Appcharge $17bn D2C market 💰 Konami sues over MGS2 leak ⚖️
Direct-to-consumer mobile spending reached approximately $17 billion in 2025, representing 15% of the $113.3 billion in-app purchase market, according to Appcharge and GDC research. 42% of surveyed companies are exploring DTC, 16% are testing it, and 12% are scaling. Revenue distribution is wide: 45% earn under 10% from DTC, while 11% generate over 90%. AppMagic projects 26% year-on-year DTC growth in the US; Monopoly Go derived 30% of recent revenue from DTC. Primary motivations are increasing revenue (63%), building direct player relationships (53%), and improving monetization (45%). Key challenges include player awareness (50%), acquisition (41%), and scaling (36%). (GamesIndustry.biz)
June 24, 2026 | Subscribe | Read On Web
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Top Stories
Appcharge: Direct-to-consumer market worth around $17bn today (2 min read)
Direct-to-consumer mobile spending reached approximately $17 billion in 2025, representing 15% of the $113.3 billion in-app purchase market, according to Appcharge and GDC research. 42% of surveyed companies are exploring DTC, 16% are testing it, and 12% are scaling. Revenue distribution is wide: 45% earn under 10% from DTC, while 11% generate over 90%. AppMagic projects 26% year-on-year DTC growth in the US; Monopoly Go derived 30% of recent revenue from DTC. Primary motivations are increasing revenue (63%), building direct player relationships (53%), and improving monetization (45%). Key challenges include player awareness (50%), acquisition (41%), and scaling (36%). (GamesIndustry.biz)
Konami filed suit in California federal court on June 2 to unmask whoever leaked Metal Gear Solid 2 source code earlier this year, over 20 years after the game's release. The complaint names 4chan, pixeldrain.com, and buzzheavier.com as hosting sites and seeks to compel them to identify the original poster. The leaked materials included unauthorized source code, unreleased assets, development files, and an unreleased Wii port of MGS 2: Substance; files were dated 2007, suggesting origin from the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. (Kotaku)
Business & Finance
MobyGames launched a professional networking suite including career profiles, job boards, and industry insights. The Professional tier, free during beta through August, will cost $14.99/month ($11.99 annually) after launch. Features include network visualization, job recommendations, and compensation data tailored to gaming careers. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Studios & People
The Studio Behind A 2025 Xbox Showcase Surprise Just Went Bankrupt (3 min read)
EVR Studio, developer of the showcase-revealed stealth-action game Mudang: Two Hearts, declared bankruptcy on June 5 after facing financial difficulties and layoffs. The studio, founded in 2016, had pivoted from VR and metaverse content to game development before the 2025 Xbox reveal. (Kotaku)
One Of 2026’s Most Delightful Metroidvanias Couldn’t Save Its Indie Developers (3 min read)
Douze Dixiémes, the indie studio behind acclaimed 2026 Metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit, is shutting down months after the game's release. The game scored 80+ on Metacritic with very positive Steam reviews, but failed to break through as a broader indie hit. The closure reflects broader financial struggles across French game developers as venture capital and Chinese tech investment pull out of gaming. (Kotaku)
GreedFall: The Dying World Cannot Get More Updates After Studio Closure (3 min read)
Spiders studio closed after GreedFall: The Dying World's launch, with publisher Nacon taking over post-launch support. A former developer claims Nacon cannot fix issues or create new content because it lacks access to Spiders' internal tools and the Silk Engine expertise. The developer also alleges Nacon used generative AI for translation work during development. (The Gamer)
Games & Releases
How a 12 year wait made Alien Isolation 2 a better sequel (7 min read)
Creative Assembly's Alien: Isolation 2 returns to survival horror after a 12-year gap. Creative director Al Hope said the intervening years and growing player appreciation for the original validated the sequel and allowed the team to evolve the experience naturally rather than repeat the first game. (Game Developer)
AI/Tech & Tools
Valve is making it easier to build your own Steam Machine (4 min read)
Valve released SteamOS 3.8.10 with expanded compatibility for Intel and AMD platforms, allowing users to build custom Steam Machines using standard PC parts. The company is also working on Nvidia driver support and streamlining installation to make running SteamOS on consumer hardware more accessible. (Game Developer)
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— james