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| (Image Source: Gamecity Hamburg) |
Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, through its Gamecity Hamburg initiative, launched the second edition of the Portside Game Assembly last June 25-26, 2026 where 100 participants from established indie game studios from 13 countries exchanged ideas on a conference ship about the ongoing challenges faced by studio leaders. With the Hamburg Harbor as a backdrop, participants discussed the development of new games, collaborations, and long-term successful marketing in a confidential atmosphere. What sets Portside Game Assembly apart is its curated list of participants which enables studio heads to exchange experiences and make new contacts on an equal footing. Following very positive feedback on the conference, the Portside Game Assembly will be held again in Hamburg on June 24-25, 2027.
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| (Image Source: Gamecity Hamburg) |
“Hamburg is one of the most important locations for the German games industry. The Gamecity initiative, run by the city’s Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft, supports the industry with targeted funding programs and clear structures, and helps foster networking with other sectors of the creative economy. The Portside Game Assembly strengthens exactly what makes Hamburg such a unique location: openness, exchange, and internationality. Portside creates space for encounters that give rise to new collaborations and international connections, extending its impact far beyond the conference itself. I am delighted that Portside Game Assembly is bringing the industry together with great success and firmly anchoring Hamburg on the map for many games companies, including those from abroad,” comments Dr. Carsten Brosda, Senator for Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. “Indie game studios are key drivers of innovation in the games industry. With Portside Game Assembly, we have once again succeeded in creating a safe space where studio heads could share their experiences and discuss the industry’s challenges together — from financing and sustainable growth to new game development, marketing, and strategic partnerships. It is precisely this open discussion among peers that defines Portside Game Assembly. The positive response encourages us to continue this conference in 2027 and further strengthen international exchange,” says Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft Managing Director Egbert Rühl. The Portside Game Assembly program combines impulse talks and roundtables to offer new perspectives and spark discussions during the cruise through the Hamburg Harbor and along the Elbe River. The input and exchange from the two conference tracks (impulse talks and roundtables) provided insights from speakers including Evil Landfall Chief Business Officer Rebecca Lautner, Tomas Sala (solo developer), insertdisc5's Adrienne Bazir, Clever Endeavor Games CEO and Creative Director Richard Atlas, Shiny Shoe CEO Mark Cooke, and Digital Sun Business Development Manager Albert Millán and the moderated roundtables on practical challenges within indie game development and beyond.
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| (Image Source: Gamecity Hamburg) |
Participating studios at the Portside Game Assembly included Amanita Design (Czech Republic), Bippinbits (Germany), Bolt Blaster Games (Belgium), BTFL Glitch (Spain), Clever Endeavor Games (Canada), Crinkle Cut Games (Denmark), Digital Sun (Spain), Eremite Games (Poland), Foulball Hangover (United Kingdom), Fair Games (Denmark), Funday Games (Denmark), Happy Volcano (Belgium), Landfall (Sweden), Mooneye Studios (Germany), Moi Rai Games (Germany), Nosebleed Interactive (United Kingdom), Overhype Studios (Germany), Shiny Shoe (USA), Square Glade Games (Netherlands), Clever Plays (Canada), Spellgarden Games (Germany/United Kingdom), The Game Kitchen (Spain), Tiny Roar (Germany), Toukana Interactive (Germany), tobspr (Germany), and Wrong Organ (Sweden). In addition to the 100 conference attendees, three further events at Portside Game Assembly brought together around 200 guests from the international and local games industry. The Opening Mixer on the evening before kicked things off as a casual start to networking. The conference day itself began with a Networking Brunch including mentoring sessions between local indie startups and international guests for the first time this year. The grand finale was the Games Industry Party aboard the historic MS Stubnitz where the industry came together once again. In addition, six Hamburg-based indie studios presented “Games Made In Hamburg” titles including several teams supported by Gamecity Hamburg. Portside Game Assembly was supported by sponsors and partners Overhype Studios, photon, and Twin Harbour Interactive. More details on the Portside Game Assembly and updates on its 2027 edition are available at https://portsideassembly.com/.
