Shroom and Gloom
GameBy Team Lazerbeam · Released Sep 10, 2026
Documents about Shroom and Gloom
How Dressmaker Became ‘Ready to Wear’ for Hundreds of Thousands of Players
Dressmaker, a $15 self-published seamstress job sim from Free Lives' new Cozy Lives subsidiary, has become a semi-unexpected Steam megahit, and the newsletter uses it as a case study in how a novel, zeitgeist-aligned concept can break out.
- The indie title Dressmaker achieved over 500,000 units sold on Steam within its first two weeks, significantly outperforming expectations with an 8.6x conversion rate in its opening week.
- Unlike typical game sales curves that peak on day one, Dressmaker demonstrated sustained growth in concurrent users and sales, ranking as the fifth highest-selling debut on Steam for September 2026.
- The game’s success is attributed to its focus on deep, authentic creative mechanics based on real-world sewing expertise rather than generic minigames, appealing to a broad audience interested in self-expression.
Maliyo Games Calls on African Developers to Shape the 2026 Africa Game Developer Survey
Maliyo Games is inviting game developers, creators and studio founders across Africa to take part in the 2026 Africa Game Developer Survey, announced on September 16, 2026.
- Maliyo Games has launched the 2026 Africa Game Developer Survey to gather data on the continent's evolving gaming industry.
- This initiative marks the fifth consecutive year of the survey, which serves as the primary data source for the annual Africa Games Industry Report.
- The survey tracks critical industry metrics, including studio growth, game launches, adoption of emerging technologies, and access to funding.
Shroom and Gloom Sets September 10 Early Access Launch Date
Johannesburg-based studio Team Lazerbeam has announced that its fungal roguelike deckbuilder Shroom and Gloom will enter Early Access on Steam on September 10, 2026.
- South African studio Team Lazerbeam will launch its fungal roguelike deckbuilder, Shroom and Gloom, into Early Access on September 10, 2026.
- The game has achieved significant pre-launch traction on Steam, reaching 206,233 wishlists as of June 2026.
- Team Lazerbeam has set a new post-announcement goal of reaching 250,000 Steam wishlists by the Early Access launch date.
GameUp Rebrands and Launches AI-Powered Educational Platform
GameUp Africa, the talent development initiative run by Maliyo Games, has rebranded as GameUp Academy and shifted from a cohort-based programme to an always-on, AI-powered learning platform.
- Maliyo Games has rebranded its talent development initiative, GameUp Africa, into an always-on, AI-powered learning platform called GameUp Academy.
- The platform shifts from a cohort-based model to an automated system that uses AI to help users navigate learning paths and progress at their own pace.
- Over the past five years, the original GameUp Africa program processed more than 6,000 applications from over 40 countries.
GIA to Return in August
Games Industry Africa (GIA), a news and resource outlet covering the African videogame sector, posted a brief notice on July 1, 2026 saying it is pausing publication and will resume later in August.
- Games Industry Africa (GIA) has entered a temporary operational hiatus and is scheduled to resume regular publishing activities in August 2026.
- The organization continues to provide access to its existing repository of resources, including business news, developer profiles, and event coordination data, during the break.
- The annual State of the Industry Report remains available as a foundational reference for stakeholders seeking comprehensive analysis of the African gaming market.
Games Industry Africa
Games Industry Africa is a news and resource hub for African video game developers, and this second page of its archive captures a snapshot of the continent's industry activity in September 2026.
- Nigerian developer Inuv8 Studios has joined the ID@Xbox program, securing a multi-platform release for its debut title, Project OVERRIDE, on Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation.
- South African studio Sea Monster Entertainment released its 'State of Gaming in South Africa: 2026' report, which positions gaming as a mainstream component of the country's media and marketing landscape rather than a niche youth activity.
- Vetkoek Studios, based in South Africa, has launched a two-week Roblox Game Development Accelerator program aimed at training unemployed developers and students aged 18 and older.
Companies behind it
As the documents state it.