Steam has updated its regional pricing system, the studio behind Wanderstop announced its imminent closure, and in Russia, lawmakers proposed introducing a self-imposed ban on video games. Here are the main events in the gaming industry from the past weekend.
- Valve announced a new system of regional pricing on Steam. Instead of a single conversion method, the store will now operate with three: 1) conversion based solely on the exchange rate; 2) conversion based solely on purchasing power; 3) multi-currency conversion. The company added that developers can, if they wish, simultaneously use different methods or independently decide which regional prices best suit their games.
- Ivy Road studio announced that March 31, 2026, will be its last working day. In a farewell letter, the developers explained that they could not secure funding to release their new game, Engine Angel. As the deal could not be made, Ivy Road was forced to cease operations. Prior to Engine Angel, the studio had released just one game—a tea shop management simulator called Wanderstop.
- Rumors suggest that Warhorse Studios is laying off translators and replacing them with AI. This was claimed on Reddit by a former studio employee named Max H., who stated that he was abruptly let go after nearly four years with the team—Reddit moderators verified the identity of the translator. According to Max, the studio management believes that AI will enhance efficiency and reduce costs, hence all translations at Warhorse Studios will be handled by AI starting in April. Warhorse Studios has not commented on the situation.
- Russian gamers should be given the option to implement a self-imposed ban on video games, according to Dmitry Gusev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma's Control Committee. He shared this proposition during a conversation with TASS. Gusev believes video games have become "one of the serious problems" and a "form of addiction" for many Russians, and that authorities should consider expanding the mechanism of self-restriction to this area. Notably, Gusev is not the first deputy with such an idea. In January, deputies Vladislav Davankov, Sardana Avksentieva, and Yaroslav Samylin sent a letter to Russia's Ministry of Digital Development proposing a self-imposed ban on in-game purchases, but their initiative seemingly did not progress.