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BitSummit PUNCH Award Nominees Revealed! Shuhei Yoshida Joins as International Award Judge and Presenter

Paul Philleo
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BitSummit PUNCH Award Nominees Revealed! Shuhei Yoshida Joins as International Award Judge and Presenter

KYOTO, Japan – May 14th, 2026 – With less than two weeks to go before BitSummit PUNCH opens its doors at Miyako Messe, we’re proud to reveal the full nominee roster for this year’s awards and the second wave of stage event programming. We’re also thrilled to announce that Shuhei Yoshida will be joining us as judge and awards presenter for the International Award.

BitSummit PUNCH, the 14th edition of Japan’s largest indie game festival, runs May 22nd (Fri.) to May 24th (Sun.), 2026, at Miyako Messe in Kyoto. May 22nd is a dedicated Business Day, with public days on May 23rd (Sat.) and May 24th (Sun.).

The official event page is live now at bitsummit.org/14th/ and will continue to be updated as new announcements are revealed.

BitSummit PUNCH Awards — Nominees

This year’s awards span eight categories. Six are determined by jury vote, with nominees selected from exhibiting titles based on judge recommendations and final deliberation during the event. The remaining two — the Popular Selection Award and Kids Selection Award — are decided by attendee vote on-site.

The awards ceremony takes place on the evening of Saturday, May 23rd. The fun doesn’t end there, though, with the two visitor-voted awards being announced on Sunday, May 24th, and the full ceremony will be broadcast via our official livestream for everyone watching from home.

VERMILLION GATE AWARD / 朱色賞 《 Grand Prize 》

Awarded to the most outstanding title exhibited at BitSummit PUNCH.

  • Denshattack! — Undercoders
  • Am I Nima — HO! Games
  • Algolemeth — Medium-Rare Games
  • Satoyama Note: Spring Stroll (里山のおと 春さんぽ) — Satoyama Note
  • City of None — Extremely OK Games, Ltd.
  • Artis Impact (アーティス インパクト) — Mas

INTERNATIONAL AWARD / インターナショナルアワード賞

Awarded to the most outstanding title submitted from outside Japan.

  • The King Is Watching — Hypnohead
  • Sledding Game — The Sledding Corporation
  • the Berlin Apartment — PARCO GAMES
  • TCG Card Shop Simulator — OPNeon Games
  • Surfpunk — Double Stallion Games
  • Whisper Mountain Outbreak — Toge Productions
  • Dungeon Clawler — Stray Fawn Studio

INNOVATIVE OUTLAW AWARD / 革新的反骨心賞

Awarded to a title pushing boundaries in technology, concept, or design.

  • On Air! Taxi Detective Casebook (放送開始！タクシー推理事件簿) — 373 STUDIO
  • Surface Maze Kurumab (表面迷宮くるまぶ) — KUMAZASA
  • Type & Magic — Decoboco Games
  • YaoyoroZOO — AlSH
  • Sloppy Forgeries — Playful Systems
  • Bytes and Knights – ADVENTURE — Jonathan Holmes (crait)
  • Hermit Computer — VIA studio (Visual Interactive Arts)
  • The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time — Coin Drop Game

EXCELLENCE IN GAME DESIGN AWARD / ゲームデザイン最優秀賞

Awarded to a title demonstrating outstanding game design.

  • Lost and Found Co. — Bit Egg Inc
  • Werewolf Burger (人狼バーガー) — uracon
  • Astromine — Alientrap Games
  • Parking Together! — Yaneuragames Co., Ltd.
  • OPUS: Prism Peak — SIGONO
  • NIGHTMARE OPERATOR — DDDistortion

VISUAL EXCELLENCE AWARD / ビジュアルデザイン最優秀賞

Awarded to a title with outstanding visual design.

  • High Fructose — Chazak Games
  • Satoyama Note: Spring Stroll (里山のおと 春さんぽ) — Satoyama Note
  • FEAR FA 98 — Jacob Jazz
  • Finding Polka — lidlocks
  • Moldwasher — Anshar Publishing
  • ダレカレ (Darekare) — yona・TearyHand Studio
  • Into The Haunted Land — Kevin Lai

EXCELLENCE IN SOUND DESIGN AWARD / オーディオデザイン最優秀賞

Awarded to a title with outstanding audio design.

  • Katuba’s Poacher — Joe Yu Studio
  • Liquid Abyss: The Melted Jelly (リクイッド・アビス – The Melted Jelly -) — Hello Quest
  • Starless Umbra — Alcuria Games
  • DEATH A LIVE — Rabbit Trigger
  • Cento — Hoshimadara Lab.
  • Mekururiwitchi (めくるりウィッチ) — SleepingMuseum
  • Toroa: Skycall — Atawhai Interactive

POPULAR SELECTION AWARD / ポピュラーセレクション賞

Voted on by event attendees on-site — winners will be announced on May 24th (Sun.). Cast your vote when you’re here!

KIDS SELECTION AWARD / ビットキッズアワード

Voted on by young attendees on-site — also announced on May 24th (Sun.). Cast your vote when you’re here!

Rounding out the ceremony, sponsor awards from PlayStation® and ID@Xbox, media partner awards from Famitsu, Dengeki Online, Gizmodo Japan, Game*Spark, IGN Japan, 4Gamer, VGC, and Game Makers, and the BitSummit Game Jam Award — recognizing the most outstanding title created during the BitSummit Game Jam — will also be presented on the night.

Shuhei Yoshida Joins BitSummit PUNCH as International Award Judge and Presenter

Long one of the games industry’s most prominent voices for independent development, Shuhei Yoshida has joined our esteemed panel of judges and presenters and will present the International Award prize at the awards ceremony on May 23rd. His decades of experience — and his well-known passion for indie games from around the world — make him an ideal champion for the international titles exhibiting at BitSummit PUNCH this year.

BitSummit has always aimed to connect outstanding indie games from Japan and around the world with the developers, publishers, media, and players. Yoshida’s participation in judging the International Award reflects exactly that spirit — bringing greater visibility to the diverse range of international titles coming to Kyoto, and signaling to the global indie community that BitSummit is a place where great work gets recognized.

“BitSummit has always been about building bridges — between Japanese indie developers and the world, and between the industry and the players who love these games. Having Shuhei Yoshida join us to judge and present the International Award is a perfect reflection of that mission. His passion for indie games and the incredible depth of his experience make him exactly the right person to champion the international titles coming to Kyoto this year.”

— John Davis, BitSummit Director and Game Curation Lead

Final Nominations Revealed for Nordic Game Awards 2026, With Assassin’s Actor Magnus Bruun to Host

Paul Philleo
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0
Final Nominations Revealed for Nordic Game Awards 2026, With Assassin’s Actor Magnus Bruun to Host

The Nordic Game Awards 2026 (NGA 26) have officially revealed their final nominations for the annual celebration recognizing the best games produced within the Nordic region. This year’s event is set to highlight the continued growth and creative output of game developers across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The awards ceremony is a foundational component of the larger annual Nordic Game (NG26) conference.

The anticipation for the ceremony has been further heightened by the announcement of its host: Danish actor Magnus Bruun. Bruun, widely recognized for his memorable roles in the Assassin’s franchise, will lead the evening’s festivities. His presence brings a spotlight to the synergistic relationship between high-quality game development and acting talent, underlining the awards’ prestige. The decision to feature a figure with strong ties to the industry emphasizes the communal spirit of the event, which is designed to recognize peer achievements within the Nordic community.
As for the final list of the nominations featured in the Nordic Game Awards 2026 (NGA 26), they showcase a diverse array of outstanding game development from across the five Nordic nations.

Nordic Game of the Year contenders include high-profile titles like Battlefield 6 (Sweden), Dune: Awakening (Norway), and ARC Raiders (Sweden). Split Fiction (Sweden) and My Winter Car (Finland) round out the top category.Games developed by Hazelight Studios (Split Fiction) and Embark Studios (ARC Raiders) are heavily featured across multiple technical and design categories. Split Fiction and ARC Raiders, along with Dune: Awakening and Battlefield 6, are all nominated for Best Technology and Best Audio. Split Fiction and ARC Raiders also compete in Best Game Design, alongside Europa Universalis V (Sweden), Sledders (Finland), and Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor (Denmark).

The awards also recognize aesthetic achievements in Best Art, with nominations for Dune: Awakening, Wreckfest 2 (Finland), and LEGO Voyagers (Denmark). Emerging studios are highlighted in the Best Debut category, featuring titles such as RV There Yet? (Sweden) and Discounty (Denmark). For family-friendly appeal, the Best Fun for Everyone category includes games like LEGO Voyagers and Pictionary Game Night (Finland). The awards are set to recognize outstanding creativity, technical achievement, and innovation.

To see the full list of NGA 26 nominees, visit the official link to see them all.

The Nordic Game Awards, which celebrates the best games from the Nordic region, will be held during the NG26 conference on Thursday, May 28, at 19:00 CEST in the Main Theatre at the Slagthuset venue. The parent event, Nordic Game 2026, has been the premier home meeting place for the Nordic games industry since 2004 and is recognized as among the largest spring games industry events in Europe.

PIGCON 2026 Schedule Released, Set for May 30th and 31st in Portland

Paul Philleo
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0
PIGCON 2026 Schedule Released, Set for May 30th and 31st in Portland
The Portland Indie Game Squad (PIGSquad) has officially released the full schedule for PIGCON 2026. PIGCON, which stands for the Portland Indie Game Convention, is presented by PIGSquad as a weekend event for game developers of all kinds. Its primary mission is to provide a forum for attendees to learn, share their projects, and connect with peers within the independent game development community. PIGCON is a foundational gathering that supports both hobbyists and professionals in advancing their skills and networking.

The main convention is scheduled for the weekend of May 30-31, 2026. This year’s convention will be hosted at the Norse Hall in Portland, OR. The freshly published Show Schedule includes an updated list of guests and the full presentation calendar. Organizers state that tickets are selling quickly, and they encourage interested potential attendees to review the talks and secure their registration soon. Further details are expected shortly, as PIGSquad confirms that a complete games list and expanded activities will be added to the schedule in the near future. The team is hashing out the content to help lock in a more comprehensive event experience.

Attendees also have an opportunity to connect before the main event at the final pre-PIGCON Art/Code Night. This casual gathering is planned for Friday, May 15th, from 6pm to 10pm. The venue for the Art/Code Night is The Hostel Cafe, located at 1810 NW Glisan St in Portland. The session is intended as a chance for developers to relax, chat, network, and bring their current projects, regardless if it’s a game, a coding project, or a sketch book. This gathering provides a low-key prelude to the full convention, offering a relaxed setting to meet other members of the PIGSquad community.

Keep tabs on PIGCON by keeping up with Events for Gamers news and social channels or by checking the PIGCON page on the PIGSquad site.

Indie Game Award 2026 Winner’s Interview: Best Mobile Game – Concode

Mathew Anderson
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0
Indie Game Award 2026 Winner’s Interview: Best Mobile Game – Concode

May 8, 2026: Breaking the Mold to Create an Immersive Adventure! South Korean Duo Wins Best Mobile Game at Indie Game Award 2026

Concode, a South Korean indie development duo, recently won the Best Mobile Game for their 2.5D pixel-art puzzle-adventure Graytail at Indie Game Award 2026, organized by Taipei Game Show. The team consists of Myeongjin Shin, who handles programming and narrative design, and Seonhyang Kim, who takes care of all art and animation. Originally colleagues, they founded Concode in 2022 to pursue their dreams. Their debut title, The Way Home, reached a remarkable 3.5 million downloads on mobile devices alone. With the demo of Graytail now available and a full release scheduled for Q2, 2027, the team aims to push further with their second work to create a deeper, more immersive, and complete adventure experience for players.

Honoring the Classics, Pushing them Further: Building a Mobile Game Experience with Both Depth and Accessibility

Myeongjin Shin noted that the inspiration for Graytail came from replaying the 20-year-old classic The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Consequently, the game adopts a similar top-down perspective and 2.5D pixel style. He emphasized: “We kept the warmth of pixel art but added 3D depth and perspective… so it feels like classic pixel art evolved, not just repeated”. Building on this foundation, the team carefully crafted various puzzles and levels to convey the charm of puzzle-adventures, while conducting continuous playtesting to balance difficulty. Most puzzles offer more than one solution, allowing players to find their own path and gain a greater sense of achievement. He added with a smile, “The goal is always for players to feel clever when they solve something”.

Myeongjin Shin highlighted that Graytail does not follow the typical mobile game formula. Instead of offering just a short, casual experience, it creates a grander and more complete adventure world. To address the control limitations of mobile devices, the team significantly reduced the number of buttons, ensuring a single action could work across many different situations. For instance, nearby objects are auto-targeted so players can interact with just one tap. They also designed a convenient save system that allows players to step away and return whenever they wish, ensuring the game rhythm is not punished by the demands of daily life.

From Flight Chaos to Gold Medal: Concode Eyes Official Launch

Myeongjin Shin pointed out that Taipei Game Show is one of the most important events for reaching players and the wider industry across Asia. The team felt it was the perfect stage for Graytail, which led them to exhibit and enter Indie Game Award 2026. They are honored to receive the award, marking the team’s second time exhibiting abroad. However, reflecting on the journey to Taiwan, he joked, “I genuinely thought I wasn’t going to make it in”.

He discovered at the airport that his passport had less than six months of validity left, leading to a cancelled ticket, a rush for an expedited passport application, and a scramble for a landing visa upon arrival. He remarked that this high-stress experience feels like something straight out of a sitcom in hindsight. Fortunately, they enjoyed a lot of great food and local hospitality in Taiwan, while receiving encouraging feedback from players and publishers. The team is currently working hard toward the full release, which will feature more complex dungeons and meaningful story branching. They also plan to bring the game to PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch to share this charming adventure with even more players. For the full video interview, visit the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel, and stay updated on Concode’s latest developments by following team’s official social media.

Breaking the Mold to Create an Immersive Adventure! South Korean Duo Wins Best Mobile Game at Indie Game Award 2026

Concode, a South Korean indie development duo, recently won the Best Mobile Game for their 2.5D pixel-art puzzle-adventure Graytail at Indie Game Award 2026, organized by Taipei Game Show. The team consists of Myeongjin Shin, who handles programming and narrative design, and Seonhyang Kim, who takes care of all art and animation. Originally colleagues, they founded Concode in 2022 to pursue their dreams. Their debut title, The Way Home, reached a remarkable 3.5 million downloads on mobile devices alone. With the demo of Graytail now available and a full release scheduled for Q2, 2027, the team aims to push further with their second work to create a deeper, more immersive, and complete adventure experience for players.

Honoring the Classics, Pushing them Further: Building a Mobile Game Experience with Both Depth and Accessibility

Myeongjin Shin noted that the inspiration for Graytail came from replaying the 20-year-old classic The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Consequently, the game adopts a similar top-down perspective and 2.5D pixel style. He emphasized: “We kept the warmth of pixel art but added 3D depth and perspective… so it feels like classic pixel art evolved, not just repeated”. Building on this foundation, the team carefully crafted various puzzles and levels to convey the charm of puzzle-adventures, while conducting continuous playtesting to balance difficulty. Most puzzles offer more than one solution, allowing players to find their own path and gain a greater sense of achievement. He added with a smile, “The goal is always for players to feel clever when they solve something”.

Myeongjin Shin highlighted that Graytail does not follow the typical mobile game formula. Instead of offering just a short, casual experience, it creates a grander and more complete adventure world. To address the control limitations of mobile devices, the team significantly reduced the number of buttons, ensuring a single action could work across many different situations. For instance, nearby objects are auto-targeted so players can interact with just one tap. They also designed a convenient save system that allows players to step away and return whenever they wish, ensuring the game rhythm is not punished by the demands of daily life.

From Flight Chaos to Gold Medal: Concode Eyes Official Launch

Myeongjin Shin pointed out that Taipei Game Show is one of the most important events for reaching players and the wider industry across Asia. The team felt it was the perfect stage for Graytail, which led them to exhibit and enter Indie Game Award 2026. They are honored to receive the award, marking the team’s second time exhibiting abroad. However, reflecting on the journey to Taiwan, he joked, “I genuinely thought I wasn’t going to make it in”.

He discovered at the airport that his passport had less than six months of validity left, leading to a cancelled ticket, a rush for an expedited passport application, and a scramble for a landing visa upon arrival. He remarked that this high-stress experience feels like something straight out of a sitcom in hindsight. Fortunately, they enjoyed a lot of great food and local hospitality in Taiwan, while receiving encouraging feedback from players and publishers. The team is currently working hard toward the full release, which will feature more complex dungeons and meaningful story branching. They also plan to bring the game to PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch to share this charming adventure with even more players. For the full video interview, visit the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel, and stay updated on Concode’s latest developments by following team’s official social media.

NACON Connect 2026: All the Announcements From the Conference

Paul Philleo
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0
NACON Connect 2026: All the Announcements From the Conference

Lesquin, May 7, 2026 – For the seventh consecutive year, NACON‘s annual conference delivered on all its promises. Marked by game reveals and the presentation of exclusive gameplay sequences, the event highlighted NACON‘s ability to offer a rich and diverse catalog to the most passionate gamers.

Watch the NACON Connect replay here

New Games Unveiled

The NACON Connect featured the announcement of games that will thrill gamers seeking strong sensations and dark universes

  • Hunter: The Reckoning – Deathwish: The famous supernatural creature-hunting franchise from the World of Darkness™ returns to video games with a first-person action-RPG. Announced at the opening of the latest Xbox Partner Preview, the game invites players to hunt down evil beings in an open and immersive New York City, where every clue recovered brings them closer to their prey. The game is developed by Teyon, the studio behind the critically acclaimed RoboCop: Rogue City.
  • Dracula: The Disciple: Cyanide studio reveals a new puzzle game concept that reinterprets the Dracula myth. The player embodies an archivist with an incurable disease in search of a cure. Only mastery of the occult arts and esoteric instruments forgotten in Dracula’s castle could save them, or even grant them eternal life…
  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Rageborn: Based on the famous World of Darkness™ universe, this top-down metroidvania promises players the ability to switch between 3 forms (human, wolf, and werewolf) to lead the fight against the mega-corporation Pentex. The game is being developed by Crea-ture, a Montreal-based studio of the NACON group, and will be released in 2027.

A Prestigious Collaboration

Revosim, NACON‘s premium steering wheel brand, has announced a major collaboration with the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team for the creation of a wheel bearing the brand’s image. It is available today on nacongaming.com.

NACON also took advantage of the event to present new footage of numerous games and accessories planned for 2026:

  • Revo Range: NACON is innovating and announcing the arrival of a range of controllers including 3 models, under official Xbox license or PC compatible. Named Revo, Revo Pro and Revo Max, each offers the best technologies for gamers, ranging from Hall Effect and programmable buttons to a joystick tension adjustment system. The Revo Max will be available at the start of the 2026 school year, with the other models to follow at a later date.
  • The Mound: Omen Of Cthulhu: ACE Team presented a commented gameplay video of their new cooperative game that immerses players in a cursed jungle during the time of the conquistadors. In this Lovecraft-inspired universe, surviving madness and creatures of unspeakable horror will require coordination and communication, starting July 15, 2026.
  • Edge of Memories: Midgar Studio takes players into a world of spectacular beauty but transformed by the Corrosion. The story of Eline, a nomadic healer, is told in a new trailer. Edge of Memories will be released in 2026.
  • GreedFall: The Dying World: Two months after the game’s release, players have the opportunity to continue their adventure on the continent of Gacane with the arrival of the long-awaited additional quest on Péren. It is included in the Black Mass DLC pack and available for free to owners of the Deluxe edition.
  • Hell is Us: After a notable release in 2025, NACON and Rogue Factor invite players to join Hadéa on Nintendo Switch™ 2 starting September 24, 2026. Caught between civil war and a supernatural calamity, no marker guides the player and no map betrays the world’s secrets. Armed with their sword and guided by curiosity, they must uncover the mysteries of their past.
  • Ravenswatch: Three years after its early access debut and with over 1.5 million players, Passtech Games studio continues to treat roguelike fans with a new free update titled Songs of Thieves, available on May 27. On the agenda: new enemies and activities, innovative ways to strengthen your heroes, and a release on Nintendo Switch™ 2 in the fall.
  • Endurance Motorsport Series: Speed enthusiasts were able to discover a new circuit located in Brazil. Named Galeao, this exclusive track for Endurance Motorsport Series was designed by the KT Racing teams, promising intense and memorable races starting in the summer of 2026.
  • Tour de France 2026: The cycling simulation is back this year, still powered by Unreal Engine 5 for more realism. In addition to updated teams and routes, this edition brings climate changes that impact race management, to be discovered on PC and consoles starting June 4, 2026.
  • Hunting Simulator 3: NACON Studio Ghent unveils new images of the game and offers a more detailed glimpse of its content: open-world hunting in the vast lands of Colorado and Texas with a canine companion and an arsenal of officially licensed weapons and accessories make Hunting Simulator 3 the most complete new hunting experience, available this fall on PC and consoles.

gamescom congress opens Call for Submissions of topic proposals

Mathew Anderson
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0
gamescom congress opens Call for Submissions of topic proposals

gamescom congress 2026 launches Call for Submissions +++ This year’s thematic focus: “Playing Field Democracy” and “The Games Effect” +++ Tickets already available +++ Press accreditation has started

The gamescom congress, the world’s leading conference on the potential of games, is now inviting submissions of topic proposals: proposals are sought for panels, talks and keynotes on the wide-ranging influence of computer and video games across a variety of fields beyond the games industry. Submissions are possible until 27th of May 2026 on the gamescom congress website. The gamescom congress will take place on 27th of August 2026 in Cologne as part of gamescom, the world’slargest games event.

This year, the gamescom congress will place two highly relevant social topics at its centre: the positive influence of games on democracy, and games as a driver of innovation across a wide range of industries. Perspectives are sought from science, education, politics, economics, culture, NGOs and the games industry — with concrete projects, studies and use cases with tangible outcomes. The congress is aimed at a professional audience from culture, education, politics, science and the media, as well as representatives from various economic sectors who want to learn how other fields can benefit from the innovative power of games.

Promoting democracy and boosting innovation

The first thematic focus, “Playing Field Democracy”, highlights the potential of games to strengthen social cohesion and democratic engagement. Possible contributions include the promotion of media literacy across all age groups or the strengthening of social participation for diverse population segments. Protection of minors and media regulation, as well as historical awareness and extremism prevention, can also serve as potential focal points.

The second focus theme, “The Games Effect,” aims to demonstrate how numerous sectors of the economy and daily life can benefit from the application and innovative power of games. This might involve, for instance, prevention and rehabilitation applications in medicine or games as tools for education, vocational training, and professional instruction. Further approaches could include the optimization of operational processes and collaboration in industry, crafts, and the service sector, or the reduction of bureaucracy in public administration. Additionally, insights into stronger customer loyalty in retail or the acquisition of new knowledge in the scientific community can provide valuable perspectives for the congress audience.

Submission process

Interested speakers must submit a meaningful title along with a brief description that outlines the potential and challenges of their respective topic. Specific expertise in game development is not required.

Terms of participation and further information on the submission process can be found here.

This year, the gamescom congress will take place for the 18th time as part of gamescom, the world’s largest event for computer and video games. On 27 August, the Conference and Exhibition Centre Confex on the Koelnmesse grounds will once again become a meeting point for those interested from economics, politics and society. Last year, for the first time, over 1,000 visitors and 180 speakers took part in the congress.

Ticket shop open

Tickets for the gamescom congress 2026 are already available from the gamescom ticket shop: https://www.gamescom.global/en/tickets

Press accreditation started  

Press accreditation for gamescom has been open since 1 April. Accreditation for gamescom also grants access to the gamescom congress. Interested members of the press can find the registration form here.

About gamescom congress

Gamescom congress is the world’s leading conference on the potential of computer

games in a digitalized world and offers interfaces far beyond the digital and media

industry. International speakers present their topics in lectures, seminars and panel

discussions. The gamescom congress takes place annually as part of gamescom in Cologne and is organized by Koelnmesse GmbH and game, the association of the German games industry. The gamescom congress is sponsored by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. https://congress.gamescom.global/en/

Key Dates and Details for the 2026 USC Games Expo Student Showcase.

Paul Philleo
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0
Key Dates and Details for the 2026 USC Games Expo Student Showcase.

The 10th Annual USC Games Expo is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, offering a free public showcase of student-developed projects. The event, hosted on the USC campus in Los Angeles, will feature a comprehensive exhibition of over 60 student-created games from the university’s top-ranked game design program. This annual showcase serves as a key platform for graduating and current students to present their interactive work to the public, industry professionals, and potential collaborators.

A significant addition for this year’s anniversary event is a keynote panel featuring two notable industry figures. Confirmed speakers include John Riccitiello, former CEO of Unity Technologies and Electronic Arts, and Frank D. Gibeau, President of Zynga. The panel is scheduled to discuss relevant developments and perspectives on the future of the game industry.

The structured, day-long event begins with the USC Esports Showcase, running from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM PST in the Pickford Lobby. This competition segment will host Valorant, Marvel Rivals, and League of Legends matches. The participating roster includes teams from the University of Southern California, San Diego State University, Cal Poly SLO, UC Riverside, and Santa Monica College, among others. This element highlights the intersection of game design education and competitive play.

A dedicated segment for high-profile projects, the Advanced Games Project (AGP) Spotlight Show, is set to highlight ten standout titles chosen from the exhibition. This presentation runs from 4:00 to 5:00 PM PST from the Norris Theater and will be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube for virtual attendees. The main Expo Showcase and Reception, allowing attendees to play the full collection of student games, follows immediately afterward, running from 5:00 to 9:00 PM PST at the Cinematic Arts Complex.

Beyond standard video game formats, the Expo will include a section for Themed Entertainment Immersive Experiences. Located in the SCI Lobby, this presentation focuses on student work designed to blend audience participation and storytelling within constructed, immersive environments. The 2026 event will debut two new projects: Bloodhound, a collaborative, family-friendly narrative experience set in a 1920s New Orleans jazz bar, and Raceway USA, a nine-hole mini-golf course themed around iconic US landmarks. Both immersive projects were designed and developed by Themed Entertainment students.

General attendance is free and open to the public, though RSVP via Eventbrite is requested. The inclusion of virtual streaming options (USC Games’ channels on YouTube and Twitch) opens access to  those unable to attend the 2026 USC Games Expo in person.

DreamHack Atlanta 2026 Brings More Than $1.4 Million in Esports Competition to Georgia with Call of Duty League® Major III, Intel® Extreme Masters, and More

Paul Philleo
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0
DreamHack Atlanta 2026 Brings More Than $1.4 Million in Esports Competition to Georgia with Call of Duty League® Major III, Intel® Extreme Masters, and More

ATLANTA / STOCKHOLM — May 4, 2026 — DreamHack, the world’s leading gaming lifestyle festival and part of ESL FACEIT Group, has announced a robust esports lineup for DreamHack Atlanta 2026, taking place May 15–17 at the Georgia World Congress Center.  With more than $1.4 million in total prizing, DreamHack Atlanta will bring together the world’s top professional esports players alongside rising competitors across multiple titles. Across all competitions, hundreds of players will compete throughout the weekend, positioning Atlanta as a leading destination for top-tier esports competitions.

As the only DreamHack Festival in the United States in 2026, Atlanta becomes a key destination for international competition, drawing players, teams, and fans from around the world. From top-tier professional leagues to open competition, the event brings together every level of play in one weekend, reinforcing Atlanta’s role in the global esports landscape.

Now in its eighth year in Atlanta — more than any other U.S. city — DreamHack continues to draw a global audience, with the 2025 festival welcoming attendees from all 50 states and 61 countries.

Tier-One Global Competition Takes Center Stage
The weekend is anchored by two of the industry’s most prestigious competitive circuits — the Call of Duty League® and Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) — bringing tier-one global esports competition to Atlanta for the first time at this scale.

DreamHack Atlanta will host Call of Duty League® Major III, bringing all 12 professional teams — plus amateur Challengers — to compete for key points toward the 2026 Call of Duty League® Championship and prize pool. As a pivotal mid-season stop, Major III will play a critical role in shaping the CDL standings and postseason qualification.

Call of Duty®: Warzone Resurgence Series will bring top battle royale players together to compete in person, with the fast-paced Resurgence format delivering continuous, high-intensity gameplay for both competitors and spectators.

IEM Atlanta will mark the debut of one of the world’s premier Counter-Strike 2 tournaments in the Southeast, as elite international teams compete for the coveted title, and critical progress toward the ESL Grand Slam. The final stages of competition will be played in front of a live audience, delivering arena-level Counter-Strike to fans in the U.S.

Additional Competition Expands the Global Esports Field
Beyond its headline tournaments, DreamHack Atlanta will feature a wide range of competitive play across multiple titles and formats.

DreamHack Open ft. Halo
Featuring a blended open and pro format, offering amateur, semi-professional players, and the community a chance to get together and play in one of esports’ most iconic franchises. The event includes a focus on Halo Infinite with a 4v4 tournament alongside various side tournaments in Halo Infinite, Halo 5 and Halo 3 with prizing for grabs.

Road to the Esports World Cup 2026
DreamHack Atlanta will also serve as an official qualifying stop for the Esports World Cup 2026 (EWC) hosting tournaments across Street Fighter 6, TEKKEN 8, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Chess. Each feature qualification spots awarded to the top finishers — two in Street Fighter 6, three in TEKKEN 8, and four each in Fatal Fury and Chess — securing their place at the EWC 2026 in Riyadh. Alongside these, the Call of Duty®: Warzone Resurgence Series will take place from May 16-17, where the top five teams secure qualification to the EWC Warzone Championship.

Collegiate Esports Competitions
DreamHack Atlanta will bring together top university teams from across North America to compete on a national stage, highlighting the continued growth of collegiate esports as a pathway to professional competition.

Georgia-based programs include: Georgia Institute of Technology, Kennesaw State University, and the University of West Georgia.

Additional teams from across the U.S. and Canada include: Brewton-Parker Christian University, Conestoga College, Daytona State College, Fisher College, The University of Akron, University of Missouri, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Waukesha County Technical College, and Winthrop University.

Open Tournaments and Community Competition
DreamHack’s legacy of accessible competition continues with open and community-driven tournaments across multiple titles and genres, including the Fighting Game Community (FGC), which features titles including: Street Fighter 6, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, and Tekken 8. Also included will be chess alongside a range of casual tournaments held throughout the weekend.

These open tournaments give players of all skill levels a chance to compete and test themselves against top talent, reflecting the grassroots, community-driven nature of fighting game esports. Fans can experience high-energy matches live across multiple stages throughout the venue, where rising players and established competitors compete side by side. Together, these competitions highlight the full spectrum of esports from global professional leagues, to grassroots community play.

2026 DreamHack Atlanta Festival Experience
May 15–17, 2026
Georgia World Congress Center — Atlanta, GA, U.S.
Tickets are on sale now at dreamhack.com/atlanta/tickets

Indie Game Award 2026 Winner’s Interview : Best Innovation – Beeswax Games

Mathew Anderson
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Indie Game Award 2026 Winner’s Interview : Best Innovation – Beeswax Games

30, Apr. 2026: Merging Games and Breaking the Fourth Wall: Belgian Studio Scoops IGA 2026 Best Innovation Award

No Players Online, an experimental horror title developed by the Belgian three-person studio Beeswax Games, has evolved from a 15-minute Game Jam viral hit in 2019 into a three-hour experience. In the game, players explore an abandoned computer belonging to a former developer, accompanied by a “liminal space” atmosphere and seemingly empty game servers. Featuring the unique “Soul Fusion Mechanic,” players can merge games within the game to create new gameplay and gradually uncover a sorrowful past. The unique atmosphere, combined with a meticulously designed ARG (Alternate Reality Game), has sparked player’s excitement and discussion, successfully breaking the fourth wall. The title has not only received extremely positive reviews from players but also captured the Best Innovation at Indie Game Award 2026 organized by Taipei Game Show. The team emphasized that the award is the ultimate recognition, and they are already working on a new chapter for the game that fans can look forward to.

Evoking the Eeriness of 90s Empty Servers: Virtual Desktop Delivers an Immersive, Open-ended Experience

No Players Online perfectly captures the nostalgic atmosphere of the early internet era. The team noted that they grew up with old-school FPS classics like Counter-Strike and Quake, which heavily influenced the game’s visual style. They expressed their shared experience of being on an empty server in multiplayer games, which always felt a bit eerie. “There’s something off about it; you have the feeling that something is hiding out there, and it’s a bit creepy,” the members remarked. To create this chilling atmosphere, the team intentionally avoided straightforward jump scares, instead incorporating numerous “glitch” elements, including broken shaders, warped textures, and layered dynamic soundtracks to push players’ nerves to the limit.

To better tell this deeply personal and emotional story, the team boldly constructed a complete desktop system within the game. Through this system, players who enjoy narrative can dig deep into private files and clues within the computer folders. Meanwhile, players who prefer horror can go straight into the broken game programs. This open-ended design ensures that every player can find their own way to treasure-hunt through the “abandoned computer.”

Narrative and Soul Fusion Mechanics Intertwined: ARG Blurs the Line Between Reality and Fiction

The team admitted that expanding a short Game Jam project into a three-hour experience was a significant challenge for a three-person studio. To make the protagonist’s computer feel real and lived-in, they invested immense effort into populating it with details. “Making John’s desktop feel alive and real was fun, but it was also a lot of work,” the team emphasized. “This difficulty also allowed us to do a lot of experimental and innovative things.” Beyond atmosphere, the game features the original “Soul Fusion Mechanic,” where players merge different games to create new gameplay. In the process of fusion, they gradually explore the deeper story behind the games, seamlessly tying innovation to the narrative.

Furthermore, the ARG tightly linked with No Players Online further breaks the fourth wall. The team cleverly hid key clues in inconspicuous corners throughout the game. Despite the title suggesting “no players online,” the game has actually brought together players from around the world to solve its mysteries. The team admitted that the ARG was designed over time together with the game’s development, but seeing the community’s passion for puzzle-solving and its overall cohesion was a pleasant surprise.

Regarding the award, the team vibrantly stated that they have always seen their games as more of an art form than just a game and tried many new things in this project; thus, winning is a massive affirmation. Currently, the team is actively preparing extra surprises for No Players Online. While they cannot share details yet, they emphasized that “there’s more in store for the game, that’s for sure!” For the full video interview, visit the Taipei Game Show official YouTube channel. For more updates, please stay tuned to the team’s official website.

Kyoto’s BitSummit PUNCH Confirms Full Game Lineup and Returning MCs for May 22–24

Paul Philleo
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Kyoto’s BitSummit PUNCH Confirms Full Game Lineup and Returning MCs for May 22–24

Kyoto is gearing up to host the 14th iteration of Japan’s largest independent game festival, as the BitSummit Executive Committee has officially unveiled the selected titles, venue map, and special events for BitSummit PUNCH 2026. Running from Friday, May 22, through Sunday, May 24, 2026, the festival promises three days of fun indie creativity and industry buzz. This announcement helps lock in BitSummit’s position as an important fixture in the global gaming calendar, continuing a growth trajectory that saw attendance expand to over 58,000 attendees by 2025.

This year’s lineup appears to be packed with the kind of unique, diverse titles the event is known for. Attendees will be treated to everything from the rhythm-based challenges of Rhythm Hotel to the unique job simulator Baito Fight!!: Part-time Devil Hunter. Other standout titles that suggest a “must-play” vibe include ANTONBLAST, the mysterious Room 502 : School Mystery Game, and the delightfully titled RPG parody, The Remake of the End of the Greatest RPG of All Time. Even more wildly-named selections like I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town and Sushi Loop Licker help determine that BitSummit PUNCH will live up to its chaotic name.

Beyond the games, the committee confirmed that BitSummit veterans Ai Yokomachi (Aichii) and J-mon will return as official MCs for the three-day extravaganza. Yokomachi is known as a gamer announcer who “loves indie games more than anything,” while the bilingual J-mon is dedicated to celebrating the games and the people who create them.

With the official Kyoto venue map and special events page now live, prospective attendees can start plotting their experience through the halls of what has become an important showcase for unique local indie games on the international stage. If 2025’s massive turnout is anything to go by, BitSummit PUNCH 2026 is set to deliver another knockout event.
For more details, including these we’ve covered, check out the official BitSummit website here.

May 2026 Game Industry Conference and Convention Events Calendar

Mathew Anderson
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May 2026 Game Industry Conference and Convention Events Calendar

We’ve assembled an exclusively curated list of game industry events you can attend in May 2026. The month is giving us a nice glimpse into what the summer event lineup is going to be like. We’ve now moved on from early year conferences (GDC, DICE, etc.) and conventions and festivals (PAX East, SXSW, etc.) and are going to see a slight shift if focus to a broader set of conventions through the summer (gamescom, Gen Con, etc).

Last month (and the month before that…), we talked a lot about AI and its effects on the industry. We’re going to save you the pain of hearing about “AI this and AI that” for this month’s event list, as frankly, where at a point where we can say it’s “business as usual” in the AI space.

Featured Events

Leading the month is the Game Educators Summit 2026 (May 1), and its positioning is telling. As hiring slows and studios restructure, the burden of preparing “job-ready” developers is increasingly shifting onto educators. What was once a loosely coupled relationship between academia and industry is hardening into a pipeline, one expected to produce talent already fluent in live-service production realities. The subtext is hard to ignore: studios want less ramp-up, and education is being asked to absorb that cost.

Mid-month, the A MAZE Berlin 2026 (May 13–16) stands in stark contrast to that pipeline mentality. Its continued focus on arthouse games and experimental media feels almost defiant in a market dominated by scale, retention metrics, and sequelization. Alongside grassroots showcases like the NYC Video Game Festival 2026 (May 9) and Capital Creative Showcase 2026 (May 9), it highlights a growing split: innovation is happening, but often outside the structures that can actually fund and sustain it.

The industry isn’t short on ideas—it’s short on the conditions that allow those ideas to scale.

On the business side, events like Madeira Games Summit 2026 (May 7–8), GameExpo Summit by PocketGamer Connects 2026 (May 20–21), and Nordic Game 2026 (May 26–29) reinforce where the industry’s priorities remain firmly anchored: financing, publishing deals, and growth strategy. The language may evolve – UGC, cross-platform ecosystems, emerging markets – but the underlying question is the same as it has been for years: how to extract more predictable, long-term revenue from increasingly volatile player bases. The persistence of this focus suggests an industry still optimizing known models rather than taking meaningful risks on new ones.

Toward the end of the month, consumer-heavy events such as EGX 2026 (May 22–24), DreamHack Atlanta 2026 (May 15–17), and TwitchCon Rotterdam 2026 (May 30–31) make one thing clear: the center of gravity has shifted decisively toward community and creators. Games are platforms for participation and identity. But that shift comes with its own tension: as publishers lean more heavily on creators and communities for visibility and longevity, they also become more dependent on ecosystems they don’t fully control.

The sheer spread of May’s calendar underscores a deeper structural shift. It’s now becoming a more indie and flexible patchwork of overlapping scenes: corporate, independent, academic, and creator-driven. Especially creator-driven.

New Events

Joining the calendar for the first time ever, check out the following events:

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:

40% off NAGIS Summit (B2B) [NAGIS402026]
25% off MeetToMatch Las Vegas (B2B) [MeetToMatchLV_25OFF]
20% off Serious Play Conference (B2B) [EARLYBIRDNA20]
5% off Atsusacon (B2C) [EVENTSFORGAMERS]
10% off SIGGRAPH Asia (B2B) [SA25E4G10]
11% off WN Events (B2B) [E4G]

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). Let us know if you want to contribute!

This Month’s Events

Many of the listed events are included in the calendar thanks to your contributions in submitting events to the calendar.

Thank you so much for continuing to support us!

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, Threads, 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.

Application deadline for the free program “SELECTED INDIE 80” is April 30

Mathew Anderson
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0
Application deadline for the free program “SELECTED INDIE 80” is April 30

Deadline for the “SELECTED INDIE 80” free indie game exhibition program is April 30 at 5:00 PM (JST). Establishment of the “SI80 Excellence Awards,” a recognition system for SELECTED INDIE 80.

TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026 (Dates: September 17-21; hereinafter TGS2026) is currently accepting entries for “SELECTED INDIE 80”, a program that allows indie game developers to exhibit for free in the TGS2026 Indie Game Corner. The application deadline is Thursday, April 30, at 5:00 PM (Japan Standard Time).

Nintendo, KODANSHA, PLAYISM, iGi indie Game incubator, CRI Middleware, Amakusa City, ASK, auryn, and Wit One have been determined as sponsors for the series of indie game developer support projects, including “SELECTED INDIE 80” (*Sponsor names are listed in order of sponsorship plans and past sponsorship performance). Exhibitors selected for “SELECTED INDIE 80” can receive various types of support, such as various exhibition support provided by the sponsoring companies.

And, TOKYO GAME SHOW will establish the “SI80 Excellence Awards” as a new recognition system to evaluate and widely disseminate the creativity and perfection of indie games. This system will officially honor approximately 10 titles selected from those participating in the indie game project “SELECTED INDIE 80 (SI80)” that are particularly outstanding from multifaceted perspectives such as creative quality, degree of completion as a game, and experience value.

Please check the official website for the eligibility requirements and conditions for “SELECTED INDIE 80”. If you do not meet the eligibility requirements or conditions for this program, please consider standard exhibition (paid; corporations only).

Please apply for SELECTED INDIE 80 using the dedicated form below.
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https://nkbp.jp/4kofRX5
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The application deadline is Thursday, April 30, at 5:00 PM(JST).

In addition, the selected exhibitors will be automatically entered as candidates for the presentation event “SENSE OF WONDER NIGHT 2026” (SOWN2026).

Please check the eligibility and application conditions below, and if you or your organization meet the criteria, please apply to be included in the “SELECTED INDIE 80”. If you do not meet the conditions of this project, or if you are not selected for the “SELECTED INDIE 80”, please consider exhibiting at the “Indie Game Area” as usual (paid exhibit).

Indie Game “SELECTED INDIE 80” Entry Requirements　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Dates: September 17 (Thursday) – September 21(Monday), 2026
Exhibition Method: In-person exhibition
(Makuhari Messe：https://www.m-messe.co.jp/en/ )
Exhibition Fee: Free of charge
How to apply: Please fill in and submit the necessary information

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https://nkbp.jp/4kofRX5
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Period： February 10, 2026 – April 30, 2026, 5:00 PM (Japan Standard Time)
Screening:  Following selection by the judges, 80 works will be chosen.

After the application deadline, we will review all applications to select the titles presented for the exhibition. We will then directly inform individual or company applicants who passed the screening. Qualified / Unqualified result about “SELECTED INDIE 80”.

For more information about “SELECTED INDIE 80”, please visit TGS official website.
https://events.nikkeibp.co.jp/tgs/2026/en/exhibitor/indie

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