Video Games Europe
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Playdate maker Panic refunds tariff surcharges to customers
Playdate maker Panic is refunding customers who paid tariff surcharges, following a US Supreme Court ruling that President Trump's tariffs were unlawful. The company had added a 19% tariff line item to Playdate orders during a specific period. Separately, a report indicates the European games industry generated €30 billion in 2025, with mobile and tablets being the leading platforms.
European games industry revenue reached €30bn in 2025
The European games industry generated €30 billion in 2025, with digital purchases making up 91% of revenue. While the original five major markets saw a slight decline, the overall revenue figure is bolstered by the inclusion of 11 new countries in the report. Mobile and tablets were the leading platforms for both usage and revenue generation.
European Games Developer Federation announces 2026-28 board, Hendrik Lesser re-elected as president
The European Games Developer Federation (EGDF) has announced its board for 2026-2028, with Hendrik Lesser re-elected as president. The organization will focus on improving developer access to funding, talent, and skills, and aims to become the first AI-based European trade association. The EGDF also highlighted the European games industry's €24 billion turnover in 2024, with over 95,000 employees across 6,600 studios.
EU games industry generated €24bn in 2024, studios reached 6,600 and workforce exceeded 95,000
The European video game industry generated €24 billion in 2024, with over 6,600 studios employing more than 95,000 people, according to a report by the European Games Development Association and Video Games Europe. While the number of studios increased by 5-10%, the growth in the continent's talent base stalled, with some countries experiencing a decrease in employment due to layoffs and consolidations.
"The timing is impossible to ignore": Stop Killing Games says Ubisoft attended "invitation-only" meeting with EU Commission ahead of response to campaign sparked by The Crew shutdown, but it "was not invited"
The Stop Killing Games movement alleges that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot attended an "invitation-only" meeting with the European Commission shortly before the commission's planned response to their European Citizens' Initiative. The movement, which advocates against games being taken offline after purchase, was not invited to this meeting. This comes after Ubisoft shut down The Crew, a decision that has led to legal action and scrutiny from consumer authorities.
The California State Assembly passes AB 1921, Stop Killing Games' Protect Our Games Act
The California State Assembly has passed Assembly Bill 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to improve game preservation. Championed by Assembly Member Chris Ward, the bill requires video game companies to provide advance notice before shutting down server-dependent games and offer options for continued play, such as offline access. The bill now moves to the California State Senate for further consideration.
Stop Killing Games consumer protection bill passes floor vote in California
The California State Assembly has passed the Protect Our Games Act (AB 1921), a bill aimed at protecting consumer rights and ensuring game preservation. The legislation, motivated by incidents like Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, would require publishers to provide offline access or refunds when server-dependent games are discontinued. The bill now moves to the California State Senate, facing opposition from industry groups like Video Games Europe and the ESA who argue it could increase development costs and stifle innovation.
EU Politician Muddies Waters On “Stop Killing Games” With Rant On Wokeness
A European Union parliamentary debate on the "Stop Killing Games" movement, which advocates for publishers to keep games online after purchase, was sidetracked by Slovakian politician Milan Uhrik. Uhrik focused on "wokeness" and "aggressive monetization," citing Assassin's Creed Shadows as an example of forced political correctness. The discussion also touched upon Ubisoft's decision to shut down The Crew and the industry's perspective on games as a service.
Game industry lobby group that argued against preservation efforts from libraries is now pushing back on Stop Killing Games, saying it could prevent 'new games, features, and technology'
The game industry lobby group ESA is pushing back against the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative, arguing that preservation efforts could hinder the development of new games and technologies. This follows similar arguments made by Video Games Europe, which warned of increased development costs and potential exposure to unsafe community content. The ESA has a history of lobbying against game preservation efforts, including past arguments against DMCA allowances for libraries.
