Business The Player Trust Gap: Why Consumer Skepticism Is the Real Headwind for AI in Game Development In his latest update, Zoran Roso analyses a survey of core Steam users, which raises the question of whether the biggest hurdle for AI in gaming is not the technology itself, but rather the people who buy the games. By Zoran Roso • 3 min read
Business G+ Made in Austria – Austrian Success Showcase – Part 2 In terms of turnover, the Austrian games market has always been somewhat overshadowed by Germany. However, the picture is quite different when it comes to games production and marketing. This article highlights five examples from Austria and is reminiscent of the greats of the past. By Stephan Steininger • 5 min read
Kingdom Come Deliverance II (Plaion) Business G+ Made in Austria – Austrian Success Showcase – Part 1 In terms of turnover, the Austrian games market, much like that of Switzerland, has always been somewhat overshadowed by Germany. However, the picture is quite different when it comes to games production and marketing. This article highlights five examples from Austria. By Stephan Steininger • 4 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
Only opened in 2023 was the Istanbul studio. Now, it will be closed (IOI) Business IO Interactive Closes Istanbul Office, Gets Right to Project Fantasy IO Interactive has secured the IP for their Project Fantasy and will finish it independently. However, the loss of their publishing partner means they are closing down their Istanbul office, only established in 2023. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Andreas Deptolla (Left) was appointed as President of Atari Europe, Richard Snowdon (Right), CEO of Coatsink will be Ataris Vice President of Studios Europe People Atari Appoints Andreas Deptolla as President for Europe and Expands Its European HQ in Münster Atari is expanding its presence in Europe and has chosen Germany as the location for its European headquarters. Andreas Deptolla will head up the European business as President from Münster. Richard Snowdon has been appointed Vice President of Studios Europe. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Business Asha Sharma Wields the Axe, Cutting 3,200 Jobs at Xbox As announced, the new head of Xbox is turning Microsoft’s console unit on its head. 3,200 jobs are to be cut, 1,600 of them with immediate effect. Compulsion Games and Double Fine are being spun off via a MBO, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs are to be sold, and Arkane is working on a solution. By Stephan Steininger • 3 min read
(Pexels/Cottonbro) Business When a Game Dies: What Do Video Game Providers Owe Their Players? The fact that the EU Commission is not currently considering legal changes to the Stop Killing Games initiative does not mean game publishers can do anything they want. IT Law specialist Sandra Spensberger explains the practical implications in her monthly GamesMarket column. By Sandra Spensberger • 4 min read
Business UK Retailer Association ERA Criticises Sony Interactive Entertainment The UK retailers’ association ERA has spoken out strongly against the planned phase-out of PlayStation discs from 2028. Sony has prioritised “corporate convenience over consumer choice”. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Business Opinion: Sony’s Ruthless But Bold Move Into a New Era of Gaming Sony has taken everyone by surprise – including its own partners – with its decision to phase out new PlayStation games on discs from 2028. It is hard to say whether this move was right or wrong. Sooner or later, however, it was inevitable. A commentary by Editor-in-Chief Stephan Steininger. By Stephan Steininger • 3 min read
