# digital marketplaces

An antitrust claim worth £656 million against Valve underscores rising pressure on pricing and governance across game storefronts. Surging adoption of a free title amid negative reviews and Germany's expanded funding point to shifting market dynamics, while consolidation around single flagship modes highlights trade-offs between development focus and player retention.

Recent developments in gaming highlight a shift from passive play to active self-definition, as AI agents and blockchain integration enable players to engineer personalities and permanent legacies. Survival genres and marketplace interactions now serve as platforms for personal myth-making, blurring the boundaries between gameplay, identity, and community. These changes signal a new era where every action and purchase is archived and scrutinized, reshaping the performance of play.