This article investigates the emerging transformations in the… financial landscape of video game development, discussing significant transformations in funding practices, publisher roles, and technological influences that are shaping the industry's future.
In the recent past, there has been a dramatic upswing in the video game industry. Investments for creating ever more advanced products have soared, driving fierce market competition. However, by mid‑2025, challenges in securing funds have paved the way for notable changes. At a major industry event in Gdańsk, industry veteran Henrique Olifiers, co‑founder of a well‑established studio, shared insights on how traditional funding and publishing methods are evolving.
Current trends indicate a reduction in available funding compared to two years ago. Publishers now demand complete game mechanics rather than early-stage demos or preliminary ideas. This shift has led to staff reductions, project cancellations, budget cuts, and more stringent contractual conditions, resulting in delays in project completion.
Industry experts assert that the function of the publisher is evolving into that of a pure investor. Traditionally, publishers offered a broad range of support including quality control, localization, pricing strategies, platform negotiations, boosting exposure, marketing, and public relations. These promotional responsibilities are now expected to revert to the developers while publishers focus on financial backing.
A further evolving phenomenon is the growing importance of… automation. Advanced technologies are now effectively handling tasks such as project localization with remarkable efficiency. The momentum toward automation is strong, indicating that its adoption in various areas of game development will continue to expand.
Looking ahead, the extent of industry changes remains uncertain. Just a couple of years ago, few foresaw the dramatic impact of artificial intelligence; today, the technology is considered indispensable. The future will likely reveal further shifts and trends as the industry adapts to these technological advancements.
Additional details and a complete discussion in video format with subtitles are available via the full interview.