The Situation in Germany‘s Federal States: Wide but Sometimes Limited Support Stephan Steininger April 10, 2025 – 10 min read Share this post The funding provided by the federal states fell significantly compared to the previous year, partly because special budgets were available in 2023. In addition, a total of €2 million in funding is available in Schleswig-Holstein over several years. However, this funding is approved in a different way and is therefore not published on an ongoing basis. © GamesMarkt Business The "Lottery Ticket" Fallacy: Why Waiting Until Launch to Market is a Growth Death Sentence In the latest Zoran’s Update, the experienced industry manager Zoran Roso warns against starting to market a game too late. In his view, anyone who only begins marketing at the time of launch is essentially buying a lottery ticket. By Zoran Roso • 4 min read Business Sony's Exit of Physical Discs: German USK Sees Importance of Its Digital Ratings Affirmed In Germany, age ratings for physical games are assigned on a different legal basis to those for online games. The USK is officially recognised for both procedures and views Sony’s withdrawal from discs relaxed from a youth protection perspective. What matters is the reliability of age ratings. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read Vision of a virtual ICS (Picture by ICS) Business Setback For Preservation of Video Games in Germany: ICS Will Not be Continued With the international computer games collection, what is arguably Germany’s largest project for the preservation of video game culture is coming to an inglorious end. Now that the preparations have been completed, there is a lack of public support for the project’s forthcoming institutionalisation. 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. By Rudolf Inderst • 5 min read Publishing Aesir Interactive is Launching EverRail in Early Access in July A week after Aesir Interactive unveiled a new logo and a new game, there is also news about EverRail: on 20 July, the first game published by Aesir itself will launch in Early Access. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read Photo: Koelnmesse Pte Ltd / gamescom asia gamescom More Space: Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 to be Held Across Four Halls Following the success of the first gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show last year, the outlook for 2026 is one of growth. Thanks to an additional hall, the exhibition space is set to increase from 30,000 to 35,000 square metres. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read Business The "Lottery Ticket" Fallacy: Why Waiting Until Launch to Market is a Growth Death Sentence In the latest Zoran’s Update, the experienced industry manager Zoran Roso warns against starting to market a game too late. In his view, anyone who only begins marketing at the time of launch is essentially buying a lottery ticket. By Zoran Roso • 4 min read GamesMarket Daily 9 July 2026 - Mundi Vondi, USK on Sony, Immersive Media Days, Lost in Cult, legal summit & more Sony's decision against discs stays on everyone's minds, but there's more to think about: even some positive news, such as new Berlin-Brandenburg funding or a special student event. By Pascal Wagner • 5 min read Picture by EWC Esports Esports World Cup 2026 Kicks Off With Star-Studded Ceremony The 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) kicked off in Paris last night with a grand opening ceremony featuring, amongst others, Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, Theodora and Mosimann. Until 23 August, over 2,000 athletes from 200 clubs will compete against one another in 25 tournaments. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
Business The "Lottery Ticket" Fallacy: Why Waiting Until Launch to Market is a Growth Death Sentence In the latest Zoran’s Update, the experienced industry manager Zoran Roso warns against starting to market a game too late. In his view, anyone who only begins marketing at the time of launch is essentially buying a lottery ticket. By Zoran Roso • 4 min read
Business Sony's Exit of Physical Discs: German USK Sees Importance of Its Digital Ratings Affirmed In Germany, age ratings for physical games are assigned on a different legal basis to those for online games. The USK is officially recognised for both procedures and views Sony’s withdrawal from discs relaxed from a youth protection perspective. What matters is the reliability of age ratings. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
Vision of a virtual ICS (Picture by ICS) Business Setback For Preservation of Video Games in Germany: ICS Will Not be Continued With the international computer games collection, what is arguably Germany’s largest project for the preservation of video game culture is coming to an inglorious end. Now that the preparations have been completed, there is a lack of public support for the project’s forthcoming institutionalisation. 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. By Rudolf Inderst • 5 min read
Publishing Aesir Interactive is Launching EverRail in Early Access in July A week after Aesir Interactive unveiled a new logo and a new game, there is also news about EverRail: on 20 July, the first game published by Aesir itself will launch in Early Access. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Photo: Koelnmesse Pte Ltd / gamescom asia gamescom More Space: Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show 2026 to be Held Across Four Halls Following the success of the first gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show last year, the outlook for 2026 is one of growth. Thanks to an additional hall, the exhibition space is set to increase from 30,000 to 35,000 square metres. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Business The "Lottery Ticket" Fallacy: Why Waiting Until Launch to Market is a Growth Death Sentence In the latest Zoran’s Update, the experienced industry manager Zoran Roso warns against starting to market a game too late. In his view, anyone who only begins marketing at the time of launch is essentially buying a lottery ticket. By Zoran Roso • 4 min read
GamesMarket Daily 9 July 2026 - Mundi Vondi, USK on Sony, Immersive Media Days, Lost in Cult, legal summit & more Sony's decision against discs stays on everyone's minds, but there's more to think about: even some positive news, such as new Berlin-Brandenburg funding or a special student event. By Pascal Wagner • 5 min read
Picture by EWC Esports Esports World Cup 2026 Kicks Off With Star-Studded Ceremony The 2026 Esports World Cup (EWC) kicked off in Paris last night with a grand opening ceremony featuring, amongst others, Aya Nakamura, DJ Snake, Theodora and Mosimann. Until 23 August, over 2,000 athletes from 200 clubs will compete against one another in 25 tournaments. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
