Spending on user acquisition advertising in 2025, broken down by state © AppsFlyer Business AppsFlyer: AI Floods Mobile Gaming Marketing Channels In its 'State of Gaming for Marketers 2026' report, AppsFlyer outlines how the scaling up of marketing activities using AI has increased global spending on user acquisition and visibility. Meanwhile, Chinese publishers are reshaping competition in mobile gaming. By Marcel Kleffmann • 4 min read
Kevin Rountree, CEO of Games Workshop, has delivered the interim report for the second half year of 2025. Business Games Workshop Reaches Record Half Year Performance, Bans AI From Warhammer In the grim darkness of the far future, there is no AI. In Games Workshop's earnings call, CEO Kevin Rountree explained that Warhammer will incorporate no AI art and will not allow the usage. Also, the company posted record revenues in H2 2025, even with a middling video game release slate. By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read
2025 Was a Landmark Year for Gaming M&A © Drake Star - Sources: CapIQ, Pitchbook & DSP Research Business Drake Star: "2025 Was a Landmark Year for Gaming M&A" Drake Star has released its latest Global Gaming Report 2025, which covers gaming M&As, financings and IPOs. Two megadeals stand out in particular. The global technology investment bank is also positive about 2026. By Marcel Kleffmann • 4 min read
Angry Birds © Sega Business Angry Birds Licensing Merges with Sega's Global Operations Rovio and Sega have confirmed a strategic change in the management of the Angry Birds brand. The brand's global licensing activities will now be unified under Sega's transmedia licensing operations. This change is the next obvious step following Sega's acquisition of Rovio in 2023. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Cosplay, the C in MAG-C, is a central part of the community event, which appeals to fans of manga, anime, games, and cosplay | Picture by Messe Erfurt Business MAG-C Finalizes Program, Announces First Figures and is Supported by ByteRockers' A few weeks before the start, MAG-C in Erfurt has not only finalized its program, but announced concrete figures: 130 exhibitors await visitors across 12,000 square meters. The indie-area with studios like Pipapo, kaleidoscube, neoludic and Toukana is sponsored by ByteRockers' Games. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
Esports Nations Cup © ENC/EWCF Business Esports Nations Cup 2026: Application for National Team Partners The EWCF has opened the application process for official National Team Partners for the 2026 Esports Nations Cup (ENC). To support the long-term growth of nation-based esports, the EWCF is establishing the ENC Development Fund, committing a minimum of $20 million each year. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Business Game Studies Watchlist 2026 #1 The Game Studies Watchlist newsletter, curated by Prof. Dr Rudolf Inderst, is published weekly on GamesMarkt. This week's topics include several special issues and calls, as well as a video essay on remakes. By Rudolf Inderst • 2 min read
Group shot of the winners at the 2025 German Computer Game Awards (Deutscher Computerspielpreis) at the Palais am Funkturm in Berlin on 14 May 2025. © Franziska Krug, DCP via Getty Images Awards Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2026: Submission Phase Started The German Computer Game Award 2026 (Deutscher Computerspielpreis, DCP) will be presented on 29 April at the Residenz in Munich. Publishers and developers can submit games for the award until 23 January 2026. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
epf / Dextro Energy Business Dextro Energy and esports player foundation Partner Up Dextro Energy becomes the newest partner of the esports player foundation. Apart from product sponsoring, so-called Dextro Athletes within the epf are planned to combine esports with traditional sports. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Business Circana Sets Its Sights on Europe and Plans UK Launch in 2026 The US market research company Circana wants to internationalize. A new PoS Market Measurement service is set to launch in the UK in 2026. In the long term, the company also wants to tap into other markets in Europe. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
HyperX Omen Max 16 © HP Business HP Fuses Gaming Brands HyperX and Omen At CES 2026, HP announced that HyperX and Omen would be brought together under the HyperX gaming umbrella brand to provide a "holistic, end-to-end gaming experience". By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Kim Bayley, CEO of ERA Business UK Games Market Grew by 7.4 Percent According to ERA As usual, the British trade association ERA was the first to publish preliminary market data for the past entertainment year. According to this data, the British games market returned to significant growth. However, ERA does not take hardware sales into account. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
