Senator's Roundtable 2023: Hamburg

The Senator’s Roundtable 2023 serves as a strategic forum designed to foster collaboration between Hamburg’s municipal government and the local games industry. Hosted by the Minister for Culture and Media, Dr. Carsten Brosda, and organized by Gamecity Hamburg, the event functions as a recurring platform for public-private dialogue. Its primary objective is to identify the specific needs and operational challenges faced by game developers and publishers, thereby informing future policy initiatives to strengthen Hamburg’s position as a competitive hub for the gaming sector.

The 2023 session, held on February 3 at the Senate Guest House, convened a diverse group of stakeholders representing the breadth of the regional ecosystem. Participants included established industry leaders such as InnoGames, Bigpoint, Fishlabs, and Square Enix, alongside specialized entities like Rocket Beans Entertainment, Twitch, and Razer. The assembly also incorporated academic and advocacy voices, including HAW Hamburg and the Initiative Creative Gaming, ensuring that the discussion encompassed both commercial interests and the broader cultural and educational landscape of the industry.

By facilitating direct communication between city officials and industry practitioners, the roundtable aims to refine the support structures available to local studios. These efforts are part of a wider regional strategy that includes dedicated funding programs, incubator initiatives, and networking events designed to sustain innovation. The event underscores the recognition of the games industry as a vital, high-growth component of Hamburg’s economy, emphasizing a commitment to long-term investment and infrastructure development to maintain the city's status as a premier location for game development and digital media.