The Esports World Cup Foundation has confirmed a $45 million commitment to players, clubs, and national teams for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup in 2026. The ENC 2026 will take place from 2 to 29 November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. © Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) Business Esports Nations Cup 2026 Debuts in November With a $45m Funding Commitment The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has announced the dates of the competition and the prize model for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC). This new global esports competition is built around national teams, national pride and iconic rivalries. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Fredrik Wester, CEO of Paradox Interactive © G. Liljevall Business How Bloodlines 2 Affected Paradox Interactive's Business Paradox Interactive, the publisher known for its grand strategy games, closed a very good fiscal year in 2025 - if it weren't for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. Consequently, the Swedish company intends to focus on areas in which it has the greatest expertise. By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read
Archive picture of GermanDevDays 2023 | Ulrich Schepp/GermanDevDays/Assemble Entertainment Business Application Phase for GermanDevDays Foundation Extended German developers and teams now have until 6 February to apply for support from the GDD GermanDevDays Foundation. The selection will be made by the Foundation's advisory board. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Impression from Indigo 2025 (David Rozing) Business Indigo Returns 2-3 June 2026 to Rotterdam Now in its second year under the Benelux Games Promotional Initiative, the Indigo B2B game event returns to Rotterdam on 2 and 3 June. By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read
CEO Satya Nadella / CFO Amy Hood © Microsoft Business Weak Holiday Season Sales: Xbox Revenue Declines in Q2 FY26 During the second quarter of the current financial year, Microsoft's Xbox division saw a 10 percent decline in revenue. There was a downturn in both content and services, particularly hardware, in what is normally a strong year-end period. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Mag-C 2025 (Jerrografie) Business Mag-C 2026 Sees 30% Growth in Exhibitors 165 exhibitors from 47 countries will show their products and services to consumers this weekend at Erfurt's Mag-C. That means the popculture convention has grown 30 per cent in comparison to last year. By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read
Business Games Bavaria Organises Delegation Trips to Nordic Game and Portside Game Assembly Studios from Bavaria have until 5 February to apply for the first delegation trips of the year, which are organised and supported by the Games Bavaria network. The trips will take participants to Malmö for Nordic Game and to Hamburg for Portside Game Assembly. By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Winamax Partners with G2 Esports and Riot Games © Winamax Business Winamax Partners with G2 Esports and Riot Games Winamax is sponsoring the professional League of Legends team, G2 Esports. The French sports betting operator will also become the 'Official Sports Betting Operator' of Riot Games for European and international League of Legends and Valorant competitions. By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
Felix Falk, Managing Director game - The German Games Industry Association | Picture: Dirk Mathesius Business Game Confirms German Pavilion and Considers Situation GDC Organisers as “Unfair” When asked by GamesMarkt, game managing director Felix Falk expressed understanding for the industry's reluctance, but also called potential negative effects for the GDC organisers ‘unfair’. He does not expect the global political situation to have too great an impact on the global games industry. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
Jussi Loukiainen and the first Coyote Time Publishing games Orbital Overdrive and Voltage High Society (Right) Business Jussi Loukiainen Founds Indie Publisher Coyote Time Publishing Coyote Time Publishing from Finland has set itself the goal of helping smaller studios in particular with marketing. It is also working on tools for self-publishing. One of the first titles is a game from the founder's studio. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
The Austrian Supreme Court (OGH, Oberster Gerichtshof) has ruled in favour of companies incorporating lootboxes into game modes that are skill-based enough (Austrian Court) Business Austrian Supreme Court: Lootboxes Are Not (Always) Gambling The Austrian Supreme Court has ruled in favour of Sony and EA, stating that lootboxes in FIFA Ultimate Team aren't gambling since enough skill is involved. While that's a big setback for the players that sued, it also gives clear reference to when lootbox modes are or aren't "skill-based". By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read
Jamin Smith, founder Pantaloon Business Pantaloon Raises Pre-Seed Funding From Industry Veterans With £150,000 in fresh capital, Jamin Smith's young label Pantaloon has taken the next step in its development and at the same time entered into a partnership with LootLocker. Pantaloon currently has three titles in development for 2026. By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read
