Wells’ career spans more than three decades, beginning as a designer on ToeJam & Earl 2 before moving to Crystal Dynamics, where he contributed to Gex and Gex: Enter the Gecko. He joined Naughty Dog in 1998 and quickly became a key creative force behind several of the studio’s most recognizable PlayStation titles, including Crash Bandicoot: Warped and Jak and Daxter.
In 2004, Wells stepped into the role of co-president, helping guide Naughty Dog through nearly 20 years of growth and reinvention. Under his leadership, the studio launched critically acclaimed and commercially successful franchises such as Uncharted and The Last of Us, which helped shape the modern landscape of narrative‑driven AAA games.
Druckmann praised Wells’ influence, noting that the studio’s achievements were rooted in his steady leadership and trust in the team. AIAS President Meggan Scavio highlighted Wells’ commitment to creative excellence, calling his impact on developers and players “profound” and emphasizing his role in nurturing talent across generations.
The AIAS Hall of Fame recognizes creators whose work has significantly advanced the craft of game development. Previous inductees include Ted Price, Koji Kondo, Tim Schafer, Ed Boon, Connie Booth, Bonnie Ross, Todd Howard, Hideo Kojima, Leslie Benzies, Dan and Sam Houser and Tim Sweeney.
Registration for the 2026 D.I.C.E. Summit and Awards is now open. Nominees for the 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards will be announced Jan. 8 on Kinda Funny Games, hosted by Greg Miller and Stella Chung.
CES 2026 runs January 6–9, 2026 in Las Vegas, but with the massive tech show affiliated with a sprawling and connected ecosystem as massive as Las Vegas itself, the events and parties begin days earlier and close out over the weekend. With hundreds of receptions, mixers, and exclusive gatherings scattered across the city, keeping track of what’s happening — and where — can be a challenge. That’s why party‑list aggregators have become essential tools for CES attendees, especially gamers, developers, and tech‑culture enthusiasts who want to make the most of their after‑hours schedule.
Below is a curated list of lists, in which these aggregators include gaming‑relevant receptions, mixers, showcases, and after‑hours gatherings takin place at or around CES 2026. Among these events you’ll find meetups and parties for artificial intelligence (AI),virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), crypto, and more. To scope out some of the virtual events, such as press conferences, that are of interest to gamers, here’s our list of these events at CES 2026.
A long‑time favorite among CES veterans, CES Partylist remains one of the most complete and frequently updated directories of CES receptions and nightlife happenings. Backed by Transform Group, the site aggregates everything from VIP mixers to brand‑hosted showcases. It’s clean, reliable, and updated throughout the season — a must‑bookmark for anyone planning their CES nights.
ConferenceParties.com — Unofficial CES 2026 Party List
ConferenceParties.com offers a broad, community‑driven list of CES 2026 parties, meetups, and receptions. Known for its inclusiveness and frequent updates, it’s another great resource for attendees who want a wide‑angle view of CES‑adjacent gatherings without digging through scattered announcements.
Each year, Forbes contributor Martine Paris publishes one of the most widely read CES party guides. Her lists typically highlight the most influential, high‑profile, and culturally relevant gatherings of the week, including content-type talks and sessions of note along with a wide range of CES 2026 parties and events, including some you might not find elsewhere.
NetworkInVegas.com — CES 2026 Party & Meetup Guide
Network in Vegas publishes one of the most detailed CES party and networking guides each year. Their listings lean toward business‑focused receptions and professional mixers, making it a strong resource for attendees looking to maximize networking opportunities.
Reddit — r/CES & r/LasVegas CES 2026 Party Threads
Reddit’s CES communities such as this one are a goldmine for what booths, companies, talks, and event experiences are the coolest and have made the biggest impressions, all from an on-the-ground crowdsourced perspective. The annual “CES Parties & Meetups” megathread often includes early leaks, invite links, RSVP tips, and attendee‑verified updates. It’s especially useful for discovering grassroots meetups, unofficial gatherings, and last‑minute additions that don’t make it onto formal lists.
CES 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most socially dynamic years yet, accompanying the volatile and interesting disruptions and evolutions in (and between) VR, AI, crypto, gaming, PC technology, smart homes, robotics and much more. Whether you’re chasing rooftop receptions, investor mixers, gaming‑centric meetups, or late‑night brand activations, these CES 2026 party lists will keep your schedule sharp, your options wide open, and your nights unforgettable.
CES 2026 (Jan. 6–9 in Las Vegas, Nevada) is shaping up to be one of the most hardware‑heavy shows in years. From next‑gen GPUs and AI‑accelerated CPUs to gaming accessories, the livestream lineup is packed with reveals that matter to gamers, creators, and PC enthusiasts, whether live attendance is possible or not. We’re focusing on livestreams from CES 2026 that gamers may find the most relevant in 2026.
Pick and choose the events you want to dial into, we’ve got you covered!
CES 2026 Website
A lot of the sessions you may want to check out will be available directly through the CES website. A couple of the featured sessions include AMD’s keynote with Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD and Lenovo Tech World @ CES, live at the Sphere venue, led by Yuanqing Yang, Chairman & CEO of Lenovo. Both of these are sure to cover new computing trends from their perspectives (and a new product reveal or two).
Also baked into the agenda that CES will offer live and on-demand are plenty of talks around the future of AI, content creation, computing, and robotics, with household brands like HP, Google, NVIDIA and others.
Samsung’s CES presence is slated to include new gaming displays, Micro RGB TVs, and AI‑powered devices that also tie into cloud gaming and cross‑platform entertainment. YouTube is where to go to watch this press conference.
LG’s press event traditionally opens CES press day, and 2026 continues the streak. This year’s theme, Innovation in Tune with You, focuses on AI‑enhanced devices, connected ecosystems, and next‑gen displays. Expect updates and reveals that touch on entertainment, smart home tech, and gaming‑adjacent hardware as well.
NVIDIA is promising a showcase covering robotics, simulation, AI, and gaming. With Blackwell‑era GPUs expanding beyond graphics and into AI acceleration, expect updates on next‑gen GeForce hardware, cloud gaming, and creator tools, and more. And with NVIDIA’s growth and valuation continuing to boom, thanks to sky-high AI demand, expect Wall Street to follow what NVIDIA CEO and Founder, Jensen Huang, has to share as closely as any PC gamer, AI startup, and millions of others.
ASUS ROG will be celebrating two decades of gaming innovation with a virtual event unveiling new gaming laptops, motherboards, peripherals, and other PC hardware features. This is one of the higher-profile gaming‑focused livestreams of CES for one of the larger gaming-focused brands, which should draw in thousands of engaged viewers.
Intel’s CES 2026 presence will center on its vision for the next era of computing, with a showcase that spans AI‑enhanced PCs, next‑generation processors, and platform‑level innovations. The company will highlight how AI‑accelerated hardware is reshaping everything from gaming and content creation to enterprise workloads and everyday computing. Intel’s launches will no doubt reflect this vision.
MSI’s CES 2026 teaser suggests a major refresh across its gaming laptop and desktop hardware lineup, signaling new designs built around next‑generation CPUs, GPUs, and AI‑enhanced performance features. The announcement hints at upgraded cooling systems, redesigned chassis options, and premium displays aimed at competitive gamers and creators. MSI is also expected to showcase updates to its motherboard and graphics card families, continuing its push into high‑efficiency, high‑performance PC components.
We’ll be sure to add any entries and update details in advance of CES 2026!
Greetings, event goers! We have been looking to present to you all sorts of useful industry event statistics throughout the year. This past year has had no shortage of events to highlight with over 350 listed in the calendar – wow!
The following infographic highlighted events will all recur again in 2026, offering a growing emphasis on the game industry job market and career pathways. Expect panels and workshops on roles in design, programming, animation, QA, and production, with recruiters and studio leaders eager to meet candidates in person. Many events are expanding mentorship corners, portfolio review sessions, and career accelerators designed to speed up the journey from novice to pro. For job seekers, the calendar increasingly highlights on-site recruiting booths, portfolio showcases, and real-time skill assessments that can unlock interviews or internships.
Artificial intelligence continues to reshape both the games we play and the teams that build them. Look for events that feature AI-driven game design tutorials, procedural content generation talks, and demonstrations of AI-assisted art and animation pipelines. Several conferences are signaling AI ethics and responsible use, giving attendees a chance to discuss guardrails, data privacy, and fairness in AI tools used in development. If you’re exploring roles or collaborating with AI-powered tools, these sessions are especially valuable for understanding current industry expectations and future trajectories.
Check out the infographic below for our top event picks. After having a look, let us know on Twitter, Facebook, or join our Discord on what events you plan to attend in 2026. Be sure to also visit the calendar for additional events from your favorite event months!
Note: As AI features become more prominent, several events may advertise AI-driven tracks or partner with AI vendors. If you’re curious about which sessions include hands-on AI labs or industry-standard tool demonstrations, we’ll flag those in the event notes and follow-up previews.
We’ve put together another great list of events you can attend in January 2026. This month marks the start of a new cycle for the game industry, shifting the focus from year-end celebrations to planning, strategy, and innovation for 2026.
With AI integration, live service operations, and emerging platforms continuing to reshape how games are made, monetized, and supported, January events emphasize forward-looking discussions, business development, and hands-on insights. For indie studios in particular, this month offers valuable opportunities to connect with publishers, platform holders, and technology partners early in the year, helping them position projects and pitches for success throughout 2026.
Unfortunately on the pessimistic side of what 2026 is about to bring us, the game industry has been hit by another big bombshell and that is sky-high memory prices. From computer system RAM to storage SSDs, and even VRAM for graphics cards, prices have shot up as much as 4-5x or more over the last couple of months. Can you guess why? Yep, you guessed it… AI server demand. Check out this video by Gamers Nexus to learn more about the current state of memory and the business behind what’s going on.
Featured Events
Kicking off the year with CES 2026 (Jan 6-9), the world’s technology convention in Las Vegas is a must-attend event to see all the new gadgets coming out for gamers and others alike. Then there is the ICE Barcelona 2026 (Jan 19–21) for the global gaming and iGaming ecosystem that showcases cutting-edge technology, regulatory updates, and high-level networking opportunities.
On the mobile and apps side, Pocket Gamer Connects London (Jan 19–20) returns with expanded content including the Apps Business Summit and Beyond Games Transmedia Summit, bringing together developers, publishers, and service providers from across the app and games economy. For teams investing in long-term engagement, the Live Service Gaming Summit North America 2026 offers focused sessions on Games-as-a-Service design, retention, and monetization, with insights from studios like Riot Games, Ubisoft, EA Sports, 2K, and more.
This year’s calendar also welcomes a pair of lesser-known 2026 entries that put a spotlight on regional communities and emerging creators. The refreshed Lake George Games Expo 2026 (Jul 26) builds on its earlier debut with its first full-sized gaming convention in Lake George, bringing together local developers and tabletop fans for a day of demos, presentations, and community-building.
Joining it on the calendar is the Evercon 26 (Mar 6–8), a long-running but still under-the-radar Central Wisconsin gaming convention featuring board games, tabletop RPGs, trading card games, and video games under one roof. Both events offer community-driven spaces ideal for testing new projects and discovering trends bubbling up from passionate local scenes before they hit the global stage.
With all that said, check out the complete month’s event list below! But first…
Special Offers
We recently launched a new feature on the website – Event Ticket Discounts and Offers. Want to know when your event has a 10% off special or early bird rates open? Check out our Free Offers Page regularly!
Here are the latest offers listed as of this blog post:
Have an offer we can add to this list? Please let us know!
We are also looking for folks who want to get some editorial experience (or just prestige of attending an event) by writing about their event experiences (or simply taking photos showcasing an event you are attending).
We’ve made some additions to the overview, including a new test view of the events right from the calendar itself listed below. Let us know which type of list you prefer.
There are no upcoming events at this time
Visit the main event calendar that includes events throughout the year and beyond.
Which events are you attending this month? Let us know by commenting on this article here or on LinkedIn, Twitter, Bluesky, and Facebook!
Editor: Mathew Anderson, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Events for Gamers, Community Manager for the computer game industry, and Public Relations Manager and Communication Specialist for various other industries.
This holiday season you might see some snow (if you’re lucky), taste delicious hot chocolate (with a bit of zing perhaps), meet with family and friends (or at least family-friendly neighbors), and you have one of the best times of the year! This time of year makes it all the more exciting to know that the new year is set for having some amazing events kicking off right after the holidays (starting with CES in Las Vegas).
Thank you, dear reader, for being on this incredible journey at Events for Gamers with us. 2025 was a year that propelled the site forward with new site features like the discounts page, the kick-off of our second edition e-mail newsletter, and an effort to promote more event news on social media. Without your support, we would be hundreds of events behind, WordPress iterations out of date, and wonderful human connections distant from where we are today.
Diving soon into 2026, we will be continuing to need your support. Please let us know if you are available to write articles, find new events to add to the calendar, or have your own event and industry coverage you wish us to share. It’s all needed and the crowning jewel of our site’s success – your contributions.
For now, from all of us at Events for Gamers, we hope you have a safe and happy holidays! See you at next year’s events! 🎄 🎄
Author: Mathew Anderson, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Events for Gamers, Community Manager for the computer game industry (KingsIsle, Portalarium, Petroglyph), and Public Relations Manager and Communication Specialist for various other industries.
The organizers of the GDC Festival of Gaming have rolled out this conference’s full 2026 session agenda, mapping out a week of talks, roundtables, and deep‑dive discussions touching on every corner of game development.
Returning to San Francisco from March 9–13, the event brings together creators from studios large and small. This year also marks a structural shift that accompanies the GDC rebrand to GDC Festival of Gaming: One pass now unlocks every track, workshop, and roundtable, simplifying the experience for attendees who prefer not to play “session selection roulette.”
The published schedule covers a wide range of disciplines, from rendering pipelines to creative leadership, indie retrospectives, product strategy, and the increasingly essential topics of trust, safety, and player well‑being. Below are several representative examples that illustrate the breadth of the program:
1. Rendering for Massive Worlds
Sessions like Modernizing the Rendering of Minecraft and Occlusion Culling at Roblox highlight the ongoing challenge of optimizing user‑generated and persistent worlds. Mojang and Roblox engineers will unpack how they keep their platforms performant while supporting millions of players and creators.
Sucker Punch’s Nate Fox will, in his session, explore how Ghost of Yotei aims to call forth the unique feeling of a wandering ronin, representing an opportunity to peek behind the curtain of thematic decision‑making rather than just mechanics.
4. Discoverability and Branding in a Crowded Market
Beyond the talks, the GDC Festival of Gaming promises expanded networking, nightly community events, and the new Luminaries Speaker Series, setting up the week as a learning hub and a meeting ground for the full ecosystem of game development.
To learn more about the GDC Festival of Gaming’s agenda, check out the official agenda link. For more info about the GDC Festival of Gaming, including registration, speakers, and much more, here’s the official website link that’ll get you started on your journey.
From November 21–23, 2025, the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia played host to PAX Unplugged 2025, the annual celebration of tabletop gaming that has become a fixture in the convention calendar. Unlike its digital-heavy counterparts, Unplugged is devoted entirely to board games, RPGs, miniatures, and card play, which is a tactile reminder that gaming can be as much about shared space and human connection as it is about mechanics.
December’s featured video comes from JBit Vlogs, a content creator focused on documenting conventions and gaming culture. Their lens on PAX Unplugged 2025 offers viewers a first-hand look at what makes the event special in their perspective. From demo tables to tournaments, from casual play to deep strategy, JBit captures the breadth of experiences that filled the convention hall.
The video opens with sweeping shots of the expo floor, where publishers and indie designers alike showcased their latest creations. JBit’s narration emphasizes the accessibility of the event: families learning new games together, veteran players testing their skills in competitive card tournaments, and newcomers discovering the possibilities of analog play. Highlights include demos of Disney Lorcana, Magic: The Gathering events, and indie prototypes that are a wink and a nod at the possible future of tabletop design.
But, what sets this coverage apart is its focus on the people behind the games. JBit spends time with developers explaining their inspirations, cosplayers bringing characters to life, and attendees sharing the thrill of discovery. That human-centered approach mirrors the intent of PAX Unplugged itself, which is powered by collaboration, storytelling, and shared imagination.
At almost 45 minutes, the video balances the spectacle that’s so often seen on a PAX expo floor with making connections. For those who couldn’t attend, it serves as both recap and a tease to consider attending in the future. For those who did, it’s a reminder of why tabletop culture continues to have such an enduring audience: because dice, cards, and boards can be the means to authentic storytelling and making connections.
Did you attend PAX Unplugged 2025, and what aspects of the show in particular left a powerful impression with you?
Whether you are an event coordinator, press, or general attendee, if you have an event video to share with us, please let us know and we’ll be happy to feature it!
The Game Awards 2025, held December 11 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, delivered on its promise of accolades and industry reveals. The standout of the evening was Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Sandfall Interactive, which won Game of the Year and also secured a record-breaking nine trophies across categories including Best Game Direction, Best Narrative, Best RPG, Best Art Direction, and Best Score & Music Jennifer English’s performance in the game was also recognized, underscoring the title’s broad impact in both creative and technical dimensions.
Beyond Clair Obscur, other notable winners included Donkey Kong Bananza for Best Family Game, Doom: The Dark Ages for Innovation in Accessibility, and Counter-Strike 2 as Best Esports Game. These awards highlighted both established franchises and new entries that continue to make their mark on the game industry’s landscape.
Fate is in your hands. Check out the reveal trailer for Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, a new single-player action RPG from Arcanaut Studios.
Beyond the awards, the show featured a slate of fresh announcements. Among the most prominent was Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, introducing a new protagonist and revisiting a beloved era of the franchise. Capcom confirmed Resident Evil: Requiem, with fan favorite character Leon S. Kennedy returning to the series. Square Enix revealed two new Tomb Raider projects, while Remedy showcased Control: Resonant, a follow-up to its acclaimed supernatural thriller. Other announcements included Mega Man: Dual Override, a new Divinity installment by Larian Studios, and a Diablo IV expansion featuring the Paladin class.
The ceremony also spotlighted indie creativity through the Day of the Devs showcase, continuing its tradition of highlighting smaller studios alongside blockbuster premieres.
In terms of broader trends, the awards underscored the growing prominence of narrative-driven, stylistically bold titles. The impact of Clair Obscur reflected the appetite for games that combine the magic of mechanical innovation with strong artistic identity. Meanwhile, the announcements leaned heavily on franchise continuity, suggesting that while new IPs are breaking through, established series remain central to publishers’ strategies.
In addition to the scheduled premieres, the ceremony featured several surprise reveals. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach resurfaced with a new trailer, confirming its release window after years of speculation. Hades II also appeared with new gameplay footage, showing off the growing appeal for roguelikes in mainstream gaming.
The show also leaned hard into pop culture overlaps, which has become a signature of the event in recent years, with appearances from celebrities outside the gaming domain. Miss Piggy joined the stage in a fun segment, continuing the tradition of crossovers between gaming and broader entertainment culture. Musical performances and cameos amplified the event’s positioning as both an industry awards show and a cultural draw. One of the evening’s surprise crossovers was the debut trailer for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, with the full cast, including Jason Momoa as Blanka and Noah Centineo as Ken, appearing on stage to present an award and confirm the film’s release for October 2026.
In terms of media crossover and mass appeal, one of the evening’s unexpected crossovers was the debut trailer for the upcoming Street Fighter movie, with the full cast, including Jason Momoa as Blanka and Noah Centineo as Ken, appearing on stage to present an award and confirm the film’s release for October 2026.
Together, these elements highlighted how The Game Awards has evolved into a hybrid of industry recognition and entertainment showcase, where unexpected reveals and familiar pop icons share the spotlight with developers and players.
Think Belgium is only known for its craft beer, waffles, and chocolate? Nope! This country from the Benelux region has a thriving game development scene, including a games awards event at the end of the year. So, on December 10th, the Belgian Game Awards brought the country’s developers, studios, and creative talent together to celebrate achievements in 14 categories. Organized by games.brussels and BelgianGames, the event highlighted the diversity of Belgium’s gaming ecosystem, from XR innovation to narrative-driven experiences.
We are so humbled and proud to announce that Koira won 3 awards last night at the Belgian Game Awards 😍🐶
The night’s top honor, Belgian Game of the Year, went to Koira by Studio Tolima. The title also locked in wins in Best Audio and Best Narrative, praised for its ability to evoke emotion without dialogue and for its musical storytelling.
Other noteworthy winners included Wall Town Wonders by Cyborn, which took Best XR Game of the Year for its creative use of immersive dollhouse-style exploration. A Long Goodbye by Polygoat won Best Applied Game, recognized for its poignant depiction of dementia through VR. In multiplayer, Wait What’s That? from Oisoi Studio made an impression with its creative 3D twist on Pictionary-style gameplay.
Visual artistry was celebrated with 30 Birds from Ram Ram Studio and Business Goose Studio, which fused Persian-inspired aesthetics with unique writing. Also, No Players Online by Beeswax Games earned Best Game Design, praised for its atmospheric mechanics and esoteric storytelling.
The awards also spotlighted emerging talent entering indie game development. What the Hack! from Howest/DAE won Best Student Game, demonstrating polish and creativity from a student team. STIP by Sixtyfour was named Most Anticipated Game, with its fourth-wall-breaking puzzle mechanics drawing attention ahead of release.
Community recognition came through the Audience Award, which went to OFF (Mortis Ghost + Fangamer), a cult RPG Maker title reintroduced to modern platforms. Beyond games, entrepreneurial and technical contributions were honored: Valem Studios was named Most Promising Start-up, Lugus Studios took Best Tech Provider, and BiteMe Games received Change-Maker of the Year for its innovative funding model.
Here’s the full listing of Belgian Game Awards categories, winners and nominees:
Category
Winner
Other Nominees
Best XR Game of the Year
Wall Town Wonders (Cyborn)
A Long Goodbye (Polygoat), Detective VR (Valem Studio)
Best Applied Game
A Long Goodbye (Polygoat)
The Storyteller, Liftoff: Microdrones
Best Multiplayer
Wait What’s That? (Oisoi Studio)
Jester: A Foolish Ritual (FireFoot Studios), Midnight Mayhem (Gradient Games)
Best Visual Art
30 Birds (Ram Ram Studio / Business Goose Studio)
Koira (Studio Tolima), Gloomy Eyes (Fishing Cactus / Atlas V / BeRevolution)
Best Audio
Koira (Studio Tolima)
OFF (Mortis Ghost + Fangamer), No Players Online (Beeswax Games)
Best Narrative
Koira (Studio Tolima)
30 Birds (Ram Ram Studio / Business Goose Studio), OFF (Mortis Ghost + Fangamer)
Best Game Design
No Players Online (Beeswax Games)
Deck of Haunts (Mantis Games), Order 13 (Cybernetic Walrus)
Best Student Game
What the Hack! (Howest/DAE)
Needle Eye (Howest/DAE), Voice of the Ocean (Haute Ecole Albert Jacquard)
Most Anticipated Game
STIP (Sixtyfour)
Helix: Descent N Ascent (Badass Mongoose), Modulus (Happy Volcano), Curiosmos (Céline Veltman & the Silly Stars), Hello World: A Developer Story (Little Big Monkey Studio)
Belgian Game of the Year
Koira (Studio Tolima)
—
Audience Award
OFF (Mortis Ghost + Fangamer)
—
Most Promising Start-up
Valem Studios
FireFoot Studios, Polygon Valley
Best Tech Provider
Lugus Studios
Salty Lemon Entertainment, Carte Son
Change-Maker of the Year
BiteMe Games
Lugus Studios, Cybernetic Walrus
The ceremony was accompanied by a Belgian Game Awards Steam event running December 4–12, giving international audiences access to nominees and winners, with front-page exposure between December 9–11. This digital showcase reinforced the awards’ role in promoting Belgian talent beyond national borders.
Overall, the Belgian Game Awards 2025 showed off the strength of Belgium’s developers in blending artistry, innovation, and community engagement. With Koira leading the way and a diverse set of winners across categories, the event spotlighted a thriving sector set for continued growth.
Xsolla, a leading global video game commerce company that helps developers launch, grow, and monetize their games, today announced a unified lineup of programming during The Game Awards week in Los Angeles. Together, these initiatives showcase Xsolla’s commitment to bringing the community and ecosystem together to support creators, strengthen the relationship between games and their players, and enable games to reach more markets around the world. The week of activities includes its partnership with GamesBeat Hollywood & Games 2025, a featured role during Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Digital Showcase, Games for Love’s The Game Gala, and the unveiling of Xsolla’s refreshed brand identity.
The brand refresh is the centerpiece of Xsolla’s presence throughout the week, reflecting Xsolla’s future-forward vision of building all the things developers need to create successful video game businesses across multiple platforms.
“For over 20 years, Xsolla has always been about making the complex seamless for developers and publishers,” said Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer at Xsolla. “Our refreshed identity reflects our future mission to bring opportunities together and to build all the things for creators to help them create, monetize, distribute, and market great experiences. We believe in the future of games, from passion projects to the biggest studios all over the world.”
Xsolla will be participating and helping to bring the community together during The Game Awards week. The full schedule of activities includes:
The Game Gala
December 10 – Industry & Fundraising Day
9 AM-5 PM followed by The Game Mixer 7-10 PM PT
December 11 – The Main Event
9 AM-3 PM followed by VIP + Creator Masquerade Ball 7 PM-12 AM PT
Lightspace Studios, Los Angeles, CA
The Game Awards 2025
December 11, 2025
Opening Act: 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ET
Peacock Theater, Los Angeles, CA
In-person at the Theatre and streaming free across major global platforms
Featuring three cornerstone sessions shaping the day’s conversations:
• Cross-Platform Worldbuilding Session (9:25–9:50 AM) with Halley Gross and David Baronoff, moderated by Justin Berenbaum, SVP, Global Industry Relations and Funding, Xsolla
• Debate on the Future of Games Entertainment (11:25–11:50 AM) with Akash Nigam, CEO of Genies, and Derek Douglas, Head of Video Games at CAA, moderated by Berkley Egenes, Chief Marketing & Growth Officer, Xsolla
• The Big Show Podcast: Hollywood & Games Edition, hosted by Alex Lee of GamesBeat with featured guest Berkley Egenes and Founder & Chief Strategist, JadeInferno + Host, Deconstructor of Fun, Jen Donahoe
These sessions highlight the growing convergence between games, storytelling, and filmed entertainment, reflecting a shared vision between Xsolla and GamesBeat to foster dialogue around worldbuilding, adaptation, cross-platform storytelling, and the creative opportunities shaping the future of entertainment.
“With the industry advancing quickly, moments like The Game Awards week remind us how connected our community has become,” said Chris Hewish, President at Xsolla. “Developers, storytellers, and partners around the world rely on foundational systems that support their vision. Our expanded presence this week reflects our commitment to meeting those needs with clarity, consistency, and thoughtful collaboration. We’re proud to continue operating as the quiet force that helps creators bring their worlds to life.”
For more information about Hollywood & Games 2025, Day of the Devs: The Game Awards Digital Showcase, The Game Gala, The Game Awards 2025, event access, streaming availability, or Xsolla’s brand refresh, visit: xsolla.pro/brand-la
LOS ANGELES (December 9, 2025) – Evolution Championship Series (known as Evo), the largest and longest-running open invite fighting game festival, announced today that, for the first time, competitors and fans will be empowered to shape Evo events in 2026. Player registrations will determine which game titles will be played in the Arena Finals in Japan and Las Vegas. Meanwhile, fans can nominate their favorite players and moments to help select the finalists for the second annual Evo Awards. Early bird registration opens today for Evo Las Vegas through February 2 on evo.gg for fans to scoop up three-day passes for less than $200 per person. Evo Japan registration also opens today at evojapan.gg.
The sharp bite of defeat is the shadow of the thrill of victory at EVO (image: EVO)
Evo revealed today during its highly anticipated announcement show that the game lineups for Evo Japan and Evo Las Vegas will feature an expanded 12 titles each, with a fresh mix of legendary and emerging games. New in 2026, the six games with the most registered competitors will be featured in the Arena Finals, while the remaining titles will enjoy all the pomp and circumstance on the Showcase Stage. As the largest open tournament in the world, Evo Las Vegas will have a minimum guaranteed prize pool of $500,000 across all titles. Fans can view the announcement show on demand on Twitch at twitch.tv/evo, YouTube at youtube.com/@evoevents,and TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@evofgc.
“Evo is defined by its global community, and we want fans worldwide to have an active voice in the experiences available at our events this year,” said Rick Thiher, GM for Evo. “2025 saw record-setting events from Evo across the globe, and that passionate response inspires our team to continue creating and expanding opportunities for the FGC in the years ahead.”
Dominique “SonicFox” McLean from Seattle, Wash., who helped close the announcement show, will look to make history next year as they are just one win away from tying Justin Wong’s Evo record with nine titles in Las Vegas. In addition, Pakistan’s Arslan “Arslan Ash” Ash has a shot to tie Evo’s overall title record if he can sweep in Japan, Las Vegas, and France in 2026.
Evo Japan returns to Tokyo on May 1-3 at Tokyo Big Sight as its largest event ever, with an increased area of more than 8,600 square meters for an improved and upgraded Show Floor and an expanded game lineup as follows:
Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 – 5th appearance at Evo
Riot Games’ 2XKO – 1st appearance at Evo
Bandai Namco Entertainment’s TEKKEN 8 – 4th appearance at Evo
Arc System Works’ Guilty Gear -Strive-– 6th appearance at Evo
Cygames’ Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising – 4th appearance at Evo
SNK’s Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves – 3rd appearance at Evo
Sega AM2’s Virtua Fighter 5: REVO World Stage – 1st appearance at Evo
Arc System Works’ Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes – 3rd appearance at Evo
SNK’s THE KING OF FIGHTERS XV – 3rd appearance at Evo
Lasengle’s Melty Blood Type Lumina – 4th appearance at Evo
Capcom’s Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire – 1st appearance at EvoSega’s Hokuto No Ken – 1st appearance at Evo
The Las Vegas Convention Center will once again host Evo’s flagship event on June 26-28 and welcomes back Chipotle® as presenting partner with a stacked game lineup, including:
SNK’s Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves – 4th appearance at Evo
Cygames’ Granblue Fantasy Versus Rising – 5th appearance at Evo
Arc System Works’ Guilty Gear -Strive-– 7th appearance at Evo
Riot Games’ 2XKO – 2nd appearance at Evo
Capcom’s Street Fighter 6 – 6th appearance at Evo
Bandai Namco Entertainment’s TEKKEN 8 – 5th appearance at Evo
Sega AM2’s VirtuaFighter 5: REVO World Stage – 2nd appearance at Evo
Skybound Games’s INVINCIBLE VS – 1st appearance at Evo
Arc System Works’ Under Night In-Birth II Sys:Celes – 4th appearance at Evo
Aether Studios’ Rivals of Aether II – 2nd appearance at Evo
Arc System Works’ Blazblue Centralfiction – 2nd appearance at Evo
Capcom’s Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire – 1st appearance at Evo
Evo will feature many fan favorite events and activations from 2025. The Evo Museum in Japan will mimic the expansive Las Vegas experience from 2025, while Las Vegas will also debut a statue and collectibles exhibit. Both Japan and Las Vegas will host expanded cosplay contests, while the Evo Showcase will feature industry-leading panels and keynote speakers. More details will be announced at a later date.
The Evo Awards Show returns for the second consecutive year, and fans can now nominate their favorites for every category starting today through January 9 to determine the finalists for each category. The winners will be announced at the Evo Awards Show in Los Angeles on March 28, 2026.
The list of Evo Awards Categories are below:
Best Game Release
Best Character
Best Product
Comeback of the Year
Best Pop Off
Best Commentary
Best Content Creator
Best Dressed
Best Cosplay
Best Custom Controller
Best Local
Best Combo
Best Online Series
Best Artist
Best Meme
They’ve Got Next (upcoming new player)
Commentator of the Year
Match of the Year
Player of the Year
Moment of the Year
Early bird registration is available now until February 2 at a reduced rate for Evo Japan and Evo Las Vegas with regular registration February 3 to May 4, and late registration until May 25.
