Arrive early to avoid the lineups and be greeted with a Welcome Drink, thanks to Technicolor Games! Early registration begins 12:00 – 6pm on Tuesday, September 5 in the Honey Salt Restaurant located in the Parq Lobby. This is a private event for registered XDS attendees only.

Speakers, moderators, panelists, and table-topic hosts are invited to meet industry peers, have a beverage or two, and be acknowledged for all their efforts in the lead-up to XDS.

This is an invitation-only event.

This is a one-of-a-kind social to properly welcome first-time XDS attendees to the event! Mingle with veteran attendees, and receive some tips and tricks on ways to make the most of your XDS experience. We look forward to seeing you there with Next-Gen Dreams!

This is an invitation-only event to those who are brand new to XDS. 

Enjoy a light morning snack and some coffee or tea in The Hub, brought to you by our Presenting Sponsor, Virtuos.

Join us alongside Joe Nickolls at the Room 8 Group Main Stage to kick off XDS 2023!

As the Head of Development Studios, Molly worked on a variety of M & A opportunities as well as a number of operational and team leadership priorities for the Games Pillar. She has helped Riot Games think more broadly about production and operational strategy. Now as Games Pillar COO, Molly continues to drive operating capabilities, and acts as a strategic partner to the Games Pillar leadership team to develop and drive the organizational vision and operations strategy for Riot’s game teams.

Join this executive fireside chat with Molly to hear about her career journey, insights into today’s games industry and the key importance of external development in the space.

As ExDev in games matures as a discipline, there is much to learn from other sectors that have successfully optimized complex business-to-business operational systems.

The airline industry is a sprawling web of partnerships where efficiency and risk management are paramount. This presentation examines several strategies airlines use to optimize their operations, and in doing so reveals valuable insights for how devs and service providers can better organize themselves – and ultimately create better games.

The presentation explores three operating models from the airline industry: Hub and Spoke, Point-to-Point, and Virtual Hub. By examining the advantages and disadvantages of each, attendees will learn the relative merits of applying such models to External Development. They’ll learn actionable strategies to optimize their outsourcing practices, increase efficiency, and deliver high-quality games in collaboration with great partners.

Devs and Service Providers will both walk away better able to answer the question, “what does good ExDev look like for us?”

Take a break from attending sessions or meetings and grab a meal to keep you going!

This talk will explore the various stages and processes of external partnership, from initial trials to advanced operations. We will share our hybrid approach at EA DICE, that combines co-dev with traditional outsourcing. We will share insights into our strategies and best practices for setting and maintaining art quality expectations, effective communication techniques, and how to balance ownership between internal and external teams.

Enjoy some coffee or tea in The Hub, brought to you by Presenting Sponsor, Virtuos.

This panel delves into the experiences of external development companies with Ukrainian roots that have recently navigated serious adversities: the Russian war of aggression and economic turbulence. Our discussion will cover various aspects, including team management, operational challenges, financial planning, and creative problem-solving. Furthermore, the panelists will shed light on their collaborations with clients and partners and the significance of remaining innovative and agile.

The primary objective of this discussion is to provide the audience with a comprehensive understanding of the unique challenges faced by external video game development companies during times of crisis. By sharing these experiences, we aim to inspire the audience to reflect and make informed decisions to extend support when it is most needed.

Enjoy a beverage (or two!) after a day of networking and knowledge sharing, Presented by Onyx Studios!

This is a follow-up session of our successful XDS ’22 generative AI for 3D objects table topic discussion, it is also applicable for all new joiners:

One topic that has seen significant developments in the past year is AI for the Art pipeline.
The intersection of AI and art has opened up new possibilities and challenges in various creative industries, from visual arts to multimedia production. Our discussion will delve into the latest advancements in AI-powered tools and techniques for the art pipeline, exploring how these advancements have transformed the creative process and where we are heading in the future. We will also address the ethical implications of AI in art, including issues such as authorship, attribution, and copyright, and discuss how Endava positions itself in the AI copyright debate.

Efficiency and creativity are paramount in the game production process, and AI has been increasingly utilized to streamline and enhance various aspects of game development. During our discussion, we will share best practices and tips & tricks on how to leverage AI to improve efficiency and unleash creativity in the game production process. From procedural content generation to automated testing and bug detection, AI has the potential to revolutionize game development workflows, and we will explore the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in this field.

As AI becomes more sophisticated and autonomous, it is crucial to establish mechanisms to keep control over AI systems. During our discussion, we will talk about controlling AI and share insights on how to create controlling software layers around AI, making AI “speak out loudly,” and other practical approaches to ensure human oversight and accountability in AI systems. We will also explore various strategies to mitigate the risks associated with bias, fairness, and transparency in AI, as well as the impact on peoples jobs and discuss the role of responsible AI practices in shaping the future of AI deployment.

We look forward to a stimulating and informative discussion on these important topics with fellow AI experts. Your expertise and insights will be invaluable in shaping the conversation and fostering a deeper understanding of the current state and future directions of AI in the creative industry, copyright debate, game production process, and AI control. Join us to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collectively contribute to the advancement of AI knowledge and practice.

By some estimates, the maximum game career length averages six years before people quit the industry. For outsourcing partners, it may be even worse as it’s easy for buyers to apply pressure on outsourcing teams: retention may not be their first concern, and they also pay a premium price to get things done.

It is, however, a mistake for buyers not to take care of their partners, but an even bigger mistake for outsourcing studios not to put their teams’ happiness at the top of their priorities.

Led by Jean-Sylvain, winner of Canada’s Best Boss 2022 (GameIndustryBiz), this table topic will try to answer the question: How do you foster a great studio culture, including employee care and retention, connection to staff, hiring processes, internal and external work pressures, and project/partner selection?

Developers and vendors face many challenges when an Outsource Manager departs. In today’s climate, we are seeing even higher rates of mobility and attrition in these roles which has become more prevalent due to industry layoffs and game cancellations. Following the panel discussion held earlier in the week, we will continue to dig deeper into the reasons behind this mobility, the risks and impacts that arise when this role turns over, and ideas on how to help mitigate these risks on both sides of the equation. The goal of the table topic is to have a safe, more intimate space to explore possibilities for mitigating project disruption, emphasizing the need for collaboration between developers and vendors in addressing this issue – and walk away with actionable change. Join us in exploring this discussion with a diverse group representing both sides of external development, swap stories, and emphasize the value of exploring strategies to better support our Outsource Managers. XDS was set up to tackle tough topics that directly effect the business of external development, and we look forward to addressing this one with the people it effects most – you.

As geopolitical and natural disaster risks continue to escalate globally, it has become imperative for organizations to prioritize resilience and ensure seamless business continuity. In this round table discussion, we will delve into the essence of effective leadership during challenging times, drawing upon the experience of Room 8 Group amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, our primary focus will be on addressing the broader concerns faced by organizations across diverse risk scenarios.

We plan to discuss practical strategies to navigate uncertainty and lead with confidence. Learn how resilient leadership, encompassing adaptability, agility, and inspiration, should drive success in challenging times.

In today’s interconnected world, geopolitical risks are more prevalent than ever. Take advantage of this opportunity to equip yourself with actionable tools and best practices. Strengthen your BCPs, learn from real-world experiences, and connect with industry peers facing similar challenges.

In an industry where attracting top talent and competing against industry giants are paramount concerns, join us for an engaging discussion that will equip service providers in the gaming industry with practical strategies to excel. Using real-world examples and a case study approach, we will explore how Keywords Studios transformed their recruitment efforts, achieving remarkable success in meeting their project requirements.

Explore the benefit of crafting a compelling employer brand and effective candidate messaging to attract top talent. Discover the advantages of proactive recruitment strategies, outshining competitors and securing the best talent available. Harness the transformative potential of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, to turbocharge your recruitment efforts and make informed decisions swiftly. Unleash the power of talent intelligence through data-driven insights and analytics, enabling strategic hires aligned with your organizational goals.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights, expert guidance, and actionable strategies to effectively compete and attract top talent in the gaming industry. Join us for a dynamic discussion that will empower you to unlock success in talent acquisition.

This session is targeted to Service Providers.

This deep dive session will explore the pros and cons of making original IP as a potential business extension to typical external development practices. From legendary cases like Rocket League by Psyonix, to more recent breakthroughs like Dredge by Black Salt (a spin out of service provider CerebralFix), we can see that success is possible. However, what is the business case for making your own IP and how to balance that opportunity with your duty to clients.

We’ll explore how one business stream can complement and reinforce the other, as well as alignment of funding and partnerships to de-risk the endeavor. And, most critically, how to avoid typical traps that will sink your entire business.

The external development space is extremely complex and continues to evolve each and every year. How can we as developers, publishers, and service providers gain a better understanding of the industry problem spaces and what we can do to measure the impact and value we bring to the table with every partnership.

This session will help developers, publishers, and service providers understand various problem spaces each audience faces and what metrics make sense in each problem space to communicate impact internally and to our leadership.

In this Table Topic Discussion, we will be having an interactive discussion about the untapped possibilities of utilizing your Personal Journey, International Travel Experiences, and Cultural Background in your interactions with Clients & External Partners. Exploring ways these distinctive elements can be employed to foster robust and enduring relationships.

My own cultural background is unique as I have parents from opposite coasts in India. I will be sharing how this has helped me in the Games Industry in the United States and India. This will be the springboard invitation for participants of the table topic session to provide their own experiences and have a discussion about how our cultural background and unique personal journeys should be employed as an important communication strategy with your external vendor partners.

We will capture the participants’ own unique stories and backgrounds and leverage our personal journey experiences to break through subtle nuances of communication barriers and craft a summary and action plan to share after the conference.

In last year’s XDS Insights Report, on the top 5 issues encountered by Developers/Publishers and by Services Providers, we can find, respectively, communication challenges and inadequate documentation and direction as the number 2 concern for both parties. At the same time, most of the Developers/Publishers keep the same partners over the years in more than 50% of the cases, so it can be assumed that some partnerships find a way of working well together. Factors such as communication style, team dynamics, and project methodologies can contribute to this discrepancy.

Wildlife Studios and Puga invite you to understand how we have been working together in the past 3 years over 6 different games. We have key people on both sides, like External Development Managers, Art Directors and Producers, that play a vital role in supporting teams and ensuring success by facilitating clear and aligned expectations and actively engaging with both parties, as well as making sure we are finding the best technical solutions.

By having both Services Providers and Developers/ Publishers contribute to this session, we hope to learn from each other’s perspectives on how to improve alignment in a partnership and to leverage the collective experiences and insights of the participants, aiming to foster a better understanding of these dynamics and to contribute to the continual improvement of processes within our industry.

Enjoy a beverage (or two!) after a day of XDS networking. Collider Craftworks will provide a Live DJ and a Rooftop Patio with a view, to help you unwind from a stressful day of meetings. Due to capacity restrictions the Collider Rooftop Mixer is an invitation only event. Please see the guys from CC if you are interested in attending.

– BUT BEHOLD!

If you would like to stop by to relax, make a phone call – or recharge your phone –  maybe play a game of billiards? Or perhaps enjoy a cold beverage (or a snack) to go along with the spectacular view – but without an invitation? Yes! Please do!

We’ve got you covered…

The Collider Rooftop Lounge will be open to all XDS peeps, daily from 12 – 4pm (pending only the 30ppl max room capacity limit).  *Please, NO pitch meetings will be allowed in this space. You got to CHILLL, bro.

One of Our Presenting Sponsors, Keywords Studios, brings you our coveted Welcome Reception! Come by the Parq Patio for an event to remember, complete with delicious eats and magnificent views of Vancouver. Year over year, it has become clear that the Welcome Reception presented by Keywords Studios is definitely not to be missed!

Enjoy a light morning snack and some coffee or tea in The Hub, brought to you by our Presenting Sponsor, Virtuos

Join us alongside Joe Nickolls at the Room 8 Group Mainstage to open the second day of the External Development Summit (XDS)!

Marija Radulovic-Nastic is the Chief Technology Officer for Electronic Arts. As CTO, she leads teams building creative tools and solutions for game makers and players. Marija is also responsible for all aspects of technology within EA Entertainment and EA SPORTS organizations, ranging from long term technology strategy, to short term execution and risk mitigation plans.

In addition to leading technology, Marija oversees a portfolio of functions, composed of the following business units: Frostbite, Creative Technologies, Data and Insights, Technology Growth, SEED, Creative Direction and CTO Operations.

Don’t miss this one-on-one discussion with Marija covering all things technology, AI, equity, diversity and inclusion, and Marija’s forward looking thoughts on the games industry.

This deep dive session will explore the pros and cons of making original IP as a potential business extension to typical external development practices. From legendary cases like Rocket League by Psyonix, to more recent breakthroughs like Dredge by Black Salt (a spin out of service provider CerebralFix), we can see that success is possible. However, what is the business case for making your own IP and how to balance that opportunity with your duty to clients.

We’ll explore how one business stream can complement and reinforce the other, as well as alignment of funding and partnerships to de-risk the endeavor. And, most critically, how to avoid typical traps that will sink your entire business.

This session is targeted to Service Providers.

The external development space is extremely complex and continues to evolve each and every year. How can we as developers, publishers, and service providers gain a better understanding of the industry problem spaces and what we can do to measure the impact and value we bring to the table with every partnership.

This session will help developers, publishers, and service providers understand various problem spaces each audience faces and what metrics make sense in each problem space to communicate impact internally and to our leadership.

“How can I get my external partners to talk more?” “Why didn’t my external partners understand my feedback?” “Why are my external partners so direct in their communication?”

In any external development collaboration, communication is crucial in establishing alignment and creating deeper relationships. However, working with teams from different cultures and geographical locations post new trials for the local teams. Common challenges are getting the external partners to engage in open communication as well as maneuvering around differences in language comprehension, working principles, thought processes and comfort levels. Many times, even best practices that enhance effective communication such as proper documentations and clear roadmaps are overlooked.

This table-topic encourages developers to discuss their communication challenges in their external collaborations. It also aims to examine ways of facilitating processes that help teams to align effectively and creating an environment where external partners feel safe to carry out open communication. The goal is to have a mature pipeline that contributes to effective workflow and deeper relationships where these efforts can be achieved with ease, allowing the teams to see each other as a person and eventually create a healthy support system.

In an industry where attracting top talent and competing against industry giants are paramount concerns, join us for an engaging discussion that will equip service providers in the gaming industry with practical strategies to excel. Using real-world examples and a case study approach, we will explore how Keywords Studios transformed their recruitment efforts, achieving remarkable success in meeting their project requirements.

Explore the benefit of crafting a compelling employer brand and effective candidate messaging to attract top talent. Discover the advantages of proactive recruitment strategies, outshining competitors and securing the best talent available. Harness the transformative potential of cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, to turbocharge your recruitment efforts and make informed decisions swiftly. Unleash the power of talent intelligence through data-driven insights and analytics, enabling strategic hires aligned with your organizational goals.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights, expert guidance, and actionable strategies to effectively compete and attract top talent in the gaming industry. Join us for a dynamic discussion that will empower you to unlock success in talent acquisition.

In this Table Topic Discussion, we will be having an interactive discussion about the untapped possibilities of utilizing your Personal Journey, International Travel Experiences, and Cultural Background in your interactions with Clients & External Partners. Exploring ways these distinctive elements can be employed to foster robust and enduring relationships.

My own cultural background is unique as I have parents from opposite coasts in India. I will be sharing how this has helped me in the Games Industry in the United States and India. This will be the springboard invitation for participants of the table topic session to provide their own experiences and have a discussion about how our cultural background and unique personal journeys should be employed as an important communication strategy with your external vendor partners.

We will capture the participants’ own unique stories and backgrounds and leverage our personal journey experiences to break through subtle nuances of communication barriers and craft a summary and action plan to share after the conference.

As AI, Internet speeds, and Hardware manufacturing are shifting the powers that be, we are entering a new age of the internet, games, and how business is accomplished in general.

Many factors, such as blockchain technology and specifically smart contracts, AI assistance in content creation, all aspects of game production, and the looming prospect of Web3, will change how we operate as an industry.

This discussion will allow us to brainstorm some ideas as to how to facilitate our industry’s transition. Because the way we already create our products and services, makes us ahead of the game, giving us an opportunity to lead the way into this new frontier.

Onboarding external partners continue to pose challenges for Developers, Publishers and Service Providers alike. In this topic we will focus on pinpointing top 3 most painful onboarding challenges and work together on different ways to resolve them.

To kick start the conversation, here is a list of a few challenges some of us are faced with; Lack of Automation (Very lengthy & manual process with little company policy on onboarding), Documentation (Incomplete or missing manuals), Onboarding in Silos (Multiple teams solving the same problems separately), Hardware and software Setup for remote ICs (Including shipping hardware internationally)

Take a break from attending sessions or meetings and grab a meal to keep you going!

Developers and vendors face many challenges when an Outsource Manager departs. In today’s climate, we are seeing even higher rates of mobility and attrition in these roles which has become more prevalent due to industry layoffs and game cancellations. This panel discussion will dig into the reasons behind this mobility, the risks and impacts that arise when this role turns over, and ideas on how to help mitigate these risks on both sides of the equation. The goal of the panel is to explore possibilities for mitigating project disruption, emphasizing the need for collaboration between developers and vendors in addressing this issue. Join us in opening up this discussion with a panel that represents both sides of external development, and be sure to join the corresponding table topic to continue exploring strategies to better support our Outsource Managers.

Enjoy some coffee or tea in The Hub, brought to you by Presenting Sponsor, Virtuos Studio.

In the ever-evolving landscape of game development, the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven to be both a challenge and a game-changer. Amidst the fast-paced progression, the key to unlocking the full potential of AI lies in effective human-AI collaboration.

This presentation, delivered by Aaron LeMay, seasoned game developer and Studio Director at Free Range Games, delves into the intricacies of AI’s role in the gaming industry. Drawing upon a unique blend of experiences as both an internal game developer and collaborator with external development teams, Aaron will present a living case study, sharing the triumphs and challenges of integrating AI into real-world game development.

However, this talk goes beyond just theoretical understanding—it aims to empower attendees with a practical, actionable roadmap. From fostering an AI-centric culture and enhancing collaboration, to navigating ethical considerations in AI integration, the audience will gain real-world insights that they can immediately apply to their professional pursuits. Designed to inspire both game developers and external partners, this session illuminates the path towards effective human-AI collaboration in the gaming journey. Attendees will walk away equipped with strategies to not only navigate but thrive amidst the rapid advancements in AI integration in game development.

Enjoy a beverage (or two!) after a day of networking and knowledge sharing, presented by PTW family of brands!

Enjoy a beverage (or two!) after a day of XDS networking. Collider Craftworks will provide a Live DJ and a Rooftop Patio with a view, to help you unwind from a stressful day of meetings. Due to capacity restrictions the Collider Rooftop Mixer is an invitation only event. Please see the guys from CC if you are interested in attending.

– BUT BEHOLD!

If you would like to stop by to relax, make a phone call – or recharge your phone –  maybe play a game of billiards? Or perhaps enjoy a cold beverage (or a snack) to go along with the spectacular view – but without an invitation? Yes! Please do!

We’ve got you covered…

The Collider Rooftop Lounge will be open to all XDS peeps, daily from 12 – 4pm (pending only the 30ppl max room capacity limit).  *Please, NO pitch meetings will be allowed in this space. You got to CHILLL, bro.

Join us for what may well be one of the most fun and adventurous and shiny XDS parties yet. This year, we take you to Par-tee Putt – a hot location where you can play games, enjoy some food and drinks while casually networking! The venue is multi-level, so there will be quieter spaces to have a conversation. Or if you prefer, try your skills on the greens or dance until the early morning as you fuel up with craft beers and tasty food.

Enjoy a light morning snack and some coffee or tea in The Hub brought to you by our Presenting Sponsor, Virtuos Studio.

Not all development studios understand the challenges or opportunities external development presents. Many feel reluctant to welcome outside talent, while others are willing but not sure how to get started. This combined presentation and roundtable aims to provide an outline for explaining to the members of your studio who may have reservations the value of enlisting partners, how to address the team’s often reasonable anxieties, and best practices for avoiding pitfalls.

The presentation will cover the goals of engaging external help, why it’s important to align your team on priorities as you plan, basic techniques to build valuable production relationships, and the steps necessary to go from identifying a need to kicking off new work. Takeaways will include a framework for introducing external development to your team, some lessons to share with them, and tips to prevent common headaches.

Following the presentation the round table discussion will solicit alternative views on goals, techniques, war stories and best practices.

Grab a much needed pick me up to get you through the last day of XDS! Presented by 7 Kingdom Digital.

Take a break from attending sessions or meetings and grab a meal to help you wrap up the last day of XDS on a high note!

In this AMA, we are breaking out the big guns in our industry! Have you ever just wanted to pick the brains of the XDS Advisory Committee in an open forum and have them discuss topics effecting our industry? This is your chance! In a format similar to last year’s successful Panel/Roundtable, “Getting in the Door”, this year will feature a moderated 30 minute panel of XDS Advisory Committee members to discuss a variety of topics, followed by a 60 minute interactive roundtable. The roundtable will feature an open dialogue with audience participation to explore and expand on subjects with their peers, as well as the panel members, to share thoughts and solutions benefitting our XDS community.

This is a follow-up session of our successful XDS ’22 generative AI for 3D objects table topic discussion, it is also applicable for all new joiners:

One topic that has seen significant developments in the past year is AI for the Art pipeline.
The intersection of AI and art has opened up new possibilities and challenges in various creative industries, from visual arts to multimedia production. Our discussion will delve into the latest advancements in AI-powered tools and techniques for the art pipeline, exploring how these advancements have transformed the creative process and where we are heading in the future. We will also address the ethical implications of AI in art, including issues such as authorship, attribution, and copyright, and discuss how Endava positions itself in the AI copyright debate.

Efficiency and creativity are paramount in the game production process, and AI has been increasingly utilized to streamline and enhance various aspects of game development. During our discussion, we will share best practices and tips & tricks on how to leverage AI to improve efficiency and unleash creativity in the game production process. From procedural content generation to automated testing and bug detection, AI has the potential to revolutionize game development workflows, and we will explore the latest advancements, challenges, and opportunities in this field.

As AI becomes more sophisticated and autonomous, it is crucial to establish mechanisms to keep control over AI systems. During our discussion, we will talk about controlling AI and share insights on how to create controlling software layers around AI, making AI “speak out loudly,” and other practical approaches to ensure human oversight and accountability in AI systems. We will also explore various strategies to mitigate the risks associated with bias, fairness, and transparency in AI, as well as the impact on peoples jobs and discuss the role of responsible AI practices in shaping the future of AI deployment.

We look forward to a stimulating and informative discussion on these important topics with fellow AI experts. Your expertise and insights will be invaluable in shaping the conversation and fostering a deeper understanding of the current state and future directions of AI in the creative industry, copyright debate, game production process, and AI control. Join us to exchange ideas, share experiences, and collectively contribute to the advancement of AI knowledge and practice.

By some estimates, the maximum game career length averages six years before people quit the industry. For outsourcing partners, it may be even worse as it’s easy for buyers to apply pressure on outsourcing teams: retention may not be their first concern, and they also pay a premium price to get things done.

It is, however, a mistake for buyers not to take care of their partners, but an even bigger mistake for outsourcing studios not to put their teams’ happiness at the top of their priorities.

Led by Jean-Sylvain, winner of Canada’s Best Boss 2022 (GameIndustryBiz), this table topic will try to answer the question: How do you foster a great studio culture, including employee care and retention, connection to staff, hiring processes, internal and external work pressures, and project/partner selection?

Developers and vendors face many challenges when an Outsource Manager departs. In today’s climate, we are seeing even higher rates of mobility and attrition in these roles which has become more prevalent due to industry layoffs and game cancellations. Following the panel discussion held earlier in the week, we will continue to dig deeper into the reasons behind this mobility, the risks and impacts that arise when this role turns over, and ideas on how to help mitigate these risks on both sides of the equation. The goal of the table topic is to have a safe, more intimate space to explore possibilities for mitigating project disruption, emphasizing the need for collaboration between developers and vendors in addressing this issue – and walk away with actionable change. Join us in exploring this discussion with a diverse group representing both sides of external development, swap stories, and emphasize the value of exploring strategies to better support our Outsource Managers. XDS was set up to tackle tough topics that directly effect the business of external development, and we look forward to addressing this one with the people it effects most – you.

In last year’s XDS Insights Report, on the top 5 issues encountered by Developers/Publishers and by Services Providers, we can find, respectively, communication challenges and inadequate documentation and direction as the number 2 concern for both parties. At the same time, most of the Developers/Publishers keep the same partners over the years in more than 50% of the cases, so it can be assumed that some partnerships find a way of working well together. Factors such as communication style, team dynamics, and project methodologies can contribute to this discrepancy.

Wildlife Studios and Puga invite you to understand how we have been working together in the past 3 years over 6 different games. We have key people on both sides, like External Development Managers, Art Directors and Producers, that play a vital role in supporting teams and ensuring success by facilitating clear and aligned expectations and actively engaging with both parties, as well as making sure we are finding the best technical solutions.

By having both Services Providers and Developers/ Publishers contribute to this session, we hope to learn from each other’s perspectives on how to improve alignment in a partnership and to leverage the collective experiences and insights of the participants, aiming to foster a better understanding of these dynamics and to contribute to the continual improvement of processes within our industry.

As AI, Internet speeds, and Hardware manufacturing are shifting the powers that be, we are entering a new age of the internet, games, and how business is accomplished in general.

Many factors, such as blockchain technology and specifically smart contracts, AI assistance in content creation, all aspects of game production, and the looming prospect of Web3, will change how we operate as an industry.

This discussion will allow us to brainstorm some ideas as to how to facilitate our industry’s transition. Because the way we already create our products and services, makes us ahead of the game, giving us an opportunity to lead the way into this new frontier.

“How can I get my external partners to talk more?” “Why didn’t my external partners understand my feedback?” “Why are my external partners so direct in their communication?”

In any external development collaboration, communication is crucial in establishing alignment and creating deeper relationships. However, working with teams from different cultures and geographical locations post new trials for the local teams. Common challenges are getting the external partners to engage in open communication as well as maneuvering around differences in language comprehension, working principles, thought processes and comfort levels. Many times, even best practices that enhance effective communication such as proper documentations and clear roadmaps are overlooked.

This table-topic encourages developers to discuss their communication challenges in their external collaborations. It also aims to examine ways of facilitating processes that help teams to align effectively and creating an environment where external partners feel safe to carry out open communication. The goal is to have a mature pipeline that contributes to effective workflow and deeper relationships where these efforts can be achieved with ease, allowing the teams to see each other as a person and eventually create a healthy support system.

As geopolitical and natural disaster risks continue to escalate globally, it has become imperative for organizations to prioritize resilience and ensure seamless business continuity. In this round table discussion, we will delve into the essence of effective leadership during challenging times, drawing upon the experience of Room 8 Group amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, our primary focus will be on addressing the broader concerns faced by organizations across diverse risk scenarios.

We plan to discuss practical strategies to navigate uncertainty and lead with confidence. Learn how resilient leadership, encompassing adaptability, agility, and inspiration, should drive success in challenging times.

In today’s interconnected world, geopolitical risks are more prevalent than ever. Take advantage of this opportunity to equip yourself with actionable tools and best practices. Strengthen your BCPs, learn from real-world experiences, and connect with industry peers facing similar challenges.

Onboarding external partners continue to pose challenges for Developers, Publishers and Service Providers alike. In this topic we will focus on pinpointing top 3 most painful onboarding challenges and work together on different ways to resolve them.

To kick start the conversation, here is a list of a few challenges some of us are faced with; Lack of Automation (Very lengthy & manual process with little company policy on onboarding), Documentation (Incomplete or missing manuals), Onboarding in Silos (Multiple teams solving the same problems separately), Hardware and software Setup for remote ICs (Including shipping hardware internationally)

Enjoy some coffee or tea in The Hub, brought to you by Presenting Sponsor, Virtuos Studio.

Join us for the XDS Wrap Party + Awards, Presented by Room 8 Group! Enjoy live music, beverages, canapés and reminisce on the past three days at XDS. This is the perfect opportunity to say farewell, and find out who will go home with one of the XDS 2023 Gary awards!