11:15-12:00

Keynote Session: Is it Dawn Yet? 2025 Industry Update

Shawn Foust

Synopsis: A dive into where the industry currently stands, with a focus on jobs, funding trends, and evolving business models.

12:00- 12:30

Playing to Deconstruct: Break Down Great Games, Boost Your Indie Success

Radu Ziemba

Synopsis: Some games pull you in deeper than others. They loop just right. They reward you at the perfect moment. You feel it… but you don’t always know why.

I’ve spent years chasing that feeling and trying to understand it. In this session, I’ll walk through how I deconstruct games and share the personal methods that helped me build better systems. It’s a look into my creative way of thinking and how I break down features to understand what makes them work.

This is a talk for devs who think like detectives. For fans who became creators. And for anyone who’s ever felt that a great game is trying to tell you something.

12:30- 13:00

Breachway Post-Mortem: From Concept to Early Access and Beyond

Victor Rubinstein

Synopsis: Go behind the scenes of Breachway, a tactical sci-fi deckbuilding game, in this post-mortem covering the full development journey — from early concept and design choices to launch in Early Access and what’s next. Learn what worked, what didn’t, and how the team adapted along the way

14:00- 14:30

Pros and Cons of Different Indie Funding Sources

Bobby Wertheim

Synopsis: Explore the real-world advantages and trade-offs of various indie game funding options — from self-funding and crowdfunding to publishers, grants, and investors. This talk breaks down what to expect from each path so you can make informed decisions for your next project.

14:30- 15:00

Prototype to Profit: Securing Investment for Your Game Studio

George Lemnaru

Synopsis: Turning a great game idea into a successful business requires more than just creativity—it takes funding. Find out how to attract the right investors, craft a compelling pitch, and navigate the investment process. Discover what investors look for in a gaming startup, how to structure your approach, and common pitfalls to avoid.

15:00 – 15:30

Less is More – Streamlining Pitching to Indie Publishers

Vlad Calu

Synopsis: In this talk, Oro Interactive’s Vlad Calu will provide us with a comprehensive view of how indie publishers evaluate incoming pitches in 2025—what they look for specifically, and what tends to give most of them the ick. While there’s no clear recipe for success, there are always adjustments you can make to improve your chances. Let’s see what they are!

16:00 – 16:30

Accessing State Funds – Overview

Andrei Olaru

Synopsis: Everyone would like to receive free money, but what does it actually entail?

In this short presentation, the speaker will present an overview of the landscape of governmental funds that can be accessed by video game development studios, as well as a methodology for patiently finding suitable grants. Beware! This talk may contain anecdotes of variable comic values about the challenges and unexpected benefits encountered by the speaker when deciding to obtain financing this way.

Panel: Just Indie Things: The State of Funding and Publishing In 2025

Host: Jay Powell | Guests: Bobby, Malin, Fawzi

Synopsis: What do the funding and publishing landscape really look like for indie game developers in 2025? Join a candid discussion with experts from Kando Factory, Tech Angels, Bright Gambit, and The Powell Group as we unpack what’s changed, what’s working, and how indies can navigate the increasingly complex path from prototype to market. From angel investment and strategic advisory to pitch decks, partner fit, and publishing deals, this session covers the practical realities and emerging models shaping the next generation of indie success stories.

WORKSHOP ROOM

14:30- 15:30

Workshop: Creative Workflow for Casual Gaming

Sebastian Colea, Claudia Ilea / Playtika

Synopsis: Discover how to bring game visuals to life through an efficient and dynamic creative process. This session explores key stages of casual game art development—from concept to animation—focusing on style, storytelling, and team collaboration.

16:00- 17:00

Student Workshop: 10 Tips for Building Your Game Career

Luke Savage / Epic Games

Synopsis: Join Luke Savage for inspiration on how to start your career in the games industry, develop your network, showcase your skills, and much more!

11:00- 11:45

Keynote Session:

Turn Toward: What Game Designers Can Learn from Relationship Science

Fawzi Mesmar

Synopsis: What if the secret to deeper player engagement lies in the same principles that build lasting human relationships? This talk explores how small, emotionally meaningful moments in games—glances, gestures, choices, or even silence—can serve as invitations for the player to turn toward the game world.

We’ll examine how successful games subtly ask for connection and how players respond—often without realizing it. By understanding the dynamics of emotional bidding, designers can craft experiences that feel more human, more alive, and more memorable.

Whether you’re building character relationships, narrative choices, or multiplayer interactions, this session offers practical insights on how to create games that don’t just entertain—but truly connect.

11:45- 12:15

Monument Valley 3: Journey to Impossibility

Emily Brown

Synopsis: Emily’s talk will go through the journey of making Monument Valley 3. The approach the team took to making a third in the series and some of the learnings on the way.

12:15- 12:45

Creative Tools for Narrative Design

Alice Rendell

Synopsis: This talk contains tips and tricks on how to embed narrative into your game from the ground-up, seamlessly blending both gameplay and storytelling for more meaningful narrative experiences.

12:45- 13:15

AMA with Philip Martin: Behind the Scenes of Hazelight’s Development Process

Synopsis: Join Philip for a behind-the-scenes look at how cinematics come to life at Hazelight. From early script drafts to performance capture, editing, and polish, this session explores the creative and technical process behind the studio’s signature storytelling style. Expect personal stories, practical lessons, and a few hard-earned truths from years of navigating narrative design in a collaborative, fast-paced environment. Whether you’re an aspiring writer, indie dev, or just cinematic-curious—bring your questions. We’re keeping it honest, warm, and just a little bit chaotic.

14:15- 14:45

The Health of the Engagement

Ext Dev Session: Phil Knowles

Synopsis: In this presentation I’ll talk about the principles of Health, the process we use at Amazon Games to measure Health, and why I believe focusing on Health is a strategy that positively influences our tactical, day-to-day operations.

14:45- 15:30

Panel: Game Changing Partnerships: The Power of Specialized Consultants

Host: Madalina Niculae | Panelists: Kate, Louis-Rene, Nav

Synopsis: As games become more ambitious and globally resonant, the need for specialized expertise has never been greater. This panel brings together top-tier consultants to share how their work has helped studios avoid costly missteps, unlock new markets, and amplify creative and commercial success. Through real-world stories and behind-the-scenes insights, we’ll explore when to bring in external experts, what value they bring beyond internal teams, and how the right partnerships can fundamentally change the trajectory of a game.

16:00- 16:45

Panel: The Evolving Role of 3rd-Party QA in Game Dev

Host: Razvan Safta

Panelists: M. Iacob, T. Postolache, S. Seicarescu

Synopsis: As game development becomes increasingly global and complex, the role of third-party QA has expanded far beyond simple bug testing. This session explores how studios of all sizes are rethinking their QA strategies—balancing internal teams with external partners, adapting to specialized testing needs, and navigating the challenges of communication, confidentiality, and cultural alignment. From cost-efficiency and scalability to selecting the right QA provider, our panel of experts will dive into the trade-offs, best practices, and real-world experiences that are shaping the future of outsourced quality assurance in both indie and AAA development.

16:45- 17:45

Panel: Innovation In Games

Host: Eugen Sfirlos

Panelists: Mihai Svasta, Phil Knowles, Jaime Gine

WORKSHOP ROOM

15:00 -16:00

Student Workshop: The Narrative Designer’s Toolbox

Alice Rendell

Synopsis: A collaborative workshop where participants are presented with a series of design exercises that help to incorporate narrative into initial game ideas.

16:00 – 16:45

PlayStation Independent Partners Session (Q&A)

Lewis Speller / Sony

Synopsis: Curious about releasing your game on PlayStation? From Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Independent Partners team, Lewis will be giving a brief introduction to working on PlayStation – how and why to become a PlayStation Partner, best practices for your titles and how you can get the most out of our systems and processes, followed by a Q&A, so bring your questions!”