Trumped Up?

The return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency has prompted significant concern and strategic re-evaluation within the international video games industry. The primary thesis suggests that the administration’s shift toward isolationist, populist, and deregulatory policies will fundamentally alter the global landscape for digital businesses, forcing the industry to navigate a more fragmented and politically charged environment.

Key findings indicate that the new administration’s stance on online safety and competition policy marks a departure from the previous consensus. In the realm of online safety, the U.S. pivot toward prioritizing free speech over platform moderation creates a regulatory schism with democratic partners in the EU and UK. This shift risks leaving game developers—who often manage user-to-user communication and large youth audiences—more vulnerable to aggressive local regulation as international bodies struggle to police U.S.-based tech giants. Furthermore, the anticipated "defanging" of antitrust agendas, signaled by the resignation of key regulators like the FTC’s Lina Khan, may facilitate increased industry consolidation. While this could benefit large companies by easing the path for acquisitions, it threatens to stifle competition and slow growth across the broader digital ecosystem.

The analysis draws on observations from the Pocket Gamer Connects conference in London, held during the inauguration period. Industry leaders are debating whether to adopt the "MAGA" movement’s aggressive, high-energy approach to revitalize a sector currently suffering from layoffs and studio closures, or to maintain a commitment to values-based pragmatism. Ultimately, the industry faces an oxymoronic challenge: navigating a world defined by American isolationism that nonetheless exerts a profound, inescapable influence on global digital policy and market operations.