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 sixth 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
India’s New Online Gaming Law Takes Effect, Forcing Major Platforms to Pivot
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 officially bans online money games (like fantasy sports and poker) as of October 1, forcing companies like Dream11 and MPL to quickly shift focus to eSports and social gaming models. This is a massive regulatory platform shift in the world’s largest mobile gaming market.
Source: The Economic Times
TikTok Shop is Moving to Onboard Established, Traditional Brands to Compete with E-commerce Giants
TikTok Shop is maturing its strategy by securing partnerships with major retailers like Crocs and Pacsun, indicating a serious platform shift from exclusively creator-led drop-shipping to a mainstream retail channel. This is the Grocer-ification of TikTok commerce.
Source: DigiDay.com
MrBeast Warns of AI Video's Existential Threat
YouTube’s biggest creator voiced concerns about the rapid advancement of AI video tools (Sora 2, Meta’s Vibes), calling the situation “Scary Times.” This public warning puts pressure on platforms to address the economic impact of AI on human creators.
Source: Net Influencer
Deal Flow
Where the money’s moving and what it means
Flutter Entertainment Maintains Strong Buy Rating
Despite a 9.2% stock decline over the past week, the $44.8 billion market cap gaming and betting giant maintained its “Buy” rating from analysts. This highlights sustained institutional confidence in the long-term growth of the regulated gambling and entertainment sector.
Source: Investing.com
The Majority of Full-Time Creators are Diversifying Income, Moving Beyond AdSense
A key shift toward financial sustainability, with brand partnerships, subscriptions, and D2C products becoming the standard, hybrid monetization model, insulating creators from platform ad revenue volatility.
Source: Startup Movers
Bob Ross Paintings Auctioned for Public TV
Thirty paintings by the late artist Bob Ross are being auctioned to raise money for public television stations following federal funding cuts. This move shows how iconic media IP is being monetized in creative, philanthropic ways to shore up traditional media infrastructure.
Source: CBS News
Power Moves
Industry updates that matter
GamesIndustry.biz HR Summit Leads October Conferences
The Human Resources Summit took place early this month (Oct 2nd), highlighting that amid a consolidation phase and high-cost AAA development, the industry is heavily focusing on talent retention, development, and strategic hiring as core business issues.
Source: Events for Gamers
Advertising Giants Face AI Disruption Concerns
Shares of research firm Gartner fell 4.5% due to investor concerns about how AI could disrupt the research and advisory business. This sentiment highlights a pervasive anxiety across all entertainment and marketing sectors about the speed of generative AI adoption.
Source: Investopedia
From Fashion Blog to Clothing Collections: Creator as Brand Builder
An article covering Kathleen Post’s transition from a fashion blog to a clothing collection highlights the final evolution of the creator economy: the creator is no longer just a model for a brand, but the founder and owner of the D2C brand itself.
Source: Net Influencer
What PING is Watching
Quick hits PING is keeping tabs on
- The UGC vs. AI Divide
- The 'Pay-to-Play' Community Metric
- Post-Shutdown Economic Sentiment
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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