PROGRAM

Stop waiting for progress bars and reclaim your development flow. This presentation provides actionable strategies to minimize iteration time in Unity, helping teams reduce context switching and boost daily productivity.

Key takeaways include:
* Mastering the Inner Loop: Optimizing assembly definitions, domain reloading, and scene loading to achieve sub-three-second feedback.
* Streamlining Asset Pipelines: Leveraging parallel imports and shared caches to eliminate unnecessary re-importing.
* Solving Graphics Bottlenecks: Practical techniques for shader stripping and managing variant explosions.
* Advanced Tooling and Profiling: Utilizing Editor profiling and project auditing to identify and resolve hidden performance bottlenecks.

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Hiring in the game industry looks different today than it did just a few years ago. Increased competition and shifting priorities have changed what studios expect from candidates at all levels.

Drawing from experience in Talent Acquisition across gaming in Europe, this talk explores how the “bar” for talent has evolved. I’ll share common patterns I see in applications and interviews, why strong candidates are often overlooked, and what developers can do to better align with current expectations.

Anno 117: Pax Romana faces a unique set of technical challenges when it comes to rendering its highly dynamic world. Visuals range from overlooking entire cities to observing tiny details in the daily activities of their residents, and all of it is built by the player. This talk provides an overview of key engine improvements that were made during the development of Anno 117 and how these helped shape the look of the game. In particular it will cover how complex assets like buildings are optimized while being adaptive to uneven terrain and how Raytracing was implemented to facilitate the flexibility and scale required by an Anno game.

This talk explores how stylised and handpainted texturing can be used to create a strong visual identity in games. Using production examples and workflows, the session covers:
>building consistent visual styles through references and art direction
> creating efficient texturing workflows in Substance Painter and Designer
> using custom generators instead of overly flexible smart materials

The talk also examines the role of AI in modern art pipelines, arguing that tools alone do not produce strong visuals — consistency, context, and intentional artistic decisions do.Focused on practical workflows and real-world production constraints, this session is aimed at artists and developers who want to create more distinctive and cohesive stylised worlds.

Agentic AI is rapidly becoming part of game development, but adopting new technology is rarely about starting from scratch. Most teams are balancing new AI capabilities with established tools, legacy systems, production pipelines, and the realities of shipping games.

In this fireside chat, senior professionals from software and graphics engineering share their perspectives on how AI is changing day-to-day development across disciplines. We'll discuss where agentic workflows fit into existing pipelines, the trade-offs between automation and maintainability, how teams can adopt AI without disrupting proven processes, and where human expertise continues to make the biggest difference.

Rather than offering one-size-fits-all answers, this conversation focuses on practical experiences, lessons learned, and the challenges of thoughtfully introducing AI into modern game development.

Self-publishing is the new go-to market strategy for many game studios. From fresh start-ups, to seasoned Indies, to AA and AAA. Kickstarter plays a vital role for many games in this trend. We will explore based on data and insights why a small campaign also helps, how to make a big campaign and where a clear profile of both, studio and IP, come in.That said, there will be plenty of time for a gamified Q&A, so bring your questions and get ready for some fruitful discussions

The breakfast will open be the opener for the Impact track, organized and supported by Sustainable Games Alliance, Games Ground, INSTINCT3, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Fraktion Bündnis 90 / Die Grünen, BoldBeetle Games , Remote Control Productions, Spielfabrique 360° UG

The goal of this collaboration is to jointly promote this track, advocate for a more responsible games industry, and empower developers to recognize their impact. Together, we aim to provide tools, foster understanding, and inspire creators to craft with intent.

The Impact Track panels will then start from 11am on in Cage Stage, adjacent to the Gallery area.

Location: Press Start Booth in the Exhibition Hall!


Press Start Mixer

Join us for the Press Start Mixer – a vibrant opportunity for networking and exchange in the heart of the Games Ground community. The first half of the event is exclusively for Press Start grant holders and coaches, offering a focused space to connect, reflect, and celebrate progress. In the second half, we open the doors to all Games Ground attendees, inviting developers, creatives, and industry professionals to mingle, share ideas, and build new connections. Drinks, snacks, and great conversations guaranteed – we’re looking forward to seeing you there!

About Press Start 

The Press Start: Games Founding Grant is a funding programme that supports the creation of

new game development studios in Germany. 132 founders from all over Germany were selected for the project. Consisting of a grant combined with an educational and networking programme, it is designed to support games as a cultural asset. The programme is run by game – The German Games Industry Association in cooperation with the Foundation for Digital Games Culture and is funded by the Minister of State for Culture and the Media. 

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About the Foundation for Digital Games Culture

The Foundation for Digital Games Culture is an ambassador for games and the opportunities they offer. Since the founding in 2012, the Foundation has initiated projects and programmes highlighting the manifold ways games can contribute to Society.

For more information, visit:

www.stiftung-digitale-spielekultur.de

Instagram: @stiftung_digitale_spielekultur

Bluesky: @games-stiftung.bsky.social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stiftung-digitale-spielekultur

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