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EU Kids Act: Reactions and Analyses — (Picture: Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko)

Politics

EU Kids Act: Reactions and Analyses

Following the VGE and Bavaria’s Digital Minister Mehring, other stakeholders including the EGDF, Osborne Clarke and Digitaleurope have spoken out on the European Commission’s proposal for the EU Kids Act. One thing is clear: the details are crucial and they still need to be worked out.

By Stephan Steininger • 3 min read

EU Kids Act: Brussels Places Burden of Proof For Child Protection to Providers Including Games Companies — Henna Virkkunen and Ursula von der Leyen

Politics

EU Kids Act: Brussels Places Burden of Proof For Child Protection to Providers Including Games Companies

The European Commission has presented the EU Kids Act, bringing significant changes not only to the use of social media by children but also to online games. As PEGI was named a benchmark, the consequences for the games industry may be limited. Initial reactions have come from Bavaria and the VGE.

By Stephan Steininger • 4 min read

EGDF Publishes Open Letter Against Apple's New EU Terms

Politics

EGDF Publishes Open Letter Against Apple's New EU Terms

Apple's new terms in the EU don't resolve its problems, keep fees high and restrictions in place, argues the EGDF in an open letter to the European Commission.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

CreaTech Bulgaria Joins EGDF — Jari-Pekka Kaleva, Managing Director of EGDF; Genoveva Christova, President of CreaTech Bulgaria; Tsvetan Rusimov (Imperia Online), Board Member of CreaTech Bulgaria and Hendrik Lesser, President of EGDF, at gamescom (CreaTech)

Politics

CreaTech Bulgaria Joins EGDF

The Bulgarian creative cluster CreaTech joins EGDF as the 27th member of the association.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

A Closer Look at Game Monetization: What Studios Should Bear in Mind Before the Digital Fairness Act Comes into Force — (Pexels, Shkrabaanthony)

Politics

A Closer Look at Game Monetization: What Studios Should Bear in Mind Before the Digital Fairness Act Comes into Force

The Digital Fairness Act will likely not stop at ingame monetisation. With the Children Survey done, the European Commission will likely target dark patterns that keep users playing or scrolling longer as well, argues our law expert Sandra Spensberger. What game studios can do right now.

By Sandra Spensberger • 3 min read

Social Responsibility is No Stick-On Label (Commentary) — Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier brought some nuanced perspectives to the industry on stage at the gamescom congress. Not everyone liked that. (Photo: KoelnMesse / gamescom)

Politics

Social Responsibility is No Stick-On Label (Commentary)

Steinmeier's and Virkkunen's promise to keep certain monetisation and dark pattern models in check has been decried in parts of the industry. But if it wants to adorn itself with social responsibility laurels, it will have to reckon with the truths behind these problems as well.

By Pascal Wagner • 5 min read

Minister Kaweh Mansoori: "Hesse Supports the Industry in the Tax Incentive Discussion" — Minister Kaweh Mansoori at the Hesse booth at gamescom 2026 (photo: GamesMarket, Pascal Wagner)

People

Minister Kaweh Mansoori: "Hesse Supports the Industry in the Tax Incentive Discussion"

We spoke to Hesse Economic Minister Kaweh Mansoori after his gamescom reception about what Hesse, home of Nintendo of Europe, Crytek, Keen Games, Deck13 and many more, can and wants to do better for the games industry.

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

European Commission Designates Roblox as Very Large Online Platform (DSA) — Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy © Mikko Mäntyniemi

Politics

European Commission Designates Roblox as Very Large Online Platform (DSA)

The European Commission has designated Roblox and Reddit as Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) under the Digital Services Act (DSA). ChatGPT has also been classified as a Very Large Online Search Engine (VLOSE). Roblox is the first game to be classified as a VLOP.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read

game: No Cooperation, No AfD at gamescom — Falk on stage at the gamescom congress, defining the political stance of game for the audience (official stream)

Politics

game: No Cooperation, No AfD at gamescom

"Video games aren't a spectator sport, and neither is democracy": At the gamescom congress opening, shortly before President Steinmeier's speech, game CEO Felix Falk has made the position of the association clear: no cooperation with the AfD, no invitations to gamescom for them in the future.

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

Spillover Effects from Games Research: Several Associations Promise Cooperation — From left to right: The organizers and speakers of the roundtable: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Florian Mehm (Wilhelm Büchner University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt), Prof. Dr. Oliver Hugo (Aschaffenburg University of Applied Sciences), Prof. Dr. Johanna Pirker (Technical University of Munich), Prof. Stephan Jacob (Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences), Prof. Dr. Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken (ZHDK Zurich), and Dr.-Ing. (habil.) Stefan Göbel (Technical University of Darmstadt).

Campus

Spillover Effects from Games Research: Several Associations Promise Cooperation

With a roundtable at gamescom congress and a reception by BMFTR and DLR later that day, the topic of spillover effects from games research and industry has been a focal point of last week. The DGSW and the German Informatics Society promised further collaboration.

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

gamescom congress 2026 Sets Attendance Record — (gamescom congress)

Campus

gamescom congress 2026 Sets Attendance Record

This year's gamescom congress wasn't only the first ever to be opened by a German head of state in the form of President Steinmeier, but also the biggest one so far, seeing 1,100 attendees.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Michael Kretschmer Takes on the Role of Patron for Saxony's Games Industry — Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of Saxony (c) Gecko One GmbH

Politics

Michael Kretschmer Takes on the Role of Patron for Saxony's Games Industry

Michael Kretschmer, the Minister-President of Saxony, has become the patron of the state's games industry. This acknowledges the sector's growth and will help to further develop Saxony as a games hub.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read