Insights
Search Results
Alerts
6.17.26
UK Announces Social Media Ban and Broader Online Restrictions for Users Under 16
On June 15, 2026, the UK government announced plans to introduce a social media ban for users under 16 (under-16s), alongside restrictions on features deemed harmful to minors, such as livestreaming and messaging functions, for a wider range of online services, including those in the gaming sector. These measures, which may require platforms active in the UK market to significantly alter their operations, are expected to come into force in Spring 2027.
Client Highlights
3.25.26
Wilson Sonsini Advises Sans Strings Studio on $5.5 Million Series Seed Financing
On March 25, 2026, animation and gaming company Sans Strings Studio announced that it has closed a $5.5 million Series Seed round. The financing was led by Red River West, with participation from a16z speedrun, Sisu Game Ventures, Kima Ventures, and several angel investors. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Sans Strings on the transaction.
Founded by Ryan Corniel, with his extensive background spanning from graphic design to VR development, and Sébastien Deguy, an Academy Award and Emmy-winning pioneer in computer graphics, Sans Strings Studio represents a fusion of creative vision and technical innovation that aims to shape the future of real-time interactive production. The company built F.E.L.T. (Fuzz-E Logic Toolset), a real-time performance system designed to put creators back in the driver's seat of animation and game development, which is the driver of its flagship project, “Felt That: Boxing.”
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Sans String on the financing includes Jonathan Chan, Mark Baudler, Lauren Lichtblau, Peter Bratton, Utsav Lall, and Joseph Auer.
Founded by Ryan Corniel, with his extensive background spanning from graphic design to VR development, and Sébastien Deguy, an Academy Award and Emmy-winning pioneer in computer graphics, Sans Strings Studio represents a fusion of creative vision and technical innovation that aims to shape the future of real-time interactive production. The company built F.E.L.T. (Fuzz-E Logic Toolset), a real-time performance system designed to put creators back in the driver's seat of animation and game development, which is the driver of its flagship project, “Felt That: Boxing.”
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Sans String on the financing includes Jonathan Chan, Mark Baudler, Lauren Lichtblau, Peter Bratton, Utsav Lall, and Joseph Auer.
Newsletters
3.04.26
The Scramble: 2025 Gaming Legal Year in Review
Wilson Sonsini is pleased to present The Scramble: 2025 Gaming Legal Year in Review. This annual publication offers a retrospective look at the game industry’s legal landscape of the past year, showcases Wilson Sonsini’s contributions during that period, delivers insightful industry analyses, and anticipated trends.
Alerts
1.22.26
2026 Antitrust Year in Preview
Last year was a landmark in the development of antitrust law. Enforcers, legislators, and private parties grappled with the fundamental shift represented by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, the resolution of important digital technology antitrust cases, and significant divergence in policy across a presidential administration transition. The changes will not stop in 2026. In this preview, we focus on several economic sectors that were most impacted by developments in antitrust law in 2025 to identify the trends that will drive governmental and private activity in antitrust in 2026.
Alerts
8.19.25
UKIPO Decides Patentability of Computer Games in the UK Involving Real-World Player Interactions
A recent decision issued by the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) concerning a patent application filed by a game developer company Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. (Bandai Namco) serves as a useful example for informing patent strategies on gameplay mechanics in the UK. Bandai Namco, as some may be aware, is the creator of games such as Pac-Man™ and Elden Ring™.
Client Highlights
8.15.25
Wilson Sonsini Advises Qloud Games on $5 Million Seed Round
On August 13, 2025, Sydney, Australia-based Qloud Games, the independent studio behind the upcoming massively multiplayer online (MMO) game Loftia, announced a $5 million seed funding round led by BITKRAFT Ventures and GFR Fund, with participation from a16z Speedrun, 1UP Fund, and Gaingels. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Qloud Games on the transaction.
Founded by Michael Su, Martina Qin, and Eric Mallon, Qloud Games is pioneering the first cozy MMO set in a vibrant solarpunk world. Unlike traditional MMOs or life-sim games, Loftia is designed from the ground up to foster positive, collaborative, and eco-conscious gameplay.
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Qloud Games on the transaction included Jonathan Chan, Mark Baudler, Angela Loc, and Laura Odujinrin.
For more information, please see Qloud Games’ news release. Additional coverage is available on GamesBeat.
Founded by Michael Su, Martina Qin, and Eric Mallon, Qloud Games is pioneering the first cozy MMO set in a vibrant solarpunk world. Unlike traditional MMOs or life-sim games, Loftia is designed from the ground up to foster positive, collaborative, and eco-conscious gameplay.
The Wilson Sonsini team that advised Qloud Games on the transaction included Jonathan Chan, Mark Baudler, Angela Loc, and Laura Odujinrin.
For more information, please see Qloud Games’ news release. Additional coverage is available on GamesBeat.
Client Highlights
7.09.25
Firm Advises Circle Games on $7.25 Million Funding Round
On July 9, 2025, Circle Games announced that it has closed a $7.25 million round of funding. The round was led by Bitkraft Ventures, with a16z Speedrun, Play Ventures, e2vc, and APY Ventures also participating. Circle Games plans to use the proceeds from the funding to develop mobile casual games. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Circle Games on the transaction.
The Wilson Sonsini team included Jonathan Chan, Mark Baudler, Peter Bratton, Mounika Yepuri, and Kate Kirkpatrick.
For more information, please see this article from GamesBeat.
The Wilson Sonsini team included Jonathan Chan, Mark Baudler, Peter Bratton, Mounika Yepuri, and Kate Kirkpatrick.
For more information, please see this article from GamesBeat.
Client Highlights
6.26.25
Wilson Sonsini Advises Spekter Games on $5 Million Fundraise
On June 26, 2025, Spekter Games Inc., a next-gen game publisher dedicated to crafting high-quality mobile games enriched with seamless Web3 incentives, announced a $5 million funding round and launched its first title, Spekter Agency. The funding round saw participation from prominent investment firms, including a16z speedrun, London Venture Partners, BRV Capital, Chamaeleon, Accelerator Ventures, Impact46, Versus Ventures, and Alumni Ventures. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised Spekter Games on the financing transaction.
The proceeds from the funding will enable Spekter Games to scale Spekter Agency across chat-based super apps like Telegram and traditional mobile stores like the App Store and Google Play. Additionally, the capital will support the ongoing development of the publisher's second game, which is already underway.
The proceeds from the funding will enable Spekter Games to scale Spekter Agency across chat-based super apps like Telegram and traditional mobile stores like the App Store and Google Play. Additionally, the capital will support the ongoing development of the publisher's second game, which is already underway.
Alerts
5.19.25
Combating Increased Harassment Against Gaming Professionals
In January 2025, Square Enix, the video game publisher behind famous role-playing game franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, released its new customer policy addressing customer harassment against its employees, staff, and partners.
Client Highlights
5.09.25
Wilson Sonsini Advises AppLovin on Agreement to Sell Mobile Gaming Business to Tripledot
AppLovin Corporation, a leading marketing platform, announced the entry into a definitive agreement to sell its mobile gaming business to Tripledot for $400.0 million in cash consideration and equity consideration representing approximately 20% of Tripledot. The deal is anticipated to close in the second quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati advised AppLovin on the transaction.
Alerts
4.24.25
Tariffs and Chip Export Bans: Emerging Challenges for the Gaming Industry Under the Trump Administration
The global video game industry with over $200 billion value thrives on cutting-edge hardware and innovative gaming content. However, recent trade policies introduced by the Trump administration in 2025, including new tariffs on Chinese, Canadian, and Mexican imports in February and March; the recent imposition of an additional global baseline tariff for imports from almost all countries and steep additional “reciprocal” tariffs on select U.S. trading partners in April; and still further increases in the reciprocal tariff for China alongside a temporary reversion to the baseline tariff for other U.S. trading partners later in April; along with consistently tightening restrictions on advanced chip exports to China, pose significant challenges to the game industry’s further growth. Additionally, the Framework for Artificial Intelligence Diffusion (the “AI Diffusion Rule”), may further complicate the landscape by extending the export controls on advanced computing chips and AI model weights to safeguard U.S. national security and foreign policy interests. This alert analyzes these policies’ implications for hardware production, physical game sales, and gaming collaborations between American and Chinese game developers.