Game Studies Watchlist 2026 #28

Campus

G+ Researcher Spotlight: Marion Plank

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 Marion Plank of IU International University, professor for Game Art.

By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read

Development

Subotron Launches ‘Playing Art’ Competition for Austrian Developers

Developers from Austria have until 30 September to submit ideas based on the Belvedere’s Open Content Collection. A jury will select games from these submissions for exhibition at Belvedere 21 and as entries for the Austrian Impact Game Idea 2026 competition.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Campus

Game Studies Watchlist 2026 #27

The Game Studies Watchlist newsletter, curated by Professor Rudolf Inderst, is published weekly on GamesMarket. This week’s focus is on Sagan Hawkes, the Embracer Games Archive, Cozy Gaming and Gogniive Gains From Gaming.

By Rudolf Inderst • 5 min read

Products

Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown Launches its Expansion Pass

One of Daedalic Entertainment's biggest successes in recent years was Star Trek: Voyager - Across the Unknown, released in February 2026. The publisher has now launched the Expansion Pass and the first story DLC.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read

gamescom

EC Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen to Visit Gamescom

Henna Virkkunen will be visiting gamescom for the first time this year. As the European Commission's Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, as well as the Commissioner responsible for digital and frontier technologies, she will be taking part in the political opening.

By Marcel Kleffmann •

Events

New Venue for the London Games Festival 2027

The London Games Festival 2027 will take place in mid-April at a larger venue in the heart of the city. It will offer greater accessibility and an expanded professional programme. Significant audience growth was seen among B2B and international attendees in 2026.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 4 min read

Business

The Player Trust Gap: Why Consumer Skepticism Is the Real Headwind for AI in Game Development

In his latest update, Zoran Roso analyses a survey of core Steam users, which raises the question of whether the biggest hurdle for AI in gaming is not the technology itself, but rather the people who buy the games.

By Zoran Roso • 3 min read

gamescom

Brazil Games Confirms Dual Presence at Gamescom

Brazil Games will return to gamescom in 2026 not with just one, but with two separate presences. In addition to its stand in the business area, Brazilian studios will also be present at the Indie Arena Booth.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Daily

GamesMarket Daily – 16. July 26: New Gamescom Exhibitors + Events, Bavaria, Marion Plank, GTA VI forecast, Leyline

It’s not just gamescom that’s on everyone’s mind; the release of the year is too: Newzoo has now, for the first time, used pre-order figures to date to estimate how GTA VI will perform at launch. Very strongly, of course. There’s also plenty of news from Bavaria and Hamburg.

By Stephan Steininger • 6 min read