IGDC 2024 is scheduled for November 13-15, 2024. This event will be held at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre having top people from the gaming industry.
The India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) is getting ready for its 16th edition, happening from November 13-15, 2024, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC). This event is a big deal for the gaming world, bringing together game developers, industry leaders, and gaming fans from all over South Asia and beyond.
Below is all that you need to know about this event.
IGDC 2024: What’s Happening?
This year’s IGDC is going to be huge! They’re expecting over 5,000 people, with 250+ speakers and 150 sessions on game development. Some big names in gaming, like Tim Morten from Stormgate and StarCraft II, Jordan Weisman from BattleTech and Shadowrun, and Jaeho Hwang, the creator of Dave the Diver, will be there. So, if you’re into the latest gaming trends and tech, this event has a lot to offer.
There will also be fun stuff like the IGDC Awards Night, the Indie Initiative, Policy Round Tables, and workshops. If you're an indie developer, this is super exciting because 40 indie developers get to show off their games, and 20 of them will get free tables sponsored by Microsoft Xbox.
Indie Zone and More at IGDC 2024
The Indie Zone is a special place at the event where indie game developers can display their work. It’s a great opportunity to pitch ideas to investors and publishers. Plus, there’s an Investor-Publisher Connect, where studios can have private meetings with investors. Last year, they had over 1,800 meetings, and lots of deals were made!
This year, there’s also a new thing called the International Game Award, which will recognize top games from all over the world. There are 10 categories and two special jury awards up for grabs. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 14, 2024.
Supporting Young Developers
IGDC is also helping young game makers with the Young Indie Scholarship Program. This is a new program that will support 100 developers each year, with 25 participants in the first year. These lucky developers get free tickets, accommodation, travel expenses, and even mentorship. The catch? They have to volunteer for one day during the event.
This push for young talent comes as India’s gaming industry is growing fast. According to Sridhar Muppidi, the President of the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), India is one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in the world. With 442 million gamers and a market growing at 30% each year, India is booming in the gaming space, and smartphones drive 90% of the market.
Big names like Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, Nazara, Krafton, AWS, Xsolla, and Microsoft Xbox are all supporting IGDC 2024. Lakshya Digital is also backing diversity and inclusion efforts at the event.
In short, IGDC 2024 is going to be a must-attend event for anyone in the gaming world. It’s a fantastic chance for developers to show off their skills, connect with the industry’s top people, and learn about where gaming is headed.