The Download – October 2026
Small Teams and Big Dreams at our annual Media Summit
Welcome back to the Download, the monthly newsletter from Moore Kingston Smith’s video game team.
We’re delighted to announce details of a free-to-attend panel that we’ll be running as part of Moore Kingston Smith’s Media Summit. Join us for a chat about turning out big successes from small video game businesses – Wednesday 25 November.
Every year, we host our Media Summit at BAFTA to understand the state of play within the creative industries and the media sector. This year, we’re hosting another session about the video game industry that’s dedicated to succeeding in a market that increasingly favours right-sized businesses.
Small Teams, Big Dreams: growing a great business while keeping things lean
Our session for the video games sector will examine how companies are creating hit games by keeping core costs low, bringing on board fractional or co-development support when needed and delivering tightly targeted pitches to their audiences.
Chaired by George E. Osborn of Video Games Industry Memo, we’ll explore what’s driven the shift to smaller teams, how the funding landscape is adapting to the new reality and how companies are successfully pitching games in this world. Alongside this, we’ll discuss how businesses are operating in a world where fractional gains can bring fractional pains, particularly when it comes to managing relationships with freelancers, external partners and part-time team members.
Joining us for the conversation are:
- Samantha Ebelthite, Global Client Partner at Keywords Studios and Co-Founder of Amplified Games
- Tracey McGarrigan, Co-Founder of Ansible Strategic Partners
- Dr Tomas Rawlings, Co-Founder of the Bristol Games Hub, formerly VP at Sumo Digital and Co-Founder of Auroch Digital
Event timings
1pm – Registration and sandwich lunch
1.45pm – panel discussion starts
2.45pm – panel discussion ends, followed by refreshments
To sign up to the event, please click here.
Games industry news in brief
Xbox’s transformation continues amid Activision Blizzard influence claims
Xbox has continued its restructuring by laying off nearly 300 employees, announcing the divestment of another studio and repositioning its biggest companies under a handful of umbrella brands. And according to Joost van Dreunen, the move is less a decisive strategic reboot from Microsoft and more a hidden reverse takeover by Activision Blizzard.
Marvel’s Wolverine defies criticism with strong sales performance
Marvel’s Wolverine has received a media and critical mauling, but it has sold well. Alinea Analytics reports that PlayStation’s latest Triple A title has already sold 1.9m units, making it the 6th biggest launch on the console this year.
Why indie developers are taking on GTA VI
Finally, indie developers are doing what few other companies are doing by going head-to-head with Grand Theft Auto VI.
But why are they doing so? Games Industry Biz investigates.
Keep up with Moore Kingston Smith
Our friends at Sheridans are running their Video Games Masterclass on Thursday 5 November. Join us, and 100 other attendees, for discussions about the law, policy and business trends shaping games today by signing up here.
Questions about VGEC? Our growing list of FAQs might have the answer. Check them out here.
In early September, we hosted our latest video games roundtable for publishers in the sector. Read the key themes raised, including how to identify what the market wants.
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