Hey fellow devs!
With GDC around the corner (or just passed, depending on when you’re reading this), I know a lot of us start feeling that inevitable fear of missing out. Not everyone can make it to San Francisco — flights, hotels, tickets… it adds up fast. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of the loop or disconnected from the game dev scene!
There are tons of amazing game development events happening all over the world, often right in your own backyard. You just have to know where to look!
Here are some great links/resources to keep tabs on upcoming events globally and locally:
https://www.gamedevmap.com/ — Great for finding studios and dev communities in your area. Good starting point if you’re looking to network locally.
https://gameconfguide.com/ — A curated calendar of indie game events around the world (conferences, festivals, showcases, etc).
Games Industry Events | GamesIndustry.biz — Industry-focused event list, from business expos to game jams.
Game jams - itch.io — Always something going on here! Game jams are a fantastic way to get involved, meet other devs, and challenge yourself.
https://www.meetup.com/ — Search “game development” or “indie games” in your city. You might be surprised what’s already happening nearby.
Local Discord servers / Reddit subs — Try looking up regional dev communities (e.g., r/IndieDevUK, r/GameDevToronto, etc). Tons of local meetups and virtual hangouts happen there too.
And of course, don’t forget the Unreal Chapters https://communities.unrealengine.com/chapters/ — tons of local communities and online groups to connect with too!
And hey — if you don’t find something near you… why not start something yourself?
It could be as simple as:
- A monthly coffee meetup with other local devs
- A co-working day at a local cafe or library
- A mini jam you host online or in-person
You’d be surprised how many people are just waiting for someone to take the first step.
Know of any other resources, directories, or places to discover game dev events? Drop them in the comments below! The more we share, the more we help each other stay connected and inspired.
Let’s keep each other in the loop 