Today’s Global Gaming News: Top 20 Highlights — 2026-05-31

Major Industry News

1. Korean Gaming Industry Shifts Valuation Standards The valuation standard for the Korean gaming industry is moving away from short-term hits toward "multi-IP-based long-term revenue structures." Companies like Shift Up and NCSoft are being re-evaluated as subculture game revenue persists globally and competition in the PC MMORPG market eases.

2. 2026 H2 Strategy: AI, Global Expansion, and Cost Cutting In the second half of 2026, amid the consensus that "it’s hard to survive without new releases," AI investment is shifting from learning to inference and agentic AI. Game companies are preparing for battle, focusing on global expansion, AI integration, and cost reduction.

3. Indian Online Gaming Market Expected to Reach $9.2 Billion by 2029 India's online gaming market is booming and is projected to hit $9.2 billion by 2029. Online gaming has firmly established itself as a mainstream platform in India, rather than just an alternative pastime.

4. Retroactive 28% GST Hits Indian Gaming Firms The Supreme Court of India has upheld the retroactive application of a 28% GST, dealing a significant blow to online gaming companies. Shares of Delta Corp plunged 16%, fueling concerns over tax burdens and rising compliance costs.

5. AGS Named a "Top Workplace" for 10 Consecutive Years Global gaming supplier AGS has been named one of the top workplaces in the U.S. for the 10th year in a row.

6. SBC Summit 2026 to be Held in Lisbon this September The SBC Summit, a major gaming industry event, is scheduled to take place in Lisbon from September 29 to October 1. Roughly 40,000 industry decision-makers, operators, and suppliers will gather to explore the global ecosystem.

7. Caracas, Venezuela to Host First International Gaming & iGaming Conference SCCG LATAM will host its first international gaming and iGaming conference in Caracas, Venezuela, from August 12-14. The event will bring together Venezuelan gaming regulators, key operators, banking partners, and international suppliers.

New Releases and Updates

1. Insider Gaming Showcase - May 2026 Summary Promising game projects were unveiled during the game showcase hosted by Insider Gaming.

Gamer Hot Topics

1. Steam Free-to-Keep Offerings: Last Two Games of May Steam's "Free-to-Keep" promotion is back, offering the final two games of May for free for a limited time.

2. Redefining Gaming: From Competition to Community Spaces The definition of gaming is shifting from personal hobbies or competitive arenas to community spaces. The habit of using games as a means for remote connection has become standard since the pandemic.

3. New Approaches to Game Development: Building in Public and Player Feedback Game developers are obsessively collaborating with their communities. It’s no longer just a marketing tactic; there is a paradigm shift toward "building in public," iterating based on player feedback, and making players feel like co-creators.

Key Trends: The Korean gaming industry is reinforcing multi-IP strategies while pivoting from short-term hit metrics to sustainable, long-term revenue models. In the global market, India’s rapid growth is attracting interest, though risks from tighter regulations are also coming to the forefront. Furthermore, the relationship between game development and community is evolving from traditional methods to a player-centered, collaborative paradigm.