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State of Indie 2026 Part 4: Going International
The final installment of State of Indie 2026 examines the growing international landscape for game development and discovery. It highlights the significant, albeit insular, Chinese market and the challenges of piracy, while also noting the potential in emerging regions like India. The article also discusses the crucial role of content creators and evolving discovery methods for indie games.
Resident Evil games engagement leapt 50% following release of Zach Cregger's movie, but analysts say real value is in brand building
Player engagement with Resident Evil games saw a 50% increase around the release of Zach Cregger's movie, with daily active users rising from 500,000 to 750,000. Analysts note that while the transmedia impact is measurable, its primary value lies in long-term brand building rather than short-term sales boosts. Discounts also played a significant role in driving engagement, particularly for older titles like Resident Evil 2.
Free-to-play playtime is broadly flat as gacha RPGs drive PC growth, says Newzoo
A Newzoo report indicates that free-to-play (F2P) playtime remains stable, despite a slight decrease in its market share, driven by growth in gacha RPGs on PC. While overall F2P playtime is flat, PC F2P playtime has grown, with gacha games showing significant increases in engagement. RPG remains the only F2P genre gaining share on both PC and console.
PC and console revenue charts led by new releases in August | Newzoo charts
New releases like EA Sports Madden NFL 27 and Big Walk led August's revenue charts, while established titles like Fortnite and Helldivers 2 saw significant growth in monthly active users. Collaborations and cross-media tie-ins, such as those in Fortnite and Marvel's Spider-Man 2, were key drivers for audience expansion.
Newzoo: Most established live-service and evergreen titles were flat or down year over year in H1 2026
Newzoo reports that most live-service and evergreen games saw flat or declining year-over-year performance in the first half of 2026, with growth limited to a few titles. Digital revenues declined in Western markets, attributed to free-to-play and annualised premium weakness. Console player growth is projected to increase to 3% in 2026, largely driven by the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto 6.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced debuts in Top 5 for PC and console revenue in July | Newzoo Charts
July's game revenue charts, particularly for PC and consoles, were dominated by remakes and rereleases, with Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 performing strongly. Newzoo analyst Mert Şahin highlighted the commercial potential of established titles and different strategies for managing back catalogs, from substantial remakes to straightforward ports. Palworld also saw success after leaving early access.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Fandom expands executive leadership team
Several companies in the gaming industry have announced executive appointments and promotions. Fandom expanded its leadership team with new hires and a promotion, while The New York Times appointed Jonathan Knight as chief games officer. Scopely saw two new appointments, and other companies like Arrowhead Game Studios, Epic Games, Blizzard Entertainment, King, CD Projekt Red, and Unity also announced new roles and promotions for their staff.
Jobs roundup: September 2026 | Asmodee appoints Brian Trunk as senior vice president, Route to Market for the Americas
This article rounds up recent appointments and transitions within the games industry. Notable moves include Brian Trunk joining Asmodee as senior vice president, David Scarborough becoming senior manager of EMEA communications at Blizzard Entertainment, and Ilari Kuittinen stepping down as managing director of Housemarque after 31 years. Several other individuals have taken on new roles at companies like CD Projekt Red, Epic Games, and Activision Blizzard.
Newzoo: 2026 console revenue would be flat year-on-year without Grand Theft Auto 6
Research firm Newzoo predicts that console revenue will remain flat in 2026 compared to 2025 without the release of Grand Theft Auto 6. The upcoming title is identified as the primary driver for projected console market growth, significantly boosting full-game spending. The analysis also notes the Nintendo Switch 2 as a contributing factor to the console market's performance.
Newzoo: Global games market to generate $213.9bn in 2026, up 6.1% YoY
Newzoo projects the global games market will reach $213.9 billion in 2026, a 6.1% year-on-year increase, with China and the US contributing over half of consumer spending. The launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 is expected to significantly boost full-game spending, while mobile will remain the largest platform share. Future growth will increasingly rely on monetizing existing audiences rather than acquiring new players.
Analyst reckons the Epic Games Store can't "recover" in duel with Steam, Epic GM says "the data…
An analyst from Newzoo believes the Epic Games Store cannot compete with Steam due to Steam's established dominance and Epic's strategy of giving away free games. However, Epic Games' VP and GM, Martin Keely, stated that data shows significant growth in player hours and spending on third-party games on the Epic Games Store in 2025, with further acceleration expected.
Twitch faces a class action lawsuit over using streamers' content to train Amazon's AI
Twitch and its parent company Amazon are facing a proposed class action lawsuit from streamer Warren Pandiscia, who alleges his content was used to train generative AI models without consent or payment. This follows Twitch's recent announcement of AI training features, which have been met with community backlash due to their opt-out rather than opt-in nature. Separately, an analyst suggests that Epic Games Store's efforts to compete with Steam may be too late, despite ongoing improvements to its storefront and the continued success of Fortnite.
Epic Games Store overhaul might be "too little, too late", says Newzoo analyst
Newzoo analyst Emmanuel Rosier believes that an overhaul of the Epic Games Store may be too late to challenge Steam's dominance in the PC digital distribution market. While Epic's free game giveaways attract users, they do not foster lasting engagement, and players tend to stick with Steam. Rosier is more optimistic about Epic's prospects with Fortnite, noting its successful integration of crossover cosmetics.
EA could sell "dormant IPs" like Ultima and Wing Commander after Saudi acquisition, former manager says: "There are plenty of IPs like that at EA that nobody cares about at this moment"
Former Electronic Arts manager Emmanuel Rosier suggests that EA may sell off dormant intellectual properties like Ultima and Wing Commander following a significant acquisition. He believes these underutilized IPs could be sold or licensed to external studios, potentially for mobile game development, as a way to generate revenue and manage debt.
Megaways, Megapots and the Pokie Mechanics Defining 2026
The article analyzes how slot machine mechanics like Megaways, cascades, and Megapots are defining the future of the industry in 2026, drawing parallels with mobile gaming trends. It highlights the importance of clear interface design for these complex features, especially on smaller screens, and notes the increasing digital fluency of players.
Steam indie hit Meccha Chameleon made more money than any other PC game last month apart from Fortnite, according to new…
The indie hit Meccha Chameleon was the second highest-grossing PC game in June 2026, generating significant revenue despite its low price point. It surpassed major titles like Fortnite in revenue for the month, showcasing the potential for viral indie success. Other notable games in the top rankings included Marvel Rivals, The Sims 4, and Dead By Daylight.
Games industry analyst says Meccha Chameleon's June revenue on PC was second only to Fortnite
The hide-and-seek game Meccha Chameleon achieved significant revenue on PC in June, ranking second only to Fortnite in several western countries according to Newzoo. This success highlights the commercial viability of lower-budget, socially driven multiplayer experiences. The game's low entry cost, viral popularity on social media, and upcoming collaborations contribute to its broad appeal.
Meccha Chameleon ranks second behind Fortnite in PC revenue for June | Newzoo charts
Meccha Chameleon achieved significant success in June, ranking as the second-highest revenue-generating PC title behind Fortnite according to Newzoo. The indie hit, developed by Lemorion_1224 and Hagneiro, has sold over 15 million copies since its June 10 launch. Newzoo's report also highlighted the sustained commercial momentum of live-service titles and the impact of subscription services on game lifecycles.
Claims about GTA 6 pre-orders are incorrect and "absurd", analyst firm says, but it's still had the "strongest pre-order campaign ever recorded"
Market data analyst firm Newzoo has stated that claims of Grand Theft Auto 6 reaching one billion dollars in pre-orders are "absurd." The firm estimates that digital pre-orders in the US and Europe during the last week of June amounted to $180 million, projecting a global first-week revenue of approximately $260 million. Newzoo anticipates the game could generate between $3.25 billion and $5.2 billion in its opening week, with a release date set for November 19th on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
'The first week of pre-orders brought in $180 million' — Analysts report that GTA 6 has 'the strongest pre-order campaign ever recorded'
Market research firm Newzoo reports that Grand Theft Auto 6 has achieved the strongest pre-order campaign ever recorded, earning approximately $180 million in digital pre-orders in the US and major European markets during the last week of June. The firm estimates the game is on track for $3.3 to $5.2 billion in cumulative global sales by the end of its launch week, projecting around 51 million copies sold. Despite social media rumors, Newzoo clarified that the game has not yet reached a billion dollars in pre-orders.
