Nexon has announced that DomiNations has generated more than $100m in revenue since its launch in 2015.

The mobile strategy game, which sees players build an empire that evolves from the Stone Age to the Space Age, was developed by Big Huge Games and has been a crucial pillar in the Korean publisher’s plans to expand into the Western market.

DomiNations has gathered an audience of more than 32m players since its launch two years ago this month, most significantly in the US and Europe – markets in which Nexon’s titles have previously struggled to make as much of an impact as in territories closer to the company’s home.

Over 25m of DomiNations playerbase is in the West, with a still-not-too-shabby 7m players across Asia. Nexon now considers the game to be one of three success stories when it comes to “sustained engagement”, placing it alongside long-running titles MapleStory and Dungeon&Fighter.

It helps that Big Huge Games is a Western developer, based in North America, whereas the other aforementioned Nexon titles are developed in Asia. The firm has been investing in more Western games, including LawBreakers – the debut title from Cliff Bleszinski’s new studio Boss Key Productions – and Cambridge-based toys-to-life developer PlayFusion.

“Nexon games are well-established with millions of deeply engaged players in Asia,” said Nexon president and CEO Owen Mahoney. “The success of DomiNations in the US and Europe, is a proof point in our strategy for growing our business and engaging Western players with high quality games backed by a steady flow of new content.”

Asian mobile giant Netmarble has generated $2.3bn (£1.8bn) with its IPO, readying the firm for a series of significant acquisitions.

Reuters reports the share sale was the second-biggest ever recorded in Netmarble’s home market of South Korea with Netmarble claiming it has sold 17m shares, which equates to roughly 20% of the company. Shares were sold at 157,000 Korean Won (or £107) each.

The firm came just short of the $2.4bn it estimated it would make through the IPO.

A large part of Netmarble’s success was not just its “ability to consistently publish hit games in the highly competitive mobile sector”, as Reuters puts it, but also the accomplishments of one specific title – Lineage II: Revolutions.

Released only in South Korea back in December, the Unreal Engine-powered mobile MMO was named as the highest grossing game in the world back in February, according to figures from SuperData.

Netmarble is also based in the world’s fourth biggest games market, behind only China, the US and Japan.

The company has previously said it plans to combine money raised from the IPO with loans and its own cash flow to spend up to $4.4bn on acquisitions. Specifically, Netmarble hopes to purchased games developers and IP holders that will help expand its share of the games market in North America and Europe. It hopes to become a global top five games company by 2020.

Razer has announced that they are expanding their Hammerhead V2 audio line up with the Razer Hammerhead BT and Razer Hammerhead for iOS in-ear headsets.

“The Razer Hammerhead line of in-ear headphones and headsets are lauded for their big sound in a highly portable form factor,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “We are excited to expand our Hammerhead audio experience with a Bluetooth wireless option for increased mobility and a Lightning Connector version for iOS device users.”

The Hammerhead BT feature Qualcomm’s aptX codec and a battery life of up to eight hours between charges. Both models include an inline remote which can be used for call and music functionality, while the Hammerhead for iOS inline remote also allows for interaction with Siri. In addition, the iOS model can be further personalized with the Razer Hammerhead iOS companion app with pre-configured and custom equalizer settings.

The Razer Hammerhead BT headphones offer up to eight hours of battery life.

Both models feature custom-tuned 10mm dynamic audio drivers set in an aluminum acoustic chamber and include a carrying case and additional ear tip sizes.

The Hammerhead earbuds are available for US$99.99/€109,99 from the Razerzone.com website with availability widening to other retailers later this month.

Check out the full press release below and let us know what you think about the new Razer Hammerhead audio options in the comments below or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

FULL PRESS RELEASE

Razer Expands the Razer Hammerhead V2 In-Ear Audio Line With Bluetooth and iOS Lightning Models

For Release on April 18, 2017: IRVINE, Calif.—Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today, unveiled two new headsets:  the Razer Hammerhead BT and the Razer Hammerhead for iOS Lightning.

Razer Hammerhead BT:

Engineered to deliver clear and cordless audio, the new Razer Hammerhead BT is a Bluetooth 4.1 in-ear headset that features the Qualcomm aptX® codec for low-latency, high-quality audio. Mobile users may enjoy uninterrupted listening and calls with a battery life of up to eight hours per charge.

The Razer Hammerhead BT comes with an in-line remote and microphone that is compatible with iOS or Android devices, providing easy call pick-up or music track navigation.

Razer Hammerhead for iOS:

Making full use of the Lightning Connector capabilities, the Razer Hammerhead for iOS delivers clean digital audio through a custom-tuned, digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Through the Razer Hammerhead iOS companion app, users can personalize listening experiences with customizable or pre-configured equalizer settings.

The Razer Hammerhead for iOS comes with an in-line control and mic that allows users to exploit Siri, as well as take calls or skip music tracks.

Both Razer Hammerhead models are outfitted with custom-tuned 10 mm dynamic audio drivers, which are larger than most earbuds in their class. An aluminum acoustic chamber enhances music reproduction while adding to durability. Each Razer Hammerhead comes with a carrying case that includes additional ear tip sizes to ensure fit and sound isolation.

“The Razer Hammerhead line of in-ear headphones and headsets are lauded for their big sound in a highly portable form factor,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “We are excited to expand our Hammerhead audio experience with a Bluetooth wireless option for increased mobility and a Lightning Connector version for iOS device users.”

The Razer Hammerhead BT and Razer Hammerhead for iOS are available on RazerStore.com and with other retailers. For more information, visit razerzone.com.

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY:

US$99.99 / €109,99

Razerzone.com: Now

Worldwide: April 2017

RAZER HAMMERHEAD BT FEATURES:

Headphones:

• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz


• Impedance: 32 ± 15% Ω


• Sensitivity: 116 ± 3 dB @ 1 kHz


• Max input power: 10 mW


• Drivers: 10 mm with Neodymium magnets


• Cable length: 63 cm / 2.07 ft.


• Approximate weight: 0.06 lbs. (28.0 g)

Microphone:

• Frequency response: 300 Hz – 3.4 kHz


• Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥ 55 dB


• Sensitivity (@1 kHz): 42 ± 3 dB


• Pick-up pattern: Omnidirectional

In-line remote:

• Music controls: Play/pause, next, back


• Call controls: Answer, end, reject call


• General: Volume up/down, pair, power


• Full functionality on Apple™ iOS and Android mobile devices

Battery:

• Battery type 160 mAH rechargeable Li-Po battery


• Battery life: Up to 8 hours*


• Charge time: Up to 2 hours

*May vary dependent on usage & device

Range:

• Bluetooth wireless range: 10 m / 30 ft.

Package contents:

• Razer Hammerhead BT in-ear gaming & music headset


• 3 pairs of sized silicon ear tips


• 1 bi-flange ear tip attachment


• 1 compact carrying case

RAZER HAMMERHEAD FOR IOS FEATURES:

Headphones:

• Frequency response: 20 Hz – 20 kHz


• Impedance: 32 ± 15% Ω


• Sensitivity: 102 ± 3 dB @ 1 kHz


• Max input power: 10 mW


• Drivers: 10 mm with Neodymium magnets


• Cable length: 1.3 m / 4.27 ft.


• Approximate weight: 0.04 lbs. (19.6 g)

Microphone:

• Frequency response: 100 Hz – 3.4 kHz


• Signal-to-noise ratio: ≥ 58 dB


• Sensitivity (@1 kHz): 42 ± 3 dB


• Pick-up pattern: Omnidirectional

In-line remote:

• Music controls: Play/pause, next, back, fast forward/rewind


• Call controls: Answer, end, reject call. Launch Siri


• General: Volume up/down


• Full functionality on Apple™ iOS

Package contents:

• Razer Hammerhead for iOS in-ear gaming & music headset


• 3 pairs of sized silicon ear tips


• 1 bi-flange ear tip attachment


• 1 compact carrying case

ABOUT RAZER:

Razer™ is the world’s leading lifestyle brand for gamers.

The triple-headed snake trademark of Razer is one of the most recognized logos in the world, with a fan base that spans every continent. The company has designed and built one of the largest integrated hardware and software platforms for gamers with over 35 million users. Razer is transforming interactive entertainment across multiple platforms, including the PC, console and mobile.

Razer’s award-winning products include an array of hardware and software. Among its signature products are high-performance PC and console peripherals, the Razer Blade line of gaming laptops, software services such as Razer Cortex (a game optimizer and launcher), RazerArena (a platform for esports tournaments) and zGold (a virtual currency and payment engine for gamers). The company additionally provides audiovisual certification and IP development services through its subsidiary THX Ltd.

Founded in 2005 and headquartered in San Francisco, Razer is backed by Digital Grid, Intel Capital, IDG-Accel and Temasek.

For more information, visit http://www.razerzone.com/about-razer.

Smartwatches aren’t for everyone and sometimes a traditional watch is just what you want. Washington Square Watches is aiming to bring its designs and U.S. built hardware to the masses by holding a Kickstarter campaign. While the technology in these watches is hundreds of years old, it doesn’t make the technology any less impressive. Making a good mechanical watch takes care and passion. Check out the video below and the Kickstarter link at the end to find out more about Washington Square Watches’ campaign.

Founder Marc Smouha’s goal was to create a sleek and fashionable watch that’s perfect for everyday wear. Our watch can be worn for any occasion and can be customized with interchangeable straps that can be personalized.

Quality will never be compromised and we ensure this by having our product handcrafted here in the US. We vetted manufacturers from coast to coast until we found the right partners we could entrust with this task. This allows us to provide you a quality timepiece at an affordable cost.

To bring this concept of individuality to the next level we are giving you the choice of customizing your watch by offering several options of colors for your watch band. We are also offering you the chance to personalize your watch strap with your initials. This feature will make your watch one of a kind.

A quick-release clasp that allows you to easily swap out your strap at home… No tools required. This feature was added in order to update and customize your watch with our newest bands (Stainless Steel Bracelet, Nylon Strap…)

We currently plan on shipping to all our backers by the end of July. Depending on demand, we may have to push delivery date by at most 30 days. We will make sure that all our backers are kept well notified but our goal is to ship all watches on time.

Due to the fact that all straps are genuine leather, there may be slight variations in color from what is displayed on Kickstarter.

What do you think about Washington Square Watches’ campaign? Let us know in the comments below or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

  Source: Kickstarter