Games Highlights for the Holiday Season Marcel Kleffmann November 05, 2024 – 6 min read Share this post S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl © GSC Game World Business Sony Announces Closure of PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita Five years after the first attempt, Sony Interactive Entertainment has once again announced that the PlayStation Stores on the PS3 and PS Vita will be shut down. The store is set to be discontinued on both platforms by July 2027. This will make it impossible to purchase new content. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read Julian Mautner, CEO stillalive studios © stillalive studios GamesMarket Plus G+ Alpine Power: How to Keep a Studio 'Still Alive' for 16 Years From indie to AAA, we periodically showcase a studio from the German-speaking development scene. This time: stillalive studios from Innsbruck (Austria). By Marcel Kleffmann • 5 min read So far, the only thing we’ve seen – and still see – from IO Interactive’s Project Fantasy is the 2023 announcement artwork (Image: IO Interactive) Business IO Interactive Intends to Continue With Project Fantasy Despite Problems And Layoffs On Twitter, the Danish studio IO Interactive has announced redundancies within the team working on its new IP project, Project Fantasy, after a partner – Microsoft, according to Bloomberg – pulled out. However the project itself is not in question. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read Business Sony Announces Closure of PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita Five years after the first attempt, Sony Interactive Entertainment has once again announced that the PlayStation Stores on the PS3 and PS Vita will be shut down. The store is set to be discontinued on both platforms by July 2027. This will make it impossible to purchase new content. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read Digital will soon have no alternative (SIE) Products PlayStation Will Stop Disc Production in January 2028 From January 2028 onward, no more physical PlayStation games will be produced, the console maker just announced. Games will then only be sold digitally in the PSN and through digital retailers, effectively eradicating the second-hand market. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read As well as the high-profile gamescom, Pro Helvetia supports the industry through various funding programmes, which are currently entering a new round (Picture: Pro Helvetia) Funding Pro Helvetia Launches Next Funding Round for Swiss Game Developers A new funding round for the Swiss Work Grants for game developers begins on 1 July. The She Got Game programme will also enter a new round from September. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read (Super Crowd) Events Creative Europe Media: 17 Free Slots at Polaris 2026 17 studios from EU countries can showcase their game for free at Indie Arena Booth on Polaris 2026, thanks to Creative Europe Media. Additionally, 10 studios from low audiovisual capacity countries can get travel grants as well. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read Nintendo has confirmed its presence for gamescom 2026 as one of the first companies. Who is at the fair as well this year? (KoelnMesse) gamescom Confirmed gamescom Exhibitors 2026 Want to know which exhibitors have already confirmed their gamescom presence? We are keeping count: In our always up to date list of exhibitors with links to additional info on the exhibition presence. By Pascal Wagner • Development Godot to Implement Significant AI Ban Godot is "adding barriers to low-effort slop": To protect the code and stop demoralising reviewers, the engine is banning vibe coding, autonomous AI agents and AI chats. New contributors will be restricted more, while at the same time taught better. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Business Sony Announces Closure of PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita Five years after the first attempt, Sony Interactive Entertainment has once again announced that the PlayStation Stores on the PS3 and PS Vita will be shut down. The store is set to be discontinued on both platforms by July 2027. This will make it impossible to purchase new content. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Julian Mautner, CEO stillalive studios © stillalive studios GamesMarket Plus G+ Alpine Power: How to Keep a Studio 'Still Alive' for 16 Years From indie to AAA, we periodically showcase a studio from the German-speaking development scene. This time: stillalive studios from Innsbruck (Austria). By Marcel Kleffmann • 5 min read
So far, the only thing we’ve seen – and still see – from IO Interactive’s Project Fantasy is the 2023 announcement artwork (Image: IO Interactive) Business IO Interactive Intends to Continue With Project Fantasy Despite Problems And Layoffs On Twitter, the Danish studio IO Interactive has announced redundancies within the team working on its new IP project, Project Fantasy, after a partner – Microsoft, according to Bloomberg – pulled out. However the project itself is not in question. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Business Sony Announces Closure of PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita Five years after the first attempt, Sony Interactive Entertainment has once again announced that the PlayStation Stores on the PS3 and PS Vita will be shut down. The store is set to be discontinued on both platforms by July 2027. This will make it impossible to purchase new content. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Digital will soon have no alternative (SIE) Products PlayStation Will Stop Disc Production in January 2028 From January 2028 onward, no more physical PlayStation games will be produced, the console maker just announced. Games will then only be sold digitally in the PSN and through digital retailers, effectively eradicating the second-hand market. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
As well as the high-profile gamescom, Pro Helvetia supports the industry through various funding programmes, which are currently entering a new round (Picture: Pro Helvetia) Funding Pro Helvetia Launches Next Funding Round for Swiss Game Developers A new funding round for the Swiss Work Grants for game developers begins on 1 July. The She Got Game programme will also enter a new round from September. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
(Super Crowd) Events Creative Europe Media: 17 Free Slots at Polaris 2026 17 studios from EU countries can showcase their game for free at Indie Arena Booth on Polaris 2026, thanks to Creative Europe Media. Additionally, 10 studios from low audiovisual capacity countries can get travel grants as well. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Nintendo has confirmed its presence for gamescom 2026 as one of the first companies. Who is at the fair as well this year? (KoelnMesse) gamescom Confirmed gamescom Exhibitors 2026 Want to know which exhibitors have already confirmed their gamescom presence? We are keeping count: In our always up to date list of exhibitors with links to additional info on the exhibition presence. By Pascal Wagner •
Development Godot to Implement Significant AI Ban Godot is "adding barriers to low-effort slop": To protect the code and stop demoralising reviewers, the engine is banning vibe coding, autonomous AI agents and AI chats. New contributors will be restricted more, while at the same time taught better. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
