Latest Gaming News
2026 GDC State of the Industry Report Highlights Layoffs Impacting 33% of US Workers
The GDC 2026 survey of over 2,300 professionals shows 33% of US game workers laid off in the past two years, with 28% globally; half report recent company layoffs. AAA studios hit hardest, with two-thirds experiencing cuts.
Indie studios saw one-third affected.
Generative AI Views Worsen: 52% See Negative Impact on Games Industry
Over half (52%) of respondents believe generative AI negatively affects the industry, up from 30% last year, especially among artists (64%) and designers (63%). Only 7% view it positively, down from 13%.
Executives are more optimistic at 19%.
Steam Deck Ranks as Fourth-Most Developed Platform, Matching Switch 2 Interest
28% of developers are making or optimizing for Valve’s Steam Deck, with 40% interested, on par with Nintendo Switch 2 (39%). PC remains top for future development at 73% of executives.
Handheld gaming surges in popularity.
Unreal Engine Surpasses Unity as Top Game Engine in 2026 Survey
42% of developers use Unreal as primary engine, ahead of Unity at 30%; stronger in AA (59%) and AAA (47%) studios. Godot gains with newer indies at 11%.
Unity persists at 54% of older indie studios.
82% of US Game Workers Support Unionization Amid Layoffs
Support highest among laid-off workers (88%), those under $200K (87%), and under 45 (86%); no 18-24 year olds opposed. Globally turbulent times prompt broader ecosystem insights.
Dice Tower Reveals Top 10 Most Anticipated Board Games of 2026
Tom Vasel, Zee Garcia, and Chris Yi highlight eagerly awaited titles like Ash and Evil Dead game and Taka Legends. Discussions cover previews from Gen Con and Essen shows.
Forsaken, a sci-fi Western Legends variant, also noted.
AMD Predicts Local AI Models and ML Rendering to Shape 2026 Gaming Trends
Migration of AI from cloud to local devices, including notebooks and high-end GPUs like R9700, drives demand. FSR and AI-enhanced rendering augment traditional methods for better experiences.
Component upgrades rise as older CPUs like Ryzen 2600 persist.
Game Developer Podcast Analyzes 2026 GDC Report Insights
Episode 63 dissects the GDC Festival of Gaming survey on industry woes, AI, and trends. Kicks off 2026 podcast season with data from developers, executives, and more.
Ties into broader business discussions like financials and studio issues.
GDC Report Notes Half of Studios Conducted Layoffs in Past Year
50% of respondents' current or recent employers had layoffs in last 12 months. Widening effects felt across roles and studio sizes.
Survey expanded for full game ecosystem.
Gaming Business Startups Eye Streaming, Esports Models for 2026
Guide outlines five models: streaming, coaching, merchandise, venues, esports with $500-750K investment. Targets entrepreneurs amid industry shifts.
Concerns Grow Over Tariffs and Broader Industry Turbulence in 2026
GDC report covers unionization, tariffs alongside layoffs and AI perspectives. Provides new data on challenging times for professionals.