gaming industry

Unity has added support for Meta's VR glasses development environment, expanding tooling options for creators building virtual reality applications on Meta's hardware. The move means developers can now build and test VR experiences for Meta headsets directly within Unity's ecosystem. Coverage of the announcement has been limited so far, with the news circulating mainly among games and tech industry outlets.

Microsoft's Xbox is developing a new console in partnership with AMD, alongside plans for handheld devices and a VR headset. The announcement signals a broad hardware expansion for the brand, with AMD supplying chip technology across the lineup. Details on release dates and specifications have not yet been shared, leaving gamers speculating about what the multi-device strategy means for the next console generation.

Prediction market operator Kalshi has lost a ruling at the appeals court level concerning whether state regulators can oversee its prediction markets. The decision means states may retain authority to regulate or restrict certain event contracts, a setback for Kalshi's argument that federal law preempts state oversight of its business. The ruling is likely to shape ongoing disputes between prediction market platforms and state gaming and securities regulators.

Sony will not attend CES 2027, according to an Engadget report, as the company shifts its focus toward entertainment. The move marks a notable absence for one of the tech show's longtime exhibitors and signals Sony's growing emphasis on gaming, film, music and other content businesses over traditional consumer electronics showcases.

Niantic Spatial says its spatial AI technology is being applied to real-world robots, extending the company's geospatial mapping work beyond games and consumer apps into robotics. The move signals the firm's push into physical-world AI, where spatial understanding helps machines navigate and interact with their surroundings.

Games should cost more, saying Grand Theft Auto 6 had a chance to raise prices across the industry but did not take it. His comments come amid ongoing debate about whether the standard $70 price tag should climb further for major releases, with GTA 6 widely seen as the release capable of resetting pricing expectations.

A proposed law in Pennsylvania would require game publishers that shut down an online game's servers to either provide an offline mode, release an independent server patch so players can host the game themselves, or issue a refund of at least 25%. The bill targets the growing problem of digital games becoming unplayable when publishers end support, and is being discussed as a potential model for consumer protection in the games industry.

Qualcomm has announced two new flagship phone chips, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a new 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. The company positions both as flagship processors, with spec differences between them described as relatively minor, focusing on improved AI processing, video capture, and gaming performance. Coverage is framing the move as Qualcomm's ongoing push into on-device AI for premium smartphones.

Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are pushing legislation that would require video game publishers to offer refunds when they shut down servers and render a purchased game unplayable. The proposal targets titles sold at full price, such as $70 releases, that become inaccessible once online support ends, and has reignited debate over consumer ownership rights in an increasingly digital, always-online gaming industry.

Sports organisations are investing heavily in esports, according to Sports Business Journal coverage examining when teams bet big on competitive gaming. The discussion centres on franchise owners and traditional sports clubs expanding into esports leagues, a move that carries both growth potential and financial risk as the industry matures.

Mobile game revenue reportedly reached $6.57 billion in August 2026, according to an industry figure circulating among gaming observers. The number highlights the continued strength of the mobile gaming market, which remains the largest segment of the games industry. Industry watchers are weighing what the monthly total says about player spending habits and the market's overall trajectory.

Sony will not take part in CES 2027, with reports saying the company is shifting its priorities toward entertainment content rather than the hardware showcases the trade show is known for. The move marks a notable departure from one of the tech industry's biggest stages and fits Sony's broader emphasis on games, music, film and other media businesses.

A court has ruled that video game companies cannot force families to arbitrate a lawsuit alleging that popular games were designed to be addictive for children. The decision means the case will move forward in open court rather than private arbitration. The ruling is being closely watched as it may open the door to broader legal claims against gaming companies over addictive game mechanics.

Huawei's Games Summit 2026 brought Chinese game developers together with European industry partners in Düsseldorf, Germany, timed to coincide with Gamescom week. Organized by Huawei GameCenter, the event focused on market entry, publishing and localization, aiming to help Chinese studios expand into European markets and foster cross-border partnerships in the games industry.

The National Videogame Museum has launched a UK-wide survey on video game preservation, as reported by GamesIndustry.biz. The initiative aims to gather information on how games and related materials are being kept for the future, and it is drawing attention from industry figures concerned about the loss of gaming heritage.

A Chicago Tribune column argues that a major gaming company is unhappy with odds being offered on video game competitions. The piece frames the dispute as part of a wider tension between traditional gambling operators and the fast-growing esports betting market, where oddsmakers and game publishers often disagree over how events should be priced and regulated.

Volkswagen of America announced that its 2027 models will feature in-vehicle gaming, letting passengers play games on the car's infotainment system. The move follows a broader automotive trend of turning dashboards into entertainment hubs, especially as electric vehicles and autonomous features change how people spend time in cars. Car enthusiasts and tech watchers are weighing in on what built-in gaming means for drivers and passengers.

A former Bethesda developer has said that Starfield, the studio's 2023 space role-playing game, is unlikely to receive a sequel. The comment has drawn attention from players and industry watchers, many of whom see it as a sign of the game's underwhelming commercial and critical reception. Fans remain divided over whether Bethesda will continue the franchise or shift focus to its established series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout.

Producer Carter Swan, known for his work on the Resident Evil film adaptations, is developing a movie based on The Crying Boy, a comic book series from publisher Keenspot. The project moves the horror-tinged comic to the big screen, adding another video game and comics adaptation to Swan's slate as Hollywood continues mining genre comics for film properties.

Streaming service Fubo has added four NHL regional sports networks to its lineup for the 2026-27 season, expanding its hockey coverage for subscribers. The move, reported by Sports Video Group, strengthens Fubo's sports offering as streaming platforms compete to carry live regional games. Sports fans and industry watchers are tracking which platforms secure NHL rights as broadcast deals continue shifting toward streaming.

The number of video game publishers operating in Russia is growing quickly, according to an industry report. The growth is linked to Western publishers withdrawing from the Russian market, leaving space for domestic companies to step in and license, localize and distribute games locally.

The number of video game publishers operating in Russia is growing at an accelerating pace, according to a report from industry tracker wnhub.io. The finding points to an expanding domestic games sector, with more companies entering the publishing business despite international studios having scaled back or exited the Russian market in recent years.

Kwon Hyuk-bin, the billionaire founder and head of South Korean game company Smilegate, has filed an appeal against a court ruling in his divorce case, saying he wants to preserve his family. The move keeps one of South Korea's most closely watched high-net-worth divorce disputes in the courts, drawing attention given his stature in the country's gaming industry.

A retrospective looks back at the 1990s console wars between Nintendo, Sega and Sony, tracing how fierce competition over hardware, marketing and exclusive games shaped the modern video game industry. The piece argues that the rivalry of that decade drove innovation in graphics, game design and home entertainment, leaving a lasting legacy on how consoles are made and sold today.

The National Videogame Museum in the United Kingdom has launched a nationwide survey dedicated to the conservation of video games. The initiative aims to gather information that could help preserve gaming history for future generations. It highlights growing concerns in the industry and among cultural institutions that games, as digital and fragile media, risk being lost without coordinated preservation efforts.

Overwolf has announced a media-brief tool that maps audience data across 5,000 video games, giving advertisers and brands insight into in-game viewership. The move positions the company to court media buyers looking beyond traditional channels into gaming environments, and is drawing attention from industry observers tracking how gaming platforms monetise their audiences.

Twenty years ago, Haitian American communities in South Florida protested against Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, objecting to in-game dialogue that seemed to disparage Haitians, and filed a lawsuit over the content. The controversy drew widespread attention and led to changes, and it is being revisited now as a landmark moment in debates over representation and offensive content in video games.