Nordic Games 2026 to be held on the largest scale ever

The Nordic Game conference will be held in Slaghuset, Malmö, Sweden from May 26th to 29th. Organizers expect more than 3,000 attendees and more than 100 indie games on display this year.

The most noteworthy speakers at this conference will be Adam Stiernlius and Klaas Eriksson from Wishfully, the developer of the well-received Planet of Lana, which was released in 2023. They will speak about how the game has shaped over 30 years and what it means to maintain faith over time.

A new perspective on publishing and game design

Raw Fury/Combined Effects' Juliette Auberni-Veneto discusses "The New Rules of Game Publishing" and shares practical insights into what publishers actually look for and how deals are made.

Trine Leyer of real vampire studio Those Eyes discusses how to subvert traditional game mechanics and player expectations to create surprising gameplay and deep emotional connections. Additionally, John Doerr, who has worked at Rockstar Games and Saber Interactive, will lead a panel on motion capture in modern game development, sharing practical information and behind-the-scenes insights.

Previously announced speakers include Anna Norevik, development director at DICE, who will talk about how the four studios worked together to develop Battlefield 6, and Gerardo Basurto, design director at Embark Studios, who will discuss the smash hit Arc Raiders.

Establishment of the first AI track, focusing on the use of AI in the gaming industry

This year, Nordic Games introduces its first AI track curated by ImmerSynth Inc. Alastair and Alexander Chamoreau of Infinity Fiction, Jeff Gardiner of Something Wicked Games, and John Clark, former Vice President of Publishing for Sega Europe, will present on the topic "Human-led AI: The Future of Role-Playing Games."

They will discuss how human-led design can expand storytelling with AI while ensuring great game design and protecting IP, narrative integrity, and player trust.

Tatu Pettersen-Jesen, CEO of Odd Latent, will share his experience building an AI native studio, and Eva Antchak, CEO of Felixa, will give a presentation on psychology and technology for safety in online spaces. Jan Schneider, CEO of Nunu AI, provides an overview of what actually works and what doesn't in AI-based game QA.

Indie game pitching and networking opportunities

The Nordic Pitch event also returns. The event, which allows developers to pitch their games in three minutes, is run in conjunction with the Game Industry Network, which combines a B2B social network, curated industry database, event matching system, and private community space.

Tickets can be purchased at a discount of 100 euros until April 30, and additional speakers are scheduled to be announced.