In today's newsletter, we begin by assessing the potential takeover of Unity by Silver Lake Partners and the PIF. It also covers the reaction to the excessive regulation proposed by the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, the Games Ground Berlin event and Deca Group's takeover of Island Hoppers.
It would spell the definitive end of the Unity dream, dear readers,
if the engine were actually to be taken over by PIF and Silver Lake. After all, Unity began with a vision to democratise game development. Even if PIF and Silver Lake were to continue to make the engine available for licensing following a takeover, Unity would no longer be a platform for all developers, but rather the technology of a single provider. Nor would I assume that Unity would simply remain available for licensing to all developers following a takeover. At least not unconditionally. That is why the Reuters report alone – concerning an alleged discussion in which a takeover was on the agenda – is likely to cause unease. And Unity was only just in the process of rebuilding the trust it had squandered through the runtime fee debacle.
Here are the news of the day!
Yours Stephan Steininger
Games Ground kicked off yesterday in Berlin for the fourth and final time at the Alte Münze venue. Alongside top-class indie games and a diverse selection of talks and panels, the event also featured a visit from politicians and an evening of networking.
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by Stephan Steininger
The Berlin-based Deca Group (through A Thinking Ape Entertainment) has acquired the full assets and rights to the mobile game Island Hoppers from Nexters Global for up to $5 million.
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by Marcel Kleffmann
A group of associations and organisations has issued a joint appeal to the European Commission to avoid excessive regulation under the forthcoming Digital Fairness Act. The industry associations are clearly not alone in their concerns.
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by Stephan Steininger
According to a Reuters report, Silver Lake and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) are said to have recently held talks regarding a potential acquisition of Unity.
(Read more...)
In his latest Update industry expert Zoran Roso unpacksk how machine learning as infrastructural middleware is redefining studio workflows, legal risks, and talent pipelines and why he thinks, future enterprise value won't belong to those who produce the most.
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The Game Studies Watchlist newsletter, curated by Professor Rudolf Inderst, is published weekly on GamesMarket. This week's topics include Sega's most unusual console, as well as the potential cognitive benefits of gaming and competitive gaming.
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Marcel Kleffmann
Ubisoft has released the third and largest expansion of the year for Anno 117: Pax Romana. Developed by Ubisoft Mainz, Dawn of the Delta introduces a new twist to the classic Anno gameplay.
(Read more...)
To celebrate its 18th anniversary, GOG held its first GOG Showcase. As well as unveiling a selection of new/old games, the event provided further details on the "Retrovibe by GOG" publishing partnership and the GOG Preservation Programme, as well as updates to the GOG Galaxy client.
(Read more...)
EA has announced and released anniversary editions of Road Rash and six titles from the Wing Commander series, all of which have been restored. These anniversary editions are accompanied by the first-ever re-release of a further 18 classics on Steam and GOG.com.
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Marcel Kleffmann
05.11. - 08.11.2026: Games Ground (Berlin)
07.11. - 08.11.2026: AdventureX (London)
10.11. - 11.11.2026: MIGS - Montréal International Game Summit (Montréal)
04.11.2026: Invest in Games (Stockholm)
12.11. - 13.11.2026: The Games Forum Roma (Roma)
14.11. - 22.11.2026: Dutch Games Week (Breda)
17.11. - 18.11.2026: DevGamm Lisbon (Lisbon)
18.11.2026: DevGamm Awards (Lisbon)
18.11. - 21.11.2026: Play26 Festival (Hamburg)
21.11.2026: Card Galaxy Europe (Heidelberg)
21.11. - 22.11.2026: VIECC - Vienna Comic Con (Vienna)
26.11.2026: The Pre-Show (London)
27.11. - 29.11.2026: Milan Games Week (Milan)
28.11. - 29.11.2026: Be A Hero Gaming Zone at CCON (Stuttgart)
Find more events in our GamesMarket calendar.
