Pocket Gamer NORDICS Calling!

During Finnish Games Week 2026, as it is tradition PGC Nordics will tale place at Wanha Satama, Helsinki on 20-21 October! 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 150 expert speakers across multiple conference tracks. The event also includes an expo area with a busy indie showcase, a Careers Zone, the traditional after-hours party, plus two bonus summits: AI Gamechangers and Beyond Games: Transmedia.

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

Get 10% off tickets for Castle Game Jam

Castle Game Jam will take place from 11–19 July 2026 in Jaunpils, Latvia, and it combines a five-day game jam, a two-day conference, and a program of shared experiences designed to help developers build, learn, and connect.

Event: Castle Game Jam 2026
Dates: 11–19 July 2026
Location: Jaunpils Castle, Jaunpils, Latvia
Format: 5-day game jam, 2-day conference, side activities and networking
Tickets: https://www.castlegamejam.com

“Castle Game Jam is built for the kind of creative momentum and lasting relationships that rarely happen in a normal conference hall,” said James Newnorth, creator of Castle Game Jam. “For one week, developers get to build, learn, share ideas, and make memories in a place unlike anywhere else. People leave with prototypes, new collaborators and a story they will still be telling years later.”

CALL FOR SPEAKERS

During Castle Game Jam’s conference, attendees, including developers, studio leaders, artists, designers, programmers, producers, writers, toolmakers, researchers and community builders - are invited to share practical knowledge with an international gamedev audience. Speaker applications are open here: https://forms.gle/i3KQ16RGkG9KresB8

The 2026 edition is expected to welcome developers from more than 25 countries across five continents, with more than 50 teams represented. Many participants have already shipped commercial games. Confirmed attendees include developers connected to titles such as Valheim, V Rising, Goat Simulator, Dorfromantik, and Star Birds. Among the attendees you can find developers and leaders from companies like: Piktiv, ThunderOak Interactive, Toukana Interactive, Oddiko, Creative Herbert, and Exonicus R&D. Alongside the jam and conference, attendees can expect knowledge-sharing sessions, BBQs, sauna networking, medieval activities, excursions, football, and informal gatherings in one of Latvia’s most atmospheric historic setting: Jaunpils Castle. Castle Game Jam can also become a summer trip to remember: guest tickets are available for spouses and children.

A limited number of discounted tickets available for IGDA Finland members. Reach out to us at members [at] IGDA [dot] fi to get a 10% off promo code.

IGDA Finland Presented Volunteer of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards at Finnish Game Awards

On the 21th of May, we celebrated the Finnish Game Awards alongside Neogames and Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry, with awards presented in two categories this year.

The first category was the IGDA Volunteer of the Year. This award was given to our amazing volunteer, Joni Paasikivi, your dedication to community building and bringing amazing old CRT TVs to the venue every Sunday has created a welcoming space where people can connect, have fun, and feel included.

The second category was the Lifetime Award, which recognizes long-term dedication and contributions to our community. This year, the award was presented to Emma Von Munthe Af Morgenstierne Vantaa, for their dedication to keeping our website up to date, managing our social media, and ensuring our community stays informed about events across Finland.

Thank you both for your invaluable contributions, IGDA Finland is truly lucky to have you among us!

Also a big congrats to the rest of all the winners:
W Love Games Excellence Award 2025: Paradigm Island (End-all Entertainment)
Bit1 Game Competition 2026: My Tennis Apocalypse (Dappal Interactive)
Jampion of the Year 2025: Noora Archer
Best IP Expansion 2025: Cities: Skylines II (Colossal Order)
Rookie of the Year 2025: Kokoon Games
Power Player of the Year 2025: Valtteri (Wanda) Lahti
Business Excellence Award 2025: Clash Royale (Supercell)
Best Creative Achievement of the Year 2025: Sektori (Kimmo Factor)
Finnish Game of the Year 2025: The Last Caretaker (Channel37)

And thank you Neogames and Suomen Pelinkehittäjät ry, for yearly organizing the Finnish Game Awards!

Photo’s taken by Katariina Salmi

Get 20% off your PGC Barcelona Tickets

Pocket Gamer Connects returns to Barcelona on June 15–16, 2026, with a conference that is bigger, sharper, and more focused on where the games industry is heading next. Alongside 1,000+ professionals, 100+ speakers, and 14 content tracks, this year introduces two major new pillars shaping the future of games:

• The AI Gamechangers Summit — a dedicated deep dive into how AI is transforming development, monetisation, and growth across the industry.

• The App Summit by FastSpring — exploring how games and apps are converging, sharing strategies for user acquisition and revenue.

The event also scales up what matters:

• The largest Big Indie Zone yet, showcasing emerging talent and new IP

• An expanded Careers Zone, connecting studios with the next generation of talent

• Aurora, spotlighting women leading change across the European games ecosystem

From structured matchmaking and investor meetups to expo networking and evening events, PGC Barcelona is designed for one thing: real business outcomes.

Join the global games industry where ideas turn into partnerships and partnerships turn into growth.

IGDA Finland members get 20% off using promocode: IGDAFIN-BCN

Secure your pass: https://www.pgconnects.com/barcelona/registration/

Leadership Day 2026: Call for Speakers

Save the date: Leadership Day by IGDA Finland is kicking off Finnish Games Week on October 19, 2026. Join us in Helsinki as we discuss the future of game development. 

Like previous years, we’re looking for amazing speakers from across the industry to talk about leadership as the games industry navigates challenges and disruptions caused by layoffs, AI and other factors. 

This is your chance to:

Inspire and educate: Offer often overlooked insights into building better companies, teams, and working cultures.
Connect with leaders: Engage with industry professionals and build lasting relationships.
Shape the conversation: Share your unique perspective on key leadership challenges and opportunities.

Leadership Day by IGDA Finland is an international event about how we build companies, teams and working cultures to build better games. 

Some of the topics we’d love to cover this year include:
🌐 Community building and management
🚨 Conflict resolution
💼 Optimizing investor/publisher relations 
📋 Optimizing work with externals/outsourcing 
👥 Techniques on running teams and companies
And any topic related to leading companies/teams that you are passionate about. 

⏱️Submissions are due Friday, June 5th.

Apply now to become a speaker:
https://www.igda.fi/leadership-day#call-for-speakers

You can also watch last year’s talks here:
https://www.igda.fi/leadership-day-2025