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Oliver Kaltner Hands Over CEO Role at Cherry

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Oliver Kaltner Hands Over CEO Role at Cherry

With his current contract coming to an end, Cherry CEO Oliver Kaltner is moving into a consulting role. Rogier Volmer will take over as interim CEO on January 1, as Cherry enters a crucial phase.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Womenize! Inspiring Stories: Patty Toledo

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Womenize! Inspiring Stories: Patty Toledo

In their weekly interview series Womenize! features inspirational, diverse people who work in the games and tech industry, to share their experiences, give valuable advice and talk about their projects. In cooperation with Womenize! and Madeleine Egger, GamesMarkt is republishing these inspirations.

By Madeleine Egger • 2 min read

Crytek Founder and CEO Avni Yerli Brings Hannes Seifert on Board as Co-CEO — Avni Yerli and Hannes Seifert lead Crytek as Co-CEOs

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Crytek Founder and CEO Avni Yerli Brings Hannes Seifert on Board as Co-CEO

Hannes Seifert will be joining the Frankfurt-based studio Crytek on January 1. Seifert will share responsibility as co-CEO with founder and CEO Avni Yerli and will expand the management team, which also includes Christopher Schmitz (COO), Clive Gratton (CTO), and Volker Vorbrodt (CFO).

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Room 8 Group Welcomes Eugene Evans as Member of Its Advisory Board

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Room 8 Group Welcomes Eugene Evans as Member of Its Advisory Board

External game development studio Room 8 Group has won Eugene Evans, an experienced industry veteran, to join its advisory board.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read

Michelle Zou Establishes European Subsidiary of AviaGames in Hamburg — Michelle Zou has been appointed to head the AviaGames German subsidiary, overseeing market expansion and investment initiatives across Europe

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Michelle Zou Establishes European Subsidiary of AviaGames in Hamburg

AviaGames sets its sights on the European market and establishes a base in Hamburg. The new branch will be headed by Michelle Zou, former CEO of Bigpoint.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Katsuhiro Harada Is Leaving Bandai Namco — Katsuhiro Harada, General Manager of the BNS Original IP games projects, worked on Tekken for the past 31 years © Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Katsuhiro Harada Is Leaving Bandai Namco

He was the personal and public figurehead of the Tekken series like no other. Katsuhiro Harada (General Manager of the BNS Original IP games projects) has now announced that he will be leaving Bandai Namco Entertainment after 31 years.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read

Sokpop's Grunn is Dutch Game of the Year 2025 — Dutch Game Association

Sokpop's Grunn is Dutch Game of the Year 2025

The only double winner of the evening, Sokpop Collective took home the Dutch Game Award 2025 for Best Game and Best Game Design from the Dutch Games Association. The award also honoured attorney René Otto and Engine Software's Ivo Wubbels, among others.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Happy Tears and Resilience: A First-Timer's Impression of the German Developer Award — Engagement for women and other marginalised groups in gaming (FemDevsMeetup, left) and truly anti-fascist historical detective stories (Paintbucket Games, right) were among the winners of the Deutscher Entwicklerpreis 2025. The theme of resilience ran through more than just the winners.

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Happy Tears and Resilience: A First-Timer's Impression of the German Developer Award

Apart from its genuine emotions on stage, the brave stance of an industry rattled by political and economic recessions stood out to our Senior Editor Pascal Wagner at his first visit to the German Developer Award.

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

Womenize! Inspiring Stories: Sam González Morote

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Womenize! Inspiring Stories: Sam González Morote

In their weekly interview series Womenize! features inspirational, diverse people who work in the games and tech industry, to share their experiences, give valuable advice and talk about their projects. In cooperation with Womenize! and Madeleine Egger, GamesMarkt is republishing these inspirations.

By Madeleine Egger • 4 min read

DEP: Tiny Bookshop is the German Game of the Year 2025 — All DEP winners of 2025 (GamesMarkt)

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DEP: Tiny Bookshop is the German Game of the Year 2025

The German Developer Award night belongs to Neoludic Games from Cologne and their Tiny Bookshop, which takes home a hat-trick including the Best German Game award. Stray Fawn from Zurich and Paintbucket from Berlin get two awards, and the FemDevsMeetup receives special honours.

By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read

Sarah Müller: From Lemmings to Localization Lead — Sarah Muller, Head of Localization @Gameforge; Gameforge

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Sarah Müller: From Lemmings to Localization Lead

Working as Head of Localization at Gameforge, Sarah Müller ensures that games and content reach global audiences in the right language and tone. What started as a student job has evolved into a 19-year career founded on curiosity, adaptability and a passion for gaming.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 4 min read

Jonathan Natzel Becomes Managing Director of Mediengründerzentrum NRW — Jonathan Natzel (right) succeeds Walid Nakschbandi, who has been managing the MGZ on an interim basis since the summer in addition to his regular duties as Managing Director of Film- and Medienstiftung NRW

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Jonathan Natzel Becomes Managing Director of Mediengründerzentrum NRW

On December 1, Jonathan Natzel succeeded Rainer Weiland as MD of the Mediengründerzentrum NRW (MGZ). Weiland left the MGZ at his own request at the end of July. Walikd Nakschnandi, Managing Director of Film and Medienstiftung NRR had been acting as interim managing director of the MGZ.

By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read