Industry Hearing: Games - Results and Outlook

The inaugural Industry Hearing: Games, held in Hamburg on October 15, 2019, served as a collaborative platform to evaluate the current state of the regional games sector and identify critical areas for institutional support. The primary objective was to gather direct feedback from industry stakeholders, including founders and newcomer teams, to inform the future strategic planning of local initiatives.

Participants highlighted several key requirements for fostering a more robust development ecosystem. Founders and emerging studios expressed a strong demand for structured mentoring programs, specialized workshop series, and improved access to potential publishers. To facilitate professional growth and knowledge sharing, stakeholders proposed the creation of a dedicated game hub and the provision of more affordable coworking or open-space environments. Furthermore, the discussion underscored the need for enhanced location marketing, expanded financing options, and better integration of regional training programs with industry needs.

The findings from this hearing serve as a foundational guide for the ongoing development of support structures within the Hamburg games industry. The organizers have committed to incorporating these insights into the design of new programs and initiatives, aiming to address the specific pain points identified by the local developer community. By prioritizing these areas—mentorship, infrastructure, and networking—the initiative seeks to strengthen the regional games sector and improve the competitive positioning of Hamburg-based studios.