Latest news with #PlayerOne
Business Wire
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
OpenGate Capital Completes Sale of Player One to GENDA
NEW YORK & PARIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- OpenGate Capital ('OpenGate') today announced the July 2nd closing of the sale of Player One Amusement Group ('Player One') to GENDA (TSE: 9166), a global entertainment network platform. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Player One is an amusement services provider based in Toronto, Ontario serving customers across Canada and the US. The business provides amusement gaming equipment and outsourced operations and maintenance support to customers seeking to drive superior location profitability and create a best-in-class consumer experience. In addition, the business sources, distributes and maintains amusement gaming equipment for commercial and retail venues across North America. Customers include theater chains, resorts, golf entertainment centers, trampoline parks and bowling centers. OpenGate acquired Player One from Cineplex, Canada's leading entertainment and media company through a corporate carve-out in 2024. Under the guidance of OpenGate's Operations Team, Player One growth initiatives included: Executing a complex carve-out within 18 months, including the stand-up of core support functions and implementation of ERP and HRIS systems Strengthening the leadership team with key finance hires and expanding the commercial organization in priority markets Introducing a value-based pricing strategy through offer redesigns and photobooth pricing optimization Rolling out cashless operations across Canada and the US to enhance revenue capture and pricing visibility John Kolliniatis, Player One's CEO, stated 'Thank you to the OpenGate team for their strong partnership and to all the team members at Player One Amusement Group for their significant contributions. Our close collaboration with OpenGate since 2024 established our company as a fully standalone platform and industry leader, and we are excited about the company's future with GENDA.' 'John and the rest of the team at Player One Amusement Group have been very collaborative partners, as we worked together to make our vision for the company as an industry leader a reality,' said Andrew Nikou, OpenGate's Founder and Managing Partner. 'Together, we were able to establish Player One as a high-performing, standalone company poised to continue leading the amusement solutions industry.' The exit of Player One marks OpenGate's fourth full realization in the past 18 months following the sales of Fiven (silicon carbide materials, August 2024), SMAC (French waterproofing and facades, April 2024) and Verdant Specialty Solutions (specialty chemicals, December 2023). In addition, OpenGate recently announced a binding agreement to sell Scioteq, with closing expected in Q4 2025. About OpenGate OpenGate is a global private equity firm specializing in the acquisition and operation of businesses to create new value through operational improvements, innovation and growth. Headquartered in both New York and Paris, OpenGate has been building and transforming businesses since 2005. OpenGate's professionals possess the critical skills needed to acquire, transition, operate, build and scale successful businesses. To date, OpenGate has executed more than 40 platform acquisitions across North America and Europe. To learn more about OpenGate, please visit About GENDA GENDA Inc. is a fast-growing Japanese entertainment company focused on creating a global network of amusement experiences. Its core businesses include operating GiGO-branded arcades, over 11,000 mini-locations (such as claw machines and vending setups), karaoke venues, and character merchandising, along with content and food services. The company has aggressively expanded through M&A, previously acquiring Sega Entertainment's arcade business, the U.S.-based National Entertainment Network, and Player One Amusement Group in North America. GENDA's strategy centers on integrating these acquisitions to boost efficiency through digital systems, centralized operations, and cross-border scale.
Int'l Business Times
14-05-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Nintendo Switch 2 Quietly Introduces New Security Feature for the Console—Do You Need It?
It is already less than a month before the Switch 2 arrives to users who pre-ordered it or for those who are buying it on day one, but Nintendo is not stopping in sharing new features to enjoy on the console. The latest feature introduced by Nintendo was unveiled quietly, and it centers on a security feature for the Switch 2 that was not seen in the original console since its release in 2017. There have already been many helpful features that Nintendo introduced in previous showcases of the Switch 2, from the many software-level improvements down to the upgrades of its Joy-Con controllers. Nintendo Quietly Introduces New Switch 2 Feature According to Nintendo's announcement on the Nintendo Today! app (via ComicBook Gaming), the Japanese gaming company added a new layer of security for the Switch 2 console. It is important to note that the original Switch did not have any kind of security feature available before, only a child lock-esque feature that requires users to tap or press on a button thrice to access the console. However, this new security feature takes privacy and safety up a notch as it will now allow users to setup a Security Lock after their console is locked to avoid it being accessed by anyone else. This new Security Lock option would allow users to set a custom PIN that would be required whenever accessing the console so they can access the home, games, menu, settings, and more. While this feature is no longer new to smart devices as it has been standard among smartphones, tablets, computers, and more, this is the first time that it came to the Nintendo Switch console. Do You Need This New Switch 2 Security Feature? This new Switch 2 security feature is not exactly a deal-breaker as it is not a big enough reason to convince gamers to buy the new console from Nintendo, but it is certainly an addition to the experience. Not only would users get a chance to secure their files, information, payment methods, games, and their saved files in the console, but also make it hard for thieves to access such information. That being said, there are no announcements from Nintendo if they are pairing this new Security Lock feature with a "Find My"-like feature to help users locate their console if it goes missing, but that would also be a welcome addition. For users who do not want others like relatives, friends, or children to mess with their games, progress, and saved files, this Security Lock feature would be beneficial in preventing others from accessing their Switch 2 consoles. Originally published on Player One
Int'l Business Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Nintendo Switch Firmware 20.0.0 Rolls Out Virtual Game Cards for Easier Game Sharing Ahead of Switch 2 Launch
Check your Nintendo Switch's latest firmware update 20.0.0, and you'll be surprised that a fresh feature is finally here. With the all-new Virtual Game Cards, sharing digital games, DLC, and software is now made easier between consoles. The Big N might be in a hurry for this update ahead of the June 5 launch of the Nintendo Switch 2. Of course, this update comes with some limitations. What Are Virtual Game Cards? Nintendo Virtual Game Cards Virtual Game Cards are Nintendo's new innovation to make sharing digital games and content among consoles easier. According to Nintendo, the new system behaves as a digital counterpart of physical game cartridges, making lending and borrowing content directly from one console to another simpler. Players are now able to share downloaded games, free software, and add-ons (DLC) without the former online-only limitations. How Game Sharing Worked Before Before this update, sharing digital content was tedious. Nintendo required users to set one console as the Primary Switch and another as the Secondary. The Primary Switch could play games offline, but the Secondary Switch needed a constant internet connection. This meant limited usability, especially in offline environments. New Sharing Options with Update 20.0.0 With the new firmware, the Virtual Game Cards system offers two distinct ways to share content: Load on Other System This one replicates the original Primary/Secondary configuration but simplifies the linking process. The second console needs to be linked to the original owner's Nintendo account. It still needs some setup, but it eliminates the old, clunkier designation procedure. Lend to Family Group Member For those with a Nintendo Switch Online Family Plan, this option is much more convenient. Through physically having two consoles in close proximity, users are able to wirelessly share content. This is perfect for close groups or families who frequent play together. Major Restrictions and Rules Although this change is significant, Nintendo has put tight restrictions on the use of Virtual Game Cards, according to GameSpot. Game borrows expire within 14 days. During the time a game is borrowed out, the original owner does not have access to that title. A borrower is limited to one game at any given time. One account may lend to three borrowers at the same time. Internet-based borrowing remains forbidden, so consoles have to be situated close to each other. Preparing for the Nintendo Switch 2 Era Nintendo is not timing this for anything. With the Switch 2 set to reportedly launch in June, this update may be a prelude to the more sophisticated sharing capabilities we can anticipate in the next-gen console. It provides players with more options to play handheld, while setting up a smoother migration to a new ecosystem. Originally published on Player One
