The Hamburg Games Conference 2023, held on March 1 and 2 at the Altonaer Museum, served as a central hub for the German and international games industry to address critical topics in investment, development, and marketing. The event featured over 30 speakers across two primary tracks: a main track focused on the "Invest in Games" theme and a secondary track dedicated to funding, development, and marketing strategies.
Key sessions included insights into the long-term sustainability of independent studios, analysis of recent mergers and acquisitions within the games market, and discussions on industry-wide challenges such as salary transparency. The program also incorporated practical professional development, such as a workshop on crafting equity stories for investors and a "Pitch Royal" competition, which provided indie developers the opportunity to present projects to a jury of publishers for a chance to secure a spot at the gamescom Indie Arena Booth.
The conference emphasized networking and business development, utilizing the MeetToMatch platform to facilitate professional connections. By bringing together diverse stakeholders—including investment firms, independent studios, and industry consultants—the event aimed to foster knowledge exchange and growth within the sector. The gathering functioned as a comprehensive forum for navigating current market trends and strengthening the collaborative ecosystem of the global games industry.