Creative UK has started a fund targeted at small and medium-sized 'creative businesses' in North East England. The non-profit organization says its aim is to "give recipients the creative freedom to solely test ideas and develop a new product or service for the benefit of the sector."The North East Shared Success Fund is aimed at enterprises in North Tyneside, Newcastle, and Northumberland, and offers up to £25,000 in funding for projects such as film, TV, and games.Recipients will also be provided "tailor support" like workshops and one-on-one mentoring. Once the project succeeds or hits a certain financial threshold, they will be required to pay the funding back interest-free.Per regional associate director Carol Bell, the North East Fund addresses "early-stage creative businesses struggling with investment and cash flow when developing new IP and bringing new products and services to market.""We’re hoping to reach all specialisms across the sector with this fund," she continued. "The intention is that the repaid funding is then reinvested to support other creative sector businesses in the future."Creative UK previous…
Author: Benjamin Parker
Video game commerce platform Xsolla has partnered with the Savvy Games Group to create a game development academy in Saudi Arabia to "create economic opportunities" for Middle Eastern developers.By extension, this deal puts Xsolla in the bed with the country's state-owned Public Investment Fund, whose crown prince and prime minister Mohammad bin Salman was linked to the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Under the Savvy deal, Xsolla promises to help create 3,600 new jobs by the end of 2030. Several "key" initiatives will be launched, including incubator and accelerator programs, industry events, and funding for development projects.Additionally, Xsolla will create a regional office in Riyadh with services focused on business, product, and technology development "to help developers and publishers scale and grow their games in the Middle East and the Kingdom."Savvy CEO Brian Ward called this Xsolla partnership "a significant step forward in our mission to elevate Saudi Arabia’s games and esports ecosystem. […] We're creating jobs and building a vibrant, sustainable industry that will drive opportunity and creativity for years to come.…
Global commerce platform provider Xsolla has announced the hiring of Cathleen Nilson as its new chief financial officer. Nilson, who has over two decades of experience in the technology industry, joins the company after a one-year stint at Kami Vision, which specializes in video-based generative AI.Prior to that, she served as CFO at Turing.com and Samsung. She previously spent time in the video game business as the global IT finance controller for Electronic Arts.In February 2024, the company announced a shakeup of its leadership structure, bringing new executives into the company. Nilson's hiring as CFO may be an extended result of this change in management.
Xsolla's financial heft has invited global scrutiny
While players probably don't know the name Xsolla, studios across the globe have partnered with the company to operate their payment and monetization platforms. Among these studios are Dying Light 2 developer Techland, Smite developer Hi-Rez Studios, and Chinese publisher NetEase Games.Xsolla's r…
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and YouTuber Youna Kang (aka CodeMiko) are challenging the US Patent Office. The two parties recently filed an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court over a new requirement for trademark registration.As described in the press release, the new rule calls for applicants to provide their home addresses. Odin Law & Media, a firm representing Kang and the IGDA, argued this rule "unnecessarily exposes applicants," particularly those in the game industry.
Indies and all work-from-home devs at possible risk
Beyond YouTubers who make revenue working with developers through streaming or sponsored deals, the USPTO's rule also affects indie studios. Many operate on a work-from-home basis, meaning this rule could them vulnerable to harassment if a hack occurs.Privacy concerns have become even more pronounced in the wake of events such as Bungie's case against a harasser targeting its staff, along with an upcoming trial for a Splatoon player accused of previously se…