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Documents about Policy
I Read Every Word of Steam’s AI Disclosure Policy So You Don’t Have To
This analysis examines the evolving landscape of AI disclosure requirements on the Steam storefront as of September 2026.
- Steam's AI disclosure policy requires developers to report any AI-generated content that reaches the player, while internal-only tools like coding assistants remain exempt.
- The prevalence of AI-disclosed games on Steam has surged to one in three new releases as of September 2026, up from one in ten in previous years.
- Market data indicates that AI-disclosed games capture only 10 to 27 percent of total sales, suggesting that supply is currently outpacing consumer demand for AI-integrated titles.
2026 Policy Platform: New Zealand
The 2026 Policy Platformer, a collaborative initiative between the New Zealand Game Developers Association and the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association, serves as a strategic roadmap for the New Zealand game development sector.
- The New Zealand game development sector has surpassed $1 billion in annual revenue, with 95% of this income generated through exports to the United States and Europe.
- The Game Development Sector Rebate (GDSR) delivers a high return on investment, generating $4.74 for every $1 of government funding provided.
- Industry productivity is exceptionally high, currently estimated at $706,000 in revenue per full-time equivalent employee.
February 2026's Top-Selling New Steam Games: An Analysis
This analysis evaluates the performance of new video game releases on Steam during February 2026, while providing broader context on industry trends, platform updates, and console market dynamics.
- Resident Evil Requiem generated $75 million in Steam revenue and sold 5 million units globally, with 1.5 million units sold on Steam in its first 36 hours.
- Mewgenics was the top-selling new Steam release in February 2026, reaching 1.7 million units sold.
- Nioh 3 ranked as the second-highest revenue generator among new Steam releases, trailing only Resident Evil Requiem.
Africa Games Week 2025: Industry Summary
Africa Games Week 2025 served as a pivotal B2B event for the continent’s gaming sector, emphasizing commercial growth, international investment, and structural policy development.
- Africa Games Week (AGW) 2025 facilitated over 600 curated business meetings between 500 delegates, with the event attracting 1,500 visitors and 20 exhibitors to Cape Town.
- The South African government announced the creation of a new Gaming and Animation Advisory Committee to provide strategic policy and regulatory support to the Department of Communication and Digital Technologies.
- Supercell announced a new long-term investment fund specifically designed to support and nurture high-potential African creative studios.
How Do You Make a Head of State Care About Video Games Policy?
The video games industry can effectively influence national policy by reframing its objectives as low-cost, high-reward economic opportunities that align with broader government priorities.
- The video games industry must reframe its policy objectives as low-cost, high-reward economic opportunities, specifically emphasizing job creation, foreign direct investment, and sustainable growth to align with broader government priorities.
- Adopting the lobbying strategies of the film industry is the most effective path to securing critical fiscal support, such as digital games tax credits.
- Industry stakeholders should move away from general advocacy and instead present precise, evidence-based solutions that identify and resolve specific regulatory bottlenecks.
Stripe Policy Change Will Likely Affect Top Esports Tournament Organizers
Stripe has implemented a significant policy change that restricts the use of its payment processing services for esports tournaments involving monetary or material prizes.
- Stripe has updated its policy to classify esports tournaments with monetary or material prizes as 'Gambling' under its 'Prohibited Businesses' list, effectively banning the use of its payment processing for these events.
- Microsoft-owned tournament organizer Start.gg is the first major platform to notify users of the change, stating that Stripe accounts cannot be linked to tournaments with paid events starting October 9, 2023.
- As of November 1, 2023, users will be unable to use Stripe to register for any tournaments that involve paid entry or prize money.
Google’s Blockchain Content Policy: Better Late than Never
Google’s updated blockchain content policy for the Play Store marks a significant, albeit delayed, step toward integrating Web3 elements into mainstream mobile gaming.
- Google Play Store’s updated policy mandates that all blockchain-integrated apps must explicitly disclose their use of the technology to users.
- Developers are prohibited from promoting or glamorizing potential financial earnings from gameplay, effectively banning traditional 'play-to-earn' models.
- The policy forbids randomized purchase mechanisms, such as loot boxes, to ensure transparency regarding the value of digital assets at the time of acquisition.
Global Policy Environment Survey Results 2022
The Global Policy Environment Survey Results 2022 serves as a strategic resource designed to assist South Korean game developers and publishers in navigating the complexities of international market expansion.
- The Korea Association of Game Industry (K-GAMES) published a comprehensive survey on April 5, 2022, detailing the regulatory environments for game operations in 11 major global markets.
- The report covers 76 specific regulatory categories, including payment and refund policies, game age rating systems, and personal data protection requirements.
- The survey encompasses regulatory frameworks across key regions including the EU, the United States, China, and Japan to assist domestic developers with international expansion.
Creator of Horror Game Summer of ’58 Leaves Games Industry Due to Steam Refund Policy
The independent developer behind the horror title Summer of ’58, Aleksandr Reshetnikov of Emika Games, announced an indefinite hiatus from game development in August 2021.
- Aleksandr Reshetnikov of Emika Games announced an indefinite retirement from game development due to financial losses caused by Steam’s refund policy.
- Steam’s policy allows users to refund games if they have played for less than two hours, which negatively impacts short-form games like the 90-minute horror title Summer of ’58.
- Despite receiving positive reviews, the developer reported that many players completed the entire game and then requested a refund, preventing the studio from generating sufficient revenue to fund future projects.
IDFA Policy May Lead to iOS In-App Advertising Market Losing Nearly 20% of Value
The implementation of Apple’s Identifier for Advertisers (IDFA) privacy policy is projected to cause a significant contraction in the iOS in-app advertising market.
- Apple’s IDFA privacy policy changes are projected to cause a 17% decline in the value of the iOS in-app advertising market in 2021.
- Approximately two-thirds of the lost iOS advertising revenue is expected to shift to the Android ecosystem as iOS ads lose nearly 60% of their premium pricing over Android counterparts.
- The remaining one-third of the projected revenue shortfall will either be lost to other advertising formats or withheld by marketers.
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Weekly Wrap: Key Gaming Industry Updates
The weekly update focuses on key shifts in the global video-game market during weeks 13–15 of 2026, covering console pricing changes, production forecasts, platform events, hardware cost trends, and regulatory developments.
- Sony has increased the price of the PlayStation 5 to $650, the PS5 Pro to $900, and the PlayStation Portal to $250, with the PS5 install base currently approaching 80 million units.
- Nintendo reduced its Q2 2026 production forecast for the Switch 2 from 6 million to 4 million units and plans to implement higher pricing for physical copies of certain titles compared to digital versions.
- PC memory costs have fallen significantly, with 32 GB DDR5 kits dropping 20% in the U.S., 16 GB modules declining 30% in China, and hardware prices decreasing 7% in Germany.