Robert Kaiser of rokaplay Reflects on 2025 and Looks Ahead to 2026

GamesMarkt: What is your verdict as you look back on 2025?

Robert Kaiser: "Looking back at 2025, I primarily see a year of extremes and duality. We are witnessing a massive divide in the industry: On one hand, painful consolidation continues to dominate - studios are closing, and we are unfortunately still seeing waves of layoffs as the market corrects itself after the pandemic 'hype years.'

On the other hand, we see incredible success stories proving the market is alive. Titles like ARC Raiders or viral phenomena like A Game About Digging A Hole show that players are hungry for new experiences. The massive anticipation for the Switch 2 has also defined the year and spread a lot of hope for the future."

GamesMarkt: What are your predictions for the gaming industry in 2026?

Robert Kaiser: "My focus here is primarily on small indie teams. I believe 2026 will bring the realization that games inevitably need to be produced more cost-efficiently and, above all, faster. We feel this ourselves with our title Solarpunk: the initial hype has cooled off, and reigniting that interest takes money and resources. Risk minimization will therefore be key.

I believe this exact economic pressure will lead to AI content gradually making its way into production. A current example is Ubisoft: they recently introduced their 'CHORD' model to streamline texture pipelines. If the big players are adopting these tools to save time, it will become the 'new normal' for us indies as well, simply for cost reasons. I'm not saying this because I want it to happen—I actually hope I’m wrong. But looking realistically at the market, I don't see anything stopping this trend. My only hope is that we, as an industry, learn to handle it responsibly."

GamesMarkt: How is rokaplay positioned for 2026?

Robert Kaiser: "We are strategically well-positioned because we are striking precisely this balance between ambition and risk minimization. On one hand, we have Solarpunk: a title with enormous demand where we are consciously taking the time to meet high expectations - despite the pressure for speed.

At the same time, we are expanding our portfolio with titles that utilize smart mechanics and community focus. With the announcement of Drawquarium, we are betting on a concept driven by creativity and interaction. We are currently evaluating several titles of this nature to diversify our lineup and ensure we aren't dependent on a single release."

Rokaplay is a German game developer and publisher specialising in cozy and family-friendly games. Its games are designed to appeal to players of all ages. Its portfolio includes titles such as Solarpunk, Lou's Lagoon, and Sugardew Island. The company, which is based in Darmstadt, also publishes smaller, unusual projects, such as A Game About Digging A Hole, which became a surprise hit in 2025.