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 third 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
Esports World Cup 2025 Kicks Off in Riyadh with a Massive Prize Pool
The highly anticipated Esports World Cup 2025 began in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, featuring a record $70 million prize pool across 25 competitions and 24 games. This is a monumental “platform shift” for the entire esports industry, signifying significant investment and a push to solidify esports as a global sporting phenomenon.
Source: Times of India
Universal Music Group's Strategic AI Patent Expansion
Universal Music Group has partnered with Liquidax to significantly expand its AI patent portfolio, particularly in areas like musical collaboration, multi-media content creation, and rights management. This signals a major platform shift towards AI-driven innovation in the music industry.
Source: That Eric Alper
PUBG Mobile's "World of Wonder Version 3.9" Introduces Deep User-Generated Content (UGC) Tools
Beyond new modes and vehicles, this update significantly enhances PUBG Mobile’s creative suite, allowing players to build custom abilities and maps with a skill editor and templates. This signals a major shift towards empowering community content in large mobile titles.
Source: Times of India
Deal Flow
Where the money’s moving and what it means
Gaming Acquisitions Up, But Private Investments at "Historic Lows"
While major acquisitions like Scopely-Niantic are making headlines, this report details a contrasting trend: a significant slowdown in private investments (seed, Series A, etc.) for game companies. This suggests investors are favoring proven, established entities over new ventures.
Source: Games GG
SpaceX Plans $2 Billion Investment in Elon Musk's xAI Venture
In a major internal capital movement, SpaceX is reportedly planning a $2 billion investment in Elon Musk’s AI venture, xAI. This highlights the significant capital being directed towards scaling AI infrastructure within Musk’s portfolio of companies.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Zimmer Biomet Acquires Monogram Technologies for Autonomous Robotics
Zimmer Biomet, a global medical technology leader, announced a definitive agreement to acquire Monogram Technologies for approximately $177 million. Monogram specializes in AI-driven orthopedic robotics, and this acquisition will expand Zimmer Biomet’s robotics suite with autonomous solutions.
Source: Zimmer Biomet
Power Moves
Industry updates that matter
Epic Games Drops Lawsuit Against Samsung - Signifying Shifting Mobile Ecosystem Dynamics
This legal resolution, just days before Samsung’s Unpacked event, hints at a complex and evolving relationship between major platform holders and content creators in the mobile space, impacting app distribution and market power.
Source: The Verge
Ubisoft Announces Layoffs at Red Storm Studio
19 employees are affected as part of Ubisoft’s ongoing “targeted restructuring and global cost-saving efforts.”
Source: Games Industry
Pharma GCCs Turn to AI to Accelerate Drug Discovery
Pharma Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in India are adopting AI to cut time and cost in drug development. AI models are being used for molecule prediction, trial simulation, and regulatory data processing. This shift is transforming India’s role from support hub to innovation engine. Experts say it’s redefining pharmaceutical R&D at a global scale.
Source: Business Standard
What PING is Watching
Quick hits PING is keeping tabs on
- The AI Arms Race in Content Production
- The Creator-to-Entrepreneur Pipeline
- The Future of Immersive Mobile Experiences
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.
Featured in
