The AI shift reshaping the video game industry
Is the video game industry ready for its next revolution?
Artificial intelligence and the cloud promise to forever change how we play and create.
The thrill of gaming is about to transform. From consoles and PCs to the cloud and portable devices, the video game industry faces a shift that combines innovation, creativity, and responsibility, promising to redefine how millions of players connect with their favorite worlds.
Key Trend Report.
Globant released its report, “A Jugar”, which analyzes the most significant changes set to define the next era of the global video game industry. According to the report, 2026 will be shaped not only by entertainment, but also by infrastructure, intelligence, and trust, as the adoption of AI opens new opportunities and challenges for developers.
The global video game market is projected to generate $189 billion in revenue (Newzoo, 2025), driven by growing player expectations and disruptive technologies that are transforming the creation, delivery, and sustainability of gaming experiences.
The transformation, the report emphasizes, is no longer just about better graphics or larger worlds:
“It’s about the systems that make them possible,”Globant asserts.
Five Key Trends.
The report identifies five key trends that will shape the industry:
1) Platform Shift: Portable and cloud-based gaming is gaining ground. The focus is moving from hardware power to seamless access, allowing players to game anywhere, anytime.
2) AI Adoption in Development and Operations: Artificial intelligence is already used by 97% of developers to accelerate asset creation (Google Cloud Games Report 2025), playtesting, and localization, becoming a creative ally that expands innovation.
3) Deep Engagement and Legacy Franchises: Studios are prioritizing player retention and engagement through live services, expansions, and remasters, rather than simply acquiring new users.
4) Creator-Driven Discovery and UGC Ecosystems: Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch have overtaken traditional advertising as the main source of discovery, turning players into co-creators and monetized contributors.
5) Regulatory Pressure and the New Era of Trust: Governments are reviewing loot boxes, gacha systems, and opaque AI features, placing player safety and ethics at the core of development and monetization.
Future and Strategy.
Kevin Janzen, CEO of Globant’s Gaming & EdTech AI Studio, states:
“Industry consolidation continues to be one of the most influential forces in the video game world. The major acquisitions of 2025 will redefine the competitive landscape for the next decade. At the same time, smaller development teams are proving they can deliver blockbuster-level experiences, a dynamic that will intensify heading into 2026.”
As the industry moves toward 2026, studios will need to integrate AI responsibly, prioritize player trust, and design cross-platform experiences.
Those that embrace creator ecosystems, use data ethically, and invest in portable, cloud-first experiences will not only maintain their competitiveness but also set the standard for what constitutes a modern, meaningful game.
Download the full report here:
https://more.globant.com/es/tendencias-que-redefinen-futuro-de-videojuegos
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