Latest Gaming News
One-Third of US Games Workers Laid Off in Last 2 Years
GDC's 2026 State of the Game Industry Report reveals 28% of over 2,300 surveyed US games professionals were laid off in the past two years, amid post-pandemic fallout. Layoffs continued into 2026 with Ubisoft closing studios and Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs despite revenue gains.
Students worry about job prospects due to competition and AI.
GDC Report Highlights Strong Support for Unionization
The 2026 GDC survey shows robust backing for unionization among US respondents amid turbulent times. It covers layoffs, AI perspectives, tariffs, and more from expanded ecosystem insights.
Free report download available for detailed analysis.
Xbox Console Sales Plunge 32% in Q2 FY2026
Microsoft's gaming revenue dropped 9% or $623 million YoY, driven by 32% lower Xbox console sales and 5% decline in content/services. This follows years of declines: 11-42% annually prior.
Overall Microsoft revenue rose 17% to $81.3B.
Unreal Engine Overtakes Unity as Top Game Engine
42% of GDC survey developers use Unreal as primary engine, ahead of Unity at 30%; more common in AA/AAA studios. Godot gains traction with newer indies at 11%.
Unity leads older indies, per JetBrains report.
Steam Deck Ranks High Among Development Platforms
Valve’s Steam Deck is fourth-most-developed-for platform at 28%, with 40% developer interest matching Nintendo Switch 2. PC tops future priorities at 73% for executives.
Mobile/desktop dominate indies: Android, Windows, iOS.
Over Half of Game Devs Report Layoffs in Organizations
JetBrains' State of Game Development 2025 report notes >50% of professionals experienced layoffs, worsening job security vs. other tech sectors. Studios urged to rethink hiring and retention.
GDC echoes widespread cuts.
Godot Engine Surges in Popularity Among Indies
Open-source Godot rises rapidly for indies/hobbyists due to flexibility and community, challenging Unity/Unreal. JetBrains Rider tops IDEs for indies over VS Code/Visual Studio.
Unreal strong for graphics-heavy projects.
AI Becomes Essential in Game Development Workflows
Nearly half of devs use AI regularly for features/code reviews; tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, JetBrains AI staples. AAA studios eye AI coding agents like Junie (2025 release).
GDC notes broader AI sentiment shifts.
Social Media Video Dominates Game Marketing Discovery
65% of marketers rely on social media, led by Instagram/Reels (66%), TikTok (64%), YouTube/Shorts (63%). Streamers (39%), ads (31%), events (30%) follow.
Reflects key trends in GDC report.
Konami Gaming & Systems Profit Drops 61% in Apr-Dec
Konami reports sharp profit decline in gaming systems segment for Apr-Dec 2025. Expects full FY2026 revenue of JPY468B ($3.06B), up JPY38B YoY.
Highlights ongoing business pressures.
Job Security Fears Grip Game Developers
74% of surveyed students fear industry entry due to layoffs and AI; pros cite leadership failures post-COVID boom. JetBrains report confirms devs' low confidence vs. tech peers.
GDC data underscores persistence.