PING by Charlie Baillie
Gaming | Entertainment | Creator Economy
A quick-hit look at what’s shaping the future of culture — from AAA games and virtual worlds to music innovation & creator-led empires.
Welcome to PING, your biweekly update sharing what matters in gaming, entertainment, and the creator economy.
I’ve cut through the noise to share industry news that caught my eye, big deals, and smart moves driving the next wave of digital innovation. Let’s jump in.
Big Plays
Product launches and platform shifts that matter now
Roblox launches real
world commerce
Roblox has officially launched real-world commerce on the platform — welcoming Fenty Beauty back as one of the first brand partners to activate.
This functionality is made possible by Roblox’s new commerce APIs and our launch partner Shopify. For the first time, all brands can sell physical products directly inside immersive 3D experiences — a major shift in how shopping and discovery can happen. Fenty is showing what’s possible when digital spaces meet real-world utility.
Source Stephanie Latham on LinkedIn
YouTube's 20th Anniversary Highlights MENA Growth
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, YouTube revealed significant growth in the MENA region’s creator economy. Notably, the number of Saudi-based channels earning seven figures in SAR increased by 40% year over year, with similar growth observed in Egypt and the UAE.
Source: Communicate Online
LinkedIn Expands into the Creator Economy with Original Video Shows
LinkedIn is launching five original video series featuring prominent business creators like Steven Bartlett and Rebecca Minkoff. This move aims to bolster its presence in the creator economy and attract advertisers seeking a professional audience.
Source: Business Insider
Deal Flow
Where the money’s moving and what it means
Scopely’s $3.5B Niantic Acquisition Followed by Layoffs at Spin-Off
Following Scopely’s $3.5 billion acquisition of Niantic’s gaming division, Niantic Spatial — the newly formed geospatial AI company — has announced layoffs impacting 68 employees. Despite launching with $250 million in funding ($200M from Niantic, $50M from Scopely), the company is restructuring to operate like a lean startup. This signals the volatility that often follows major M&A moves, even amid big fund.
Source: PocketGamer.biz
Hasbro Levels Up as ‘Wizards of the Coast’ Powers Profit Surge
Hasbro’s stock jumped 13% after upping its 2025 forecast, driven by strong performance from its Wizards of the Coast division (Magic: The Gathering, D&D). Gaming revenue surged 46% in Q1, hitting $887M. On top of that, Hasbro locked in new Disney toy licenses and is teaming up with Legendary Entertainment to bring Magic to screens.
Source: Forbes
How ad industry M&A is shaping up in 2025
After a period of stagnation, the industry was preparing for a bumper year of M&A deals. Under President Trump, dealmakers expected his pro-business policies and falling interest rates in the US to pave the way for an uptick in activity. Then, his rollout and subsequent rollback of global tariffs shook the markets and talk of a comeback quickly turned to a slowdown. The Drum asked two M&A specialists how the current economic climate is impacting activity. Here’s what they said.
Power Moves
Industry updates that matter
AI is now a creator force multiplier
The rise of tools like Runway ML and ElevenLabs is helping mid-tier creators scale content production by 3x, moving AI from experiment to essential. Brands must adapt fast to stay relevant.
Source: Joe Ferencz LinkedIn
“Game Over” for the Apple Tax — Court Rules in Favor of Developers
In a major legal blow to Apple, a U.S. District Court ruled on May 1, 2025 that Apple must allow publishers to freely link to off-app payment systems — and can’t charge commissions or impose new restrictions. This follows a long legal battle initiated by Epic Games.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney declared it “game over” for the Apple tax. The ruling could reshape the economics of app distribution and give more control back to developers.
Website: Pocketgamer.biz
Direct-to-Avatar is the next retail frontier
Virtual merch is outpacing physical. Karta and Makeshift say in-game commerce is growing 2x faster than traditional e-comm among Gen Z. If you’re not in-game, you’re invisible.
And it’s not just about skins — fashion is becoming the new storytelling medium inside games. Last week, Karta’s Director of Fashion & Beauty, Morgan Evans, led a gamification workshop at London College of Fashion, exploring how avatar fashion connects culture, commerce, and identity. The next generation isn’t just observing the shift — they’re building it.
Source: Karta
What PING is Watching
Quick hits PING is keeping tabs on
- Fortnite’s next music-meets-metaverse play
- YouTube’s new Creator Commerce hub launch impact
- AI as a game development & distribution accelerator
Until the next drop — stay curious.
Find me on LinkedIn @charliebaillie
Explore more at ampversegroup.com
The Author
About Charlie Baillie
Charlie Baillie is a seasoned digital media and entertainment executive, boasting extensive commercial and operational expertise across Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific. As a former executive at Universal Music Group, Charlie held the position of Asia Pacific Managing Director for the publicly listed ad technology company RhythmOne before venturing into entrepreneurship by co-founding Ampverse.
Currently serving as the Group CEO of Ampverse Group, Charlie sits on the board and spearheads the strategic direction and growth drivers of the company.
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