HiTechEdge

Tag: Bloomberg

  • Netflix Hires Former EA Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Venture

    Netflix Hires Former EA Exec Mike Verdu to Lead Gaming Venture

    Netflix is looking to expand beyond TV and movies, hiring former Electronic Arts executive Mike Verdu to lead its video gaming endeavor.

    Streaming platforms are increasingly looking for ways to expand their offerings and increase customer engagement. fuboTV is preparing to offer sports betting and Netflix is looking to expand into video gaming. 

    To help it break into the highly competitive market, Netflix is hiring Mike Verdu as Vice President of Game Development, according to Bloomberg. In addition to EA, Verdu also worked as a vice president at Facebook, helping developers bring their gams to the company’s Oculus VR system.

    Verdu should bring valuable insights and expertise to Netflix, giving it a major leg up in its efforts to break into the market.

  • Apple Increasing 2021 iPhone Production by 20%

    Apple Increasing 2021 iPhone Production by 20%

    Apple appears to be gearing up for a significant increase in iPhone sales, raising its 2021 production by 20%.

    According to Bloomberg, Apple has been fairly steady in recent years, ordering 75 million units a year for the period between a launch and the end of the year. With its next phone, however, the company is asking suppliers to build an initial run of up to 90 million.

    The next version of the iPhone is not expected to be a revolutionary upgrade, but a rather modest evolutionary improvement. Nonetheless, Bloomberg reports that Apple expect post-pandemic demand to drive increased sales.

    Apple is notoriously cautious about estimates and projections, and demand often outstrips supply. For the company to order 90 million units is a testament to how popular Apple expects the next iPhone to be.

  • Sony Warns of Ongoing PlayStation Supply Issues Through 2022

    Sony Warns of Ongoing PlayStation Supply Issues Through 2022

    Sony has warned the supply of the PlayStation 5 will remain tight through 2022 and possibly into 2023.

    The pandemic has led to a global semiconductor shortage, one that is impacting manufacturing across industries. Automakers have experienced major slowdowns because they can’t gain access to enough of the chips they need to manufacture vehicles. Computer makers, chip makers and GPU manufacturers have struggled to keep up with demand.

    Sony has warned analysts it is not immune, saying supply will remain tight through the year, according to Bloomberg.

    “I don’t think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn’t be able to catch up with demand,” Chief Financial Officer Hiroki Totoki said.

    The good news is that the PlayStation 5 is selling at a pace to rival the PlayStation 4. Especially during the pandemic, when people are spending more time at home, tablets and consoles are in greater demand than ever.