Keywords Studios
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Keywords Studios combines multiple marketing businesses into global creative agency FreeAnimal
Keywords Studios has launched FreeAnimal, a new global creative agency that consolidates seven of its existing marketing and production firms, including Ichi, KWM, Fire Without Smoke, Gnet, TrailerFarm, Maverick, and Big Farmer. This move aims to provide a single point of contact for developers, publishers, and brands, leveraging the collective expertise across its network of international offices. The initiative is part of Keywords Studios' broader strategy of acquiring and integrating companies to expand its service offerings in the gaming industry.
Testronic expands senior leadership, Mike Guttman appointed vice president of senior partnerships
Testronic has expanded its senior leadership team with several key appointments across its global offices. Mike Guttman has been appointed vice president of senior partnerships, with Nicole Closson joining as business development manager. Mateusz Kałuża is the new QA director in Warsaw, and Lily Guerreiro is the global partnerships senior manager. The company also made senior QA appointments in Manila, including Daniel Bowie Soriano and Ivan Balanay. These moves are part of Testronic's investment in talent to enhance its services for partners.
Testronic appoints Sonia Kerr as CEO, Sharon Baylay-Bell becomes company chair
Testronic has appointed Sonia Kerr as its new CEO, succeeding Sharon Baylay-Bell, who will now serve as company chair. Kerr, formerly CFO at XR Games, brings experience in leading high-growth digital businesses. The company also announced Mike Fitzgerald as Chief Revenue Officer and Samantha Williams as Chief Commercial Officer, reinforcing its commitment to its 'Player-Focused, Partner-First' strategy.
What does the future of external development look like?
Industry leaders discuss the evolving landscape of external development in the gaming industry, predicting a shift towards more strategic, integrated partnerships rather than simple outsourcing. Factors like AI, increasing game complexity, and publisher budget pressures are driving this change, leading to a more specialized and collaborative approach.
Pre-Orders Open For Akira Yamaoka’s Return to Silent Hill Soundtrack on Vinyl
Laced Records and Room 318 Productions are releasing the vinyl soundtrack for the upcoming film 'Return to Silent Hill,' composed by Akira Yamaoka. The 2LP set features 29 remastered tracks selected by Yamaoka, with an exclusive edition on 'Fog World' blend effect discs. The score aims to capture the psychological horror and fragile beauty characteristic of the Silent Hill series.
TIGA Games Education Conference – Full agenda announced!
TIGA has announced the full agenda for its upcoming Games Education Conference 2026, hosted at Birmingham City University and sponsored by Epic Games. The event will feature over 30 speakers from educational institutions and studios discussing key topics such as skills requirements, graduate employment, games research, and diversity in games education.
Ulysses Graphics appoints Chief Business Officer, Claas Grimm, to strengthen its position as a leading AAA art partner
Ulysses Graphics has appointed Claas Grimm as its new Chief Business Officer to bolster its position as a AAA art partner. Grimm brings over 20 years of experience in business development and operations within the games industry, having previously worked with major companies like Activision and Tencent. The company, which has studios in Ukraine and Poland, aims to leverage Grimm's expertise to enhance its client experience and solidify its reputation for high-quality art production.
Fortyseven Communications to open UK branch; sister agency Indigo Pearl joins the fold
US-based PR firm Fortyseven Communications is opening a London office and integrating its sister agency, Indigo Pearl, both operating under Keywords Studios. Craig Sinel will lead the UK branch, which will also launch a global Creator Relations program headed by Meghan Camarena. This expansion marks a new era for Fortyseven, aiming to provide enhanced creative firepower for clients.
AI in Gaming: A Reality Check Beneath the Hype | Invision Game Community
Despite the hype surrounding artificial intelligence in game development, a reality check from Keywords Studios suggests that only a small fraction of AI tools are currently delivering meaningful value in production environments. Jon Gibson, Head of Transformation at Keywords Studios, highlights a gap between AI's promise and its practical application, noting challenges with tool saturation, lack of clear direction, and the need for better integration into complex, real-world pipelines. The industry is currently in a 'chaos phase' for AI, with a greater need for structure, governance, and ethical considerations rather than just more powerful models.
Dave the Diver Soundtrack Swims onto Vinyl
Mintrocket and Laced Records are releasing the soundtrack for Dave the Diver on vinyl for the first time. The 2LP set will feature over 40 specially mastered tracks from the adventure RPG and management sim, with exclusive and standard editions available. Composers D'Anthoni Wooten and Jukio Kallio discussed their contributions to the diverse and genre-spanning soundtrack.
Jobs Roundup: April 2026 | Frederik Hammes appointed managing director of Gamescom organiser
Several key appointments have been made across the gaming industry. Frederik Hammes is the new managing director of Game Events GmbH, the organizer of Gamescom, succeeding Stephan Reichart. Rovio has appointed Smith Dela Pena as performance marketing lead for Angry Birds Dream Blast, and Yolanda Zhang is the new senior product manager for Diablo Immortal at Blizzard Entertainment. Additionally, Andy Norman has joined CodeDev as COO, and Tom Goldberger is the new vice president of gaming at DDA.
Jobs Roundup: April 2026 | Sega Europe appoints Irina Kim as chief financial officer
This article rounds up recent executive appointments across the gaming industry. Notable changes include Irina Kim as CFO of Sega Europe, Joost Hagesteijn leading Roblox's European operations, and Andy Norman appointed COO of CodeDev. Several other key roles have also been filled at companies like Astragon Entertainment, Rovio, and Blizzard Entertainment.
Jobs Roundup: April 2026 | CodeDev appoints Andy Norman as COO
Unreal Engine studio CodeDev has appointed Andy Norman as Chief Operating Officer, with Norman expressing enthusiasm for building strong relationships with staff and clients. Separately, creative communications agency DDA has hired Tom Goldberger as Vice President of Gaming, leveraging his extensive PR experience from companies like Square Enix and Ubisoft.
Testronic Strengthens Its US Center of Excellence with Key Senior Appointments
Testronic has announced several senior appointments to its US Center of Excellence, including Kevin Frazier as Regional QA Director and Nicole Closson as Business Development Manager. These hires aim to strengthen client partnerships and support the company's growth in the Americas video games market.
Games for Change research director unveils training program for community-facing professionals
Games for Change research director Dr. Rachel Kowert has launched the DLC Leadership Program, a new certification initiative aimed at professionalizing moderation and digital leadership within online gaming communities. The program, designed for community managers, moderators, and digital creators, translates research into practical tools to address issues like harassment and burnout, with industry partners including Riot Games and Roblox contributing to its development.
Global game content sales rose 5.3% to $195.6bn in 2025
Global video game content sales reached $195.6 billion in 2025, a 5.3% increase, despite a significant 55% drop in private funding. The industry also saw a 40% reduction in layoffs compared to the previous year, though outsourcing for development work increased. Roblox emerged as a major growth driver, surpassing console and PC platforms in daily active users and engagement hours.
