German Dev Days 2024: insights into the future of game development

German Dev Days 2024: insights into the future of game development

In the Gallus Saalbau in Frankfurt am Main, German Dev Days 2024, the largest German-language conference for game developers. This event attracts a variety of visitors, including many students who are interested in the game development and want to expand their networks. One of these visitors is the 23-year-old computer science student Nikolai Smolkin from Heidelberg, who deals intensively with the many stands and the innovative game ideas. The conference not only offers a platform to try out kiosk simulators and VR games, but also numerous lectures that give the participants valuable insights into the industry.

challenges for game development in Germany

despite the growing interest and increasing sales in the games industry, which rose from 6.5 billion euros in 2019 to almost 10 billion euros in 2023, many developers face considerable financial hurdles. According to Stefan Marcinek, the organizer of German Dev Days, there is a lack of sufficient funding. The funds made available in 2023 are already exhausted and from 2025 the federal government will only support projects with a minimum budget of 400,000 euros. This development could be particularly problematic for smaller game developers.

inequalities in funding policy

Funding policy in Germany shows worrying differences between the federal states. Hessen does poorly in this comparison, as the funding is only around 320,000 euros, while other federal states invest millions of millions. This could have long -term effects on the competitiveness of the Hessian market and hinder creativity in the region.

women in the game industry

A positive trend that the German Dev Days can observe, is the increased proportion of women among the visitors of the conference, which is around 33 percent this year. Nevertheless, the proportion of female speakers remains low compared to their male colleagues. This is a sign for the still male -dominated structure in the industry, but there is hope for change. Claudia Stricker, one of the few female speakers of the conference, emphasizes the importance of bringing more female voices into this discourse.

interest and networking for the future

While the game industry is growing continuously, it needs creative talents and fresh ideas to continue to be successful. The German Dev Days offer an excellent opportunity to make contacts and exchange ideas. For many visitors, such as Nikolai Smolkin, it is crucial to network with other students and industry professionals in order to get into game development after studying. The added value of this conference is not only in the exchange of knowledge, but also in the promotion of future career opportunities.

Overall, the German Dev Days show how important it is to tackle the challenges of the industry in order to further develop the potential of game development in Germany. The connection between emerging developers and established industry representatives is of crucial importance for the future of the game industry.