Game developers from Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay and across Australia are invited to apply to be part of Play Now Melbourne, an event where they can pitch their games to international publishers, platform holders and decision makers with the aim of securing career-changing deals and selling their games on the global market.
Creative Industries Minister Steve Dimopoulos today announced Play Now Melbourne, which is set to connect local developers and studios with international games heavy weights, on Saturday, August 5.
Play Now Melbourne is being delivered by VicScreen and will be part of an action-packed Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) this October, with games industry leaders from around the world converging in Melbourne.
Leading global publishers and platform holders such as Kepler Interactive and Meta are already confirmed to attend the market with more announcements to come.
In recent years, Victorian-made games such as Cult of the Lamb and Kinder World have taken the global games industry by storm, and Play Melbourne will help our next slate of games level up.
Play Now Melbourne adds a local post to the calendar of international games industry trade events, including GamesCom in Cologne, Germany and the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, USA, and will support Australian developers to build international relationships without leaving home.
Created by the state government and curated by Creative Victoria, Melbourne International Games Week 2023 runs from September 30 to October 8. Play Now Melbourne, taking place on October 5, adds to the range of industry conferences, awards, showcases, and public events.
Mr Dimopoulos said Play Now Melbourne is set to catapult the careers of local games makers by connecting them with global industry partners – helping to create local jobs.
“Victoria is a games industry leader and that’s a reputation we’re committed to growing through initiatives like Play Now Melbourne, an exciting addition to our already jam-packed Melbourne International Games Week,” he said.
Massive Monster creative director Julian Wilton said by fostering connections between developers and key stakeholders in funding, publishing, and storefronts, this “ground-breaking” initiative empowers developers to establish and sustain robust games enterprises, significantly enhancing their prospects for success.
Expressions of interest are now open for Australian developers.
Details: vicscreen.vic.gov.au/playnow
