Latest Gaming News
Saudi-led $55B acquisition of Electronic Arts reshapes industry ownership
Saudi consortium completed its acquisition of Electronic Arts for roughly $55 billion, marking one of 2025’s largest gaming deals and accelerating consolidation in the industry. This transaction is cited as a defining deal of 2025 and is expected to influence strategy and M&A activity into 2026
.
Generative AI reshapes game development and user acquisition — and sparks controversy
Generative AI was widely adopted across 2025 for creative production, advertising assets, and early prototyping, with large studios and publishers investing heavily in AI tooling. The shift prompted controversies over AI-created in-game assets and voice work, notably discussed around titles like Arc Raiders and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
.
Chinese publishers dominate top-grossing mobile charts and expand globally
Chinese developers and publishers claimed multiple top spots in 2025’s highest-grossing mobile games, with titles such as Kingshot and Delta Force driving global revenue share. Analysts note this shift as a long-term competitive threat to Western publishers, who face stronger user-acquisition and design capabilities from China-based firms
.
Mobile industry trends in 2025: direct-to-consumer, regulation, and UGC hits
2025 saw regulatory changes enabling more direct-to-consumer distribution on app stores, improving developer economics and altering monetization strategies. User-generated-content (UGC) games and new ‘merge’ or 4X genres produced breakout hits, reshaping investment and product priorities in mobile gaming
.
Gaming revenue outlook outperforms expectations in 2025
Newzoo’s updated 2025 report (reported by industry outlets) projects global gaming revenue near $197 billion with an improved CAGR above earlier forecasts, signaling stronger market resilience than predicted. Industry commentators cite this as evidence the sector beat muted expectations for the year
.
EA’s sale and other 2025 deals define a year of major M&A activity
The sale of Electronic Arts and other notable acquisitions (including large strategic purchases) made 2025 a landmark year for consolidation in the games sector, with wide implications for IP control and platform strategies. Sports Business Journal highlights the EA sale as a capstone event that defined 2025 in gaming business news
.
Console hardware faces headwinds as component demand from AI raises costs
Analysts warn that PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S lifecycles are aging and that rising component prices driven by generative AI demand (GPUs, SSDs, RAM) could pressure console hardware sales into 2026. Observers expect tougher conditions for new-console development and potential softness in sales next year
.
FIFA brand returns to gaming via Netflix partnership ahead of World Cup
FIFA is returning to video games in a Netflix-backed title set to release ahead of the World Cup, following FIFA’s split from Electronic Arts, providing a high-profile transmedia push for sports gaming.
Esports and events: FIFAe Finals 25 highlighted by Lenovo and Motorola sponsorship
Lenovo Legion and Motorola provided hardware to power the FIFAe Finals 25, showcasing ongoing investments by hardware makers in major esports events and competitive gaming infrastructure. The event reinforced the commercial ties between device makers and esports organizers
.
Industry consolidation continues with studio sales and reorganizations
2025 saw continued M&A and restructuring beyond EA’s sale, including large asset purchases and changes in esports ownership (e.g., DarkZero acquiring NRG esports assets reported in industry coverage). Analysts view these moves as part of a broader trend of strategic consolidation and vertical integration in the sector
.