The International Game Developers Association’s Incubation Special Interest Group (SIG) is set to unveil a landmark study at this year’s Gamescom, delivering the first comprehensive global overview of game incubation and accelerator programs. This pioneering census, presented during the SIG’s dedicated Gamescom gathering, aims to map the landscape of organizations that nurture fledgling studios and provide them with the resources needed to thrive in a competitive market. The research draws its findings from the responses of 84 senior leaders, managers, and coordinators of incubation and acceleration initiatives spanning continents—from North America and Europe to Asia‑Pacific and emerging markets in Africa and Latin America.
By gathering data directly from those who design, operate, and evaluate these programs, the study offers an unprecedented look at the scale, structure, and strategic priorities of the ecosystem that supports early‑stage game development. "Incubators and accelerators have become vital engines of growth for the games sector, yet we have lacked a clear, data‑driven picture of how the ecosystem functions," explained Dr. Pedro Santoro Zambon, a leading researcher on the project. "Our census seeks to identify who is providing these services, the models they employ, and the obstacles they encounter, so that the industry can make more informed decisions about where to invest, collaborate, and improve." During the opening segment, SIG Chairperson Sho Sato will provide a status report on the group’s ongoing initiatives, highlighting recent milestones such as the development of best‑practice guidelines for incubator governance and the launch of a mentorship network that connects veteran developers with emerging talent.
Sato will also outline future plans for expanding the SIG’s research agenda, including longitudinal studies that track the long‑term success of studios that have passed through incubation programs. Following Sato’s remarks, Linn Søvig, who leads the European chapter of the SIG, will discuss the importance of cross‑border collaboration among developer‑support organizations. Søvig will illustrate how partnerships between national incubators, regional accelerator consortia, and pan‑European funding bodies have facilitated knowledge exchange, joint curriculum development, and co‑funded pilot projects.
She will present case studies where European entities have pooled resources to create shared demo labs, joint demo days, and transnational mentorship schemes that have helped studios access markets beyond their home countries. A key portion of the program will be dedicated to diversity and inclusion within the incubation space. Vee Pendergrast, the industry development manager at New Zealand’s Centre of Digital Excellence, will share insights on tailored support strategies for Indigenous developers and other under‑represented groups. Pendergrast will detail initiatives such as the CODE (Creative Opportunities for Development and Education) program, which partners with Māori and Pasifika creators to provide culturally responsive mentorship, funding pathways, and community‑building events.
She will also discuss metrics used to evaluate the impact of these initiatives, including retention rates of Indigenous studios, growth in culturally specific game titles, and the expansion of distribution networks that reach both local and global audiences. The session will close with a presentation by veteran industry figure Jason Della Rocca, who will explore the concept of "inception publishing." Della Rocca will argue that early‑stage publishers can play a transformative role by offering studios not only capital but also strategic guidance on sustainable business models, intellectual property (IP) protection, and long‑term market positioning.
He will outline a framework for inception publishing that includes milestone‑based funding, co‑development workshops, and legal support services designed to help studios retain ownership of their creations while still benefiting from the publisher’s expertise and distribution channels. In addition to the live presentations, the census data will be made available to attendees in a downloadable report, complete with interactive visualizations that illustrate regional concentrations of incubators, the variety of funding mechanisms employed (equity, grant, royalty‑share, etc.), and the typical duration and cohort size of programs.
The report will also feature a comparative analysis of success indicators, such as the percentage of alumni studios that secure follow‑on investment, release commercial products, or achieve critical acclaim. The IGDA Incubation SIG hopes that this first global census will serve as a foundational reference for policymakers, investors, and educational institutions seeking to strengthen the pipeline that brings innovative game concepts to market. By shedding light on best practices and common challenges, the study aims to foster a more coordinated, transparent, and inclusive ecosystem that can sustain the next generation of game creators worldwide.
Attendees are encouraged to engage with the findings, ask questions during the Q&A sessions, and contribute their own experiences to future iterations of the census. The SIG plans to update the survey annually, tracking trends such as the rise of remote incubation models, the impact of emerging technologies like AI‑driven development tools, and evolving funding landscapes.
Through continuous data collection and community dialogue, the IGDA Incubation SIG aspires to empower developers, support diversity, and ultimately enrich the global gaming experience.