December 24, 2025
"War of the Worlds: Siberia" has hit 75,000 wishlists on Steam, marking a climb to 610th on the platform's most wished list. The game's release is anticipated in 2027, with Lesta Games rumored to show acquisition interest.
Xsolla has been announced as the Headline Sponsor for Global Game Jam 2026, underscoring its drive to support and expand opportunities in the game development community. The partnership will enhance education, resources, and engagement, with Xsolla hosting events and workshops to aid developers globally.
Pocket Gamer Connects London is set to break records with over 3,000 early registrations for its January 2026 event, anticipating 1,200 companies. The program promises diverse networking and learning opportunities, featuring 290 speakers and new partner events like the Apps Business Summit.
Asia Pacific Game Summit, set for January 29-30, expands with a new Area I floor and a robust lineup of industry leaders like Nvidia and AWS discussing AI advancements. The event features over 250 indie titles and major players like Nintendo and Capcom, with early bird tickets almost sold out.
Wonder Potion announces a major expansion of SANABI, highlighting a new standalone side story centered on Major Song, set to release on Nintendo Switch on January 15, 2026. The expansion, born from strong community support, offers a fresh two-hour narrative and gameplay enhancements, with discounts available on the base game and soundtrack on Steam.
Wonder Potion's 'Haunted Day,' a prequel to 'Sanabi,' launches on Nintendo Switch on January 15, 2026, with a free digital version. This release aims to expand the Sanabi universe and reach a broader audience, with a physical edition available in February.
Steam is offering four indie games for free, available for permanent library redemption during a limited December window. Gamers should act quickly as each title has a different deadline to secure them.
Riftweaver's Tales of Fablecraft, a cross-platform RPG, seamlessly unites PC, Mac, iOS, and Android users, addressing pandemic-era accessibility barriers. The game emphasizes value-driven purchases and plans for IP partnerships, while focusing on an inclusive onboarding experience and technical innovations like peer-to-peer voice and video within Unity.
Valve has delisted the controversial game Hong Kong 2097 from Steam due to concerns over third-party content, including depictions of real figures and copyrighted material. Despite the setback, developer KaniPro Games plans to continue its release efforts through alternative channels, highlighting ongoing challenges in platform content regulation and distribution.
Five standout games in 2025 shine on the Steam Deck, balancing visual fidelity, performance, and battery efficiency. Titles like Split Fiction and Dispatch exemplify top-tier gameplay and community engagement.
December 23, 2025
EA's shareholders have greenlit a $55 billion acquisition by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Affinity Partners, and Silver Lake, valuing shares at $210 each. This pivotal move, pending regulatory approval, intensifies consolidation in the gaming sector amid rising foreign influence concerns.
Pocket Gamer Connects London 2026 positions itself as a premier industry gift this season, offering early ticket sales and exclusive MeetToMatch access for attendees. The event will feature 290 expert speakers, 32 content tracks, and expand across two venues, hosting around 3,000 industry delegates, including major players like EA and Google.
Minecraft remains the best-selling independent game with over 350 million copies sold, securing its cultural impact with events, merchandise, and an upcoming movie. Other top indies include Hades, Terraria, and Stardew Valley, recognized for their commercial success and fan engagement.
Mamon King, an indie game from LiTMUS and YouTuber Yoshinama, sold 60,000 copies in its first nine days, exceeding expectations. The game’s success is attributed to Yoshinama's investment and cross-platform promotion.
Shanghai has unveiled a comprehensive plan to enhance its gaming and esports sectors, featuring a 50 million yuan annual fund to aid local studios' growth and global reach. This initiative, announced at the 2025 China Game Industry Annual Conference, seeks to solidify gaming as a key economic driver by promoting original content and integrating traditional Chinese culture, amid a booming market generating 350.8 billion yuan in revenue this year.
Indie horror game Buckshot Roulette, which debuted on Steam in April 2024, has reached 8 million players and is set for a 2026 console release. The game will feature new merchandise and a physical soundtrack, with more updates expected post-holidays.
"Dispatch" could be a contender for the 2026 Game Awards after its 2025 release, despite missing out on broader recognition this year. Developers are hopeful, but the competition is fierce, with other big titles set to challenge for GOTY.
Siberian Artisans is innovating voice-controlled education games, collaborating with Sber to create titles like a chess game and Play-China for learning Chinese. The studio, led by Alexey Koptsev, engages with top Russian universities to foster talent and is set to launch the educational game Almagest after joining the Moscow Game Cluster.
Romero Games faced near closure after the cancellation of their decade-long Xbox project, Hellslayer, until a new, undisclosed publisher rescued the studio with fresh funding. Hellslayer, a first-person shooter featuring a priest battling demons, was shelved, prompting the studio to pivot to a new, unrelated project.
Ubisoft Halifax employees have formed North America's first Ubisoft union, certified by the Nova Scotia Labour Board, marking a significant step in gaming industry labor organizing. CWA Canada's expansion to about 180 members with this union aims to secure better working conditions, with potential ripple effects across other Ubisoft studios, amid industry layoffs and disputes.