Just under a year ago, Knights Peak was launched as the My.Games Group's new premium games publishing label. We spoke to Eugenio Vitale, Knights Peak's VP of Publishing, about the current market situation and the label's upcoming portfolio.
Mario Gerhold, Global Brand & Marketing Director; Jan-Eric Lauble, Creative Director; Eugenio Vitale, Director Knights Peak Interactive Thomas Wieland
GamesMarkt: How does the Knights Peak team currently assess the market situation as a publisher?
GamesMarkt: How does the Knights Peak team currently assess the market situation as a publisher?
Eugenio Vitale: "The industry is undergoing a period of correction following years of rapid expansion, with heightened competition for player attention, rising development costs, and a more measured pace of growth. The past years' bubble highlighted the need for stronger financial discipline and a shift from sometimes unsustainable bets to a more balanced portfolio."
"Additionally, we see the continuous growth of digital distribution and subscription models, which are reshaping how games are discovered and consumed, requiring publishers to be more agile and data-driven in their approach."
"Despite these headwinds, we see powerful catalysts for innovation and renewal. Studios that can balance creativity with competence and practical execution, remain agile, and embrace new tools are well-positioned to thrive."
"From a publishing standpoint, our role is to be highly selective, champion projects with strong potential, and help them succeed by engaging deeply with both players and platform holders. Today’s market demands a laser focus on quality and execution. It's not enough to simply launch a good game; as a publisher, we must work hand-in-hand with developers to build communities, foster ongoing engagement, and adapt to evolving player expectations across multiple platforms."
"Flexibility is essential, not just in how we approach publishing and distribution, but in how we support our partners in optimizing every stage of a game's lifecycle."
GamesMarkt: What does Knights Peak's portfolio look like for the coming months - if you can say anything about it yet, apart from Hela?
Eugenio Vitale: "The year is still very busy for us with physical releases and new platforms coming for our current and announced line-up. Hela represents a particularly special project for us - this heart-warming 3D adventure from Windup Games, the talented team behind the beloved Unravel series, continues to develop beautifully. Beyond Hela, we're actively building relationships with several exciting developers whose projects are at various stages of development. We'll have more to share when the time is right."
The full interview with Eugenio Vitale, in which he discusses the launches of Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (an action RPG) and Tempest Rising (a real-time strategy game), as well as the publisher's expectations of its partners, is available here as a Plus article.
Never miss anything from the German, Swiss and Austrian games industry again: subscribe for free to our Daily newsletter and get all news straight to your inbox.
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Eugenio Vitale: "The industry is undergoing a period of correction following years of rapid expansion, with heightened competition for player attention, rising development costs, and a more measured pace of growth. The past years' bubble highlighted the need for stronger financial discipline and a shift from sometimes unsustainable bets to a more balanced portfolio."
"Additionally, we see the continuous growth of digital distribution and subscription models, which are reshaping how games are discovered and consumed, requiring publishers to be more agile and data-driven in their approach."
"Despite these headwinds, we see powerful catalysts for innovation and renewal. Studios that can balance creativity with competence and practical execution, remain agile, and embrace new tools are well-positioned to thrive."
"From a publishing standpoint, our role is to be highly selective, champion projects with strong potential, and help them succeed by engaging deeply with both players and platform holders. Today’s market demands a laser focus on quality and execution. It's not enough to simply launch a good game; as a publisher, we must work hand-in-hand with developers to build communities, foster ongoing engagement, and adapt to evolving player expectations across multiple platforms."
"Flexibility is essential, not just in how we approach publishing and distribution, but in how we support our partners in optimizing every stage of a game's lifecycle."
GamesMarkt: What does Knights Peak's portfolio look like for the coming months - if you can say anything about it yet, apart from Hela?
Eugenio Vitale: "The year is still very busy for us with physical releases and new platforms coming for our current and announced line-up. Hela represents a particularly special project for us - this heart-warming 3D adventure from Windup Games, the talented team behind the beloved Unravel series, continues to develop beautifully. Beyond Hela, we're actively building relationships with several exciting developers whose projects are at various stages of development. We'll have more to share when the time is right."
The full interview with Eugenio Vitale, in which he discusses the launches of Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree (an action RPG) and Tempest Rising (a real-time strategy game), as well as the publisher's expectations of its partners, is available here as a Plus article.
Never miss anything from the German, Swiss and Austrian games industry again: subscribe for free to our Daily newsletter and get all news straight to your inbox.
