Unmissable Sessions to Catch at Devcom 2023

The global games industry is set to converge in Cologne, Germany, for a week of conferences and trade shows, kicking off with the Devcom Developer Conference. Returning to its usual venue at Koelnmesse, the event boasts over 200 speakers across more than 130 sessions, covering all aspects of game development, publishing, and industry growth. We have curated a selection of the most compelling sessions, and you can also explore the full program. The Devcom organizers have finalized the program, although some session times may be subject to last-minute changes due to technical issues. Key sessions include the opening keynote by Anna Brandberg, Lead UX Designer at The Outsiders/Funcom, which will explore player-centered design using examples from major game franchises. Other notable sessions include a panel discussion on the making of Return To Monkey Island, hosted by game designer Paul Toderas, and a talk by John Johanas, Game Director at Tango Gameworks, on the development of Hi-Fi Rush. Additionally, there will be panels on overcoming infrastructure bottlenecks, the growing games development scene in Africa, and how Steam connects players with games they are likely to enjoy. Other talks will cover topics such as tackling online toxicity, the development process of indie game Dordogne, and the importance of gender-expansive options in player-created characters.