Big Success for the First Portside Game Assembly 2025

The inaugural Portside Game Assembly, held on June 26 and 27, 2025, in Hamburg, Germany, successfully established a new B2B conference format tailored for the independent games industry. The event’s primary purpose was to provide a confidential, high-level environment for studio executives to exchange strategic insights and foster international collaboration. By hosting the conference on a ship navigating the port of Hamburg and the Elbe River, organizers created a unique, focused atmosphere for professional discourse.

The assembly attracted 100 selected studio directors representing 15 countries, alongside 200 additional industry peers who participated in supplementary networking events across various Hamburg locations. The program featured a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative by Benjamin Laulan of Evil Empire, complemented by a series of impulse talks and roundtable discussions. Key industry figures from studios such as Ghost Ship Games, The Game Kitchen, and Stray Fawn Studio contributed to the event’s content, focusing on thought-provoking topics relevant to the current indie landscape.

The event concluded with positive feedback from attendees, prompting organizers to confirm the second iteration of the conference for June 25 and 26, 2026. By facilitating direct interaction between international guests and the local Hamburg games ecosystem, the assembly served as a significant networking hub for publishers and developers. The success of this premiere underscores the growing demand for specialized, executive-focused gatherings within the global indie game development sector.