industria del videojuego - Softonic English

Subnautica 2 is already the fastest-selling Steam game of 2026

Subnautica 2 has been for years the game on the most wanted lists on Steam and at its launch, on May 14, it was an absolute sales success. Sweeping among critics and the public, managing to captivate an audience eager for more Subnautica, they have achieved what seemed impossible: it is the fastest-selling game of 2026. This translates into spectacular figures. Subnautica 2 is sweeping. A week after its release, according to Rhys Elliot, market analysis director at Alinea Analytics, Subnautica 2 has sold 4.1 million copies and has generated 100 million […]

Subnautica 2 has been for years the most wished game on Steam and at its launch, on May 14, it was an absolute sales success. Sweeping among critics and the public, managing to captivate an audience eager for more Subnautica, they have achieved what seemed impossible: it is the fastest-selling game of 2026. This translates into spectacular figures.

Subnautica 2 is taking the world by storm

One week after its release, according to Rhys Elliot, market analysis director at Alinea Analytics, Subnautica 2 has sold 4.1 million copies and generated 100 million dollars in revenue. In comparison, on Xbox it has sold a much more modest 100,000 copies, demonstrating the problem Microsoft has in attracting audiences to its platform.

That said, there is a reason for it. According to Elliot, “many Xbox players accessed Subnautica 2 through Game Pass,” so the total number of players is “well above six million.” This makes Subnautica 2 the best-selling and most played game of 2026 so far.

Something that didn’t seem so likely just a few months ago. The company that was going to publish it, Krafton, tried to cancel it to avoid paying 200 million in profits to its creators if they met the objectives. Finally, although the game has been self-published by its developers, Unknown Worlds, the judge in the trial where it was decided to return the rights stated that, if the conditions for their bonus are met, Krafton will still have to pay them the same. Something that seems to be more than sealed already.

For all these reasons, it points out that Subnautica 2 is one of the great games of the year. And Unknown Worlds is one of the big winners of 2026 in the video game industry. While they started poorly, it seems they are going to end this year very well.

Steam DOWNLOAD

He left his job at Ubisoft on Assassin's Creed to make a very strange and beautiful strategy game

Darenn Keller, former designer at Ubisoft known for his work on the Assassin’s Creed and Ghost Recon series, decided to leave the company to pursue his own creative vision by developing his independent game, Dawnfolk. This decision emerged during a time of isolation that many experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Keller felt the need for greater control over his work. A different city-building game, Dawnfolk, a city-building game with survival and puzzle elements, has achieved a remarkable 94% positive reviews on Steam and has sold 26,000 copies, which has allowed […]

A game of building different cities

Dawnfolk, a city-building game with survival elements and puzzles, has achieved a remarkable 94% positive reviews on Steam and has sold 26,000 copies, allowing Keller to sustain his career as an independent developer. “It’s a small success that has allowed me to continue as a developer,” he notes. Despite its moderate success, Keller acknowledges that working alone can be both motivating and challenging, especially regarding decision-making and business management.

To finance the launch of Dawnfolk, Keller turned to a publisher, who provided him with a financial cushion. However, there are questions about whether self-publishing might have been a better alternative. Looking ahead, the developer wants to create smaller and faster games, aiming to complete his next project, currently titled B-Type: Space Builder, in a year or a year and a half.

Keller intends for his games to maintain elements of strategy, but with a focus on experiences that are accessible and fun. “I’m not looking to achieve the complexity of games like Civilization. I want to make simple games with a bit of strategy,” he comments. As he progresses in his career, he hopes to continue sharing his experience with other developers, highlighting the importance of small victories in the gaming industry.

Steam DOWNLOAD

Saudi Arabia has just spent 50 billion dollars on EA and is already going to buy another video game studio

Saudi Arabia, through Savvy Games Group, is in advanced negotiations to acquire Moonton Technology, a move that could materialize for an amount between 6 and 7 billion dollars. This developer, known for its popular game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, is currently owned by ByteDance, which acquired it in 2021 for approximately 4 billion euros. Despite not having released any recent major successful titles, it is estimated that Moonton’s value has increased by around 50% in just five years. Saudi Arabia wants to take over the video game industry The regime’s interest […]

Saudi Arabia, through Savvy Games Group, is in advanced negotiations to acquire Moonton Technology, a move that could materialize for an amount between 6 and 7 billion dollars. This developer, known for its popular game Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, is currently owned by ByteDance, which acquired it in 2021 for approximately 4 billion euros. Despite not having launched any recent major successful titles, it is estimated that Moonton’s value has increased by around 50% in just five years.

Saudi Arabia wants to take over the video game industry

The Saudi regime’s interest in Moonton is part of a broader strategy to diversify its economy and improve its international image, goals set out in its “Saudi Vision 2030” plan. This acquisition would allow the country to further increase its influence in the video game industry, where it already holds significant stakes in companies like SNK, Scopely, and between 5 and 10% of companies like Nintendo and Square Enix.

The management of successful companies in the mobile market would give Saudi Arabia a prominent role in a sector that has proven to be extremely lucrative. However, it is surprising that these expansions have not attracted the attention of market regulators, raising concerns about oversight in an industry that is constantly evolving. If the purchase of Moonton goes through, the country would manage three of the most successful companies in the mobile gaming field.

In addition, the recent news that Saudi Arabia is in the process of acquiring Electronic Arts for $50 billion, which is still pending, reaffirms the regime’s ambition to position itself as a leader in the digital economy. With the wealth derived from its natural resources, Saudi Arabia has the capital and interest to carry out more acquisitions in the near future, although these are not guaranteed in a competitive and changing environment.

Steam DOWNLOAD

The former CEO of Nexon is clear: video games like GTA6 will cease to exist in the coming years

Owen Mahoney, former CEO of Nexon, has issued an alarming warning about the future of AAA game development, arguing that the risk aversion among industry executives could be contributing to its potential decline. Mahoney, who decided to acquire the studio Embark during his tenure, despite pressure from investors and board members, pointed out that the trend of prioritizing safe projects limits innovation and could ultimately end the sector. “I believe the AAA industry is structurally at its end,” Mahoney stated in a recent interview. Could AI save them? The leaders of large […]

Owen Mahoney, former CEO of Nexon, has issued an alarming warning about the future of AAA game development, arguing that risk aversion among industry executives may be contributing to its potential decline. Mahoney, who decided to acquire the studio Embark during his tenure, despite pressure from investors and board members, pointed out that the trend of prioritizing safe projects limits innovation and could ultimately end the sector. “I believe the AAA industry is structurally at its end,” Mahoney stated in a recent interview.

Could AI save them?

Leaders of major gaming companies face intense pressure to approve projects that do not pose significant economic risks. This, according to Mahoney, leads to a homogenization in video game creation, where developers are forced to choose between independent projects with funding difficulties or working in large studios, where their work feels more like a factory routine.

Mahoney highlights that, although the acquisition of Embark was a risk, he did it because he perceived an urgency in the development team to prove their worth. However, he warns that the industry seems trapped in a cycle of thinking that does not allow for the exploration of new ideas. “Everyone is so busy running today’s business that it is becoming very difficult for them to think about tomorrow’s business,” he emphasized.

Despite the pessimism, Mahoney also envisions significant potential growth in the coming years, driven by artificial intelligence. Although he is skeptical about current trends, he suggests that AI could lead the industry to reinvent itself and attract players who reject low-quality products. Thus, the solution to this dilemma could be a path towards renewal in video game creation, even as challenges remain present.

Steam DOWNLOAD