NextPlay Technologies Acquires Assets and IP of Casual Game Publisher, goGame, to Integrate its HotPlay In-Game Advertising Technology

SUNRISE, FL, Apr 20, 2022 – (ACN Newswire) – NextPlay Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTP), a technology solutions company building a digital business ecosystem for digital advertisers, consumers, video gamers and travelers, has completed its previously announced acquisition of gaming assets and IP from goGame, a Singapore-based mobile casual video game publisher and technology company.

The acquired assets include goPlay, a new-gen game publishing platform featuring a tournament system, chat, payment, and 37 casual games ranging from arcade to strategy. NextPlay plans to complete the integration of its HotPlay in-game advertising (IGA) technology into the 37 goPlay games by year-end.

NextPlay also acquired from goGame a perpetual license to goPay, a payment aggregator that offers game developers multiple ways to more easily collect and process user payments. This includes carrier billing, over the counter, e-voucher, bank transfer and e-wallet. The goPay technology further extends NextPlay's existing payment services, offering access to a wider array of global payment providers.

"The key value for us in this acquisition is how the goPlay platform enables gamers to form a community within its ecosystem," noted NextPlay co-chief executive Nithinan (Jessie) Boonyawattanapisut. "We see this providing a ready-made platform to launch our HotPlay IGA technology, with this leading to new revenue streams and expansion of our reach to users in many additional countries around the world."

As a fully owned brand, goPlay brings Nextplay:

– Web destination for players to gather and engage in social play across a catalogue of well-crafted, hyper casual games.
– Set of new technologies and APIs, such as social graph, chat, and game tournament backend services, for integration into the company's advertising and game services offering and delivered via its core game software development kit across web, set-top box, and mobile platforms.
– New revenue stream through goPay payments and ability to harness exciting new partnerships in key areas of NextPlay's broader market focus, such as NFT gaming and cryptocurrency.

goPlay and goPay offer a core set of compelling features that are perfect for a wide variety of platform partners who will be able to sign up under an Open Beta this summer. The goGame offerings will become part of the NextPlay suite of customizable products that can be tailored to fit the individual needs and capabilities of B2B and B2C operators across the globe.

NextPlay also plans to introduce goPlay game users to its NextFinancial fintech-oriented products, including crypto banking, micro-lending, and potential insurance services. Across each of these offerings, NextPlay would also have full access to goGame's payment processing gateway goPay.

For further details about the NextPlay's asset and IP purchase from goGame, please see the NextPlay Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov, and also available in the nextplaytechnologies.com investor relations section.

About goGame

Go Game Pte Ltd is a game company headquartered in Singapore, with offices in Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Founded in July 2015 by industry veteran David Ng, the company first made headlines for securing major investments from gaming giant SEGA and venture capitalist Incubate Fund Japan. The 200-strong team has collaborated on projects with SEGA, Disney, Colopl and Viacom. For more information, visit gogame.net

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 www.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; 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
rmarshall@monakergroup.com

Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Following CMGE’s Footprints through its 2021 Interim Financial Report

HONG KONG, Sep 8, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – 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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

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

LAS VEGAS, NV, Aug 31, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – 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

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. #SCCG

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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

iDreamSky Announces 2021 Interim Results

HONG KONG, Aug 31, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – iDreamSky Technology Holdings Limited ("iDreamSky", or the "Company", together with its subsidiaries, the "Group"; Stock Code: 1119.HK) is pleased to announce its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2021 ("the Reporting Period").

During the Reporting Period, since the Group has stepwise terminated games that were no longer in line with the strategy for its gaming business, revenue decreased by approximately 14.1% to RMB1,367.1 million. Furthermore, the Group enhanced its game development capabilities and strived to improve and perfect user service management, while increasing the investment in research and development ("R&D") of offline entertainment business. R&D expenses during the Reporting Period increased by 45.4% compared to the same period of previous year. The Group recorded a net loss of RMB68.0 million (1H2020: net profit of RMB147.9 million), and an adjusted net profit of RMB14.0 million (1H2020: RMB215.4 million). The Board of Directors did not recommend the distribution of interim dividend.

Mr. Chen Xiangyu, Chairman and Executive Director of iDreamSky Technology Holdings Limited, said, "We adhered to our mission and fundamental aspiration: bring joy to users through technology and creativity, and build a '24/7 online & offline entertainment life circle'. After years of operation, we have built a user ecosystem comprising a large monthly active users ("MAU") with long lifecycles, leveraging our core capabilities and advantages, and aided by the complementary nature of our three core businesses of games, SaaS and 'WePlay' offline entertainment. We have developed a three-dimensional, multi-layer, multi-frequency and long-term interaction mode between quality contents and users, while avoiding the low MAU valuation of a single leisure category. We are confident that our MAU value will continue to increase rapidly, creating sustainable value for shareholders."

Building a "24/7 online & offline entertainment life circle" with a three-track business model

Game and information services remained the Group's major source of income and accounted for 96.9% of total revenue. The Group continued to adjust and optimize the structure of gaming business during the Reporting Period, focusing on the independent R&D and operation of match-three puzzle games and competitive games and seeking for introducing suitable overseas mid and hardcore exquisite games into China. The match-three puzzle games of "Gardenscapes" and "Homescapes" series released and distributed by iDreamSky had a bucking rising in 2021 as compared with the same period of previous year. In April 2021, the Group granted the overseas release and distribution rights of the "Witch Diaries", the first generation II match-three puzzle game self developed by the Group, to Tencent. It is expected to be launched worldwide in 2022. "Super Animal Royale", the Group's self-developed competitive mobile game which was officially launched in May 2021, acquired 3.5 million users in only 3 months after its launch and has gained a good reputation among players. "Glory All Star", the Group's self-developed ARPG product, was officially launched at Android terminals in April 2021, with its monthly revenue demonstrating a rising trend. Its iOS version was launched on 27 August 2021. The Group started a national league for its first self-developed RTS game, "Art of War III", during the year. It successfully held three tournaments in Wuhan, Xi'an and Shanghai, and received good response from players. The esports event greatly stimulated the enthusiasm of players and continuously attracted player traffic, while creating a wide variety of product topics, videos, ideas and other contents, thus bringing various benefits for the game development. During the Reporting Period, as the Group has stepwise terminated games that did not align with the strategy of its gaming business, revenue generated from game and information services business decreased by 15.5% to RMB1,324.6 million. The Group continued to actively respond to the national and policy call, establishing and maintaining a safe online game environment for minors, meanwhile continuously strengthening the protection measures for them. During the Reporting Period, the Group's revenue from minors accounted for 0.18% of its game revenue.

For SaaS and other related services, capitalizing on its mid-platform technical support capabilities accumulated over the years and continous investment, the Group recorded a segment revenue of RMB30.7 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 36.4% and accounting for 2.2% of the Group's total revenue. In May 2021, the Group reached a strategic partnership with Huawei Cloud to serve the vertical customers in depth together. During the Reporting Period, the Group has served nearly 600 business customers in the gaming and e-commerce field, with paying customers accounting for more than 50%. Its products passed the test of mlilions of data, and the gross transaction value ("GTV") increased 7 times in three months, representing an exponential growth.

For "WePlay" offline entertainment business, the Group acquired another IP license from the QQfamily in March 2021. Therefore, "WePlay" now holds two thematic brands: "Tencent Video Great Moment Voyage" and "QQfamily". In May 2021, the Group opened five regular chain stores in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and the first QQfamily flagship store in China was opened in Shenzhen Happy Coast in July 2021. As of 30 August 2021, the Group has opened 10 "WePlay" regular chain stores, including 9 regular chain stores of Tencent Video Great Moment Voyage and 1 QQfamily flagship store. Thanks to the business model that meets the market demand, the high-quality content and IPs, and the support of customer resources, "WePlay" business has developed an obvious brand premium capacity, and become the latest pan-entertainment business modality that the shopping malls urgently need to drive the circulation of passenger flow and the growth of stay time. This has given the Group the rent bargaining power and resource access advantages to further improve the financial performance of individual stores. The Group recorded a segment revenue of RMB11.8 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 413.0%.

Actively deploying resources to embrace the sector's rapid growth

Looking forward, based on its core strategies, the Group has reserved three self-developed games in the pipeline. Testing for the two match-three puzzle games "National Customs Synthesis" and "Dumpling Synthesis" (tentative names) will begin within the year. In addition, "Garden Restaurant", the Group's jointly-released match-three puzzle game, is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of 2021. In addition, "Eternal Return", a competitive game jointly developed by the Group, has entered the approval process of domestic version number. The game is expected to be launched in 2022. The Group has signed an Exclusive Agency Agreement with Tencent on 30 August 2021 for its self-developed FPS game "CALABIYAU", authorizing Tencent to publish the mobile and client versions of the game in Mainland China. In addition, "Black Desert", a MMORPG mobile game jointly run by Tencent and iDreamSky, will be launched nationwide in due course.

As regards the SaaS segment, the Group will invest more resources to expand its customer base and user population. Meanwhile, the Group will continue to deeply explore user needs and take long-term user operation as its ultimate goal.

Due to the unpredictable impact of pandemic on the future, the Group will adjust the 2021 target of opening "WePlay" offline stores to 20 regular chain stores. It will focus on opening new stores in Guangzhou and Shenzhen and surrounding areas this year, and is formulating plans for national expansion. The Group will continue the development of designer toy IPs, and march into the middle and upper reaches of designer toy industry by leveraging its own and its shareholders' IP resources, in order to break through the close loop of designer toy production links.

Mr. Chen Xiangyu concluded, "Looking ahead, we are determined to continuously promote the rapid development of the three core businesses, and enhance core competitiveness in a multi-pronged approach, capturing the flourishing opportunities in the fast-growing industry, thus creating long-term and stable returns for shareholders and investors."

About iDreamSky Technology Holdings Limited
iDreamSky Technology Holdings Limited (Stock code: 1119.HK) is principally engaged in the research and development and operation of online and mobile games, provision of information services, development of SaaS and other related services and offline entertainment. The Group was listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018 and it is the constituent stock of the MSCI China All Shares Small Cap Index. Being a leading digital entertainment platform in China, iDreamSky is committed to bringing joy to users through technology and creativity, and creating a 24/7 online & offline entertainment life circle. The Group successfully launched popular global exquisite games including "Metro Parkour", "Temple Run 2", "Gardenscapes" and "Homescapes", whilst its self-developed games including "Global Operations" and "Super Animal Royale" being well received in the market. Currently, the Group has monthly active users of 138 million and an average revenue per user of RMB38.0.

For more details, please visit https://ir.idreamsky.com/.

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

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

LAS VEGAS, NV, Aug 27, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – 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/

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

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

SUNRISE, FL, Aug 25, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – via NewMediaWire – 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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

Kingsoft Announces 2021 Interim and Second Quarter Results

HONG KONG, Aug 24, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – Kingsoft Corporation Limited ("Kingsoft" or the "Company"; HKEx stock code: 03888), 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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

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

SUNRISE, FL, Aug 23, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – via NewMediaWire – 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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

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

New Delhi, India, Aug 17, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – 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.

Dilsher Singh

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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com

NextPlay’s HotPlay In-Game Advertising Platform Teams with Mediakeys to Accelerate Global Expansion

SUNRISE, FL, Aug 10, 2021 – (ACN Newswire) – via NewMediaWire – NextPlay Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTP), a digital business ecosystem for digital advertisers, consumers, video gamers and travelers, announced today its in-game advertising unit, HotPlay, has formed a strategic partnership with Mediakeys, an international media and advertising agency.

Since its founding in 1993, Mediakeys has become a global leader in digital and out-of-home (OOH) advertising with offices spanning 16 countries, including New York, London, Zurich, Hong Kong and Singapore. Its omni-channel platform spans digital, outdoor, airport, broadcast and print across the global markets, including the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC), and Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA).

HotPlay plans to leverage Mediakeys' expansive global presence and media relationships to further expand the global reach of its revolutionary in-game advertising (IGA) platform which enables advertisers to seamless insert brand messages and rewards into game content natively, interactively and in real time.

HotPlay also provides game developers with an additional revenue stream while still allowing them to maintain the integrity of their game. For game players, HotPlay creates a true online-to-offline experience, where players can interact with native ads in a meaningful way and claim rewards for both in-game and real-life use.

"The unparalleled capabilities of our respective platforms will help drive HotPlay's rapid expansion into numerous fast-growing international markets," stated Mediakeys CEO, Paul Cahierre. "The integration of HotPlay's powerful IGA technology will also enable international advertisers and agencies to take greater advantage of our one-stop solution for digital advertising and allow them to reach the valuable demographic of gamers in highly effective ways."

New and existing HotPlay advertisers will gain an integrated solution for hyper-targeted digital advertising campaigns. They will be able to launch programmatic mobile and desktop campaigns that can be designed and edited, and then set for distribution to a specific or localized broadcast area. Mediakeys' geofencing technology will support innovative ways for targeting specific audience behavior, and help advertisers to reach their target markets anytime, anywhere.

According to NextPlay co-CEO and CEO of Hotplay, Nithinan 'Jessie' Boonyawattanapisut: "The global games industry continues to grow at a rapid pace, with the game application market now the fastest growing business category around the world. Our new partnership with Mediakeys will greatly strengthen advertisers' access to the global market of 2.9 billion gamers. It will also vastly increase the revenue opportunities and customer retention of our game developers, and naturally HotPlay's by extension."

About Mediakeys

Mediakeys is an entrepreneurial international advertising exchange, offering 25+ years of experience creating and fulfilling global campaigns for local and international advertisers and agencies. Established in 1993 with a foundation in creative services and international media, it has grown into a global multi-media advertising specialist, with offices in 16 countries, including New York, London, Paris, Cologne, Zurich, Milan, Madrid, Istanbul, Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. To learn more, visit mediakeys.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 www.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, belief 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; our revenues and results of operations being subject to the ability of our distributors and partners to integrate our alternative lodging rental (ALR) properties with their websites, and the timing of such integrations; 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 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, Longroot 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; 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

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

Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. http://www.acnnewswire.com