German Gaming Market Down at Mid-Year

gamescom

EarReality Showcases Audio Games and Its Platform Twist Tales at Cinemo and ARD

EarReality is showcasing its platform for interactive audiobooks and audio games at gamescom. At both the ARD booth and that of in-car infotainment specialist Cinemo, the studios shows how games work without a screen, thanks to its no-code engine Twist and the Twist Tales platform.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Business

Mayor Visits Kalypso Media to Mark Its Anniversary

The importance of games as an economic factor is particularly evident outside the major cities. For Worms, Kalypso Media is also an economic beacon, which is why Mayor Stephanie Lohr dropped by the office to mark the anniversary.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Business

Beyond the Trailer: How Take-Two Turned GTA VI’s Marketing into a Revenue-Generating Product

With the Netflix exclusive ‘GTA VI: An Extended Look’, Take-Two has turned promotional gameplay footage into a premium, event-style piece of content with potential license revenue. In his update, industry expert Zoran Roso analyses whether this is now the new gold standard in games marketing.

By Zoran Roso • 4 min read

gamescom

Gamescom 2026 Breaks First Records Even Before Opening

More exhibitors, more country pavilions, and a larger indie area—gamescom has already broken its first records about a week before opening.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

People

G+ Researcher Spotlight: Stephan Jacob

One of the heads behind the Raw Talent booth collective of universities at gamescom, Stephan Jacob is Professor of Creative Technologies at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and Chairman of the German Society for Game Studies. We portray him in our ongoing series about games researchers.

By Pascal Wagner • 7 min read

People

Warren Spector Announces His Retirement as Game Developer

In a post on LinkedIn, legendary game developer Warren Spector has announced his retirement from game development, even though there are still projects he would have liked to work on. He says it is time to write and read books, give talks and perhaps do some consultancy work.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Esports

Esports Foundation Postpones Esports Nations Cup to November 2027

The Esports Foundation has postponed the inaugural Esports Nations Cup, which was originally scheduled to take place in Riyadh in November 2026, to November 2027. This decision follows an ongoing assessment of the wider regional situation and consultation with key stakeholders.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read

Funding

Federal Funding Goes to Gentle Troll Entertainment

Würzburg-based Gentle Troll Entertainment has received funding from the German Federal Government's Video Game Funding Programme for its project, "Packing Orders" (WT). This is the company's fifth grant to date.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 4 min read

Events

Zurich Pop Con & Game Show Shows Hall Plan 2026

The Zurich Pop Con & Game Show has released the hall plan for its 2026 issue. It will fill the entire Messe Zürich area. A new podcast stage has also been announced, filled with Swiss variety podcast live sessions.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read