December 17, 2024
Recap 2024 and Outlook for 2025
It feels like just a week ago that we embarked on our projects and events for 2024 and just like that the year has come to an end again!
The year had a lot to offer with a number of events, conferences and award-winning studios from Hamburg. Let’s take a quick look back at some of our highlights, and even more importantly, on what’s to come for 2025 (hint: we have an exciting new conference format coming to Hamburg in June)
Events 2024
Pitch Level Up in February
For the third time, game developers and start-ups in the industry got the chance to receive valuable, honest and constructive feedback on their pitch decks from experts of different backgrounds. Pitch Level Up will return on February 20, 2025 - get your tickets now! 
Hamburg Games Conference
The 15th Hamburg Games Conference (HGC) offered two days filled with talks, panels, discussions and workshops with professionals, speakers and participants from all over the world, against the impressive backdrop of the Altonaer Museum!
Gamecity Treff
Our longstanding Gamecity Treff, where the game industry comes together for a relaxing and open networking opportunity, returned with two editions: one in May at Jupiter and one at Polaris in October. The next Gamecity Treff is already in the works!
Three FLINTA* Meetups
We want to uplift and bring together FLINTA* (female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender) members of the games industry to connect and support each other. This year we organized three meetups with snacks, mingling and good networking for anyone from student to CEO.
Panels and Talks
In addition to all these in-person events we also hosted a variety of online panels and talks via livestreams. During our four Game Starters we covered topics like Game Production, Journalism, Localization and Gameplay Programming.
A true highlight of the year were our XP Boosts with Marketing Expert Chris Zukowski, who shared his insights on The Importance of Genre on Steam and on Steam Demos Done Right with us - and with all of you! Rewatch the livestreams to get a glimpse of his expertise and his infamous golden microfone.
Photos Gamecity Treffs 2024
Funding Program
Our two annual funding programs also returned to support a variety of exciting new projects. In addition, we introduced a Diversiy Checklist for both programs, to encourage applicants to critically question their own structures and habits in relation to the project and further the diversity of the local industry.
Prototype Funding
Gamecity once again supported five game projects in 2024 with sums of up to 80,000 euro. The five games selected this year are: Chaos Royale, Map Map – A Game About Maps, The Regreening, A Most Honorable Bunch and Melodies.
Games Lift Incubator
Another five teams started their journey with our annual Games Lift Incubator offering funding as well as a big network of industry contacts, exciting workshops and mentoring. The five games selected this year are: ForeFeathers by Team Honeybeak, Frisia – Tales and Tides by Rouven Cabanis, Light of Atlantis by Duck ‘n’ Run Games, Pubcrawler by Triflgard and Garden Ink by Tales of the Garden.
Road to
We enabeled studios and developers to present their projects at four wonderful conventions and trade fairs this year!
- Hamburg Game Conference (March 5 – 6, 2024, Hamburg)
- Nordic (May 21 – 24, 2024, Malmö)
- Gamescom (August 21 – 25, 2024, Cologne)
- Polaris (October 11 – 13, 2024, Hamburg)
Achievements by Hamburg-based devs
Hamburg game studios came out with some big award wins and nominations this year.
Four studios scored at German Computer Game Award
- ROCKFISH Games won Best German Game with EVERSPACE 2
- Symmetry Break Studio won Young Talent Best Prototype with Misgiven
- Fox-Assembly won Best Innovation and Technology with Marble Maze
- Tivola Games won Best Mobile Game with Cat Rescue Story
Two big wins at the German Developer Award 2024
Osmotic Studios won not once, not twice, but three times on December 3 with their game Closer the Distance in the categories Best Audio Design, Best Story and Innovation. They were also nominated for the Games for Impact award at The international Game Awards 2024.
The Ubisoft Newcomer Award was given to Map Map – A Game About Maps by Games Lift Incubator Alumni and current Prototype Funding recipient Pipapo Games from Hamburg.
Portside Game Assembly 2025
Portside Game Assembly - a new industry conference by Gamecity Hamburg
We finally announced our new event: Portside Game Assembly is coming to Hamburg June 27, 2025. This new B2B conference format focuses on networking and the exchange of learnings between leading international indie game studios in a confidential setting, all while on a ship in the beautiful city of Hamburg! Interested parties can fill out this registration form.
Application Phases 2025
Are you planning to apply for our funding programs Prototype Funding or the Games Lift Incubator? These are the application phases for 2025:
Prototype Funding: March 3 - April 7, 2025
Games Lift Incubator: May 2 - June 10, 2025
Application Phases for our “Road to” Programs:
With our "Road to" programs, we enable game developers and independent game companies from Hamburg to access relevant events. At these events, we offer participants spots at joint booths, preparation workshops and free exhibitor tickets, among other things. Below you can find the approximate application phases for our "Road to" programs 2025.
- Road to: Nordic – March/April 2025
- Road to: gamescom – April 2025
- Road to: Polaris – August 2025
Thank you all for an exhilarating and inspiring 2024!
We greatly appreciate the exchange with you. Let’s continue to work together, uplift each other and support each other. We look forward to an exciting year with you!
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