Latest news with #Upin&IpinUniverse
Focus Malaysia
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Focus Malaysia
Claims abound of animated high-flyer Upin & Ipin 'trapped in toxic workplace culture, comfort zone'
IT could not have come at a worse time. With the launch of the Upin & Ipin Universe Game set to be launched in just over a week (July 17), gaming forums are abuzz with news that retrenched staff of Streamline Studios (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd – the videogame development outfit – have not received their dues. Likewise, with the second instalment of Ejen Ali breaking all sorts of box office record at home and abroad, one would have expected a pioneer in the local animation scene to be also generating plenty of pleasant headlines. After all, that was what the Upin & Ipin Universe Game is supposed to do – a game changer. Instead, the creators of Upin & Ipin c hildren's animated television series – Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd – has been described as a toxic workplace with a management that was aloof. This was presumably Upin & Ipin fan rei🍉 (rest)'s (@peulreiii) reaction on X to another post highlighting the Streamline Media woes. Les Copaque is also a VERY problematic company. Toxic workplace with their higher ups mostly hidung tinggi gila. Shit talks other local animations and even as far as threatening their employees if they speak highly of another. — rei🍉 (rest) (@peulreiiii) July 6, 2025 Editor's Note: Les' Copaque partnered with American online game developer, Streamline Studios in 2023 to create a console game based on the Upin & Ipin franchise, ie the Upin & Ipin Universe . The crux of the matter is that gaming forums are abuzz with news of the disgruntlement among Streamline Studios' ex-employees which soon rub on Les' Copaque. That the post by rei🍉 (rest) has generated over 301.7K views at the time of writing is itself an indication that enough eyeballs are reading about alleged wrongdoings being perpetrated on employees of Les' Copaque. As one commenter rightly pointed out, the franchise was seemingly static while Ejen Ali: The Movie 2 (a film by Primeworks Studios and Wau Animation based on an animation series of the same name) was conquering new frontiers. That sentiment was echoed in another comment which observed that the brand did not forge ahead to do better content but has instead stagnated within its comfort zone. Concern is raised that it could soon be overtaken by rivals. This comment though ignores the fact that the game itself is meant to up the ante significantly. This toxic work culture was cited by one commenter as a reason for the dip in quality in Upin & Ipin . While both Les' Copaque and Streamline Studios may not be all-conquering as Ejen Ali 2 or even Mechamoto , it would do well to avoid such negative publicity on social media. The consequence is a very negative perception about the organisations and which will ultimately hurt the product it is trying to sell. The Upin & Ipin Universe Game is set to be officially launched on July 17. With the big date just days away, it could very well do with such negative publicity. – July 17, 2025 Main image credit: #ZHAFVLOG (@zhafvlog)/X
The Star
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
'Upin & Ipin' open-world game hits Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC on July 17
Local pricing is not yet available as of the time of writing; however, the release is priced at US$39.99 (RM169) on the Nintendo Store. — Photos: Les Copaque Productions/Streamline Studios After a long wait, Malaysians will finally have the chance to explore the familiar Kampung Durian Runtuh and the wider world of the beloved Upin & Ipin TV series through an open-world console game, slated for release on July 17. The game, titled Upin & Ipin Universe , was developed in collaboration between Les Copaque Productions and Malaysia-based developer Streamline Studios, utilising Unreal Engine 5. Upin & Ipin Universe will feature the titular characters alongside other familiar faces from the cartoon series, including Mei Mei, Ehsan, Jarjit, Mail, and others, with full voice acting in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. For worried parents, the game will not contain any combat or microtransactions, according to its Steam page. The original voice actors from the show will also be reprising their roles for the upcoming release. While the title will have an original storyline, players will also be granted the agency to engage in a host of Malaysian-flavoured side activities and minigames like farming, cooking, bug catching, remote control car racing, and gasing battles. In an interview with LifestyleTech last July, Les Copaque's creative content director Nur Naquyah Burhanuddin revealed that if the game is successful, the team already has plans for possible future expansions to the title. Upin & Ipin Universe will feature the titular characters alongside other familiar faces from the cartoon series, including Mei Mei, Ehsan, Jarjit, Mail, and others, with full voice acting in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. This might come in the form of customisable characters and multiplayer options. At launch, Upin & Ipin Universe will not require an Internet connection to play after it has been downloaded. For worried parents, the game will not contain any combat or microtransactions, according to its Steam page. Upin & Ipin Universe launches on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and the Epic Games Store on July 17. Local pricing is not yet available as of the time of writing; however, the release is priced at US$39.99 (RM169) on the Nintendo Store.
The Star
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Digital creative industry hits RM5.3bil in revenue
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's digital creative industry recorded a strong performance in 2023, generating RM5.3bil in revenue with exports valued at RM800mil, says Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo (pic). More importantly, he said these achievements contributed to the creation of more than 10,000 high-value job opportunities across the ecosystem. 'Under the Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap (DICE) by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the government is showing a strong commitment to develop the digital creative sector with the objective of making Malaysia a regional and global hub for digital content creation by 2030. 'DICE is not just an initiative; rather, a holistic strategy to build a sustainable ecosystem that supports talent development, market access, investment, and innovation in this industry,' he said in his speech at the official launch of Upin & Ipin Universe video game here yesterday, Bernama reported. Also present were Les' Copaque Production managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi, National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (Finas) chairman Datuk Gerald Hans Isaac and Streamline Media Group chief executive officer Alexander Fernandez. Gobind said that riding the momentum of global digitalisation, the games sector is also booming. In this regard, the ministry is continuing to drive digital transformation by prioritising Animation and Games as a core component of the digital agenda. 'Recognising the importance of the Digital Creative industry, the ministry views it as a backbone of progress in the digital economy. 'To further strengthen this ecosystem, MDEC has launched two key programmes – Animated Shorts Challenge and Digital Games Testbed,' he said. Gobind said the launch of the Upin & Ipin Universe game is not just about unveiling a new game; it is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define Malaysia's journey to becoming a regional hub for Animation and Games. The launch of the Upin & Ipin Universe game is a shining example of what Malaysia can achieve when creativity meets opportunity, he said. 'This game, developed by a cooperation between Les' Copaque Production and Streamline Studios, embodies the innovation and cultural richness that make Malaysian games stand out,' he said. Upin & Ipin Universe, developed by Streamline Studios, is an open-world adventure game inspired by South-East Asia's beloved Upin & Ipin series, will be available starting July 17. The game will be available for PC on Steam and Epic Game Store, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch, marking a major milestone for the globally recognised franchise.
New Straits Times
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
RM5.3 billion revenue, 10,000 jobs from digital creative industry in 2023
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's digital creative industry recorded a strong performance in 2023, generating RM5.3 billion in revenue with exports valued at RM800 million, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo announced. More importantly, he said these achievements contributed to the creation of more than 10,000 high-value job opportunities across the ecosystem. "Under the Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap (DICE) by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the government is showing a strong commitment to develop the digital creative sector with the objective of making Malaysia a regional and global hub for digital content creation by 2030. "DICE is not just an initiative; rather, a holistic strategy to build a sustainable ecosystem that supports talent development, market access, investment, and innovation in this industry," he said in his speech at the official launch of Upin & Ipin Universe Video Game here today. Also present were Les' Copaque Production managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi, National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) chairman Datuk Gerald Hans Isaac and Streamline Media Group chief executive officer Alexander Fernandez. Gobind said that riding the momentum of global digitalisation, the games sector is also booming. In this regard, he said the ministry continues to drive Malaysia's digital transformation by prioritising the Animation and Games sub-sector as a core component of the nation's digital agenda. "Recognising the importance of the Digital Creative industry, the ministry views it as a backbone of national progress in the digital economy. "To further strengthen this ecosystem, the MDEC has launched two key programmes - Animated Shorts Challenge and Digital Games Testbed. "Both these new initiatives underscore Malaysia's commitment to fostering innovation and creative excellence in the digital space," he said. Meanwhile, Gobind said the launch of the Upin & Ipin Universe game is not just about unveiling a new game; it is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define Malaysia's journey to becoming a regional hub for Animation and Games. "Today's launch of Upin & Ipin Universe Game is a shining example of what Malaysia can achieve when creativity meets opportunity. This game, developed by a cooperation between Les' Copaque Production and Streamline Studios, embodies the innovation and cultural richness that make Malaysian games stand out," he said. Upin & Ipin Universe, the highly anticipated open-world adventure game inspired by Southeast Asia's beloved Upin & Ipin series, will be available in the market starting July 17. The game will be available for PC on Steam and Epic Game Store, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Nintendo Switch, marking a major milestone for the globally recognised franchise. Developed by Streamline Studios, Upin & Ipin Universe, an open-world game with a 12+ hour narrative campaign, aims to resonate with a global audience while staying true to its roots.
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Upin & Ipin Universe game marks milestone in Malaysia's rise as regional hub for animation and gaming
For nearly two decades, the Malaysian cartoon Upin & Ipin has entertained and inspired audiences with its cheeky adventures and meaningful messages about friendship, respect, and community. Now, the launch of the Upin & Ipin Universe game marks the next chapter in the brand's evolution—from a beloved animated series to a fully interactive digital world. Speaking at the launch in Kuala Lumpur, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the project is a testament to the creativity, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define Malaysia's journey to becoming a regional hub for animation and gaming. 'This transition marks a significant step for Malaysian animation intellectual properties as they cross over into games. It also places Malaysia firmly within the global digital content economy,' he said. Among those present were Les' Copaque Production managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi, National Film Development Corporation Malaysia chairman Datuk Hans Issac, and Stefan Baier, director of Global Studios and co-founder of Streamline Studios. In 2023, the global entertainment and media industry was valued at US$2.8 trillion. According to the PwC Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2024, this figure is projected to grow to US$3.4 trillion by 2028, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9 per cent. 'Malaysia has also seen tremendous progress in recent years. In 2023 alone, our creative digital industry generated RM5.3 billion in revenue, with exports valued at RM800 million,' Gobind said. 'More importantly, these achievements created over 10,000 high-value jobs across the ecosystem. Riding the wave of global digitalisation, the games sector continues to thrive.' He said the government, through the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation's (MDEC) Digital Creative Ecosystem Roadmap (DICE), is committed to growing the digital creative sector and aims to position Malaysia as a regional and global hub for digital content by 2030. 'DICE is not just an initiative – it's a holistic strategy to build a sustainable ecosystem that supports talent development, market access, investment, and innovation. 'The Digital Ministry is further strengthening this effort by making animation and games a key focus of our mission to drive Malaysia's digital progress. Supporting innovation and growth in the digital creative sector isn't just an agenda – it is the backbone of our national transformation,' he added. To reinforce the government's commitment, MDEC has launched two new programmes: Animated Shorts Challenge – an initiative to encourage the creation of original short animations by local talents. It provides opportunities for creators to produce high-impact work that can be showcased regionally and globally. Digital Games Testbed – an initiative offering incentives for local game developers to explore new products or genres while securing publishing deals. This enables indie developers and established studios to access technical support and market feedback essential for continuous improvement and commercialisation. 'These initiatives complement DICE and play a crucial role in enhancing the competitiveness of Malaysia's digital creative industry, expanding intellectual property creation, market access, and talent development,' Gobind said.
