Industry

Esports matches excite like exercise but calorie burn remains low, study finds

Esports players’ heart rates surge during matches, but their actual energy expenditure is lower than in typical exercise, a study found. Researchers including Masaryk University reviewed 176 papers and analysed five studies measuring physiological changes during games ranging from League of Legends to Counter-Strike and FIFA. Heart rates rose sharply in some cases, but energy use stayed around 1.3 to 2.5 kcal per minute, consistent with light activity.

Games & Commerce

Gstar organising committee unveils second lineup for G-CON 2026 with narrative and AI in focus

The Gstar organising committee on Sept. 14 unveiled the second round of speakers and sessions for G-CON 2026, to be held in November. The event will focus on narrative and AI, bringing in creators not only from games but also film, drama and webtoons to discuss storytelling and creative methods. The added lineup includes sessions on game writing, art and action RPG design, and talks comparing character design across games and drama.