or those prepared by third parties that are not paid for by the Company. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: NextPlay Technologies, Inc

Company Contact:
NextPlay Technologies
Richard Marshall
Director of Corporate Development
Tel (954) 888-9779
Richard.Marshall@NextPlayTechnologies.com

Kingsoft Announces 2021 Interim and Second Quarter Results

Kingsoft Office Group to Pursue “Multi-screen, Cloud, Content, AI and Collaboration” Strategy
Online Games Business to Focus on Premium Game Strategy

Kingsoft Corporation Limited (Kingsoft or the Company; HKG:3888), a leading Chinese software and Internet service company, has announced its unaudited 2021 interim results and its second-quarter results for the period ended 30 June 2021.

For the first half of 2021, the revenue of Kingsoft increased 17% year-on-year to RMB3,039.1 million. Revenue from office software and services business increased 70% year-on-year to RMB1,557.2 million. Revenue from office software and services and online games and others represented 51% and 49%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue for the first half of 2021. Gross profit for the first half of 2021 increased 16% year-on-year to RMB2,523.7 million, while operating profit amounted to RMB741.9 million.

For the second quarter of 2021, the Company’s revenue increased 4% year-on-year to RMB1,479.5 million. Revenue from office software and services business increased 47% year-on-year to RMB786.2 million. Revenue from office software and services and online games and others represented 53% and 47%, respectively, of the Company’s total revenue for the second quarter of 2021. Gross profit for the second quarter of 2021 remained flat year-on-year and amounted to RMB1,207.9 million, while operating profit amounted to RMB229.8 million.

Mr. Jun LEI, Chairman of Kingsoft, commented, “We maintained a steady performance in all businesses in the first half of 2021. Kingsoft Office Group seized the opportunity for digital transformation and will continue to pursue the strategy of “multi-screen, cloud, content, AI and collaboration”. In the online games business, we continued to focus our strategy on premium games, increase our investment in R&D and continuously expand new game genres.”

Mr. Tao ZOU, Chief Executive Officer of Kingsoft, added, “In the first half of 2021, revenue of the Company continued to grow steadily. Our total revenue came in at RMB3,039.1 million, up 17% year-on-year. Our office software and services business recorded a strong growth of 70% and 47% year-on-year, respectively, for the first half and second quarter of 2021. Our total revenue in the second quarter was RMB1,479.5 million, up 4% year-on-year.”

BUSINESS REVIEW
Office Software and Services
For the first half of 2021, revenue from office software and services business increased 70% year-on-year to RMB1,557.2 million. Revenue in the second quarter increased 47% year-on-year to RMB786.2 million. The rapid revenue increase was largely due to robust growth from licensing business and sustainable growth from subscription services business of Kingsoft Office Group. The revenue growth of licensing business was driven primarily by increasing demand for localization, as well as cloud and collaboration services from government and enterprises. The increase of subscription services business was mainly due to growing demand for cloud and collaboration services and enhancement of user stickiness from personal users.

In the second quarter of 2021. As the localization project has entered a mature period and customer demand increased significantly, we continued to witness a strong revenue growth from the localization project during this quarter. With the enhanced collaboration between the subsidiary, Beijing Suwell Technology Co., Ltd., and Kingsoft Office Group, the fixed-layout document format standards have been increasingly adopted by the market, thus further optimizing the localization business ecosystem. Our cloud and collaboration office solutions effectively promoted the cloud office migration and penetration in the government and enterprise market and it brought us strong year-on-year revenue growth for the sustainable licensing business. Kingsoft Office Group has also continued to develop the micro, small and medium-sized enterprise market. As of 30 June 2021, over 1 million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises covering 19 industries are registered users of WPS+. Kingsoft Office Group organized the 2021 Office Application Developer Conference in July and launched Document Open Platform, our first product enabling global office application developers to facilitate a digital office as well as digital transformation in the government and enterprise market in China.

Meanwhile, Kingsoft Office Group has continued to optimize the user experience, and improve its customer loyalty through the application of cloud and collaboration services. We continued to enhance the penetration within the public cloud market and promote the growth of the office subscription business. During the quarter, Kingsoft Office Group launched various new functions for the WPS membership services and further optimized the user experience. In April, Kingsoft Office Group organized a content ecosystem conference in Wuhan and strived to promote the transformation of our core WPS products from office tools to office services.

In the first half of 2021, Kingsoft Office Group began the transformation of internet advertising business. We took the initiative to further adjust the advertising strategy to reduce interruptions from advertisements to users and enhance users’ cross-platform collaboration experience. During the second quarter of 2021, the internet advertising and promotion services business maintained a steady year-on-year growth with the increase in user base, while its proportion in office software and services business revenue continued to decline.

Online Games and others
Revenue from the online games and others business for the first half of 2021 amounted to RMB1,481.9 million and revenue for the second quarter of 2021 amounted to RMB693.3 million. In the second quarter, the online games business continued to enhance the core IP value of the JX series and to expand the development of new game genres. In April, the JX I: Gui Lai mobile game was successfully released in Vietnam. Among all Role Playing Games (RPG) games, the JX I: Gui Lai mobile game ranked first on both iOS and Android download charts in the first month of its debut. In May, the First-Person Shooting (FPS) game Bullet Angel was first released in Southeast Asia and got recommended by Google Play. In June, we released War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, the latest game of the Final Fantasy Brave Exvius series developed by SQUARE ENIX, was released in China and it was also recommended by Apple Store.

In the coming quarters, the online games business will continue to focus on the long-term development of our classic IPs and to promote the launch of new games at the same time. We will celebrate the 12th anniversary of our flagship JX Online III Revamped PC game and launch a new expansion pack to further strengthen the longevity and vitality of our core IP. In addition, the JX World III mobile game will be launched within this year with a comprehensive upgrade in its visual design and gameplay.

Mr. Jun LEI concluded, “In the first half of 2021, we achieved a stable performance of our core businesses. Looking forward, we will continue to increase our investment in R&D, promote technological innovation, enhance technological capabilities, and develop new products and services. We will strive to bring the best experience to our users and customers and are committed to the sustainable growth of our business, bringing long-term value and returns to our shareholders and achieve a win-win situation for our partners.”

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 two subsidiaries including Kingsoft Office and Seasun. Following the implementation of its “mobile internet transformation” strategy, Kingsoft has completed the comprehensive transformation of its overall businesses and management models and formed a strategic platform with interactive entertainment and office software as the pillars and cloud services and AI as the new directions. The Company has more than 6,000 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 Hill+Knowlton Strategies Asia:
Ovina Zhu Tel: (852) 2894 6315 Email: kingsoft@hkstrategies.com

NextPlay Technologies Enters into Agreement to Acquire AI-Powered Video Game Development Technology from Fighter Base Publishing, Inc.

NextPlay Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTP), a digital business ecosystem for digital advertisers, consumers, video gamers and travelers, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire from Fighter Base Publishing, Inc.

(FBP), the assets and AI-powered video game development platform of FBP’s wholly-owned division, Make It Games(TM).

Make It Games (MIG) enables developers to create video games powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Its technology supports the training of virtual characters to be more lifelike in appearance and behavior. Proprietary AI animation tools help program game or film characters to fully animate themselves, saving as much as 70 percent of the typical time and cost of animation.

Fighter Base Publishing was founded by Mark Vange, NextPlay’s recently appointed chief technology officer. Formerly a chief technology officer at Electronic Arts, Vange has authored over 41 granted patents in the US for innovative technologies that have defined the industry. This acquisition by NextPlay will include pending patents that cover Make it Games’ proprietary AI game development technology.

Tony Harman, Make It Games president, is also expected to join the NextPlay technology team. He had previously helped lead Nintendo America and has numerous game credits that include Donkey Kong Country and Grand Theft Auto.

“We see our AI technology enabling NextPlay to power everything from rapid game and ad creation to advertising optimization, travel recommendation and richer virtual experiences,” said Mr. Harman, “This can mean faster product time-to-market along with higher-margin digital asset monetization and product sales across the NextPlay digital ecosystem. We also believe that licensing the technology to other game and film studios, ad agencies and other content creators could become a significant revenue driver for NextPlay.”

NextPlay co-CEO Nithinan ‘Jessie’ Boonyawattanapisut, commented, “We believe that the addition of Make It Games technology and its leadership will help accelerate our global initiatives and transform NextPlay into a powerhouse in online advertising, interactive digital media, gaming, fintech and travel, and serve as a bridge for us to expand into the metaverse. They are expected to greatly augment our growing global technology group that is focused on developing and implementing innovative consumer-engaging assets across multiple media channels.”

Additional details of the acquisition can be found in NextPlay’s Current Report on Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is available at sec.gov or the investor relations section at NextPlayTechnologies.com.

About NextPlay Technologies
NextPlay Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTP) is a technology solutions company offering gaming, in-game advertising, crypto-banking, connected TV and travel booking services to consumers and corporations within a growing worldwide digital ecosystem. NextPlay’s engaging products and services utilize innovative AdTech, Artificial Intelligence and Fintech solutions to leverage the strengths and channels of our existing and acquired technologies. For more information about NextPlay Technologies, visit NextPlayTechnologies.com. Follow us on Twitter @NextPlayTech and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and within the safe harbor provided by the Safe Harbor Provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations, opinions, beliefs or forecasts of future events and performance. A statement identified by the use of forward-looking words including “will,” “may,” “expects,” “projects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimate,” “should,” and certain of the other foregoing statements may be deemed forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual future activities and results to be materially different from those suggested or described in this news release. Factors that may cause such a difference include risks and uncertainties related to our need for additional capital which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all, which raises questions about our ability to continue as a going concern; the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had, and is expected to continue to have, a significant material adverse impact on the travel industry and our business, operating results and liquidity; amounts owed to us by third parties which may not be paid timely, if at all; certain amounts we owe under outstanding indebtedness which are secured by substantially all of our assets and penalties we may incur in connection therewith; the fact that we have significant indebtedness, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition; uncertainty and illiquidity in credit and capital markets which may impair our ability to obtain credit and financing on acceptable terms and may adversely affect the financial strength of our business partners; the officers and directors of the Company have the ability to exercise significant influence and voting control over the Company; stockholders may be diluted significantly through our efforts to obtain financing, satisfy obligations and complete acquisitions through the issuance of additional shares of our common or preferred stock; if we are unable to adapt to changes in technology, our business could be harmed; our travel business depends substantially on property owners and managers renewing their listings; if we do not adequately protect our intellectual property, our ability to compete could be impaired; our long-term success depends, in part, on our ability to expand our property owner, manager and traveler bases outside of the United States and, as a result, our business is susceptible to risks associated with international operations; unfavorable changes in, or interpretations of, government regulations or taxation of the evolving ALR, Internet and e-commerce industries which could harm our operating results; risks associated with the operations of, the business of, and the regulation of our recent acquisitions of Longroot Holding (Thailand) Company Limited (Longroot), HotPlay Enterprise Limited (HotPlay) and NextBank International (formerly IFEB); the market in which we participate being highly competitive, and because of that we may be unable to compete successfully with our current or future competitors; our potential inability to adapt to changes in technology, which could harm our business; the volatility of our stock price; risks associated with the integration of the operations of HotPlay, Longroot and IFEB, which acquisitions we recently competed; the fact that we may be subject to liability for the activities of our property owners and managers, which could harm our reputation and increase our operating costs; and that we have incurred significant losses to date and require additional capital which may not be available on commercially acceptable terms, if at all. More information about the risks and uncertainties faced by NextPlay are detailed from time to time in NextPlay’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, under the headings “Risk Factors”. These reports are available at www.sec.gov. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on the Company’s future results and/or could cause our actual results and financial condition to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. The Company takes no obligation to update or correct its own forward-looking statements, except as required by law, or those prepared by third parties that are not paid for by the Company. If we update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

SOURCE: NextPlay Technologies, Inc
Company Contact:
NextPlay Technologies, Inc.
Richard Marshall
Director of Corporate Development
Tel (954) 888-9779
richard.marshall@nextplaytechnologies.com

Gaming platform Zupee closes Series B at over $500 Million valuation

Zupee, a leading innovator in India’s online skill-based gaming industry, has announced that it has raised $30 million at a pre-money valuation of $500 million in Series B funding round. This round of funding has been co-led by Silicon Valley based WestCap Group and Tomales Bay Capital, with participation from Matrix Partners India & Orios Venture Partners.

This round comes within 6 months after its Series A round at a $100 million valuation, which is more than 5x increase in the company’s valuation. With total funds raised now at $49 million, Zupee is backed by some of the best in the industry – WestCap Group, Matrix Partners India, Smile Group and Orios Partners. The company has an existing user base of over 10 million users. This new round of funding will be used to enable scaling efforts through expanded product portfolio, deepening market reach and hiring global talent.

Founded in 2018 by graduates of India’s leading institution IIT Kanpur, Dilsher Singh and Siddhant Saurabh, and incubated with funding from Smile Group, Zupee innovates by reengineering time-tested games and enabling them to enhance skill, joy and hope. The company’s portfolio has innovative gaming formats of multiple popular board games. The flagship gaming app hosts live trivia quiz tournaments and has seen over 250 million gameplays.

Dilsher Singh, Founder and CEO, Zupee said, “Games inherently celebrate the journey and nurture self-expression. That’s what I am committed to building with Zupee – an organization which enables people anywhere in the world to enhance their intrinsic happiness through games. We innovate to ensure our games provide an intersection between skill and entertainment, enabling our users to earn while they play. We thank our investors for believing in our purpose and enabling us to progress on our journey to transforming it to reality. Our journey has just begun; 10 million happy users in India, billions more globally we want to touch through our innovative games.”

“WestCap remains a key strategic investor and operating advisor to Zupee and we are increasing our interest again as part of this most recent funding round,” commented Laurence A. Tosi, Founder and Managing Partner of WestCap and early investor in Zupee. “Dilsher and his world class team have innovated some of the most compelling and widely used mobile games of skill in India. The enduring appeal of the Zupee games brings engagement, enjoyment and empowerment to the widest audience of any gaming platform in the market. This funding will enable the Zupee team to invest further in innovation, expand its suite of games and aggressively pursue international expansion. Zupee has exponentially accelerated its growth over the last 12 months, making them one of the largest and fastest growing game companies globally.”

According to industry reports, the global online gaming industry is estimated to grow from $98 billion in 2020 to $272 billion in 2030. In 2020, the industry saw over 53 billion mobile gaming downloads worldwide, of which 17% came from India. By the end of this year itself, there will be 2.9 billion players worldwide.

About Zupee

Zupee is an online skill-based gaming platform startup based in India that is focused on innovating and creating games that engage, entertain and empower users.
More information about the company and its founder is available at https://www.zupee.global/

For further information, please contact:
Vikas Kumar – 9811054648; vikas.kumar@zupee.in
Himani Rautela – 9711306576; himani.rautela@zupee.in