[OPINION] Gaming New Year’s resolutions: What we should address in 2026 

The year 2025 was an eventful one for the gaming community. It was a year of comebacks for well-known and beloved series, spectacular debuts, and big announcements. It was a monumental year for the entire industry, filled with new devices and billion-dollar deals. However, while the video game sector remains a global powerhouse, over the past 12 months it has not been immune to problems that undermine its growth, stability, and creativity. Therefore, as we enter 2026, it is important to remember the issues that we cannot ignore if we want to find solutions that will enable us to face the greatest challenges of the next few years. 

Developers’ struggles with finance and employment stability 

One of the biggest challenges in game development is maintaining the financial viability of developers. Both larger studios and smaller teams face the same problem: how to maintain the profitability of their projects without compromising their quality. The continuous increase in production costs associated with high-quality graphics, sound, and updates requiring huge investments makes it difficult for smaller developers to compete with those who have greater financial resources. While there are certain solutions available that they use to survive, such as Early Access or monetization, their use is not always based on smart scaling and community-first strategies. 

Aside from the financial aspect, many creators are also affected by workforce instability. Employee layoffs and project cancellations are still some of the biggest problems in the industry, major publishers have downsized teams to cut costs, leaving a lot of professionals jobless. On top of that, the number of entry-level roles is limited, and studios often prioritize hires that already have established experience in the gaming industry. 

All these factors lead to companies venturing into consolidation with other companies, which tends to put a stop to creative risk-taking and limits unique, experimental projects. That is why it is important to speak openly about internal issues, which are often accompanied by burnout, stress, and mental health struggles, in order to improve developers’ working conditions and increase their capabilities, allowing them to create increasingly interesting and original titles. 

Why we need more legal regulations 

The gaming industry is a complex and dynamic sector, so it should come as no surprise that legal issues are not straightforward in this field. Over the years, challenges around data privacy, AI use, and content moderation have continued to grow and become even more complex. Many issues require greater transparency as in the case of data privacy for younger players, where compliance with regulations such as the EU’s GDPR, US COPPA, and regional data protection laws remains inconsistent across various studios and platforms. Although it is not easy, it is definitely worth following this topic, as understanding the global landscape of gaming regulations is crucial for success in the industry. 

AI: to use or not to use 

Continuing the thought from the previous paragraph, we must look at the inevitable: the development of AI. Whether we like it or not, AI is forcing changes to how games are developed, too, not all of which are welcome. Generative AI tools can write game code, perform the quality assurance testing, as well as create stories, graphics, and other content by sampling the work of writers and artists Here, too, we are talking about defining legal standards for the use of this technology. 

Right now, we have many questions that we are still seeking answers to, such as ownership of AI-generated assets, moderation of AI content, and issues with copyright. In addition to strictly legal solutions, the limits of AI use in game development should also be defined by the developers and players themselves, so that we can avoid future misunderstandings and inconsistencies in decision-making. 

Monetization vs players’ trust

Monetization is a recurring theme in discussions about the direction in which game production is heading. It is worth pointing out that the main problem with it is not the fact that companies want to make money – the real issue is how they try to do so. To compensate for the high cost of expanding gaming technology, developers tend to sustain their finances by using microtransactions as their primary business model.

Because of that, players are growing weary of pay-to-win system and aggressive monetization that sometimes bypass already established regulations. That is why it is worth opposing abuses such as predatory pricing, pay-to-win systems, and a general lack of transparency – fair monetization is possible, and clear pricing and player-friendly designs are within our reach.

The “indie” label and why it is problematic 

According to the article by Maria B. Garda and Paweł Grabarczyk, the concept of “independent game” is associated with three types of independence: financial (constituted by the developer-investor relationship), creative (developer-intended audience), and publishing (developer-publisher). However, as all these categories are subject to constant modification, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between traditionally understood indie games and productions from higher tiers. One thing is certain: without common agreement on what counts as a small budget, a small team, or a major financial supporter, the indie label will keep causing confusion and frustration instead of actually serving as a guide to group games. 

Accessibility – real needs and real actions 

Digital accessibility in gaming allows everyone, regardless of their ability, to fully participate in wonderful interactive adventures. It encompasses a wide range of considerations, from visual and auditory capabilities to cognitive and physical needs, ensuring that digital content is usable by everyone. Unfortunately, this issue even now is overlooked when designing the player experience – even though we are talking about real needs on a significant scale. It’s not only about making games; it’s about putting player first, promising to grow together and embracing every player along the way. Accessibility is necessary for some and beneficial for all.

Between constructive criticism and misguided commentary 

In the following years, the industry must also confront a challenge that is less technical but equally urgent: the rise of toxicity and misguided commentary in gaming communities. While players undeniably bring a great deal of creativity and passion to their activities, the discourse they initiate is increasingly diverging from real criticism. If the culture around feedback doesn’t evolve, the innovation will suffer; developers won’t take any risks, players will grow divided, and meaningful dialogue will slowly start to disappear.

That is why I think it is worth ending this list with a thought that applies not only to the gaming world, but also to our actions in various other fields. Therefore, as we enter 2026, it is worth taking to heart these words, which, although not my own, I agree with 100 percent: 

“And for heaven’s sake, people, like each other a little more.”