The International Game Developers Association’s Incubation Special Interest Group (SIG) is set to unveil a landmark study at Gamescom 2026, offering the first comprehensive global snapshot of game incubator and accelerator programs. This ambitious census aims to map the landscape of organisations that nurture fledgling studios, providing valuable insight into the scale, structure, and challenges of the support ecosystem that has become increasingly vital to the industry. The data behind the report were gathered from 84 senior figures—leaders, managers and coordinators—who run incubation and acceleration initiatives in a diverse range of regions, from North America and Europe to Asia‑Pacific, Latin America and Africa.
By reaching out to such a broad cross‑section of programme directors, the SIG has compiled a dataset that captures variations in funding models, mentorship approaches, selection criteria, and success metrics. The findings will be presented for the first time during the IGDA Incubation SIG’s dedicated meetup at Gamescom, giving attendees a rare opportunity to explore the results in depth and discuss their implications with the researchers.
"Incubators and accelerators are now a cornerstone of the games ecosystem, yet we have lacked a clear, data‑driven picture of who is operating these programmes and how they function," explained Dr. Pedro Santoro Zambon, lead researcher on the project. "This census is an attempt to chart the terrain, identify best practices, and surface the obstacles that these support organisations encounter on a day‑to‑day basis." The session will open with remarks from Chairperson Sho Sato, who will provide a brief overview of the SIG’s recent activities and outline the strategic goals that guided the census. Following Sato, Linn Søvig, the European Chapter Lead, will discuss the importance of cross‑border collaboration among developer‑support entities, highlighting case studies where joint initiatives have amplified impact for emerging studios.
A key theme of the research is inclusivity. Vee Pendergrast, Industry Development Manager at New Zealand’s Centre of Digital Excellence, will share insights into how incubators can better serve Indigenous creators and other under‑represented groups.
She will illustrate this with examples from CODE’s programmes that specifically target Māori and Pasifika developers, detailing mentorship models, culturally‑aware curriculum design, and pathways to market that respect and amplify community voices. The programme will also feature a forward‑looking perspective on publishing models. Veteran game industry figure Jason Della Rocca will present on the concept of "inception publishing," a framework that equips studios with the knowledge and resources they need at the earliest stages to build sustainable businesses while retaining ownership of their intellectual property.
Della Rocca will argue that this approach can reduce the risk of predatory deals and foster a healthier, more autonomous development environment. Beyond the individual presentations, the census data reveal several broader trends. First, the majority of incubators now operate on a hybrid funding model, blending public grants, private investment, and revenue‑share agreements.
This diversification helps mitigate financial volatility but also introduces complexity in governance and accountability. Second, mentorship remains the most cited value‑add, with programmes increasingly pairing technical experts, seasoned producers, and business strategists with participating teams. Third, geographic distribution shows a notable rise in programmes emerging from regions historically under‑represented in the global market, such as Southeast Asia, Sub‑Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, indicating a growing democratisation of game development resources. Challenges identified by respondents include difficulty in measuring long‑term success, limited access to high‑quality talent pipelines, and navigating regulatory environments that differ widely across jurisdictions.
Many incubators also expressed a need for stronger networks that facilitate knowledge‑sharing and co‑investment opportunities among peers. The SIG hopes that by publishing these findings, the industry will gain a clearer understanding of where support gaps exist and how to address them.
The data can serve as a benchmark for existing programmes seeking to refine their models, as well as for governments and investors looking to design policies that nurture a vibrant, inclusive game development sector. Attendees at Gamescom will have the chance to engage directly with the researchers during a Q&A session, explore interactive visualisations of the census data, and participate in breakout discussions focused on building more collaborative, transparent, and equitable support structures for emerging studios worldwide. The IGDA Incubation SIG invites anyone interested in the future of game development—developers, educators, policymakers, and investors alike—to join the conversation and help shape the next chapter of the industry’s growth.