At the Games Summit in November, NRW Media Minister Nathanael Liminksi, seen here next to Walid Nakschbandi of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW (2nd from left), announced additional funding. The call for funding applications has now been launched. © (Archive image) Robin Teller Development NRW Launches Funding for Games Tackling Fake News, Hate, and Extremism The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW has issued an additional call for funding for games and interactive media that, among other things, focus on the prevention of extremism, particularly Islamism. The funding comes from a special budget, with potential grants exceeding those available for standard game prototypes. In November, North Rhine-Westphalian By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
© Kalypso Media Publishing Kalypso Media to Release Commandos: Origins in Early April Not in March, but in April 2025. Kalypso Media and Claymore Game Studios will release Commandos: Origins a little later. The retail release will follow in May. On 9 April 2025, Commandos: Origins will be released digitally for PC, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The latest instalment in By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Richard Iwaniuk, James Batchelor and Richard Iggo Join Digital Bandidos (from left) © Pictures: Digital Bandidos Business Richard Iwaniuk, James Batchelor and Richard Iggo Join Digital Bandidos The young US publisher Digital Bandidos has strengthened its management team with a trio of experienced executives. Richard Iwaniuk will head up finance, Richard Iggo will lead marketing and James Batchelor will be responsible for communications. Six months after Steve Escalante and Lance James announced the founding of Digital Bandidos, By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Interactive Innovation Conference © ESA Business ESA Hosts Interactive Innovation Conference in Las Vegas The inaugural Interactive Innovation Conference, or iicon, will take place in Las Vegas at the end of April 2026. The Entertainment Software Association's event will bring together leaders from industries related to interactive entertainment. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has announced the Interactive Innovation Conference (iicon), an event By Marcel Kleffmann • 2 min read
© Sports Interactive Publishing Sports Interactive has Cancelled Football Manager 25 First postponed, now cancelled, the development of Football Manager 25 was ill-fated from the outset. Sports Interactive apologizes publicly, announces pre-orders will be refunded and focuses on the next "era for Football Manager". With a message on the website and corresponding social media posts, Sports Interactive has announced By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 © Sony Interactive Entertainment, Marvel Products Marvel's Spider-Man 2 (PC) Almost a year and three months after Marvel's Spider-Man 2 launched on PlayStation 5, the action-adventure game is swinging its way to PC. Although Sony only revealed the PC features shortly before release. After Marvel's Spider-Man (PS: 2018; PC: 2022) and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles By Marcel Kleffmann • 3 min read
Has a new name: the team of experts for cultural and creative industries in the state capital of Munich, headed by Olaf Kranz (standing, 1st from left) © Foto: Dominik Parzinger, LHM Business Munich Rebrands Its Creative Competence Team In the Bavarian capital, Munich, the primary point of contact for the cultural and creative industries is getting a new name. The Cultural and Creative Industries Competence Team is now becoming Creative Munich. Ten years after its foundation, the Competence Team for Cultural and Creative Industries is adopting a new By Team Gamesmarkt • 1 min read
Megagon Industries team photo in 2024 © Megagon Industries Business Megagon Industries: With Funding to Self-Publishing and Over 500,000 Players on the Slopes By Marcel Kleffmann • 7 min read
© MGZ Business Mediengründerzentrum NRW Presents 2025 Scholarship Holders Eleven teams from the fields of film, TV, games, VR, social media, and content marketing have been selected by Mediengründerzentrum NRW as the 2025 scholarship holders and have now been officially presented. A year of support awaits them. For years, the Mediengründerzentrum NRW (Media Start-Up Centre NRW) has supported young By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Stefan Marcinek, CEO of Assemble Entertainment and Organiser of the GermanDevDays © Assemble Entertainment Business GermanDevDays Announces Date and Call for Papers Stefan Marcinek, founder and CEO of Assemble Entertainment, has confirmed that GDD – GermanDevDays will return in 2025. The conference is scheduled for July, and topic submissions will be accepted until 21 March. The exact location for GDD – GermanDevDays 2025 has yet to be determined. However, it is confirmed that the By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
Farming Simulator 25 has sold over three million copies since its release in November 2024. © Giants Software Publishing Three Million Farming Simulator 25 Unit Sales in Three Months Farming Simulator 25, from publisher and developer Giants Software, has sold over three million copies since its release in November 2024. A new roadmap teases upcoming content, including free additions. More than three million people have already played Farming Simulator 25. The game was released on 12 November. "Three By Marcel Kleffmann • 1 min read
Her successor as Managing Director of Medien.Bayern has not yet been announced. In December, Lina was able to introduce Robin Rottmann as the team lead for the Games/Bavaria initiative, which she had been managing provisionally for several months. © Rottmann, Madsack Business Lina Timm to Leave Medien.Bayern Lina Timm, Managing Director of Medien.Bayern—which oversees initiatives such as Games/Bavaria, the XR Hub Bavaria, and Xplr: Media in Bavaria—will take on new responsibilities at the Madsack Media Group in mid-April, right after GG Bavaria. Her successor has not yet been announced. According to a press By Stephan Steininger • 1 min read
