ThiGaming Trends for 2026 — And the One Nobody Wants to Talk AboutRT
About this episode
Joseph Kim discusses key trends that will define the gaming industry in 2026, including the noise problem, the rise of small teams, and the impact of AI on studios.
Last month, I sat on a panel about where the gaming industry is headed. The conversation was good — but there was one thing I didn't say out loud. In this episode, I break down the key trends I think will define gaming in 2026: The noise problem is about to get much, much worse — and it's hitting from both sides Small teams aren't an anomaly. They're the new default. "Nobody codes anymore" — what AI-or-die actually means for studios right now Why the industry is losing its moat and most people don't see it yet Plus: the progression compression paradox that nobody's solving — why the attention economy is forcing games to speed up in ways that might break long-term engagement. Whether you're running a studio, building a game, or trying to figure out where this industry is going — this one's for you. 📩 Subscribe to the Gamemakers newsletter: gamemakers.com
People in this episode
Host: Joseph Kim
Topics covered
- gaming trends
- gaming industry
- AI in gaming
- small teams
- attention economy
- long-term engagement
Keywords
- gaming trends
- 2026
- AI
- small teams
- attention economy
- engagement
- progression compression
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Gamemakers
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