Interactive Session

Rory McGuire (Blackbird Interactive) hosts a topic where studios discuss supporting and collaborating with studios with who operate in multiple business models, all the way from co-development, to full scale work-for-hire projects, and build......

As AI tools continue to be leveraged by teams who work in XDEV, so too does the need for all parties to incorporate Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in the process When navigating tough situations—like repeated bugs, miscommunications, slipping deadline......

What makes a first meeting truly great, for both developers and vendors In this collaborative table talk, we’ll explore what developers and vendors really hope to get out of that first conversation Whether you’re doing the pitching or being pitch......

Biz Dev isn’t just for “BD's” In External Development, it’s often the artists, designers, producers, and engineers who make the strongest connections as they're the ones in the trenches This table topic explores how to empower you - or your n......

Unwind, play and connect at the Arcade Afterparty On Tuesday and Wednesday, join us for the Arcade Afterparty—a relaxed and playful close to the night Face off against fellow attendees in classic video games projected on the mainstage screens, or ......

The year is 2030 and, during the great cascading layoffs of the early 20's, companies started using external, specialized teams more and more Now about half of all teams are composed of internal experts who know the game inside and out, alongside ext......

This session features 9 different Table-Topics Seats are limited, book early......

Join Story Kitchen co-founders Dmitri M Johnson and Mike Goldberg, producers behind Sonic the Hedgehog, Tomb Raider, and more, alongside BAFTA North America board member and games committee chair Julia Bianco, for a focused round-table on expanding g......

Outsourcing has evolved, we are no longer just sending a list of assets to be done, Co-development is becoming the standard This brings a new set of challenges such as fully allowing external teams into your ecosystem and being a part of your team Ho......

External development is no longer just about outsourcing—it’s about building strategic, long-term partnerships that drive innovation and production stability Emerging markets, such as Southeast Asia, have evolved beyond cost-efficient labor pools......

In an era of increasingly complex pipelines and distributed teams, AI isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a competitive advantage This session explores how External Development Managers and Directors can harness AI tools to streamline vendor collaboratio......

Over the past decade, the appetite from traditionally underrepresented players to see characters like them in the games they play has grown As studios and their Ex Dev partners look to meet this need by adapting this diverse reality into their games,......