BECOME A GAMEUP ACADEMY COHORT 6 MENTOR

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GameUp Academy is looking for experienced game developers, designers, artists and other games-industry professionals to mentor the next generation of African creative-tech talent.

As a mentor, you’ll support learners through practical guidance, share your industry experience and help them better understand what it takes to build and grow in the global games industry.

What’s in it for you?

Beyond the opportunity to give back, selected mentors will get access to:

  • Internal training and development opportunities

  • Opportunities for future paid engagements with GameUp Academy

  • A mentor portfolio highlighting your experience and contributions

  • Feedback and recognition for your mentorship work

  • Earned mentor badges and credentials

  • Access to a growing network of African and global games-industry professionals

  • Opportunities to contribute to future GameUp Academy programmes, workshops and industry initiatives

Interested in mentoring the next generation of game industry talent?

Apply to become a mentor here




Finnish Games week is almost here!

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Finnish Game Week is a week-long series of game industry events in Helsinki, featuring Leadership Day by IGDA Finland, Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki, and W Love Games conferences. It brings together game developers, students, and like-minded creatives exploring the topics of leadership, teamwork, business development.

Upcoming main events:

19.10. LEADERSHIP DAY

Leadership Day is a one-day event focused on how we build companies, teams, and working cultures to create better games. Expect inspiring talks from some of the brightest minds in the industry! Just like in previous years, Leadership Day will be held both in-person and online and best of all, it’s completely FREE!

Register for leadership Day

20-21.10. PGC NORDICS 2026

PG Connects Nordics focuses on connecting you with the right people from all sections of the games industry so that you can do great business. They unite delegates across the entire ecosystem with all the key formats covered (from mobile, PC and console to XR, web3 and AI technology), and cover all core topics over 30 hours of content from 200 speakers across 20+ tracks.

Register to PGC Nordics

22-23.10. W LOVE GAMES

W Love Games is a two-day event that is entirely FREE of charge for both on-site and online participants. However, registration is mandatory due to venue capacity and to ensure you receive all necessary links and materials.

The conference tracks are dedicated to diversity and leadership, accessibility, education, and gamedev practices. Through workshops and mentoring sessions, W love games wishes to help you advance in your career!

Register to w love games

Get 20% off your PGC Nordics Ticket

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PGC Nordics 2026 will take place at Wanha Satama, in Helsinki on 20-21 October as part of Finnish Games Week. Previously known as PGC Helsinki, the event returns with a new name and a broader regional focus, connecting games professionals from Finland, Scandinavia, the wider Nordic market, Northern Europe and beyond.

Whether you’re looking to close deals, meet your next investor or publisher, or simply get a clearer view of where the games industry is heading next, PGC Nordics is designed to make every conversation count. Across two packed days of networking, talks, panels and pitching, attendees can build valuable connections, gain practical insight from industry leaders, and discover emerging talent and technologies.

More than 1,500 delegates from 50+ countries are expected, with over 100 expert speakers across multiple conference tracks. The event also includes an expo area with a busy indie showcase, a Careers Zone, indie developer competitions for mobile, PC and console developers, matchmaking events with publishers and investors, the traditional after-hours party, plus a bonus summit: AI Gamechangers.

IGDA Finland members at 20% off their tickets using promo code: IGDAFMEET20

Find out more and reserve your spot at: https://www.pgconnects.com/nordics/

Global Quantum Game Jam 2026

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Welcome to the Global Quantum Game Jam 2026!

This week 25-27 October we welcome you to join the online Quantum Game Jam, an event where you will collaborate with game developers, quantum physicists, visual artists, musicians, engineers and other creatives in order to develop games that connect to quantum physics either through real machinery or simply thematically!

No previous experience in game development or knowledge of quantum physics is needed, all you need is curiosity and interest to try something new. Throughout the event we will have a program with guest speakers online, showcasing their cool projects and solutions that could be of use for your jamming, or at least spark extra curiosity.

Still time to sign up!

https://www.quantumgamejam.online/

https://itch.io/jam/quantum-game-jam-2026

Gaming Istanbul (GIST) Returns 18–20 September

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Gaming Istanbul (GIST) will bring game industry professionals, developers, publishers, creators and players together at the Istanbul Congress Center on 18–20 September 2026 for the event’s ninth edition.

The three-day event includes both a public gaming festival and a B2B program for game industry professionals. Organizers expect approximately 60,000 festival visitors and 2,500 industry attendees this year.

The GIST Festival will feature playable games and demos, studios and publishers, indie developers, artists and creators, cosplay, gaming products and community activities.

Alongside the festival, the GIST B2B program will include talks, meetings and networking for industry professionals. The conference is divided into two tracks:

📱 Mobile: Publishing, monetization, user acquisition, live operations, AI, growth and market trends.

🕹️ PC & Console: Development, publishing, production, storytelling, technology, community building and related topics.

🎤 Call for Speakers

GIST is currently accepting proposals for its B2B conference program. Developers and other game industry professionals are invited to propose talks for either the Mobile or PC & Console track.

Suggested topics include game development, publishing, monetization, user acquisition, AI, live operations, community building, marketing, business development and emerging technologies.

🎟️ Festival tickets:
https://biletino.com/en/e-1axa/gaming-istanbul-2026-uluslararasi-oyun-ve-dijital-eglence-gist-2026/?t=_MAILING_BULTEN_FN_COLLAB_1708

🤝 B2B passes:
https://biletino.com/en/e-1c1l/gaming-istanbul-2026-b2b-profesyonel/?t=_MAILING_BULTEN_FN_COLLAB_1708

IGDA Finland members can apply promocode igdafinland to get 15% off their tickets.

Gaming Istanbul 2026
📅 18–20 September 2026
📍 Istanbul Congress Center, Istanbul