Drake Star: Gaming M&A Returns to Growth in 2024; Activity Expected to Increase Marcel Kleffmann January 31, 2025 – 3 min read Share this post M&A Activity in 2024 - Drake Star Global Gaming Report 2024 © Drake Star Forza Horizon 6 © Xbox Game Studios Business G+ Weekly Steam Charts: Forza Overtakes the Competition, While Warhammer Surges This week, Forza Horizon 6 took the top spot in the Steam charts. Lego Batman, Paralives, DRG Rogue Core and 007 also made it into the top ten, while the popularity of the Warhammer games was boosted by the Warhammer Skulls event. By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read GGJ jammer working on art © Global Game Jam Business Global Game Jam Announces Microgrant Pilot Program Global Game Jam has announced a new initiative that will connect aspiring developers with independent game studios by offering them paid micro-projects in areas such as art, audio and QA. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read Business The Safe-Bet Crisis: Why Live-Service ”Wrappers“ Are Imploding In this week’s “Update”, Zoran Roso asks whether the industry is still designing games for pure enjoyment, and he suggests that the industry may have fallen into a dangerous corporate trap of designing for operational efficiency instead of creative taste and is facing a brutal reality check. By Zoran Roso • 4 min read AG French Direct 2026 © AG French / ActuGaming Products AG French Direct 2026 With 41 Games The 2026 edition of AG French Direct, organised by ActuGaming and hosted by Salomé Lagresle, took place on 27 May. The showcase featured video games developed by French and French-speaking studios. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read Products Mina the Hollower Mina the Hollower is a fantastic genre blend of action game, soulslike and brain twister, drawn in Yacht Club's impeccable pixel style. Bone up! By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read Lost Legions © Tarock Interactive Funding Federal Funding Goes to Tarock Interactive und Blue Backpack Two studios have received funding from the German Federal Government's Video Game Funding Programme. This time, the two Berlin-based studios Tarock Interactive and Blue Backpack are being supported. By Marcel Kleffmann • 5 min read Opening panel during the comeback of Womenize! as an onsite event 2024 © Susanne Müller Events Topics and Speakers at Womenize! 2026 Topics to be covered at Womenize! on 3 June 2026 will include career transitions, community management, imposter syndrome, LiveOps, queerness in gaming, voice acting and indie game launches. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read Products Blueberry from Mellow Games Releases Today (Update) Hidden Trap's and Mellow Games' Blueberry release today, 28 May 2026 on Steam. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read Xsolla expands its community management tools © Xsolla Products Xsolla Expands Its Community Management Tools Xsolla has announced three simultaneous expansions to its community management tools and products for creators, community leaders and distinct channels for emerging markets By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Forza Horizon 6 © Xbox Game Studios Business G+ Weekly Steam Charts: Forza Overtakes the Competition, While Warhammer Surges This week, Forza Horizon 6 took the top spot in the Steam charts. Lego Batman, Paralives, DRG Rogue Core and 007 also made it into the top ten, while the popularity of the Warhammer games was boosted by the Warhammer Skulls event. By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read
GGJ jammer working on art © Global Game Jam Business Global Game Jam Announces Microgrant Pilot Program Global Game Jam has announced a new initiative that will connect aspiring developers with independent game studios by offering them paid micro-projects in areas such as art, audio and QA. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Business The Safe-Bet Crisis: Why Live-Service ”Wrappers“ Are Imploding In this week’s “Update”, Zoran Roso asks whether the industry is still designing games for pure enjoyment, and he suggests that the industry may have fallen into a dangerous corporate trap of designing for operational efficiency instead of creative taste and is facing a brutal reality check. By Zoran Roso • 4 min read
AG French Direct 2026 © AG French / ActuGaming Products AG French Direct 2026 With 41 Games The 2026 edition of AG French Direct, organised by ActuGaming and hosted by Salomé Lagresle, took place on 27 May. The showcase featured video games developed by French and French-speaking studios. By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Products Mina the Hollower Mina the Hollower is a fantastic genre blend of action game, soulslike and brain twister, drawn in Yacht Club's impeccable pixel style. Bone up! By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read
Lost Legions © Tarock Interactive Funding Federal Funding Goes to Tarock Interactive und Blue Backpack Two studios have received funding from the German Federal Government's Video Game Funding Programme. This time, the two Berlin-based studios Tarock Interactive and Blue Backpack are being supported. By Marcel Kleffmann • 5 min read
Opening panel during the comeback of Womenize! as an onsite event 2024 © Susanne Müller Events Topics and Speakers at Womenize! 2026 Topics to be covered at Womenize! on 3 June 2026 will include career transitions, community management, imposter syndrome, LiveOps, queerness in gaming, voice acting and indie game launches. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Products Blueberry from Mellow Games Releases Today (Update) Hidden Trap's and Mellow Games' Blueberry release today, 28 May 2026 on Steam. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Xsolla expands its community management tools © Xsolla Products Xsolla Expands Its Community Management Tools Xsolla has announced three simultaneous expansions to its community management tools and products for creators, community leaders and distinct channels for emerging markets By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
