The International Game Developers Association’s Incubation Special Interest Group (SIG) is set to unveil a groundbreaking, first‑ever global survey of game incubation and accelerator initiatives during this week’s Gamescom 2026 conference. This ambitious undertaking seeks to provide the video‑game sector with a comprehensive overview of the myriad organisations that nurture fledgling studios, offering insights into their structures, methodologies, and the obstacles they encounter. The dataset behind the presentation was compiled from the responses of 84 senior figures—program leaders, managers and coordinators—who oversee incubation and acceleration schemes across continents.
By aggregating perspectives from North America, Europe, Asia‑Pacific, Latin America and Africa, the research paints a nuanced portrait of a rapidly evolving support ecosystem. The findings will be shared for the first time at the IGDA Incubation SIG’s dedicated Gamescom meetup, where participants will have the opportunity to discuss trends, best practices and future directions. "Incubators and accelerators have become increasingly pivotal in shaping the modern games landscape, yet we have lacked a clear, data‑driven map of the ecosystem itself," explained Dr. Pedro Santoro Zambon, lead researcher on the project.
"This census is an attempt to identify who is doing this work, how they are doing it, and what challenges they face." During the session, Chairperson Sho Sato will open with a briefing on the SIG’s recent activities, highlighting progress made since the last gathering and outlining upcoming initiatives aimed at strengthening the network of support organisations. Following Sato, Linn Søvig, who heads the European chapter of the SIG, will turn the focus to cross‑border collaboration, examining how developer‑support bodies in different regions can coordinate efforts, share resources, and avoid duplication of services.
Søvig will also explore policy implications, such as funding mechanisms and regulatory environments that either facilitate or hinder international cooperation. A particularly compelling segment of the program will feature Vee Pendergrast, Industry Development Manager at New Zealand’s Centre of Digital Excellence. Pendergrast will discuss targeted strategies for uplifting Indigenous developers and other historically under‑represented groups within the industry.
She will showcase the Centre’s CODE initiative, which works directly with Māori and Pasifika creators, providing mentorship, technical training, and access to funding streams. By presenting case studies and measurable outcomes, Pendergrast aims to demonstrate how culturally‑responsive incubation models can generate both economic and social value. The final keynote will be delivered by veteran games entrepreneur Jason Della Rocca, who will introduce the concept of "inception publishing." Della Rocca argues that early‑stage publishers should act as mentors rather than mere financiers, equipping studios with the knowledge required to build sustainable businesses while preserving ownership of their intellectual property. He will outline a framework for inception publishing that includes strategic planning, market analysis, community building, and post‑launch support, illustrating how such an approach can reduce the high failure rate among indie developers.
Beyond the individual presentations, the census data itself reveals several macro‑level trends. First, there is a noticeable shift toward hybrid models that combine traditional accelerator sprint formats with long‑term incubation support, allowing studios to receive intensive mentorship during critical development phases while still benefiting from ongoing resources.
Second, geographic distribution shows a rise in programs emerging in emerging markets, particularly in Southeast Asia and Africa, reflecting both local talent pools and growing governmental interest in creative economies. Third, funding sources are diversifying; while many incubators continue to rely on venture capital and corporate sponsorship, an increasing number are tapping into public grants, university partnerships and community‑based crowdfunding. Challenges identified by respondents include difficulty in measuring impact, limited access to experienced mentors in niche genres, and the tension between providing creative freedom and ensuring commercial viability. Many programs also cited the need for better data collection tools to track alumni success and to justify continued investment from stakeholders.
The IGDA Incubation SIG plans to use the insights from this census to develop a set of best‑practice guidelines, a resource hub for emerging studios, and a recommendation paper for policymakers aimed at fostering a more inclusive and resilient support infrastructure. Attendees at Gamescom will be invited to contribute their own experiences, suggest refinements to the survey methodology, and help shape the next iteration of the study.
Overall, the unveiling of this global census marks a significant milestone for the games development community. By shedding light on the scale, scope and diversity of incubation and accelerator programs worldwide, the IGDA hopes to catalyse stronger collaboration, more informed investment decisions, and ultimately, a healthier pipeline of innovative games that reflect the full spectrum of creators across the globe.