In this episode of Game Wise, Jens is joined by Peer Schneider, Executive Vice President at IGN Entertainment, to unpack insights from IGN’s Gaming Trends Report.

The conversation explores how games are increasingly functioning as long-term platforms and cultural spaces, rather than one-off releases, and what that shift means for development, marketing, and audience expectations. Jens and Peer discuss the continued rise of “forever games,” the influence of platforms like Fortnite and Roblox, and how discoverability, community engagement, and live support are reshaping success metrics for studios of all sizes.

They also touch on nostalgia, cross-generational audiences, and the growing overlap between games, media, and creator ecosystems, offering useful context for developers thinking about sustainability, IP strategy, and where player attention is heading next.

In this episode of Gamewise, Jens is joined by Video Game Insights' Vic Bessey for a data-driven look back at 2025 and what it tells us about where the games industry is heading.

Drawing on VG Insights’ latest datasets and reports, the conversation explores global game sales and spending trends, the growing dominance of Steam, and the mounting challenge of visibility and discoverability in an increasingly crowded market. Vic breaks down why success is no longer guaranteed, even for well-funded projects, and what metrics like wishlists, demos, and platform showcases really mean in practice.

The episode also dives into VG Insights’ Soulslike Report, highlighting the genre’s continued growth and its strong traction across the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the Big Game Engines Report, which shows how Unity and Unreal continue to dominate development pipelines despite ongoing industry debate.

Packed with practical insights for studios, publishers, and policymakers alike, this episode offers a clear-eyed view of 2025 as a year of “shifting sands" – and what developers should take with them into 2026.

In this episode, Jens is joined by Dr Jeff Brand and IGEA CEO, Ron Curry, to unpack the latest Australia Plays report, now marking 20 years of tracking how the nation plays. Together, they explore what the data reveals about modern Australia: games as an intergenerational pastime, the rise of female players to 51%, and the powerful role games play in connection, wellbeing, and digital literacy.

From cosy games to family bonding to the uniquely Australian flavour of our homegrown titles, the conversation reflects on how games have become a cultural staple, as familiar and universal as sport, music, or film. It’s a lively look at where gaming has been, where it’s heading, and why Australia remains one of the most exciting places in the world to play and make games.