The devcom Leadership Summit takes place from February 19 – 21, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal.

The devcom Leadership Summit offers an exclusive platform for industry leaders to exchange insights, discuss emerging trends, and explore strategies for driving innovation in the gaming and tech sectors.

The program includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities designed to foster collaboration and leadership development.

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Wednesday, February 19

Our summit begins with doors opening at 3 pm, offering attendees a warm welcome, refreshments and time to settle in.

Group activities and casual networking start at 4 pm, creating opportunities to get to know each other individually in smaller groups or by joining workshops and experiences (tba).

At 6 pm, the Opening Speech sets the tone for the event, followed by Guided Networking at 6:15 pm, helping attendees establish meaningful professional connections.

A compelling Keynote at 7 pm wraps up the formal agenda for the evening, transitioning seamlessly into a seated Dinner at 7:30 pm, allowing participants to unwind and converse.

Thursday, February 20

A hearty Breakfast at 9 am starts the day, preparing attendees for a day of insights and collaboration.

The Opening Panel and Session at 10:30 am feature industry leaders discussing pressing topics.

Lunch at 12 noon provides a chance to refuel and network.
At 1:30 pm, Roundtable Discussions encourage interactive dialogue, with refreshment and coffee breaks ensuring energy levels stay high.

The day concludes with Industry Hot Takes at 5:30 pm, where hosts, moderators and participants share quick insights on topics that cropped up most frequently, followed by a 7 pm Keynote, and Dinner at 7:30 pm, offering a perfect mix of thought leadership and relaxation to wrap up the day.

Friday, February 21

The final day kicks off with the Closing Panel at 10:30 am, where key takeaways and actionable strategies are highlighted.

The summit ends with a brunch at 11:30 am, giving attendees a last chance to network and reflect on the event or engage the rest of their day individually.

Roundtable Topics

Effective communication and the exchange of ideas are essential for driving progress and adapting to the evolving challenges and opportunities in our industry.

To foster these conversations, we have curated six expert-led roundtables, each focusing on a key theme. These themes are supported by potential subtopics designed to inspire and guide dynamic, meaningful discussions that, we are sure, will kickstart discussions that will be fruitful and valuable for our attendees.

Leadership & HR

An ever-changing industry demands adaptable leadership. You’ll be discussing current challenges, workplace culture, and the wellbeing of leaders and their respective teams.

Subtopics:

Crisis Leadership in the Age of Studio Closures and Consolidations
DEI in Leadership and its Role in building Inclusive Studios
Mental Health for Leadership: Sustaining Well-Being in High-Pressure Environments
Fair Work Contracts & Unions
Senior Staff on remote vs Mid Staff onsite and no Space for Juniors

Production & Operations

Staying in business is not accomplished simply by having a vision. Exchange your thoughts in this roundtable about production-focused themes including sustainability and efficiency.

Subtopics:

Economically sustainable Production Cycles, from Indie to AA/AAA
Co-Dev & Outsourcing are not the same
Fighting your Team Lead on the Battle for Efficiency
Are we back on engineering-imposed Rules?
Data-driven or Data-aware Decision Making in Game Design?

Business, Strategy & Innovation

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” – Business models, mergers, and creative strategies for both your studio and economic growth.

Subtopics:

Mergers & Acquisitions: strategic Growth or risky Gamble?
It’s only Business: why Developers would choose different Business Models to Shareholders
From Games to fully-fledged Media Ecosystems: Opportunities for Transmedia Expansion
Small Core Teams with Co-Dev/Full Dev outsourced: Game Studios as Creative Production Houses and not full Devs
Fair Business Models and the Race to reduce Costs
Country Incentives and Grants as Part of the Investment Equation

Design, Creativity & Player Experience

Exploring design trends, creative challenges, and the important balance between innovation and user satisfaction.

Subtopics:

Game Designers: what’s their Role in today’s Flow and KPI-centric Projects?
Open World Fatigue and its Impact on World Building (and Overall Scope) in Games
The Risky Innovation Game: copying other Games based on Trends vs. filling the Creative Gap
Player Experience first: Player vs. Shareholder Experience – what’s the Way to go?

Tech & Tools in Game Development

No tech, no games: at this roundtable you’ll find yourself in discussions focusing on technical challenges, engine choices, and tools innovation.

Subtopics:

Engine Choices and their Impact on Production
Engine Dependencies and Rule Changes (Deal Terms, License Fees, etc.)
Need for Hardcore Devs: building Blocks Ooutside of the Engine’s Ecosystem
The Remasters Race: upscaling Graphics and keeping old IPs alive

AI in Game Development

AI is changing your daily life and the games industry landscape as never before. At this roundtable we will cover the transformative role of AI & machine learning across production, art, and gameplay development, including its many risks as well as impactful opportunities.

Subtopics:

AI’s Impact on Production Scope: navigating the AI-driven Game Development Landscape
AI Methodologies that can improve your (Art) Pipelines
AI-driven Pipelines that avoid Copyright Issues
AI redesigning Production Flows and Team Composition
AI’s Impact on Team Sizes and Roles within these Teams