Video Game Stock Roundup: E3 in Focus - Analyst Blog

This week, the focus shifts to the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) scheduled to be held at Los Angeles from Jun 10 to Jun 12. Video game developers and publishers like Electronic Arts EA, Activision Blizzard ATVI, Sony SNE and Microsoft MSFT are expected to reveal a number of new games at the world's biggest video game show.

Avid gamers will be keenly watching out for EA's next installment of the Battlefield franchise, Battlefield Hardline, Activision's Destiny, Microsoft's Halo 5 and Sony's Uncharted 4. Apart from these, Take Two Interactive's TTWO Borderland Pre-sequel and Assassin's Creed: Unity from Ubisoft is also expected to fascinate hard-core gamers.

Apart from reducing Xbox One price, Microsoft is expected to focus on developing new intellectual properties as well as aggressively promote publishing project ID@Xbox at the E3. This will help the company to more effectively combat Sony and Nintendo in both the hardware and software segments.

Sony is rumored to showcase the Project Morpheus virtual reality headset at E3, which is expected to generate significant attention post Facebook's FB acquisition of Oculus VR. Nintendo is expected to reveal further details about a new Zelda game for the Wii U. The company is also set to showcase new figurine program at E3, much similar to Activision's Skylanders and Disney's Infinity.

Video Game Market - Top Stories Now

Sony recently announced that it will stop selling PlayStation portable in Japan from this month. The company said that users who want to upgrade to PS Vita will get a $30-$40 discount. The company also recently entered into a partnership with the government-run Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group to make and sell PlayStation consoles and software in China.

Nintendo and Mercedes-Benz recently announced an advertising partnership. Per the agreement, Mario, in an upcoming downloadable content (DLC) pack for the recently released Mario Kart 8, will use a posh Mercedes GLA SUV instead of the go-kart. The DLC will be launched in Japan later this year.

Reportedly, EA has settled with student-athletes who claimed that the video game maker illegally used their likenesses in NCAA Football, Basketball, and March Madness games. The settlement is pending for approval from the U.S. District Court for Northern California.

Warner Bros. Interactive recently announced that the new Batman: Arkham Knight game will be released in 2015 instead of an earlier announced Oct 2014 date. The game joins Sony's The Order: 1886 and Ubisoft's The Division, which have also been delayed till 2015.

Game News

• King Digital KING launched Bubble Witch Saga 2 on Jun 4.
• Activision launched Call of Duty: Ghosts - Invasion DLC pack for Xbox 360 and Xbox One on Jun 3.
• Bungie launched alpha version of Destiny for its employees, E3 attendees will be able to play the competitive multiplayer game.
• EA announced that the new Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare will be launched on PS4 and PS3 on Aug 19.
• EA division Visceral Games announced that Battlefield Hardline will be launched this fall (official world premiere Jun 9).
• Nintendo launched go-kart racing game Mario Kart 8 for Wii U on May 30.
• EA launched free-to-play EA SPORTS FIFA Ultimate Team: FIFA World Cup on May 29.

Performance

Over the last 5 days, Activision was the leading stock as it added about 1.17%. The biggest loser was Zynga ZNGA, as the social gaming company lost over 5.76%. EA has been the biggest gainer in the last 6 months, with Activision a distant second.

EA's strong game portfolio for next-generation consoles has been the primary growth factor for the stock. However, Zynga continued to lose during the period, primarily on intensifying competition from the likes of King Digital and less-than-impressive product pipeline.

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