Latest Gaming News

đź“…December 19, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Major gaming headlines: market growth forecasts, Epic Games mystery drop, quantum/AI advances, Switch 2 momentum, studio layoffs and regulatory/compliance moves.
1

Newzoo projects global games market reaches $197 billion in 2025

Newzoo's State of Gaming report forecasts the global games market will hit $197 billion in 2025, up 7.5% year‑on‑year, driven by strong PC and mobile performance and Nintendo Switch 2 momentumSource 2.

2

Epic Games 'Mystery Vault' leak fuels expectations of a huge free AAA drop

Datamined leaks and community speculation suggest the Epic Games Store may unlock a major free title this weekend — candidates named include Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Marvel’s Midnight Suns — raising concerns about regional download congestion and large (70GB+) file sizesSource 1.

3

Quantum computing and generative AI pitched as the next frontier for game worlds

MOTH showcased quantum‑powered generative systems (example: Space Moths) at recent industry events, arguing quantum plus generative AI can enable larger dynamic worlds and on‑demand level generation using IBM and other quantum hardwareSource 3.

4

JangaFX publishes 2026 roadmap for real‑time VFX tools

JangaFX released its public 2026 roadmap outlining updates to EmberGen, IlluGen and LiquiGen to expand real‑time simulation and effects workflows for game developersSource 4.

5

Reports: gaming retail continues digital shift with ~95% sales digital in 2025

Industry analysis finds the sector accelerating toward digital dominance — about 95% of game sales in 2025 were via downloads or streaming, squeezing brick‑and‑mortar and reshaping retail economicsSource 7.

6

Xpoint raises growth funding to expand geolocation compliance for real‑money gaming

Xpoint secured new growth funding led by Bettor Capital to accelerate geolocation and regulatory compliance technologies used by online real‑money gaming operatorsSource 6.

7

FIFA brand returns via Netflix partnership for 2026 release, but not on consoles

Reports indicate the FIFA video game brand will return in 2026 through a partnership with Netflix, with the release targeting non‑console platforms and leaving PlayStation/Xbox out of the initial plansSource 13.

8

Industry signals of contraction and studio challenges continue amid restructuring

Multiple market commentaries and forum discussions highlight studio closures, restructuring and debate over franchise relevance (e.g., Blizzard criticism), reflecting ongoing headwinds even as consumer spending holds upSource 2Source 9.

9

Regions warned of ISP congestion for big holiday digital drops

Analysts predict major download spikes from holiday store events (such as Epic's Winterfest) may cause bandwidth throttling and latency on ISPs in regions like Australia during peak unlock windowsSource 1.

10

Console release slate and Switch 2 helped lift 2025 performance

Newzoo cites a strong release slate and the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2 as notable contributors to 2025’s market growth, particularly supporting console and mobile engagementSource 2.

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