1、Next Level Global Legal Trends in the Video Games IndustrySecond editionAugust 2025IntroductionThe global video game industry continues to expand,though at a more mature and complex stage than even a few years ago.In 2024,global revenues surpassed US$180billion,with mobile games still representing m

2、ore than half of the market.While smartphones remain the dominant platform,growth has slowed as the segment reaches maturity,and we are now seeing rising momentum in other areas,particularly in console ecosystems,PC subscription models,and cloud gaming services.At the same time,generative AI is resh

3、aping both game development and player engagement.Since the release of our first edition published in 2023,there are also a lot of new legal challenges which are important for the video game industry.We see that regulators worldwide are tightening rules on user experience,with a particular focus on

4、dark patterns,monetization schemes and the safeguarding of minors all highly relevant to high-revenue mobile titles that continue to dominate the global market.Therefore,the first part of the report brings perspectives from the European Union,United Kingdom,and Australia,highlighting the rules aimed

5、 at protection of consumers.It also addresses other pressing developments for the sector,including landmark judicial decisions on platform liability in South America.The second part of the report addresses intellectual property,where the challenges and opportunities of generative AI come to the fore

6、front.With contributions from the US,New Zealand and India,this section examines strategies for copyright protection of characters in US,approaches to multi-jurisdictional trademark registration,and the global patenting of AI-driven game technologies.The objective is to provide practical guidance on