Game Execs Seek Flexibility Amid AI Challenges at DevGamm Summit
At last week's DevGamm Madeira Summit, a gathering of game executives from big names like Epic Games, Bethesda, and Krafton turned into a brainstorming session aimed at tackling the industry’s most pressing issues. The mantra? Pragmatism and flexibility. This boutique conference wasn't just about exchanging pleasantries; it also served as a pitch for local investment in Madeira, where tax breaks are designed to position the region as a competitor to popular business hubs like Malta and Luxembourg.
Among the attendees, a significant presence of work-for-hire and consultancy firms highlighted the mobile gaming industry's shift towards a Hollywood-esque model, relying on short-term contractors and outsourcing. The mobile sector has already absorbed lessons that PC and console developers are still grappling with: keep your operations lean, avoid overcommitment, specialize in what you do best, and—let's not forget—remember that you’re running a business.
The discussions went beyond the usual talking points to tackle a pressing new challenge: how to make games defensible against AI imitators. In a panel led by Starting Point Games CEO Jeff Hilbert, industry veterans including Agora’s Lili Zang and Krafton’s Victor Lee emphasized that game developers need to infuse their creations with a human touch, something that AI simply can’t replicate. As Hilbert and Lee half-joked, we might soon find ourselves in a world where any studio can churn out a PUBG or Fortnite clone in mere weeks, raising the stakes for discoverability and community engagement.
With competition heating up, studios must master the art of attracting and nurturing player communities, as pitches lacking clear strategies for targeting and fandom-building are likely to flop. Finding the balance between creating the game you’re passionate about and one that investors find appealing is no small feat. Lee advised, "You’ve got to find the right investor who believes in your vision, but don’t stray too far from what you originally set out to create." Hilbert echoed this sentiment, urging developers to take feedback seriously while maintaining the core essence of their projects.
In a spirited exchange featuring GSC Game World’s Agostino Simonetta, Bossa founder Henrique Olifiers, and consultant Rami Ismail, the panel discussed the pitfalls of overambitious expansions by smaller studios after securing funding during the post-COVID frenzy. They criticized teams that emerged from larger studios, aiming for the stars without the necessary experience to back it up. Ismail suggested that developers look to build teams in regions like South America, India, and Indonesia to keep costs manageable, rather than getting tangled up in the expensive European and North American markets.
The consensus? Understanding what your studio does best and focusing on unique projects can set you apart in a crowded marketplace. The panelists agreed that nimbleness is key: studios should avoid the baggage of maintaining large live games or cumbersome development processes. Stay small, stay agile, and who knows? Maybe it’ll all work out in the end.
Why it matters
Disclosure: DevGamm covered travel and accommodation for this event. Read on.
Original source
MobileGamer.biz
