PC

Veteran game developers Harvey Smith and Ben Horne revealed Black Pony Immersive, a new game studio built to design and develop imaginative first-person action RPGs set within well-realised worlds, where players create their own memorable experiences with expressive, emergent game systems.

Today sees three celebration-worthy announcements for the UK games industry: the creation of a new independent video game development studio called Pretty Cool Games, investment in the studio, and finally, the studio is hiring, providing a much-needed boost for the UK Game Development Community.

VIVA! Games Marketing is back this November, bringing together some of the games industry's leading marketing, publishing, brand, legal and creator voices for a day focused on the questions, challenges and opportunities shaping games marketing today.

New marketplace data shows that traffic on websites related to GTA VI increased by over 6000% on 25 June compared with the average level recorded before May. Demand remained high over the following days, with average traffic between 25 and 30 June up to almost 3000% against the same baseline.

New independent research commissioned by Rokky, the PC game distribution platform delivering publisher-approved keys to global markets, reveals that 80% of Western game developers are targeting a China release by 2028. However, regulatory concerns and limited knowledge of local publishing methods remain major roadblocks, according to the independent study conducted among 300 senior game developers across the US and the UK.

Inner Pocket, a new label co-founded by industry veterans from CRITICAL REFLEX, Gaijin Entertainment, and indie studio Nozomu Games, launches today. By combining extensive experience across games marketing, publishing services, development, and business strategy, the Inner Pocket team aims to utilize its well-rounded composition to empower indie studios.

NC (formerly NCSOFT) has announced that it will transition the global publishing service of Throne and Liberty from Amazon Game Studios to its own online publishing services this year.

The Esports Foundation (EF) and adidas made sports history today, announcing a landmark partnership that will see the sportswear company outfit every national team at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC), the first nation-based esports event of its scale, set to debut November 2, 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The partnership directly supports the ongoing convergence of esports, culture, entertainment and sports, creating a defining moment for the esports industry and the global sport landscape. 

Electric Square has been announced as the sponsor of the Outstanding Achievement Award category at the Women in Games Awards 2026. Charlotte Pook, Talent Acquisition Manager at Electric Square, said: “Electric Square is proud to sponsor the MCV Women in Games Awards in celebration of the incredible women who have …

The New Guys, a new audience-risk and narrative-reception consultancy for the video game industry, has announced its launch at TheNewGuys.gg.