NEWS
Featured Speakers Juha Huhtakallio CEO, Edugametion | Discovery at PlayStack Juha is the architect of premier online game design education, leveraging a 22-year career and 90+ published titles. As General Manager at Playstack, he leads game discovery and publishing services. A veteran of Housemarque and Digital Chocolate with 30+ industry awards, Juha sits on the NeoGames board and remains a driving force in bridging the gap between game education and global commercial success. Topics: #GamePublishing #Discovery #GameEducation #BusinessDevelopment Marijana Sarolic Robic Vice President, CroStartup A leading legal expert in the Adriatic tech ecosystem specializing in startups, investment, and regulatory frameworks. Marijana is a co-founder of CroAI and Vice President of CroStartup. An EMBA graduate and advocate for AI Ethics and Data Science regulation, she also serves as President of PWN Zagreb and on the Supervisory Board of MBA Croatia. Topics: #StartupInvestment #AIEthics #LegalFrameworks #RegulatoryAffairs Risto Holmström Design Director & Studio Lead, Kuuasema An industry veteran with three decades of experience across 10+ studios, Risto specializes in the intersection of game design, leadership, and business strategy. With over 20 titles released, his expertise ranges from hypercasual to MMORPG productions. At Kuuasema, he focuses on F2P economy, monetization, and creative direction. Topics: #GameDesign #F2PEconomy #Monetization #LeadershipStrategy Uros Banjesevic Chief Creative Officer, Mad Head Games (Saber Interactive) A pioneer of regional development and Game Director on Mad Head Games' first unannounced AAA project based on a major global franchise. With two decades of experience, Uroš led the studio’s transition into core AAA gaming, including titles like Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival. He is also a co-founder of the Serbia Games Association (SGA). Topics: #AAADevelopment #CreativeDirection #RegionalEcosystems #GameDesign Chee Wong Co-founder & Creative Director, Opus Artz Chee leads a London-based visual design agency specializing in concept design and IP development. His collaborative portfolio includes nearly 20 years of expertise on titles such as Diablo IV, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War Ragnarök, Hitman, Mafia 3, and FC. Topics: #VisualDesign #IPDevelopment #ConceptArt #ProductionPipelines Niko Mäkelä External Development Director, Housemarque After contributing to Supercell’s Clash of Clans and Hay Day, Niko shifted to console development, leading to the AAA title Returnal for PS5. A veteran in art direction and management, he has managed External Development full-time since 2018 for all Housemarque titles. Topics: #ExternalDevelopment #OutsourcingManagement #AAAProduction #ArtDirection Registration Information Join these experts in Opatija this May for two days of high-level networking and professional development. EARLY BIRD TICKETS: Available at preferential rates until March 1st, 2026.
We are thrilled to announce our latest addition of global experts joining the lineup for Expo Gamers 2026. This group brings great experience and knowledge to the tracks of Expo, spanning legendary art, cinematic sound, external development, and the future of game investment.
We are incredibly proud to announce a landmark partnership for this year’s Expo Gamers: a special delegation from Women in Games will be joining us in Opatija!
First Speakers Confirmed for Expo Gamers 2026 We are incredibly excited to share the first wave of speakers joining us this year in Opatija. Our team is honored to host these global experts as they share their insights across our three dedicated program tracks. Vlad Rannik, CEO, CM Games A mobile gaming pioneer and Hall of Famer who has led titles with over 400 million downloads and $100M in revenue. Dr. Marie-Claire Isaaman, CEO & Co-Director Women in Games A global leader and award-winning consultant dedicated to building a fairer and more inclusive games ecosystem. Stanislav Stanković, Senior Game Design Director, EA An industry veteran with 14 years of experience at Rovio, Supercell, and EA, specializing in massive free-to-play titles like SimCity BuildIt. Julie La’Bassiere, Chief Strategy Officer, DDA A veteran branding strategist with 25 years in entertainment, contributed to the historic Best Picture Oscar win for CODA. Borislav Slavov, Composer and Music Director, Larian Studios The award-winning musical mind behind the iconic soundtracks of Baldur’s Gate 3 and Divinity: Original Sin 2. Ben Reichstein, CEO & Recording Artist, Field & Foley A specialized sound designer and podcast host focused on the art of immersive field recording and game audio. Early Bird Tickets: Available Until March 1st Join our growing community at the best possible price. Secure your tickets early to lock in the special rate.
Expo Gamers 2026 Early Bird Tickets Are LIVE!
Expo Gamers are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with MeetToMatch , the leading matchmaking platform in the global gaming industry. This landmark collaboration marks a significant moment: it is the first time a structured, world-class deal-making platform has been integrated into an event in Croatia and the wider Southeast European region. "We have enjoyed thoroughly meeting Mr. Fedor van Herpen and presenting our vision for the event. This partnership immediately elevates the business potential of Expo Gamers 2026, guaranteeing our 3,000+ attendees access to the most efficient and structured deal flow available." Valentina Yoe, Organizer Expo Gamers 2026 at a Glance The region’s essential B2B2C hub for gaming professionals. May 29–30, 2026. Location: the stunning coastal city of Opatija, Croatia. Impact: MeetToMatch is the most used event and deal-making platform in the world, linking our event directly to a network of over 25,000 games professionals. The MeetToMatch platform will be integrated to everyone with Indie, Business and VIP access tickets, and the platform will be launched leading up to the event. Tickets coming live very soon!
The first official announcement of Expo Gamers is published at MCV/DEVELOP: the leading UK business-to-business media outlet for the entire video game industry, focusing on the commercial, development, and retail sectors. See the full article here: https://mcvuk.com/business-news/from-the-industry-expo-gamers-2026-the-adriatics-breakout-event-returns-to-opatija-driving-regional-gaming-growth/
Expo Gamers officially announces the return of its highly anticipated third edition at the end of May 2026 . The event is set to accelerate meaningful business, creative, and investment connections across Southeast Europe, solidifying its position as the region's must-attend industry gathering. What began as a popular consumer festival has rapidly matured into a top-tier business event. Expo Gamers 2026 is set to welcome leading industry players, investors, and professionals across its dedicated tracks, expo hall, and focused networking events, recognizing the serious business energy now present in the regional scene. “Our small team is truly passionate about bringing people together and growing this community,” state organizers Valentina and Marta. “We are so excited to welcome you back to Opatija, Croatia, the undiscovered pearl and a lovely seaside town. Our goal is to blend crucial professional conversations with passionate talks, while ensuring everyone experiences the renowned warm Croatian hospitality. We look forward to seeing you here!” 🏆 Proven Success: Highlights from Expo Gamers 2025 The 2025 edition confirmed the event’s rapid ascent, successfully blending B2B quality with festival vibrancy and setting the stage for the 2026 summit: Attendance & Scope: The festival successfully gathered around 3,000 visitors over the extended weekend, offering a rich educational and entertainment program. Industry Presence: The event featured 27 different exhibitors and was executed through strong project partnerships with key organizations like the Croatian Game Developers Association (CGDA), the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), and the PISMO Incubator. Globally Recognized Guests: Expo Gamers 2025 stood out with five guests of global renown, including indie legend Rami Ismail, Forbes' "30 Under 30" scientist Dr. Johanna Pirker, and the voice masters behind The Monster Factory, Sébastien Croteau and Aliki Katriou (known for Baldur’s Gate 3 and Helldivers 2). National & International Impact: The event enriched the cultural content of the city, with nearly 40% of visitors traveling from outside the county or from neighboring countries, establishing Opatija as a new international hub for game industry dialogue. The success of the 2025 event has confirmed that Expo Gamers is delivering high-quality execution, valuable B2B2C content, and strong ties between the industry, educational institutions, and the community. Join in 2026! Expo Gamers 2026 will take place from May 29-30 in Opatija, Croatia. For registration, speaker applications, sponsorship inquiries, and more information, please visit ExpoGamers.com → "PARTICIPATE" , and make sure to follow Expo Gamers on social for all updates!
