The International Game Developers Association’s Incubation Special Interest Group (IGDA Incubation SIG) is preparing to unveil a landmark study at this year’s Gamescom 2026—a comprehensive, first‑of‑its‑kind global census that maps the landscape of game incubation and accelerator programs. This ambitious research effort seeks to provide the video‑game industry with a clear, data‑driven overview of the myriad organizations that nurture fledgling studios, offering insight into their structures, methodologies, and the obstacles they encounter. The census is built on the responses of 84 senior figures—leaders, managers, and coordinators—who head incubation and acceleration initiatives in diverse regions worldwide. By gathering perspectives from North America, Europe, Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and Africa, the study captures a truly international snapshot of how emerging developers receive support.
The findings will be presented for the first time during the IGDA Incubation SIG’s dedicated meetup at Gamescom, creating a focal point for discussion among developers, investors, policymakers, and support organizations. "Incubators and accelerators have become pivotal in shaping the future of the games sector, yet we have lacked a cohesive picture of the ecosystem that underpins them," explained Dr.
Pedro Santoro Zambon, a leading researcher on the project. "Our census is an attempt to identify who is providing these services, the models they employ, and the challenges they face in delivering effective assistance to new studios." The presentation will open with remarks from Chairperson Sho Sato, who will outline recent progress within the SIG and highlight key trends observed in the data. Following Sato, Linn Søvig, the head of the European chapter, will discuss the importance of cross‑border collaboration among developer‑support entities, emphasizing how shared resources and joint programs can amplify impact and foster a more inclusive global network.
A significant portion of the session will be devoted to addressing equity and representation in game development. Vee Pendergrast, the industry development manager at New Zealand’s Centre of Digital Excellence, will share the Centre’s strategies for uplifting Indigenous creators and other under‑represented groups. She will detail initiatives such as CODE’s mentorship and funding programs tailored for Māori and Pasifika developers, illustrating how culturally aware support structures can drive both creative diversity and commercial success. Veteran game‑industry figure Jason Della Rocca will close the lineup with a talk on "inception publishing," a concept that reimagines the traditional publishing relationship.
Della Rocca will argue that early‑stage studios benefit from guidance that goes beyond capital—offering education on sustainable business practices, IP management, and long‑term growth strategies. By equipping developers with these tools from the outset, inception publishing aims to help studios retain ownership of their intellectual property while building resilient, profitable operations. Beyond the core presentations, the census data will be made available to attendees in both summary and detailed formats, encouraging further analysis and discussion. Participants will have the opportunity to explore metrics such as program size, funding sources, selection criteria, mentorship models, and success rates of alumni studios.
The IGDA hopes that this transparency will inspire best‑practice sharing, foster new partnerships, and ultimately strengthen the support infrastructure for emerging game creators worldwide. The broader implications of the census are significant.
As the games industry continues to expand—projected to exceed $300 billion in revenue within the next few years—the demand for effective incubation and acceleration services grows in tandem. By illuminating where gaps exist—whether in geographic coverage, demographic inclusion, or resource allocation—stakeholders can target investments and policy interventions more precisely. Moreover, the study underscores the evolving role of incubators and accelerators, which are increasingly acting as hubs for innovation, talent development, and community building, rather than merely as funding conduits. In addition to the formal presentations, the IGDA Incubation SIG will host a series of breakout workshops where program directors can exchange experiences, discuss challenges such as scaling mentorship capacity, navigating regulatory environments, and measuring impact.
These interactive sessions aim to translate the census findings into actionable insights, fostering a collaborative environment where participants can co‑create solutions tailored to their unique regional contexts. Overall, the unveiling of this global census marks a pivotal moment for the games ecosystem. By providing a data‑rich, nuanced portrait of incubation and acceleration programs, the IGDA Incubation SIG is laying the groundwork for a more connected, equitable, and sustainable future for game development. The event at Gamescom promises to spark vital conversations, inspire new collaborations, and set the stage for ongoing research that will continue to track the evolution of support mechanisms for the next generation of game creators.