March 2026 in review

What is the most obvious and direct path to success for game developers today? There is always too much work to do, too many demands on our time as smaller indie teams. How do we even prioritize and optimize for the greatest chance of success? This session will reveal the most direct path and approach for succeeding in today's hyper competitive game market. About the speaker: Jason Della Rocca is a game business consultant, investor, funding advisor, and ecosystem strategist. He currently spends the bulk of his time advising game studio founders on funding and product strategy, and advising governments around the world how to better grow/support the success of their regional game development ecosystem.

Let’s Talk About Sex On Wednesday, March 4, we are organizing the Games [4Diversity] Jam during the InScience Festival in Nijmegen, with the theme Let’s Talk About Sex. Get your tickets now! We will gather in the Mariënburg Chapel, a unique location where students, game developers, sex workers, and other creative professionals will create a complete game in a single day. Over the course of eight hours, we will work intensively, make fast decisions, and build a first playable prototype. About the theme: Sex workers in games are often portrayed as mere objects of use. Stereotyped, interchangeable, and reduced to the most basic functions of their work. We want to challenge this by creating games from the perspective of sex workers themselves. Together with professionals working in the field, we will explore how the profession of sex work can be translated into gameplay.

Meet ’n Play is a monthly game event held at Textielhuis in Kortrijk, taking place on the first Wednesday of every month. The event brings together gamers, game developers, and people from the local game industry in an informal and welcoming setting. Visitors can playtest upcoming games from local developers, discover new projects at an early stage, and connect with others who share an interest in games and game development. Developers are invited to showcase their work and gather valuable feedback, while attendees can enjoy a drink and casual conversations throughout the evening. Whether you’re a gamer looking to try new games, a developer seeking playtesting and networking opportunities, or simply curious about the local game scene, Meet ’n Play is open to everyone.

Kick off your GDC week the Courage way! With 35+ developers, a drink in hand, and a night full of games, chats, and good vibes. Courage XL keeps things casual: think simple set ups, soft music, and lots of cool demos (no loud music, expensive expo booths or complicated badge scanners) 🎧🍻 Expect a friendly crowd, an indie atmosphere, and the perfect excuse to mingle before the madness of GDC begins. 🕹️🍹 19:00–20:00 VIP Hour For publishers, platforms, press, and investors. Exclusive early access to the venue and games before the doors open to the public. Apply by March 6 to get on the list. Become a VIP 20:00–20:45 Early Bird Tickets Guaranteed entry between 20:00 and 20:50. After that, you’ll need to queue like everyone else. These tickets go fast, so make sure to RSVP to get notified when tickets drop. Tickets 21:00–23:00 General Admission General admission starts at 21:00. A ticket gets you in, but if we’re full, it’s one-out one-in. Totally worth the wait though 😉

GameIndustry.be is the authoritative source of information on the Belgian game industry. It offers developers and consumers an overview of the latest events, capturing the beating pulse of the industry. In this demo, Eric will give you a guided tour of the website's rear or backend, where you’ll discover just how deep the rabbit hole goes. Learn how to navigate the Game directory, explore events and mentors, create your own profile, and upload games or events. View company profiles and public financial data, and integrate the API seamlessly into your own website. About the speaker: Eric is an entrepreneur, product manager, and producer in the video games industry. Eric has developed expertise in a multitude of disciplines, including data analytics and product management. He founded a game studio while in university and secured over a million euros in investments. Additionally, Eric served as co-founder of Steam Data Suite, which was sold to Newzoo in December 2023. As Venture Partner at ForsVC, Eric invests in game studios and products. Register here (for free): https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/617312f2-3b74-4d53-ae5b-716c3788e935@7ab989fa-37b7-4980-9dfc-a431465fc4e5

Join us for fast-paced showcases of 12 handpicked games, where the creators share insights about their games and plans. The format is the same as previous editions, and this evening's event remains free to attend. Cosy fun ensured! This event is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for all things gaming. After the showcase, you're able to play the games and network with a drink. Check the aftermovie of last edition! Timetable, Tuesday, March 10 2026: 18h00: Doors Open 18h30: Start Showcase on BIG screen 20h00: Networking, Play The Games and drinks🍻 22h30: Closing Entry: Free! Just RSVP on the Meetup page, and show at the entrance. Free entry: just register and RSVP! No payment is required for Meetup. Max capacity: 200 people If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to emma@flandersgamehub.be.

Join us for a night filled with playful perspectives, unexpected stories, and bold experiments in inclusion, representation, and identity. Expect a colourful crowd, games that make you think (and feel), and a space that’s open, relaxed, and inclusive! This year, we’re officially a GDC side event!

How To Navigate the Funding Landscape as a Game Studio or Game Technology Provider? For many game studios and game technology companies based in Belgium, finding the right financial support can be a challenge. While the VAF Gamefund is a well-known support mechanism in our industry, it is one part of a much broader spectrum of instruments at hand for companies. We often see that studios are unaware of the full range of options available or what is required to actually successfully apply for them. Financial Event for Games & GameTech was created to bridge this gap. Our goal is to provide clarity, education, and direct connections to inform you on what is needed to map out a sustainable financial future for your studio. Practical info: 📅 When: March 17, from 12.30 p.m.- around 17.30 p.m. 📍 Winkelhaak Antwerp (Lange Winkelhaakstraat 26, 2060 Antwerpen)

A single-day event featuring prominent speakers, workshops, and game demonstrations focused on marketing strategies for the gaming industry. Featured Speaker: Natchai Stappers - A video game marketing and communications professional with over 12 years of international game industry experience, having worked with studios including Bungie, PlayStation, and Ubisoft. Topics Covered: Game marketing and communication strategies Industry insights and best practices Networking with marketing professionals The event promotes itself as an opportunity to "boost your game marketing" with industry professionals providing insights, energy, and inspiration throughout the day. Ticket Categories: Student tickets, External attendee tickets, and VIP tickets available.

Van idee tot impact: AI, UX en mensgerichte gameontwikkeling. De Vlaamse game- en bredere entertainmentsector staan op een kantelpunt. Nieuwe technologieën zoals generatieve AI, immersieve UX-metingen en psychofysiologische sensoren bieden ongekende kansen, maar roepen tegelijk fundamentele vragen op: Hoe houden we creativiteit mensgericht? Hoe versnellen we innovatie zonder kwaliteit of autonomie te verliezen? En hoe maken we deze technologieën werkbaar voor studio’s van elke schaal? Tijdens deze VLAIO-thematische sessie nodigen Universiteit Antwerpen, AP Hogeschool en LUCA School of Arts het werkveld uit om twee strategische innovatiepistes samen te toetsen: GAIMING – mensgerichte en ethische inzet van generatieve AI in game development pre-productie APEX Lab – een gedeelde UX-innovatiehub voor games, XR en interactieve media Geen pitches, maar inhoudelijke dialoog: we vertrekken van concrete praktijken, knelpunten en ambities uit de sector, en vertalen die samen naar scherpere projectkeuzes en meer gedragen VLAIO-aanvragen binnen de nieuwe ENT.A-speerpuntcluster.

Let’s get together and chat about playing games, making them and loving them. Share snacks, drinks, thoughts - or just a few laughs. 27th March 2026 - 6pm - 9pm Hangar K - Nelson Mandelaplein 2, 8500 Kortrijk 10 min walk from the train station No matter how amazing and inclusive our local industry already is, there are still next steps to take. And for our next meetup we want to connect with the devs joining the Roots & Pixels initiative, a two-week game development training for female-identifying game devs from South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, and Belgium. Idisen and Roots & Pixels are joining forces with the support of Flanders Game Hub to make this happen.