Game Studies Watchlist 2026 #39

Campus

FROG 2026 Shows Full Program

With a full day focusing on the new on-site games exhibition including presentations and a strong international focus with contributions from China, the US and Türkiye, FROG 2026 seems as strong as never before.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Campus

G+ Researcher Portrait: Nadine Trautzsch

In our ongoing series about games researchers, we portrait the people who bring game studies forward and define how game making is taught and learned at universities. Today in the spotlight is Nadine Trautzsch of IU International University, professor for Game Design and Game Art.

By Pascal Wagner • 7 min read

Campus

SDG+ Lab Opens Games-themed Exhibition in October

On 28 October, the exhibition “Zwischen Umbruch und Aufbruch” (Between Change and a New Beginning) will open at the SDG+ Lab at the University of Kassel and will run until 22 January. It has been organised in collaboration with the Games class at the Kassel Art Academy.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Products

Xbox Cloud Gaming Playtime is Being Tested

Xbox Cloud Gaming is now trialling a playtime model. Players can purchase hours of cloud gaming time without the need for an active Xbox Game Pass subscription.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read

Business

How Studios are Transitioning Distribution from Corporate Parent to Service Layers

In his latest update, industry expert Zoran Roso analyses how gaming's traditional, vertically integrated publishing model is fracturing into a modular "service layer", transforming what was once an all-encompassing corporate parent into an à la carte operational utility.

By Zoran Roso • 4 min read

Products

Silver Pines

Developed by Wych Elm and published by Team17, Silver Pines sees players begin a descent into the dreaded darkness. This classic survival horror game features a tense atmosphere and a Metroidvania-style experience.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 4 min read

Daily

GamesMarket Daily - 22 October 2026: BioWare Closure, Spiel Essen, Steam Charts, ITFS, Side Acquires Roboto

Bioware's imminent closure by EA is the topic of the day. We've also compiled the news from the kick-off at Spiel Essen 2026, as well as our weekly exclusive Steam charts.

By Team GamesMarket • 6 min read

Roblox: Rapid Trend Adaptation, Strong Concentration on a Small Number of Experiences

Newzoo and GEEIQ have published a joint report on Roblox and what the maturing of its audience means for games publishers. Not every genre is affected to the same extent, and so far only a few publishers have ventured onto Roblox.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Awards

ITFS Launches Competition for Animated Games Award Germany 2027

Studios from Germany have until 7 February to submit projects for the Animated Games Award Germany. The competition’s nominees will be screened as part of the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read