ROG Xbox Ally preview: Gamer Galaxy at gamescom

NewsNation’s Cher Hwang brings you the biggest news and revelations from gamescom 2025, the world’s largest video game convention, including a demo of the not-yet-released ROG Xbox Ally handheld and a look ahead at major releases like Grand Theft Auto VI and Battlefield 6 with GamesBeat’s Dean Takahashi.

On the “Gamer Galaxy” podcast, NewsNation delivers the latest trending gaming news with thought-provoking insights on topics that matter to gamers while maintaining our fact-based approach to news for all Americans.

Discussed in this episode:

Why pay attention to gaming right now?

The ground is shifting in how people view the world of gaming.

People are starting to pay more attention to how they buy games, how developers are surviving a changing landscape and how player responses are impacting the gaming business.

“I think it’s a great time to be a gamer,” said Dean Takahashi, a journalist for GamesBeat. “The industry is getting fiercely competitive.”

What is the state of gaming?

The popularity of gaming continues to explode because of the rise of casual gamers and games, according to Berkley Egenes, chief marketing and growth officer for Xsolla, a gaming payment company.

“It used to just be, ‘Hey, I just need 10 minutes and sit on the couch,'” Egenes said. “But now you’re usually doing it in the subway, the train, in the Uber. The numbers have just skyrocketed in casual games.”

Developers are releasing casual versions of games with a new feel and look because of the demand from audiences, adds Egenes.

Egenes says several gaming markets — including Africa — are seeing everything driven on the phone from a technology perspective despite limited availability across the continent. However, more and more people in developing countries are getting phones and discovering games.

“It’s very exciting,” said Egenes.

How big is the gaming industry?

To understand how big the gaming industry is, the global gaming market is expected to rake in $522 billion just in 2025 alone.

“Everybody likes to do the powerful numbers, but think of it as bigger than entertainment and music combined,” Egenes said.

The $522 billion comes from purchases like consoles, console and PC games (physical and digital) and mobile games found on different app stores.

“It’s everywhere,” added Egenes. “And we’re seeing more and more IP coming in from movies. You’re seeing more music and entertainment stream concerts and Fortnite now. You’re seeing different things that you didn’t see pre-pandemic, of that experience and how you bring that home.”

Egenes also spoke about the “cross-pollination” of seeing movie stars and football players invest in gaming properties, helping continue catapult the gaming industry to even bigger heights. The growth of mobile gaming, meanwhile, is also expanding the industry.

“You look at the future of what’s coming, Gen Z, Gen Alpha, they’re growing up on the phone,” said Egenes. “They’re going to make the first couple of generations that are nascent on the phone. What is the first thing that you engage with? It’s a game.”

Now vs. then in the gaming world

The gaming world has gone through many phases to become the global phenomenon it is today.

It seemed in the beginning, many entrepreneurs were creating technology but didn’t have a specific purpose for its use. Jensen Huang, founder of Nvidia, created a graphics chip that would only accelerate Windows and not games.

“They eventually learned that they can make amazing games possible through the acceleration that was possible in creating better and better 3D graphics,” said Takahashi.

Takahashi says that Huang’s aspirations were the momentum for what has led to the AI revolution in the gaming world.

“They get this flywheel going, and it just never ends. It’s just continuous improvement. And we get better and better games.”

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