Buona la Prima - Episodio 67
Pietro Faccio and Sergio Rocco from Buona la Prima take us into their wonderful world dedicated to the video game industry.
The Buona la Prima podcast is a partner of Biunivoca.
In this episode, they talk about Gamescom 2026, an edition that seems to have brought renewed enthusiasm to an industry that has faced layoffs, uncertainty, and strong cost pressures in recent years.
The numbers tell the story of a growing event: more visitors, more industry professionals, and a particularly lively business area. But beyond the statistics, what emerges from the impressions gathered on the ground is a feeling that the market is slowly regaining confidence.
One of the most interesting aspects is the growing presence of independent teams. Many professionals affected by the layoffs of recent years have not left the industry, but have instead chosen to establish new studios and develop their own projects. The result is an ecosystem full of ideas, where finding opportunities has become easier, but identifying the right projects has become much more challenging.
The conversation then moves to another key topic: the relationship between quality, costs, and automation. Publishers and service providers continue to look for the best possible balance between efficiency and results, while AI and automation tools are increasingly becoming part of discussions around QA and production processes.
When the discussion turns to localization, however, a clear position emerges: artificial intelligence can be a valuable support tool, but it is still far from fully replacing the experience, context, and cultural sensitivity that human expertise brings to the process.
Gamescom 2026 therefore leaves us with a positive message. Not because all the industry's problems have been solved, but because there seems to be a renewed willingness to invest, collaborate, and create new opportunities.
And perhaps, in such a challenging period, that is the most encouraging signal of all.
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