Gaming

KINETIX LAUNCHES EMOTES TECH FOR VIDEO GAMES AND VIRTUAL WORLDS

Published

1 month ago

February 9, 2023

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Kinetix, the AI startup powering emotes in video games and virtual worlds, launches pioneering infrastructure to enable the world’s first emotes for any avatar-driven game. Through a new SDK, games made with Unity development tools can now easily improve their monetization by integrating a vast library of high-quality emotes, and boost user experience by giving players genuine opportunities for self-expression.

Emotes are animations that express emotion in video games and virtual worlds like dances, celebrations and gestures. Rocketed into the mainstream by games like Fortnite, they’ve been used by MMOs and metaverses such as World of Warcraft and Second Life for over two decades. Powered by significant advancements in AI, emotes are fast becoming a must-have feature for people who want to express themselves in video games and virtual metaverse worlds.

Until now, creating emotes has been an expensive and time-consuming process involving trained 3D experts, and specialist software and hardware. With the free Kinetix SDK and its ready-made, fully customizable emote wheel, developers of any avatar-based Unity game can quickly integrate and unlock a vibrant and constantly growing library of emotes for players to explore and enjoy. Uniquely, users can even create their own user-generated emotes for use in-game. Unlike avatars and in-world assets like buildings, animations can fit smoothly and seamlessly into various visually contrasting environments; from the hyper-realistic to voxel styles, and everything in between.

Yassine Tahi, CEO and Co-founder of Kinetix, commented: “As lifelong gamers, we’ve been using emotes for years, without even knowing it. The lightbulb moment came when Fortnite memefied its game with emotes and introduced skins from famous IP, turning emotes into an essential conduit for users’ self-expression, and a new revenue generator for publishers. Kinetix is driving a quantum leap forward with emotes that can be utilized in any Unity game, which encompass not only valuable IP or brand-linked emotes, but also those user-generated via our easy to use no-code tools. We can’t wait to see how developers use our emotes to boost immersion, retention and revenue while giving their players richer, more human ways to express themselves in-game.”

Samir Agili, Chairman of the Board Tilting Point, commented: “User-generated content and generative AI are poised to disrupt the way we all make and experience video games. With their emotes, Kinetix is meeting massive demand for tools that help users interact and express themselves in more authentic and diverse ways. This new SDK offers a way for game developers to take part in these key trends during what looks like a seminal time for gaming, and I expect it to deliver immediate and measurable value.”

The Kinetix generative AI-powered platform and no-code editing tools empowers users, creators, video game makers, metaverse platforms, and brands to create and edit animated 3D avatar content in seconds, creating a treasure trove of emote content. In December 2022, it announced the launch of ‘Emote NFTs’, with emotes that users can create, promote and monetize for a favorable 95% revenue share.

In 2022, Kinetix raised $11 million in seed funding in a round led by Adam Ghobarah, founder of Top Harvest Capital, with participation from Sparkle Ventures, and multiple virtual world platforms and successful entrepreneurs. Kinetix already has established partnerships with leading and emerging virtual worlds including Roblox, The Sandbox, ZEPETO, Decentraland, and PolyLand.

Developing an avatar-based 3D game or virtual world? Register as a beta tester for the Kinetix emote SDK.

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eSports

Following Acquisition of an eSports Team & Event Venue Leading Digital Gaming Incubator is using Extensive Community to Educate & Nurture Grassroots Players in eSports Career Opportunities

Published

5 hours ago

March 23, 2023

George Miller

Following Acquisition of an eSports Team & Event Venue Leading Digital Gaming Incubator is using Extensive Community to Educate & Nurture Grassroots Players in eSports Career Opportunities

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Ludus, a market-leading digital gaming incubator recently announced a series of acquisitions including eSports team LDN UTD and the first of a series of gaming venues, Ludus Magnus. The rapidly expanding platform is preparing to launch an education programme to educate young people on the opportunities and careers available in eSports as many universities are exploring offering courses in this space.

As one of the fastest-growing industries in the world esports is a complex ecosystem which has proved difficult to navigate for traditional brands, but many see the huge opportunities as leading players in the sector often earn millions each year. However, many organisations have struggled to focus on this particular vertical causing them to lose market share in other areas. The industry is often overlooked and is certainly not seen as a career opportunity in the majority of countries, but many universities and colleges around the world are now considering courses in eSports as the industry becomes more established.

Through continued growth and acquisition, Ludus has consolidated the core verticals within the eSports arena giving the platform the unique opportunity to operate as a single structure. The platform’s primary goal is to bridge the gap between digital and physical gaming and increase accessibility in digital gaming, including extensive education and training courses to develop grassroots talent.

Ludus will continue to invest, operate and deliver gaming solutions from gaming production and development and will also focus on running eSports teams, managing leading gaming venues and educating young players. The team is looking to continue their growth in eSports and is in discussion to acquire other eSports teams. Ludus Magnus is the first of many locations that the incubator plans to launch, and it will offer gamers a safe space to get involved in community gaming.

The firm is built on community and transparency and unlike other gaming platforms, Ludus now offers digital and physical solutions allowing members to maximise their gaming potential and become part of a trusted community of individuals with similar interests.

Daniel Gee, CEO of Ludus, commented, “The team at Ludus are proud to be able to help nurture and educate grassroots players in the opportunities and careers available in eSports. The industry is one of the fastest growing globally and is often overlooked and misunderstood in many countries. It is encouraging to see so many universities are considering launching courses in this space and we are already in discussions with some of them about these courses.

We want to offer gamers digital and physical communities to meet and play for enjoyment whilst making a fair return on their earnings. The social good that platforms are bringing to the gaming world is what is really making them stand out and we want to be at the forefront of this industry.”

eSports

DreamHack Announces Massive Return of “DreamHack Open Feat. Fortnite” With $750,000 Zero Build Circuit Stretching Three DreamHack Festivals– Qualifying Duos To Gamers8 Feat. Fortnite With A $2,000,000 Prize Pool

Published

14 hours ago

March 23, 2023

Hunor Pal

Reading Time: < 1 minute

DreamHack, an international gaming and entertainment festival put on by ESL FACEIT Group, today announced the return of the popular DreamHack Open Featuring Fortnite tournament series. DreamHack San Diego (April 7-9), DreamHack Dallas (June 2-4) and DreamHack Summer (June 16-19) will all feature a $250,000 DreamHack Open Featuring Fortnite Zero Build Duos competition, with the winner of each stop bringing home $30,000 of the pot. The competitions are open to BYOC (LAN) ticket holders and will qualify the top ten Duos from each DreamHack Open tournament to this year’s Gamers8 Featuring Fortnite event.

With the return of Gamers8 Featuring Fortnite, held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 6-9, 50 Duos compete for the $2,000,000 prize pool for the final Zero Build tournament in Riyadh this summer. Next to the 30 teams coming from DreamHack Open events we will see the best Duos from the MENA region and some of the world’s largest Fortnite influencers participating. More details will be announced at a later point.

“We had an incredible experience hosting the DreamHack Open Featuring Fortnite both online and in-person events in the past. Thus, we are very excited to announce another year of Fortnite events for our community, especially now that the focus is on Zero Build and teams have a chance to qualify for a massive Gamers8 event” said Brian Krämer, Sr. Director Game Ecosystems – Growth Titles. “To strengthen our connection and involvement in the Fortnite competitive ecosystem is a tremendous opportunity and one that fits perfectly with DreamHack’s focus on bringing the gaming community to life.”

Find out more about DreamHack Open Featuring Fortnite at its official website and on the festival website for DreamHack San Diego, and follow DreamHack on Twitter to get the latest updates. The latest updates on Gamers8 can be found on the official website, on Twitter, and Facebook.

Gaming

BLAST teams up with Fortnite for third year and will operate the entire 2023 Fortnite Champion Series

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2023

George Miller

BLAST teams up with Fortnite for third year and will operate the entire 2023 Fortnite Champion Series

Reading Time: 2 minutes

BLAST has teamed up for a third consecutive year with Fortnite, and this year will produce and deliver the entire 2023 Fortnite Champion Series (FNCS) with a combined prize pool of $10 million on the line.

As part of the collaboration, BLAST will work with the Competitive Fortnite team to deliver three Majors and bring FNCS to an epic conclusion for the year when the Global Championship takes place in-person from Copenhagen, Denmark in late 2023 with an eye-watering $4 million on the line.

The new FNCS format consists of three Majors played across February and March (Major One), April and May (Major Two) and July and August (Major Three). All three Majors will see the European and North American regions produced and broadcasted from BLAST’s Copenhagen studios with broadcast talent on-site and players playing remotely.

The announcement strengthens and deepens the esports entertainment company’s relationship with Competitive Fortnite, after having delivered the entire 2022 FNCS schedule and the long-awaited return to Fortnite in-person events in Raleigh, North Carolina last November for the FNCS Invitational.

BLAST first teamed up with Fortnite in 2021, when delivering the FNCS All-Star Showdown and FNCS Grand Royale events.

Leo Matlock, MD of Development at BLAST, said: “Extending and expanding the BLAST and Competitive Fortnite partnership into a third year is testament to the brilliant progress that has been made with FNCS over the last few years. We are really proud of the journey we’ve been on with the Competitive Fortnite team and how we have been able to support them in elevating the FNCS fan experience by focusing on player-led storylines and fan-first production techniques. 2023 is turning out to be another thrilling year, Major One has already been completed from the BLAST Copenhagen studios and we’re excited to deliver the remaining three FNCS events with a combined prize pool of $8 million on the line.

“We look forward to building on last year’s unforgettable return to Fortnite in-person events for the FNCS Invitational in Raleigh, North Carolina by bringing the year-defining FNCS Global Championship to our hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark for fans and players to enjoy later this year.”