We’re summarizing last month, taking a detailed look at and analyzing the results of game releases in May 2025. Inside, you’ll find many figures and data regarding both AAA titles like Doom: The Dark Ages and indie hits like Monster Train 2.

The success of 9 Kings has only solidified Hooded Horse’s status as one of the leading indie publishers on the market. It’s the perfect time to discuss in detail the reasons behind the company’s success, explore how it selects projects, how much it spends on game marketing, and why it considers the model of full reimbursement of publishing expenses to be harmful and outdated.

There are various models for segmenting the gaming industry. One of the simplest yet most unique belongs to a former Nexon executive. Let’s examine it in detail and discuss how publishers and investors often misjudge their resources and expertise.

Observing the massive surge of interest in Star Wars: Battlefront II is fascinating, even outside its context. For us, it presents an opportunity to discuss Electronic Arts’ long-term strategy, understand the company’s business priorities, and examine what games it aims to include in its portfolio.

Based on the experience of numerous games, not all studios are adept at working with Early Access. To better understand the essence of this model, we’ve gathered detailed statistics on Early Access releases, including their revenue, “survival” rate, and average development time. The article also features practical advice from industry experts and Valve itself.

Last week, Jade Raymond left Haven Studios, which she herself founded several years ago. This is a great opportunity to discuss top executives in gaming companies who often leave behind, if not a scorched earth, then at least a heap of problems.

The release of the new update for “No Rest for the Wicked,” an ambitious action RPG from Moon Studios, did not go as planned. At first glance, what seemed like a mundane situation turned out to be much deeper, highlighting global mistakes with the early access model that could serve as an example for other studios.

The economic upheavals of recent years have not only forced top managers of gaming companies to continuously seek new ways to cut costs but have also negatively impacted regular employees. Unions are intended to protect developers’ interests, but in their current form, they are unable to make a global impact on the situation.

According to a study by the Video Game History Foundation (VGHF), nearly 87% of classic games released in the U.S. before 2010 are unavailable for purchase or review today. The older the platform, the worse the situation. For example, only 4.5% of titles from the Commodore 64 library are available on the market.

We haven’t seen such a powerful debut from a budding studio that also exposes the accumulated problems of the industry in a long time. Today we will delve into the launch of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, discuss the team and funding behind Sandfall Interactive, and talk about the factors contributing to the game’s success.

One of the most significant revolutions in video game development over the past decade unfolded without much fanfare. While two years ago, generative AI could still be considered a toy, today it is a working standard in the industry.

We continue our story about studios founded by former employees of Blizzard Entertainment. Since 2020, at least two dozen such companies have emerged, collectively raising over $200 million. They are all led by industry veterans, but most teams have not yet succeeded in releasing anything noteworthy.

After the release of Jason Schreier’s book on the history of Blizzard, we once again ponder how many studios were founded by former employees of this renowned company. It turns out the number exceeds 50, with about half of them ceasing operations for various reasons. We will tell you about most of them.

There is a cliché that “there’s something in this game for everyone.” Blue Prince, on the contrary, is not a game for everyone. In every sense, it’s an auteur piece that managed to break into the mainstream. We’ll explain how this game is structured, what its creator is famous for, and analyze its commercial performance and other metrics.

Games by PlayWay are played by millions of people worldwide, often unaware that this very company is behind the latest mechanic simulator, border guard, or any other profession simulator. Today we’ll delve into the unique structure of PlayWay to understand why ideas trump budgets and how the company manages dozens of studios.

After the presentation of the Nintendo Switch 2, the debate about rising game prices flared up again. Many latched onto the $80 price tag of Mario Kart World, forgetting to take a broader look at the situation. Major publishers are increasingly resorting to manipulations, disregarding the changing realities of the market. Possible solutions to the problem are explored in our material.

On April 2nd, Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs and the introduction of new duties on most of the US partners. The new wave of the trade war inevitably impacted gaming company stocks worldwide, especially in the Asian region. Our material discusses the stock market reaction, which can currently be described as cautious panic.

Today, Ubisoft, once the largest gaming company in Europe by market capitalization, finds itself at a crossroads. To better understand the causes of the crisis, we provide a detailed chronology of events from recent years. In short, a single deal with Tencent is unlikely to resolve the accumulated issues.

Which games released in the first three months of 2025 turned out to be the most successful? We have prepared an extensive analysis based on sales charts from various countries and platforms, insights from analytical companies like Newzoo, as well as official data from developers and publishers.