adminGame Republic New Horizons 2026 has expanded its programme with speakers from Housemarque and Bithell Games, as well as a Nintendo breakfast session for developers and publishers. The event will bring together game studios, platform representatives, funders and investors for three days of talks and practical sessions.
Image credit: Game Republic New Horizons
Game Republic New Horizons 2026 adds Housemarque and Bithell Games
Housemarque visual effects lead Robbert Groenendijk will discuss the design and technical implementation of visual effects in Saros. The session offers attendees an opportunity to explore how visual effects are planned and built for a game, from creative decisions to technical execution.
Bithell Games director of video games Mike Bithell will take part in a fireside chat with editor Patrick Garratt about the studio’s upcoming title, Vampirium: 1997. Attendees interested in the game’s development can add this conversation to their event schedule.
Nintendo breakfast session for developers and publishers
Nintendo business development and developer relations representatives will host an informal breakfast session on October 15, from 8:30 to 9:30 am. Topics are expected to include working with Nintendo, development tools, publishing opportunities and available support resources.
Participants do not need to be registered Nintendo developers or publishers, but they must have a Game Republic New Horizons ticket. The session is now fully subscribed, according to an update from the event organisers. Check the latest event information before making plans, as availability may change.
Event dates, venue and programme highlights
Game Republic New Horizons will run from October 14 to 16 at Riverside Stadium in Middlesborough. The programme also features a keynote from Ken Kutaragi and a conversation between Landfall Games CBO Rebecca Lautner and features editor Lewis Packwood. IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak will lead a session on 007 First Light.
Other talks cover topics ranging from artificial intelligence to investment and international business. The panel "Hype-free Assessment of AI in Games" includes Tommy Thompson of AI and Games, Duyguy Cakmak of Creative Assembly and Matthias Siemonsmeier of Splash Damage.
- Investor Zone: A fireside chat with Tencent business development director Teddy Keefe.
- Angel investment: The panel "Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment" features Nick Button-Brown of The Game Angels, Tracy McGarrigan of Ansible and Ian Masters of Flick Games.
- Funding and platforms: Sessions include public funders such as the BFI, the Arts Council and Innovate UK, alongside a discussion about bringing games to Xbox.
- Practical development: Further sessions address international markets, narrative design and building a Steam page.
What attendees should know
The event combines industry discussion with practical learning, so attendees may want to review the schedule in advance and prioritise sessions relevant to their work. A Game Republic New Horizons ticket is required for event attendance, and the Nintendo breakfast session has reached capacity.
With its new Housemarque and Bithell Games appearances, platform-focused discussion and sessions on funding and development, Game Republic New Horizons 2026 offers a broad programme for people working across the games industry.
