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Stephan Steininger

Stephan Steininger

Stephan Steininger is Director of Operations and Editor-in-Chief of GamesMarket. He was one of the founding editors and is part of the magazine since its inception in 2001, he knows the GSA games industry by heart.

GamesMarket Daily – 07. July 26: Atari Europe, Thomas Lehr, Frithjof Michaelsen, Switch, gamescom, FROG, Portside Game Assembly

Daily

GamesMarket Daily – 07. July 26: Atari Europe, Thomas Lehr, Frithjof Michaelsen, Switch, gamescom, FROG, Portside Game Assembly

Following yesterday’s big announcement at Microsoft, the focus today is on Europe, where Nintendo is withdrawing the Switch from the market in line with EU battery regulations, Atari is appointing a European head, and a small but significant event called gamescom is set to take place very soon.

By Pascal Wagner • 5 min read

Atari Appoints Andreas Deptolla as President for Europe and Expands Its European HQ in Münster — Andreas Deptolla (Left) was appointed as President of Atari Europe, Richard Snowdon (Right), CEO of Coatsink will be Ataris Vice President of Studios Europe

People

Atari Appoints Andreas Deptolla as President for Europe and Expands Its European HQ in Münster

Atari is expanding its presence in Europe and has chosen Germany as the location for its European headquarters. Andreas Deptolla will head up the European business as President from Münster. Richard Snowdon has been appointed Vice President of Studios Europe.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Portside Game Assembly is Set to Continue 2027 Following Another Successful Year — Margarete Schneider, Project Manager Gamecity Hamburg

Events

Portside Game Assembly is Set to Continue 2027 Following Another Successful Year

For the second time, 100 carefully selected heads of indie studios have met in Hamburg as part of the Portside Game Assembly for an open exchange in a safe environment. The organisers from Gamecity Hamburg are pleased with the outcome and have announced the date for 2027.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Why AI Makes Sense in All Areas, But Not For All Tasks — Thomas Lehr, Director of Game Engineering at InnoGames

Development

G+ Why AI Makes Sense in All Areas, But Not For All Tasks

Sunrise Village is still online thanks to the use of AI. Thomas Lehr, Director of Game Engineering at InnoGames, talks about the reactions to the Sunrise Village case, when and how the use of AI can be effective and why InnoGames uses AI to drive growth but not for cost savings.

By Stephan Steininger • 7 min read

GamesMarket Daily – 06. July 26: Xbox Cuts, Paintbucket, Africa,Stop Killing Games on Sony, PS Charts & More

Daily

GamesMarket Daily – 06. July 26: Xbox Cuts, Paintbucket, Africa,Stop Killing Games on Sony, PS Charts & More

At Microsoft Xbox, the new financial year has got off to a bad start. 3,200 jobs are set to be cut, half of them with immediate effect. Elsewhere, however, there is cause for hope: African studios can look forward to two funding programmes.

By Stephan Steininger • 5 min read

Asha Sharma Wields the Axe, Cutting 3,200 Jobs at Xbox

Business

Asha Sharma Wields the Axe, Cutting 3,200 Jobs at Xbox

As announced, the new head of Xbox is turning Microsoft’s console unit on its head. 3,200 jobs are to be cut, 1,600 of them with immediate effect. Compulsion Games and Double Fine are being spun off via a MBO, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are to be sold, and Arkane is working on a solution.

By Stephan Steininger • 3 min read

Supercell Launches Developer Grants Programme For African Studios

Funding

Supercell Launches Developer Grants Programme For African Studios

Following in Google’s footsteps, Supercell has now also announced a programme to support studios in Africa. In its first cohort, Supercell plans to provide grants of between 20,000 and 200,000 dollars to companies.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

German Mobile Games Market Grew by 25% Over Last Four Years

Insights

German Mobile Games Market Grew by 25% Over Last Four Years

With detailed data on the mobile gaming market, game has further refined its market data for 2025, this time focusing on mobile games. The segment is a booming sector, as a long-term analysis also shows, and is dominated by in-game purchases.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Google Launches Games Fund for African Indie Studios

Development

Google Launches Games Fund for African Indie Studios

For the first time, Google is launching the Google Play Indie Games Fund in Africa, a support programme for indie studios from Africa. In total, Google plans to invest $1 million in ten studios.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

PlayStation Store Charts June 2026: Escape the Backrooms Pushes 007 Aside

PlayStation Store Charts June 2026: Escape the Backrooms Pushes 007 Aside

From 2028 onwards, the PlayStation Store is expected to cover the entire market for new releases on the PS5, but the Sony Store charts are already showing clear trends – namely, a change at the top in June.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

GamesMarket Daily – 03. July 26: Aesir Interactive, Mick Prinz, Cyberpunk, GDD, Tommi, ERA, Sony Interactive Entertainment

Daily

GamesMarket Daily – 03. July 26: Aesir Interactive, Mick Prinz, Cyberpunk, GDD, Tommi, ERA, Sony Interactive Entertainment

By Stephan Steininger • 5 min read

UK Retailer Association ERA Criticises Sony Interactive Entertainment

Business

UK Retailer Association ERA Criticises Sony Interactive Entertainment

The UK retailers’ association ERA has spoken out strongly against the planned phase-out of PlayStation discs from 2028. Sony has prioritised “corporate convenience over consumer choice”.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read