Devcom 2024 Set to Break Content Records, First Side Event Programme Revealed

This year's devcom will feature over 250 speakers, with Jason Latino from Larian Studios and Mihir Sheth from SIE Santa Monica Studio. First side event programme revealed, including new networking dinner venue and VIP & business mixer. The Community Clubhouse learning and networking hub will also take place at #ddc2024.

The devcom Developer Conference 2024 is set to break content records with a packed programme of over 250 speakers and around 200 sessions on 15 stages. It kicks off on Sunday 18 August with the Networking Dinner and opens its doors to conference attendees from 19 to 20 August in the new Confex Conference Center at Koelnmesse.

The Speaker & VIP Networking Dinner, including the devcom Indie Awards on 18 August, will take place in the Wolkenburg. In response to attendee requests, the event team has added a new matchmaking opportunity for Business & VIP Pass holders with a mixer focused on networking during the first day of the conference. The Run Club, an integral part of the social programme, will once again take place each morning before the sessions. The conference ends with the Sunset Mixer Party on Monday and the Developer Night & Courage Cologne on Tuesday.

For the first time, the Community Clubhouse, founded by industry veterans in early 2023 to foster dialogue around player experience, community management, and trust and safety at prominent gaming conferences, is partnering with devcom to present a full day of programming on 20 August. The event will feature dedicated stages and the full agenda will be announced in early August.

The devcom conference programme will feature sessions on 18 topics covering many aspects of game development, with new additions such as Artificial Intelligence, Multiplayer and VR & XR. The conference will be a hybrid experience, with all sessions, exhibitions, attendee profiles and matchmaking options available simultaneously onsite and online. Recent session announcements include:

• Chaos Menu or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Hug the Bear - Jason Latino | Cinematic Director at Larian Studios
• Going to Valhalla in God of War - Mihir Sheth | Game Director at SIE Santa Monica Studio
• Head Over Feels: Creating Complex Romances in Games - Narrative Panel | Adrienne Law (Larian Studios), Helen Hindpere (Disco Elysium), Meghna Jayanth (Sable, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Sunless Sea, Boyfriend Dungeon, This War of Mine); Host: Sarah Makdad (A Plague Tale: Innocence, World War Z, WHAT THE GOLF?)
• Finding your Apple Pie: How to rally a Team behind a Vision - Stéphane Roy | Former Vice President & Studio Head at WB Games Montreal
• Who Owns Cyberspace? - Thorolfur Beck Kristjonsson | Game Designer/Principle World Builder Speakers at NARC Limited

More speakers that have been added to the program: - Sasha Ciolac & Bert Zierfuss (IO Interactive) - Donald Barrett, Matthew Strasser, Terrance Cohen, Brittney Morris (Insomniac Games) - Moritz Lehr (CD Projekt RED) - Hytham Morsi, Osama Dorias & Caleb Epps (Brass Lion Entertainment) - Daniel Wewerinke, Wessel Mast (Guerilla) - Nickole Li (Mojang Studios) - Erwin Kho, Mikkel Svendsen (Geometric Interactive) - Philomena Schwab (Stray Fawn Studio) - Nina Kim (Rare Ltd.) - Alexandra Lia Grindean (Avalanche Studios)

The organisers write: "Additional services for on-site conference attendees will include free water refill stations to stay hydrated, access to the Business Lounge with light catering for Business Pass holders, and the Speakers & VIP Lounge. #ddc2024 will also feature a Silence Room for attendees to take a break from sensory overload or simply catch their breath outside crowded spaces. The on-site Awareness Team will be available in this area and throughout the venue, ensuring they are approachable and ready to assist."

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