The Games Industry's Perspective on 2025 - Part #2: Exhibitions and Events Pascal Wagner December 17, 2024 – 2 min read Share this post gamescom 2024 // Polaris 2024 © Koelnmesse GmbH, Bernd Lauter // Hamburg Messe und Congress/Rolf Otzipka Insights Newzoo: PC and Console Gaming Market Enters New Phase of Growth Good news for the industry, according to Newzoo in its new PC & Console Gaming Report 2026: the market is growing significantly again, leaving the post-pandemic plateau behind. However, the market has undergone structural changes. By Stephan Steininger • 4 min read Project Helix: the next Xbox will play PC and Xbox games © Microsoft Business Big Ambitions for Project Helix and Xbox Mode for Windows 11 Microsoft aims to push the boundaries of rendering and simulation with the next Xbox console, in partnership with AMD. The gap between PCs and consoles is also closing: starting in April, Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows 11 in select markets. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read Michael Schade, CEO and co-founder of Rockfish Games © Gero Goerlich, 39pix.com Business Rockfish Games' CEO: "56.5% of the Dev Budget Comes Straight From Our Own Pocket" Rockfish Games recently received a record-breaking grant of €8 million. In this interview, CEO Michael Schade discusses the ~€20 million budget, the six-year development period, the importance of the grant for the Hamburg-based studio, and Germany as a location for the games industry. By Marcel Kleffmann • 5 min read Insights Newzoo: PC and Console Gaming Market Enters New Phase of Growth Good news for the industry, according to Newzoo in its new PC & Console Gaming Report 2026: the market is growing significantly again, leaving the post-pandemic plateau behind. However, the market has undergone structural changes. By Stephan Steininger • 4 min read Bavaria's Minister for Digital Affairs Dr Fabian Mehring @ GG Bavaria 2026 © Kaspar Kozub / StMD Bayern Politics Mehring Aims to Strengthen Bavaria's Position as Germany's Leading Games Location Even Further Almost 10,000 people attended GG Bavaria 2026 at the Kleine Olympiahalle in Munich last weekend. Bavaria's Minister for Digital Affairs, Dr Fabian Mehring, was also extremely satisfied, and aims to further strengthen Bavaria's position as Germany's leading location for games. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read Indie Arena Booth (IAB) at gamescom 2026 © Super Crowd gamescom Film- Und Medienstiftung NRW Will Once Again Bring Five Games to the IAB In 2026, the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will once again showcase five games from companies in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) at the Indie Arena Booth (IAB) at gamescom. Interested companies can now apply. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read Products Collector's Cove Collector's Cove by VoodooDuck brings together its gameplay systems so cleverly, every move feels like progress. The cute creature that pulls a customisable ship through explorable archipelagos doesn't hurt, either. By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read Silent Hill 2 Remake has five million players © Konami Products Silent Hill 2 Remake Has Five Million Players More than five million players have played the Silent Hill 2 remake. This psychological horror game, developed by Bloober Team and published by Konami, was released in October 2024 and is already available on PlayStation Plus Extra. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read Project Helix: the next Xbox will play PC and Xbox games © Microsoft Business Big Ambitions for Project Helix and Xbox Mode for Windows 11 Microsoft aims to push the boundaries of rendering and simulation with the next Xbox console, in partnership with AMD. The gap between PCs and consoles is also closing: starting in April, Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows 11 in select markets. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Insights Newzoo: PC and Console Gaming Market Enters New Phase of Growth Good news for the industry, according to Newzoo in its new PC & Console Gaming Report 2026: the market is growing significantly again, leaving the post-pandemic plateau behind. However, the market has undergone structural changes. By Stephan Steininger • 4 min read
Project Helix: the next Xbox will play PC and Xbox games © Microsoft Business Big Ambitions for Project Helix and Xbox Mode for Windows 11 Microsoft aims to push the boundaries of rendering and simulation with the next Xbox console, in partnership with AMD. The gap between PCs and consoles is also closing: starting in April, Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows 11 in select markets. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Michael Schade, CEO and co-founder of Rockfish Games © Gero Goerlich, 39pix.com Business Rockfish Games' CEO: "56.5% of the Dev Budget Comes Straight From Our Own Pocket" Rockfish Games recently received a record-breaking grant of €8 million. In this interview, CEO Michael Schade discusses the ~€20 million budget, the six-year development period, the importance of the grant for the Hamburg-based studio, and Germany as a location for the games industry. By Marcel Kleffmann • 5 min read
Insights Newzoo: PC and Console Gaming Market Enters New Phase of Growth Good news for the industry, according to Newzoo in its new PC & Console Gaming Report 2026: the market is growing significantly again, leaving the post-pandemic plateau behind. However, the market has undergone structural changes. By Stephan Steininger • 4 min read
Bavaria's Minister for Digital Affairs Dr Fabian Mehring @ GG Bavaria 2026 © Kaspar Kozub / StMD Bayern Politics Mehring Aims to Strengthen Bavaria's Position as Germany's Leading Games Location Even Further Almost 10,000 people attended GG Bavaria 2026 at the Kleine Olympiahalle in Munich last weekend. Bavaria's Minister for Digital Affairs, Dr Fabian Mehring, was also extremely satisfied, and aims to further strengthen Bavaria's position as Germany's leading location for games. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Indie Arena Booth (IAB) at gamescom 2026 © Super Crowd gamescom Film- Und Medienstiftung NRW Will Once Again Bring Five Games to the IAB In 2026, the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW will once again showcase five games from companies in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) at the Indie Arena Booth (IAB) at gamescom. Interested companies can now apply. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Products Collector's Cove Collector's Cove by VoodooDuck brings together its gameplay systems so cleverly, every move feels like progress. The cute creature that pulls a customisable ship through explorable archipelagos doesn't hurt, either. By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read
Silent Hill 2 Remake has five million players © Konami Products Silent Hill 2 Remake Has Five Million Players More than five million players have played the Silent Hill 2 remake. This psychological horror game, developed by Bloober Team and published by Konami, was released in October 2024 and is already available on PlayStation Plus Extra. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Project Helix: the next Xbox will play PC and Xbox games © Microsoft Business Big Ambitions for Project Helix and Xbox Mode for Windows 11 Microsoft aims to push the boundaries of rendering and simulation with the next Xbox console, in partnership with AMD. The gap between PCs and consoles is also closing: starting in April, Xbox mode will begin rolling out to Windows 11 in select markets. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
