The International Game Developers Association’s Incubation Special Interest Group (IGDA Incubation SIG) is preparing to unveil a groundbreaking global survey of game incubation and accelerator initiatives at this year’s Gamescom, scheduled for the upcoming week. This effort represents the first systematic attempt to map the landscape of organizations that nurture fledgling game studios, offering the industry a comprehensive snapshot of the support structures that are increasingly vital to the creation of new interactive experiences. The research underpinning the presentation draws on the input of 84 senior figures—directors, managers, and program leads—who oversee incubation and acceleration schemes in a diverse array of regions, from North America and Europe to Asia‑Pacific and emerging markets in Africa and Latin America. By aggregating responses from such a broad cross‑section of stakeholders, the study seeks to identify common practices, funding models, mentorship approaches, and the specific hurdles these programs encounter as they strive to foster innovation within the gaming sector.
"Incubators and accelerators have become essential engines of growth for the games ecosystem, yet we have lacked a clear, data‑driven picture of how these entities operate and interconnect," explained Dr. Pedro Santoro Zambon, a leading researcher on the project.
"Our census is designed to illuminate who is delivering these services, the methodologies they employ, and the strategic challenges they face, thereby informing both policy makers and industry participants about where opportunities and gaps exist." During the Gamescom meetup, Chairperson Sho Sato will kick off the session with a briefing on the SIG’s recent activities, including the development of best‑practice guidelines and collaborative networks that have emerged over the past two years. Following Sato’s overview, Linn Søvig, who leads the European chapter of the Incubation SIG, will discuss the importance of cross‑border cooperation among developer‑support organisations.
Søvig will highlight case studies where European incubators have partnered with counterparts in North America and Asia to share resources, co‑host mentorship programs, and facilitate talent exchanges that benefit studios operating in multiple markets. A key portion of the agenda will be dedicated to diversity and inclusion within the incubation ecosystem. Vee Pendergrast, Industry Development Manager at New Zealand’s Centre of Digital Excellence, will present on the Centre’s initiatives aimed at uplifting Indigenous creators and other under‑represented groups. Pendergrast will detail the collaborative work of CODE (the Centre of Digital Excellence) with Māori and Pasifika developers, outlining how culturally‑responsive mentorship, targeted funding streams, and community‑led design workshops have helped these creators bring authentic stories to a global audience.
The session will also feature insights from 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 pivotal role by providing studios with not only capital but also strategic guidance on sustainable business models, intellectual property management, and long‑term growth planning. He will share examples of how such partnerships have enabled studios to retain creative control while building robust revenue streams, thereby challenging the traditional publisher‑developer power dynamics that have historically dominated the sector. Beyond the individual presentations, the census data will be made available to attendees in a series of visual dashboards that break down findings by region, program size, funding source, and target developer demographics.
Participants will have the opportunity to compare their own initiatives against global benchmarks, identify best‑practice strategies, and discover potential collaborators for future projects. The broader implications of this research extend to investors, educational institutions, and governmental bodies that are increasingly interested in the economic and cultural impact of the games industry.
By providing a transparent view of how incubation and acceleration programs operate worldwide, the IGDA Incubation SIG hopes to catalyze more informed investment decisions, encourage the replication of successful models, and ultimately strengthen the pipeline of innovative games that can compete on the world stage. In summary, the upcoming Gamescom presentation will not only showcase the first ever global census of game incubators and accelerators but also spark a conversation about how the industry can collectively refine its support mechanisms. Through data‑driven insights, cross‑regional collaboration, and a focus on inclusive growth, the IGDA Incubation SIG aims to lay the groundwork for a more resilient and diverse future for game development worldwide.