Industry Snapshot: Games, Platforms and Major Announcements (Weeks 49–50)

Top News Items            Industry News   - Weeks 49-50,  2025                            ( December 1-14 )

The past two weeks delivered a range of positive signals across game launches, platform showcases, developer ecosystems and major industry events. From award recognition and strong player engagement to new platform initiatives and upcoming franchise announcements, the period highlights continued momentum across multiple segments of the video game industry.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Gains Industry Recognition

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive, stood out during the awards season.

• The game received Game of the Year 2025 recognition and won eight additional awards, including categories spanning narrative, art direction and role-playing.

• It became the most successful third-party launch on Game Pass, with over 3 million units sold in its first month and more than 5 million units sold to date.

• Developers highlighted Game Pass as a discovery channel that helped the title reach players who may not typically engage with turn-based RPGs.

The project’s performance reflects growing visibility for AA and independent teams operating outside traditional AAA development structures.

New Titles and Player Engagement

Several releases and announcements demonstrated strong player interest during the period.

• NetEase released Where the Winds Meet, a free-to-play open-world action title set in 10th-century China.

  • The game reached a Steam concurrent peak of 251,000 players.

  • It surpassed 9 million players within its first two weeks.

• The title’s monetisation approach was noted for offering substantial gameplay access without heavy friction for players.

These launches reflect continued experimentation with formats, settings and business models across the market.

Major Industry Events and Announcements

Several large-scale showcases took place over the two-week period.

• The Game Awards delivered multiple announcements, including:

  • Tomb Raider: Catalyst, built on Unreal Engine 5 and planned for PS5, Xbox Series and PC, with a 2027 release window.

  • Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, a reimagining of the original 1996 title, scheduled for 2026 to coincide with the franchise’s 30th anniversary.

• The PC Gaming Show, presented alongside PC Gamer, featured 80 games across a wide range of genres and studios, highlighting the breadth of upcoming PC content.

These events continue to serve as key discovery moments for both players and industry professionals.

Platform and Ecosystem Developments

Additional updates pointed to ongoing ecosystem expansion.

• Epic Games continued to highlight large-scale branded experiences within Fortnite, reinforcing its position as a platform for live content and IP collaborations.

• Nintendo confirmed the acquisition of Bandai Namco Singapore, which will operate as Nintendo Studios Singapore, expanding its internal development footprint.

Together, these developments reflect sustained investment in platform capabilities and long-term content pipelines.

Conclusion

Weeks 49–50 brought a series of constructive developments across awards recognition, new releases, platform showcases and ecosystem growth. Strong player engagement, continued support for diverse development teams and a steady flow of upcoming content underline the industry’s ongoing creative and structural momentum heading into the end of the year.