Marketplace Morning Report: “It's Game On in Cologne, Germany”

Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Lyanna Byrne (Marketplace, BBC World Service)
Special Guest: Laura Kress (BBC Reporter, Gamescom in Cologne)

Episode Overview

This episode opens with a live update from the world’s largest gaming convention, Gamescom, in Cologne, Germany, highlighting the current state of the video game industry. The episode also includes key business updates from global markets, a look at China-India relations via renewed direct flights, and the captivating story of moving a massive church in Arctic Sweden for mining expansion.

Main Segments & Key Discussion Points

1. Gamescom 2025: Video Game Industry's Pulse Check

[00:32–03:05]

• Live from Gamescom, Cologne:
  Lyanna Byrne introduces Laura Kress reporting live from the bustling floor of the Kohl Messer Expo Center.

  • Industry Stats & Scope:

    • Gamescom features 1,500 exhibitors from over 72 countries; over 400,000 attendees expected.
    • “The games industry, of course, [is] much bigger [than] the film industry, the music industry. This is where it all happens…” – Laura Kress [01:19]

  • Market Challenges Post-Pandemic:

    • After pandemic-driven growth, the industry now faces a slump and consolidation.
    • Gamers shifted to only playing one or two games per year, tightening the market for publishers.
    • “There was this massive, massive growth during the pandemic…Now…a lot of people are just playing, playing one or two games possibly a year.” – Laura Kress [01:47]
    • Resulting financial pressures lead to layoffs and studio closures. Recent example: Xbox’s staff cuts at several smaller studios.

  • Gamescom’s Importance:

    • Offers visibility for both blockbuster and indie titles, crucial in a competitive market.

  • Notable Quote & Moment:

    • “I just played Resident Evil Requiem, which is quite a scary survival horror game…that series has been going for about 30 years now. That was pretty terrifying.” – Laura Kress [02:44]
    • Lyanna Byrne laughs: “Try not to terrify yourself on the job, Laura.” [02:58]

2. Business & Markets Update

[03:05–03:40]

• Headlines:
  • Pop Mart (China) reports net profits up nearly 400%.
  • SoftBank Group shares fall over 7% after $2B investment in struggling Intel.
  • China and India to restart direct flights after a five-year pause, signaling efforts to thaw economic and diplomatic relations.

3. China-India Direct Flights Resume

[03:40–04:08]

• Context:
  • Pre-ban: 500+ monthly flights; restrictions and tight visa rules hurt both economies.
  • Resumption driven partly by US tariff pressures on China.
• Agreements:
  • Both sides to finalize an air services agreement, ease visa rules, and continue border talks.
• Quote:
  • “Now, with pressure mounting from US tariffs, Delhi and Beijing are trying to reset ties.” – Davina Gupta, BBC Correspondent [03:48]

4. Sweden’s Kiruna Church on the Move

[04:08–06:52]

• Story:

  • The historic 600-ton Kiruna church is being physically moved to allow the expansion of the world’s deepest iron ore mine.
  • The building is placed on a specially built, 24-meter wide road and rolled three miles at 500 meters/hour—broadcast live on Swedish TV.
  • The move protects irreplaceable interiors, including a 1,000-pipe organ and royal painting.

• Project Management:

  • “We have built a road…lifted it all up with jacks…and put all the trails underneath.” – Hel Ulufsson, Project Manager [05:13]

• Wider Context:

  • The entire town of Kiruna has gradually shifted over two decades due to mining.
  • “When we went underground in the 50s, what happens is that gravity makes the land want to fall into where we mined out the iron ore.” – Niklas Uhanson, mining company [06:10]

• Symbolism:

  • The church move is framed as a symbolic step from past to future, reflecting the town’s resilience and adaptability.

Notable Quotes

• On Industry Scale:

  • “The games industry, of course, [is] much bigger [than] the film industry, the music industry. This is where it all happens.”
    – Laura Kress, 01:19

• On Gaming During the Pandemic:

  • “There was this massive, massive growth during the pandemic…Now…a lot of people are just playing, playing one or two games possibly a year.”
    – Laura Kress, 01:47

• On Kiruna Church Move:

  • “While many people find going to church moving, this one actually is.”
    – Stephanie Prentice, 04:56

• Mining Impact:

  • “When we went underground in the 50s, what happens is that gravity makes the land want to fall into where we mined out the iron ore.”
    – Niklas Uhanson, 06:10

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Gamescom/Gaming Industry Discussion: 00:32–03:05
• Business & Markets Headlines: 03:05–03:40
• China-India Flights Update: 03:40–04:08
• Kiruna Church Move in Sweden: 04:08–06:52

Recap

In less than 10 minutes, this Marketplace Morning Report delivers snapshots of the global economy: a live pulse check from Gamescom as gaming adapts post-pandemic, pivotal business headlines out of Asia, and a remarkable instance of urban transformation above the Arctic Circle with the migration of Sweden’s most beloved church. The episode’s tone is brisk, informative, occasionally playful—ideal for business news with a global human angle.