Melbourne International Games Week Achieves Unprecedented Success

The Melbourne International Games Week made a triumphant return last month, bringing together the games industry in the Australian city to showcase the latest developments, studios, and innovations in the country's thriving games scene. After a pandemic-disrupted 2021, this year's event focused on building momentum and making the trip to Melbourne an indispensable experience for games professionals. "Our primary objective was to welcome back in-person attendees, and they returned with enthusiasm," says Fran Kerlin, senior manager at Creative Victoria, the organiser of MIGW. "After two years of struggling with virtual formats, we aimed to offer a diverse range of programming that would captivate the local games community, whether they were studios or players." Kerlin reports that MIGW 2022 was a resounding success, with higher attendance than any previous event. The week featured over 50 events, including an opening night networking event, Big Games Night Out, which Kerlin describes as a "huge success" that will likely become a staple in future programming. The week also included multiple-day conferences, such as High Score, which explored the intersection of the games and music industries, Games Connect Asia Pacific, a networking event for regional professionals, and a three-day conference led by the international president of Games 4 Change. Additionally, Reedpop's PAX Australia took place during the week, reaching an all-time high, according to Kerlin. The Victorian government pledged $5.2 million in funding to the local games industry, with $2 million allocated to expanding MIGW, which Kerlin sees as an exciting prospect for the industry. While in-person attendance reached record levels, the event's hybrid option was less prominent than in previous years. Kerlin notes that most attendees preferred live, in-person events, following the example set by Gamescom in August. However, Creative Victoria acknowledges the value of virtual events and the accessibility they provide. "There's definitely room for hybrid events, given the huge global following we built in 2020 and 2021 when the program was entirely virtual," Kerlin adds. "We want to maintain connections with our international friends who cannot attend in person. "A key objective is to promote accessibility and diversity across the industry, which can always be improved. We're already working on this aspect and exploring ways to develop it further for 2023 and beyond." Increasing international engagement is a major goal for next year's MIGW event, with Creative Victoria exploring ways to encourage more visitors to attend, despite the challenges of travel time and distance. "Many people in the northern hemisphere may be deterred by the travel time to Melbourne, but it's worth visiting to experience the strength and growth of the Australian games industry on the global stage," Kerlin says. "We say, 'the plane trip is not that bad – two movies, two meals, and a little sleep, and you're here!'" "The Australian games industry is on an upward trajectory, as evident from the recent successes of Australian-made games. MIGW attracts the best and brightest from across Australia. The recent Australian pavilion at Gamescom cemented the country's reputation as a hub for incredible talent, innovation, and groundbreaking ideas. People need to see this firsthand, and then they'll make the trip every year." Kerlin also mentions the upcoming introduction of the Federal Government's Digital Games Tax Offset, which is putting Australia on the map as an attractive location for games companies to establish themselves. "Interest in Australia as a viable location for international studios wishing to expand has never been higher," Kerlin adds. "Indeed, several studios with investment at the forefront have attended MIGW, with fruitful conversations ongoing."