The global video game market surpassed $200 billion in revenue in 2025, according to data reported by Gamekult and Instant Gaming. Behind this figure, the transformations are not just financial: new European rules on loot boxes, the rise of artificial intelligence in game design, and portable consoles reshaping habits. Here are the trends and innovations that really matter in the world of video games.
Loot boxes and PEGI classification: what the European regulation changes
Since June 2026, any game that includes paid random items (loot boxes, draw packs, gacha mechanics) automatically receives a PEGI 16 classification. In practical terms, a title previously rated PEGI 12 automatically shifts to a higher category as soon as it offers this type of monetization.
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Why does this measure change the game? Because it directly affects the commercial visibility of games. A publisher targeting a young audience must now choose: remove the loot boxes or accept losing part of its audience.
The European Parliament goes further with the proposed Digital Fairness Act. The discussed measures include mandatory parental consent, clear display of draw probabilities, and the ability to disable virtual currencies. A complete ban on loot boxes in games accessible to minors is among the scenarios being considered. To keep up with the news on these developments and their repercussions on upcoming releases, you can check the U Games website, which regularly covers these topics.
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Internationally, Australia, Russia, and several U.S. states are moving in the same direction. The trend is converging towards a gradual assimilation of loot boxes to practices similar to gambling.
Artificial intelligence in video game development
AI is no longer just a tool for animating NPCs. It is now involved from the early stages of production. Electronic Arts illustrated this clearly: for EA Sports College Football, the publisher used machine learning to create over 11,000 avatars in three months. Without this technology, such a volume would have required teams for much longer.
Have you noticed that the environments of some recent games seem more varied and detailed than a few years ago? This is often linked to AI-assisted procedural generation. Studios use it to produce textures, secondary dialogues, and adaptive scenarios without multiplying human costs.
What this means for players
The visible result is a more refined personalization of the gaming experience. Enemies adapt to your style, side quests vary based on your past choices, and dialogues change from player to player. Left 4 Dead already offered adaptive content. Current tools push this logic much further.
The downside: some players worry about a creative homogenization. If all studios use the same generative models, will games start to look alike? The question remains open, but initial feedback shows that AI works better as a creative assistant than as a replacement for game designers.
Portable consoles and the rise of SteamOS against Windows
The Steam Deck has opened a breach. Since then, several manufacturers have positioned themselves in the portable PC console segment, with machines capable of running demanding games away from a desk.
One of the recent highlights is the rise of SteamOS as an alternative to Windows on these devices. This operating system, based on Linux, offers an interface optimized for gaming on small screens. Several third-party manufacturers are now adopting it by default, which reduces the cost of machines (no Windows license) and simplifies the user experience.
- The Steam Deck remains the reference, with an ecosystem of compatible games that expands every month thanks to work on Proton, the Linux compatibility layer.
- The Nintendo Switch 2, announced as one of the most awaited consoles, focuses on the hybrid home-portable model with significantly superior performance to the first generation.
- Other players (Asus, Lenovo, MSI) offer alternatives under Windows or SteamOS, each with different compromises between battery life, power, and price.
For gamers, the choice is no longer limited to “desktop PC or home console.” The portable option is becoming a credible third choice, even for open-world games or demanding RPGs.
RPGs and live service games: genres redefining the market
Role-playing games are no longer a niche genre. According to the Newzoo 2025 report, RPGs are establishing themselves as a pillar of the PC and console market. The reasons are quite clear: immersive worlds, deep storytelling, high longevity. The genre now attracts well beyond its historical audience.
What has changed recently is the integration of social and multiplayer mechanics into traditionally solo RPGs. The boundaries between solo RPGs and online RPGs are blurring.
The live service model under pressure
Live service games (continuous updates, seasons, battle passes) remain a dominant model. But recent failures of several titles show that the audience is increasingly intolerant of incomplete launches. A service game that arrives without sufficient content at launch struggles to retain its players, even with promises of future updates.
The studios that succeed in this model are those that deliver a solid foundation on day one, then enrich the experience without imposing aggressive monetization. The tightening regulations on loot boxes reinforce this trend: players want to know what they are buying.
The coming months will be marked by highly anticipated releases around franchises like Fallout, with Fallout 5 announced by Bethesda, and by video game adaptations of popular franchises like Attack on Titan. The landscape of video games is changing rapidly, and the combination of regulation, AI, and new platforms promises to permanently alter how games are designed, sold, and played.