adminGamescom Dev 2026 has announced its first speakers and sessions for the conference taking place in August. More than 50 speakers have been confirmed so far, with contributors from studios and companies including Sucker Punch Productions, Compulsion Games, Riot Games, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Remedy Entertainment, and Ubisoft. The early programme offers a first look at the range of game-development topics attendees can expect.
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Gamescom Dev 2026: Announced speakers and talks
The initial selection includes sessions on open-world exploration, career paths in game development, animation, and the design of game modes. Here are four talks announced by the organisers:
- Samuel Holley, lead gameplay engineer and designer at Sucker Punch Productions, will present “Clues and Camping in Ghost of Yōtei: Curating Guided Exploration Through a Non-Linear Open World.” The session focuses on how guided discovery can work within a non-linear environment.
- Yiyi Zhang, director and founder of Gumbo Collective and Women in Games NYC, and Jyro Blade, co-founder of blAng Productions and head of gaming at Moku, will deliver “Side-Stepping Into (or out of) Game Dev.” Its title signals a discussion of routes into, and transitions out of, game development.
- Mike Jungbluth, animation and realisation director at Compulsion Games, will discuss “South of Midnight: My Tales and Takeaways.”
- Noor Amin, senior game designer at Riot Games, will share insights in “Bringing Mayhem to ARAM: Effective R&D Processes for Game Modes.”
The announced speakers represent only an initial part of the programme. More than 50 speakers have been confirmed at this stage, while the event is expected to feature around 220 sessions led by 390 speakers. Other organisations represented in the confirmed speaker lineup include Quantic Dream, Insomniac Games, Housemarque, Bloober Team, CD Projekt Red, ZA/UM, and Epic Games.
Conference formats and planning
Sessions will use a range of formats, including talks, keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats, roundtables, and workshops. This variety gives attendees different ways to explore industry topics, from presentations to group discussion and practical learning.
If you are choosing sessions, review the descriptions and formats when the complete programme becomes available. A talk may suit attendees looking for a focused presentation, while a workshop or roundtable may offer a more hands-on or discussion-based experience. With around 220 sessions listed for the event, checking the schedule in advance can help you prioritise topics and avoid trying to attend overlapping sessions.
Gamescom Dev’s place within Gamescom
Gamescom Dev was previously known as the Devcom Developer Conference. Organisers said the name change was intended to integrate the event more firmly into the Gamescom brand family and strengthen its presence in the international game industry.
The wider Gamescom event also recorded a new exhibitor high for the third consecutive year. Companies from more than 40 countries registered, a 15% increase compared with 2025. For attendees following the Gamescom Dev 2026 announcement, the growing exhibitor participation provides additional context for the scale of this year’s industry event. The conference’s first speaker and session announcements are an early preview; the full programme will provide a clearer picture of the complete schedule.
