Recap: Gamecity Forecast: Is Work Still a Place?

The working session "Gamecity Forecast: Is work still a place?" addressed the evolving nature of professional environments within the German games industry. Held in mid-2021, the session convened representatives from several Hamburg-based companies—including Goodgame Studios, Deep Silver FISHLABS, 4Players, RetroBrain R&D, Tiny Roar, Osmotic Studios, and Curvature Games—to evaluate the long-term implications of remote and hybrid work models following the mandatory remote-work period of the pandemic.

The primary conclusion drawn from the session is that there is no universal solution for modern workspace management. Instead, companies must adopt an iterative approach to refining work culture and office design. Participants emphasized that the industry will not return to pre-pandemic office norms; rather, it must balance individual employee needs with collective organizational goals. A critical finding is that physical office spaces now require a clear, functional, or emotional purpose to justify their use, serving as hubs for inspiration and productive interaction rather than mere administrative locations.

The session highlighted that maintaining informal communication, team cohesion, and work-life balance remains a significant challenge in distributed environments. Success in this transition depends on active listening to stakeholders and a willingness to experiment with new concepts. By focusing on the specific benefits that physical presence provides, studios can better navigate the complexities of hybrid operations and foster a sustainable, modern work culture.