Recap: Road to Polaris 2022

The Polaris Convention, held in Hamburg from October 28 to 30, 2022, served as a new regional platform for gaming, e-sports, and Asian pop culture. The inaugural event attracted approximately 10,000 visitors and featured roughly 150 national and international exhibitors. The convention provided a comprehensive environment for industry engagement, incorporating stage shows, competitions, and interactive gameplay stations across various themed zones.

Gamecity Hamburg utilized the event to support local talent through its Road to Polaris program, which provided a free joint booth for five Hamburg-based indie studios. These developers—OneManOnMars, Impawsible Games, Beardshaker Games, Curvature Games, and Radioactive Dreams—used the space to showcase their projects, gather direct user feedback, and foster business connections. The booth also hosted a small installation for the PLAY Creative Gaming Festival and received a visit from the First Mayor of Hamburg, Dr. Peter Tschentscher, who engaged with the developers regarding the city’s status as a significant hub for the games industry.

Beyond the exhibition floor, the event facilitated professional networking through a dedicated Gamecity Treff gathering at the Grüner Jäger music club. This networking session drew over 250 attendees from the local games and gaming industry, further strengthening the regional professional community. The successful integration of public-facing showcases and industry-focused networking highlights the ongoing efforts to promote Hamburg as a central location for game development and innovation.