Games Industry Executive Summary

Straight out of Gamescom 2026 This episode dissects the current state of the gaming industry, focusing on live service models, AI integration, and strategic shifts among major players like Sony, Microsoft, and Disney. It offers data-driven insights into market trends, studio decisions, and the impact of AI on game development and marketing.

Get the weekly GIES newsletter free at giesweekly.comMentioned: Epic Games, Disney, Fortnite, Star Wars, Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games, PlayStation, Roblox#gaming #gamesindustry #podcast

Casey, Emmanuel, and Dave break down the week in games: the fall of live service, the market report on localization, free-to-play and Roblox, Disney and Epic's collaboration, and AI's growing class conflict inside game development.

Get the weekly GIES newsletter free at giesweekly.comMentioned: Epic Games, Disney, Fortnite, Star Wars, Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games, PlayStation, Roblox#gaming #gamesindustry #podcast

The Gies panel opens with a console guessing game, then goes deep on GTA 6. Casey Al-Kaisy hosts Emmanuel Rosier and David Thier on the Extended Look trailer and what Netflix-style distribution means for game marketing, GTA 5's sales record and what it says about GTA 6's timing, Devolver Digital's shift in publishing strategy, tariffs hitting gaming hardware, the rise of friendslop, and emerging trends in mobile game development.

Get the weekly Gies newsletter free at giesweekly.com.Mentioned: Rockstar Games, GTA 6, GTA 5, GTA Online, Netflix, Devolver Digital, Meccha Chameleon, Restory, PlayStation 3, Famicom, Dreamcast.

The Gies panel digs into who really owns a game in 2026. Casey Al-Kaisy hosts Emmanuel Rosier and David Thier on the decline of resale and what it means for consumer rights, why digital purchases stop working offline, the economics of digital-only distribution, and where monetization and advertising go from here.

Get the weekly Gies newsletter free at giesweekly.com.Mentioned: Steam, PlayStation, Destiny 2, Marathon, Bungie, Elden Ring Nightreign, Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza.

For our 100th episode, the Gies panel steps off the news cycle. Casey Al-Kaisy hosts Emmanuel Rosier, David Thier, Andre Persson and Patrick Rose for a wide-ranging conversation on the games industry from the inside: a box-art guessing game, the first titles that pulled each of them in, what they are playing now, and where the business goes next, including a sharp exchange on whether AAA is dead.

Get the weekly Gies newsletter free at giesweekly.com.Mentioned: Resident Evil 4, Ecco the Dolphin, Grand Theft Auto, Zelda II The Adventure of Link, Driver, Limbo, Snatcher, Mega Man X, Castlevania Symphony of the Night, Metal Gear, Palworld, Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Yoshi's Crafted World, Onimusha, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Arc Raiders, Secret of Mana, Vampire Survivors, Balatro, Chrono Trigger.