The Game Industry Conference (GIC) reaffirmed its position as one of Europe’s most critical events in the gaming industry this year. Held in Poznan, Poland, GIC 2024 attracted a record-breaking 3,300 participants and industry leaders from across the continent. Known as Eastern Europe’s largest gaming event, the conference continues to build on its reputation for fostering growth, innovation and networking opportunities, with each year surpassing the previous in scale and impact.
A Historic Gathering in Poznan
On October 28th, 2024, GIC concluded its 17th annual event, having grown exponentially since its inception. This year’s turnout of over 3,290 attendees highlights the conference’s increasing prominence within the European gaming industry. Hosted in Poznan, GIC drew attendees from a wide range of gaming disciplines, offering a space for networking, collaboration and exposure to emerging trends and technologies. Participants enjoyed hundreds of informative sessions designed to enhance industry knowledge and skills, making this year’s event a must-attend for those involved in the gaming sector.
eSports Betting Gains Ground in the Gaming World
At the Game Industry Conference 2024, eSports betting emerged as a hot topic alongside gaming innovation. With new platforms supporting numerous eSports betting avenues that are expert-recommended on OnlineSportsbooks.ltd, eSports betting offers fans a unique class of engagement with favored games and teams. GIC featured discussions on the future of eSports betting and responsible integration, reflecting its expanding position within the gaming ecosystem and exponential increase as a viable career path. As competitive gaming continues to ascend, eSports betting is becoming fundamental to global gaming culture.
Comprehensive Talks and High-Impact Sessions
Throughout the conference’s several-day duration, attendees had access to 199 specialized talks, panels and roundtables led by more than 290 speakers.
These sessions spanned nine stages running in parallel, nearly doubling the number of presenters from the 2023 event. The diversity of speakers and the quality of discussions marked a significant expansion, allowing participants to gain insights into various topics. In addition to the main presentations, GIC offered specialized side events, such as the Geek Startups & Feedback Battle Royale, Women in Games Day and the GameDev Investment Forum, enriching the conference experience with unique networking and development opportunities.
Diverse Side Events and Specialized Summits
This year’s conference included several notable summits and gatherings catering to different facets of the gaming industry. These included the HowToMultiplayer Dev Summit, GIC Legal Summit and Mobile Summit, each organized in partnership with established industry players like Game Camp and Google. In addition to these sessions, GIC hosted a variety of side activities to make attendees’ experience professional and enjoyable. City tours allowed participants to explore Poznan’s famous landmarks, further contributing to a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. The event’s exceptional organization, facilitated by dedicated sponsors and partnerships, guaranteed attendees underwent an enriching conference.
Expanding Opportunities in the B2B Zone
One of GIC’s most dynamic areas was the B2B zone, which provided a platform for businesses to showcase their projects and services. This year’s zone featured a record-breaking 57 booths, representing a 30% increase over last year. This increase highlighted the growing interest in B2B connections, where established companies and startups alike could interact, exchange ideas and explore potential partnerships. Notable companies—including Larian Studios Warsaw, 11 Bit Studios and Fool’s Theory—made impactful contributions, with many also participating in the CEE region’s largest job fair. This fair offered recruitment opportunities for aspiring professionals, making GIC an essential event for both industry veterans and newcomers.
Celebrating Excellence at the CEEGA Awards
An important highlight of the weekend was the Central and Eastern European Game Awards (CEEGA), a ceremony that recognizes the best in Eastern European game development.
This year, the prestigious award for Best Game went to Croteam for Talos Principle 2. Founded by a coalition of 16 regional gaming associations, the CEEGA ceremony celebrates exceptional achievements in categories like Visual Art, Audio and Narrative. The full list of winners demonstrated the region’s talent and commitment to innovation, with Let Bions Be Bygones by Bohemian Pulp taking awards for Visual Art and Narrative, while Ghostrunner 2 by One More Level won in both Audio and Technology.
Future Announcements and the Role of Technology
Looking ahead, the GIC team announced that the date for the 2025 conference would be revealed in the coming weeks. In line with its commitment to technological integration, GIC once again partnered with the event networking app GRIP, which simplified ticketing and facilitated on-site and online meeting planning. GRIP allowed attendees to personalize their event schedules on mobile devices, maximizing networking and engagement opportunities; by blending technology with the event’s traditional offerings, GIC remains a leader in event innovation within the gaming industry.
