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 the fifth edition of 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
Youtube adds AI tools for creators
At its Made on YouTube 2025 event, YouTube unveiled 30+ new AI-powered tools to help creators scale content production, editing, and optimization.
Source: Youtube News
New Agency XDOTG Launched by Former Enthusiast Gaming Execs
Former executives from Enthusiast Gaming have announced the launch of a new agency, XDOTG, positioning themselves to capitalize on the booming esports and creator market.
Source: ESports Advocate
The International 2025 becomes the most co-streamed TI
The International 2025, which concluded last week, crowned a new champion and saw a significant increase in viewership compared to the previous two tournaments. A major factor behind this growth is the expanding coverage, with more co-casters than ever joining in.
Source: ESports Charts
Deal Flow
Where the money’s moving and what it means
MIXI Completes $430M Acquisition of PointsBet
MIXI has finalized its majority acquisition of online sportsbook and casino operator PointsBet, signaling a major move into the online gambling space.
Source: World Casino News
Workday to buy Sana for $1.1B as part of Enterprise AI Push
Workday is acquiring Sana, an AI company focused on workplace tools, for $1.1 billion as part of a broader push to offer companies and their employees AI services.Workday said the acquisition will help it offer AI agents that customers can use to automate repetitive tasks, search across a company’s data sources and create presentations and documents.
Source: Wallstreet Journal
Vertiqal Studios Corp. Acquisition of Enthusiast Gaming's Direct Media Sales Business
Vertiqal Studios Corp., a leading digital media and branded content company, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its M&A journey with the acquisition of the direct media sales business from Enthusiast Gaming; announces $3M Q4 booked revenue pipeline.
Source: Yahoo Finance
Power Moves
Industry updates that matter
PlayVS Partners with ASUS ROG for College Esports
High school esports platform PlayVS has announced a new partnership with ASUS ROG for its collegiate league, a move that strengthens the infrastructure and visibility of university-level esports.
Source: ASUS News
Online marketplace Fiverr to lay off 30% of workforce in AI push
Israel-based Fiverr International is laying off 30% of its workforce, a company spokesperson said on Monday, as the online services marketplace doubles down on artificial intelligence to automate systems and streamline operations.
Source: Reuters
Microsoft trumps Google with $30B investment in the UK
Microsoft is announcing that it’s investing £22 billion (around $30 billion) in the UK to help support AI infrastructure and ongoing operations from 2025 through 2028. The investment includes $15 billion in capital expenditures to build a supercomputer to support AI demand and adoption.
Source: The Verge
What PING is Watching
Quick hits PING is keeping tabs on
- Immersive AI Experiences
- The Rise of B2B Creators
- The "Post-Layoff" Esports Scene
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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