In an industry defined by rapid production cycles, high creative stakes, and growing reliance on external partners, true success no longer comes from scale alone – it comes from trust. Ethical development today means building partnerships rooted in transparency, shared values, and mutual growth. As co-development becomes the norm, studios must learn to foster resilient, human-first relationships that go beyond transactional goals.

In this welcoming and interactive session, we’ll share practical insights on how to build long-term client and partner relationships that are both ethical and strategic. From early conversations to contract design and team alignment, this table topic will explore how empathy, clarity, and culture-fit are just as critical as timelines and budgets. We’ll look at how trust-based relationships improve retention, boost collaboration, and ultimately lead to better games.

Whether you’re a service provider, publisher, or internal studio lead, this session offers frameworks and field-tested tactics to strengthen your external partnerships by focusing on what matters most: people.