Politics

Business

Sweden: Cross-Party Working Group Presents Knowledge Report on Games

A working group of the Swedish Parliament's Culture Committee has now presented a nearly 200-page knowledge report on games and board games. Among other things, the authors call for games to be recognized as a cultural sector and for a national strategy for the games industry to be developed.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Africa Games Week Sees Political Moves for Games in South Africa

With 500 B2B guests, 1.500 people on the exhibition floor and the first Award show, the Africa Games Week 2025 was a full success. More importantly: The South African Government announced a big change to their handling of games in with a new committee.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

BLM and Bavarian Family Ministry Present Gaming Extremism Study

Bayerische Landeszentrale für neue Medien and the Bavarian Family Ministry have commissioned a study about extremism in gaming. The results, presented at the Ministry by researchers from PRIF and modus zad today: Right-wing extremism is most prevalent, and most online games don't do enough.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Esports

German Esports Summit Underlined Digital Culture as a Unifying Element for Millions

Shortly after DEP 2025, the German Esports Summit took place in Cologne. Around 120 industry, political and societal representatives took part in the annual conference of the German esports industry. There, the granting of non-profit status was highlighted as a start of a new era for esports.

By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read

Business

Bisalina Speedruns Raises €16k, Breaking Annual Record

More than 16,000 euros for Amnesty International in one evening: The Bisalina Speedruns event on 22 November has raised more than the full event series collected over the course of 2024. Now organiser Lucina Hum is poised for the future.

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

Business

How Policymakers Are Researching The Environmental Potential of Games

Sustainable game development is no mere PR issue for the industry. Increasingly, the public recognises the need for one of the biggest, fastest growing industry and culture sectors to become greener. The basis for this is extensive research that could benefit the industry greatly.

By Pascal Wagner • 3 min read

Business

Bavaria Finances Its Own Games Location Study

Bavarian Digital Minister Mehring is awarding 42,000 euros additional funding to Games/Bavaria for a game location study about the state, as basis for coming funding strategies. Results are expected in 2026. The study will be outsourced to Goldmedia.

By Pascal Wagner • 1 min read

Business

Video Games Europe and USK Respond to EU Consultation on Digital Fairness Act

The Digital Fairness Act could bring about lasting change to the gaming business, particularly in the free-to-play segment. This is another reason why it is important for the industry to get involved in the legislative process, as Video Games Europe and USK have done.

By Stephan Steininger • 2 min read

Business

UK Government: Payment Processors Can Ban What They Want

After a petition reached the necessary signatures, Starmer's UK government commented on the NSFW bans payment processors pressured storefronts into. According to the UK treasury, payment processors are in the right and the government has no plans to step in. This puts the government in direct contrast to

By Pascal Wagner • 2 min read

Business

Games Bavaria Munich Welcomes the Increase in Funding for Games

Games Bavaria Munich e.V. is grateful to the Bavarian government for its clear commitment to the games industry. Doubling funding for games would stimulate growth and innovation at Bavarian studios. Games Bavaria Munich e.V. welcomes the recent announcement of an increase in funding for the Bavarian games industry,

By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read

Esports

Esports Clubs to Be Treated as Non-Profit Organisations From the Beginning of 2026 in Germany

Following initial issues with the first draft at the start of the week, the final government draft on the non-profit status of esports has been met with widespread approval from game - Verband der deutschen Games-Branche, the E-Sport-Bund Deutschland (ESBD) and the Landessportbund Nordrhein-Westfalen. From 1 January 2026, esports clubs

By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read

Esports

"The Draft Bill on Esports Non-Profit Status Creates More Problems Than It Solves."

The draft bill on the 2025 Tax Amendment Act, prepared by the German Federal Ministry of Finance, contains an approach to the non-profit status of esports in Germany for the first time. However, according to game - the German Games Industry Association, the E-Sport-Bund Deutschland e.V. (ESBD) and the

By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read