Step behind the scenes of Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and discover how sound shapes immersion in a living, breathing medieval world. In this talk, I’ll share the creative influences that shaped my approach to audio, reveal how I captured authentic environmental sounds and ambiences in the field, and explain how they were transformed into a dynamic, adaptive soundscape using FMOD Studio. From muddy village streets to tense battles, I'll show how sound design can bring history to life and deepen player immersion.

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What does it mean to be responsible—as individuals, creators, and an industry—when the world is in crisis? This panel explores the idea of sustainability as responsibility: the responsibility to preserve creative economies, to protect the environment, and to stand up for human rights. The ongoing war in Ukraine is  a stark and urgent case study, which challenges the people in Ukraine and the games industry as a whole.

This session explores how sustainability can be effectively integrated into a company’s culture, leadership, and everyday operations—demonstrating that environmental responsibility and business performance are not only compatible but mutually reinforcing.
Participants will learn how aligning sustainability with core business strategies can enhance efficiency, strengthen resilience, and contribute to long-term success. Through real-world case studies from industry leaders such as SYBO, Ubisoft, Rovio, and CD Projekt Red, the session illustrates practical approaches to embedding sustainability into organizational processes and empowering teams.

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As game developers, we shape more than just gameplay—we influence culture, communities, and industry norms. This panel explores the multifaceted responsibilities we carry across the games we make, the teams we build,  the business models we choose and the reverberation this has on the communities and people that are involved. We'll examine how ethical choices and responsible design can coexist with creative freedom, innovation, and commercial success.

Content & Representation: How do narrative choices, character design, and mechanics reflect our values?
Studio & Team Culture: Building sustainable, inclusive workplaces—what does responsible leadership look like?Business & Shaping Society: What is a responsible business model?

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Every game is a battlefield, not on the screen, but in your mind. AI is learning how to predict your every move, yet human designers, shaped by life, culture, and struggle, still know how to push buttons no machine can reach.

This talk uncovers the hidden psychology that keeps players hooked, revealing how autonomy, mastery, connection, and sensation can be turned into tools of power. Who manipulates you better, an algorithm or a human? By the end, you may not trust the games you play… or the people who make them.

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Two years from release, the team on Indiana Jones faced a hard challenge: how to flesh out 3 sandbox levels and create a living world. In this talk, we cover the design process behind mysteries, living world, and secret actions—how we created the immersive world of The Great Circle.

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Every great game starts with an idea — but turning that idea into a project requires focus, research, and pragmatism. In this talk, Timo shares a hands-on framework for breaking down concepts before kickoff: defining the true core of your game, mapping its primary building blocks, and researching both within and beyond your genre. The session provides actionable tools to turn creative sparks into buildable, convincing game concepts.

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