Alex Hutchinson: "Humour Is so Unfortunately Rare in Games" Marcel Kleffmann February 14, 2025 – 2 min read Share this post Revenge of the Savage Planet / Alex Hutchinson, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Raccoon Logic © Raccoon Logic / Hutchinson Only opened in 2023 was the Istanbul studio. Now, it will be closed (IOI) Business IO Interactive Closes Istanbul Office, Gets Right to Project Fantasy IO Interactive has secured the IP for their Project Fantasy and will finish it independently. However, the loss of their publishing partner means they are closing down their Istanbul office, only established in 2023. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read 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 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 Products Gothic 1 Makes a Top-10 Debut in German Games Charts in June 2026 THQ’s role-playing game remake failed to take the top spot, partly because EA Sports FC has returned to number one, boosted by the World Cup By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read Michael Hebel is professor for Game Art and Design at the Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences / HNU (Estelle Frey) Campus G+ Researcher Spotlight: Michael Hebel, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences In our ongoing series about games researchers, we portrait the people wo bring game studies forward and define how game making is taught and learned at universities. Today in the spotlight is Michael Hebel of Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences. By Pascal Wagner • 6 min read gamescom The Rise of Direct-to-Consumer Channels in Gaming Advertorial | The gaming industry is witnessing a significant shift as publishers move toward direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels, bypassing traditional platform gatekeepers like app stores and console marketplaces. Visit Xsolla at Gamescom to learn more. By Xsolla • 1 min read People Joris Goossens is Newzoo's New CEO Stepping into the role of CEO after three years as CRO, Joris Goossens is replacing Michelle Van der Wilk-Rouhof at market data expert Newzoo. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read 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 Products New Pokémon Lego Sets Include Pokéball Diorama, Rayquaza and Arcanine Five new Pokémon sets have been announced by Lego: Arcanine, Munchlax, Rayquaza, Trainer Red and an openable Pokéball diorama. The ball and trainer will release in October, the rest in August. All are open for preorder. By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read
Only opened in 2023 was the Istanbul studio. Now, it will be closed (IOI) Business IO Interactive Closes Istanbul Office, Gets Right to Project Fantasy IO Interactive has secured the IP for their Project Fantasy and will finish it independently. However, the loss of their publishing partner means they are closing down their Istanbul office, only established in 2023. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
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
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
Products Gothic 1 Makes a Top-10 Debut in German Games Charts in June 2026 THQ’s role-playing game remake failed to take the top spot, partly because EA Sports FC has returned to number one, boosted by the World Cup By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
Michael Hebel is professor for Game Art and Design at the Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences / HNU (Estelle Frey) Campus G+ Researcher Spotlight: Michael Hebel, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences In our ongoing series about games researchers, we portrait the people wo bring game studies forward and define how game making is taught and learned at universities. Today in the spotlight is Michael Hebel of Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences. By Pascal Wagner • 6 min read
gamescom The Rise of Direct-to-Consumer Channels in Gaming Advertorial | The gaming industry is witnessing a significant shift as publishers move toward direct-to-consumer (D2C) channels, bypassing traditional platform gatekeepers like app stores and console marketplaces. Visit Xsolla at Gamescom to learn more. By Xsolla • 1 min read
People Joris Goossens is Newzoo's New CEO Stepping into the role of CEO after three years as CRO, Joris Goossens is replacing Michelle Van der Wilk-Rouhof at market data expert Newzoo. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
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
Products New Pokémon Lego Sets Include Pokéball Diorama, Rayquaza and Arcanine Five new Pokémon sets have been announced by Lego: Arcanine, Munchlax, Rayquaza, Trainer Red and an openable Pokéball diorama. The ball and trainer will release in October, the rest in August. All are open for preorder. By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read
