Gerhold: Building an Alternative to Established Labels Stephan Steininger May 24, 2024 – 2 min read Share this post Mario Gerhold © Gerhold Jochen Koubek is professor of Digital Media and Computer Game Studies at the University of Bayreuth (Uni Bayreuth) Campus G+ Researcher Spotlight: Jochen Koubek, Bayreuth University In our new series about games researchers, we portrait the people wo bring game studies forward and define how game making is taught and learned at universities. Starting out is Jochen Koubek of Bayreuth University. By Pascal Wagner • 4 min read Thalita Malagò, Director General, IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association) © Marco Bravi GamesMarket Plus The Italian Games Market Through the Eyes of Thalita Malagò, IIDEA Director No one knows the specifics of the Italian games market as well as Thalita Malagò, Director General of IIDEA. We speak with her about the challenges facing the industry, what support is needed, and how they can increase the visibility of games made in Italy on the international market. By Marcel Kleffmann • 7 min read Witchfire | Adrian Chmielarz © The Astronauts People G+ Adrian Chmielarz on AAA Mediocrity, Creativity in Small Teams and Witchfire Witchfire from The Astronauts is an acclaimed shooter currently available on Early Access. We spoke to co-owner Adrian Chmielarz about the current state of the AAA shooter genre, the creative nature of the AA segment, and the game's lengthy development period since it was first announced in 2017. By Marcel Kleffmann • 8 min read Business Google UK Confirms Launch of the Play Store Business Model Back in March, Google announced significant changes to its business model for the Google Play Store and a phased roll-out starting on 30 June. Google UK has now confirmed the launch. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read Press Start alumni studio SleepDrift is one of the grant recipients with their upcoming game Märe (SleepDrift) Funding MDM Funding Grants 353,000€ to Six Games In the current 4,5€ mil funding round of Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, 353,000€ goes to six games as well: Ritter und Kinback, Creature Creep Studio and SleepDrift get development funding, while Stekosaurus and Fine Flow Studio get concept funding. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read Products Enshrouded Leaves Early Access in October After over two years in Early Access, remarkable player numbers and a lot of nominations and awards, Keen Games' hit Enshrouded will release as 1.0 on 15 October 2026. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read Songs for a Passerby was Celine Daemen's former project. Her next one, The Opposite of Being, is produced by Reynard Films and funded by FFF (Olivier M. Herter) Funding June 2026: Bavaria Funds 5 XR Experiences with €360,000 Five XR experiences get 360,000 euros from FFF Bayern's current funding round. Two of those projects are in development at Reynard Films, one at Tellux next. Ignota and Jost von Harlessem are funded as well. By Pascal Wagner • The four-person team at Aldamami Games comprises: (from left to right): Alice Schneider, Katharina 'Mikey' Müller, David Cafisso and Marvin Braun. Katharina 'Mikey' Müller and Marvin Braun founded the studio. © Aldamami Games GamesMarket Plus G+ How Aldamami Games' Bloodletter Is Holding Up in Early Access Bloodletter, the debut game from Aldamami Games, has been in Early Access since late March 2026. We spoke to Katharina 'Mikey' Müller to find out how satisfied the team is with the launch, how the game is faring in the competitive deck-building genre, and what their plans are for the future. By Marcel Kleffmann • 6 min read gamescom Gamescom Dev Talk Review: From AAA to III – My Journey Into Poverty Not sure what sort of talks to expect at gamescom dev? Together with gamescom dev, we’re taking a look back at selected talks from 2025. This time, a short but fascinating talk by Espen Sogn, Founder & Head of Studio Jotun Games, on the desire to bring his own project to life. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
Jochen Koubek is professor of Digital Media and Computer Game Studies at the University of Bayreuth (Uni Bayreuth) Campus G+ Researcher Spotlight: Jochen Koubek, Bayreuth University In our new series about games researchers, we portrait the people wo bring game studies forward and define how game making is taught and learned at universities. Starting out is Jochen Koubek of Bayreuth University. By Pascal Wagner • 4 min read
Thalita Malagò, Director General, IIDEA (Italian Interactive Digital Entertainment Association) © Marco Bravi GamesMarket Plus The Italian Games Market Through the Eyes of Thalita Malagò, IIDEA Director No one knows the specifics of the Italian games market as well as Thalita Malagò, Director General of IIDEA. We speak with her about the challenges facing the industry, what support is needed, and how they can increase the visibility of games made in Italy on the international market. By Marcel Kleffmann • 7 min read
Witchfire | Adrian Chmielarz © The Astronauts People G+ Adrian Chmielarz on AAA Mediocrity, Creativity in Small Teams and Witchfire Witchfire from The Astronauts is an acclaimed shooter currently available on Early Access. We spoke to co-owner Adrian Chmielarz about the current state of the AAA shooter genre, the creative nature of the AA segment, and the game's lengthy development period since it was first announced in 2017. By Marcel Kleffmann • 8 min read
Business Google UK Confirms Launch of the Play Store Business Model Back in March, Google announced significant changes to its business model for the Google Play Store and a phased roll-out starting on 30 June. Google UK has now confirmed the launch. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Press Start alumni studio SleepDrift is one of the grant recipients with their upcoming game Märe (SleepDrift) Funding MDM Funding Grants 353,000€ to Six Games In the current 4,5€ mil funding round of Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, 353,000€ goes to six games as well: Ritter und Kinback, Creature Creep Studio and SleepDrift get development funding, while Stekosaurus and Fine Flow Studio get concept funding. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Products Enshrouded Leaves Early Access in October After over two years in Early Access, remarkable player numbers and a lot of nominations and awards, Keen Games' hit Enshrouded will release as 1.0 on 15 October 2026. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Songs for a Passerby was Celine Daemen's former project. Her next one, The Opposite of Being, is produced by Reynard Films and funded by FFF (Olivier M. Herter) Funding June 2026: Bavaria Funds 5 XR Experiences with €360,000 Five XR experiences get 360,000 euros from FFF Bayern's current funding round. Two of those projects are in development at Reynard Films, one at Tellux next. Ignota and Jost von Harlessem are funded as well. By Pascal Wagner •
The four-person team at Aldamami Games comprises: (from left to right): Alice Schneider, Katharina 'Mikey' Müller, David Cafisso and Marvin Braun. Katharina 'Mikey' Müller and Marvin Braun founded the studio. © Aldamami Games GamesMarket Plus G+ How Aldamami Games' Bloodletter Is Holding Up in Early Access Bloodletter, the debut game from Aldamami Games, has been in Early Access since late March 2026. We spoke to Katharina 'Mikey' Müller to find out how satisfied the team is with the launch, how the game is faring in the competitive deck-building genre, and what their plans are for the future. By Marcel Kleffmann • 6 min read
gamescom Gamescom Dev Talk Review: From AAA to III – My Journey Into Poverty Not sure what sort of talks to expect at gamescom dev? Together with gamescom dev, we’re taking a look back at selected talks from 2025. This time, a short but fascinating talk by Espen Sogn, Founder & Head of Studio Jotun Games, on the desire to bring his own project to life. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
