PLAYCON, now in its fifth edition, is Malta's flagship event for game development, esports, and immersive entertainment. It brings together creators, educators, and industry professionals from around the world to support industry growth, foster collaboration, and showcase Malta as a hub for interactive entertainment.
This year, the event attracted 30,000 visitors, including international delegates, AAA publishers, and rising indie studios shaping the future of gaming and esports.
At GamingMalta, we see the results of a vision that began in 2019 and has evolved into Vision 2050 - Malta's national roadmap for gaming and esports. This vision reflects long-term planning and collaboration between public and private stakeholders, positioning Malta as a hub for creative technology.
Ahead of PLAYCON's main schedule, the Academy of Interactive Media (AIM) hosted a masterclass by Jason Della Rocca, Co-Founder of Execution Labs, providing studios with practical insights and guidance for growth. The base_camp Accelerator, delivered by SpielFabrique, offered five Maltese studios over 30 hours of live mentorship and continued online support.
The B2B Summit opened PLAYCON with two days of thought leadership sessions, panels, and reverse pitches by major publishers - including Ubisoft, BLAST, Quantic Lab, Unity, and Unreal Engine (Epic Games). The Studio Pitch Competition, organised with Agora Gaming Partners (AGP) - a global investment bank specialising in video gaming M&A, publishing, and fundraising - saw 13 studios pitch projects to international investors, further establishing Malta as a destination for gaming innovation and collaboration.
BLAST exemplifies Malta's growing global footprint. Operating since August from its 5,000 sqm BLAST Arena in Ta' Qali, including a 1,000 sqm broadcast studio, the organisation drew over 60 million online viewers for the BLAST Bounty event. Esports remains a key pillar of Vision 2050, and partnerships like this drive innovation, cross-pollination, and international visibility.
Education remains central to our strategy. Unity and Unreal Engine (Epic Games) provide students access to industry-standard tools. Malta is officially a Unity Centre of Excellence, having certified over 400 students, and now offers a bespoke Unity-GamingMalta online training platform. MCAST is the first accredited academic partner for Unreal Engine, further strengthening Malta's educational ecosystem.
Over 3,000 students and young people explored interactive exhibits, coding workshops, and esports tournaments. Daigon Esports, based at Basecamp, hosted a tournament for over 100 students from international schools. PLAYCON also featured a keynote by Jude Owen MBE, highlighting the social impact of gaming.
The event hosted a GamingMalta trade delegation from the US and UK, attracting studio owners, publishers, and creators. One standout case is Out of the Bit, a London-based studio that visited PLAYCON last year and has since opened Hand Rock Studio in Malta - a Maltese-first studio blending technical innovation with artistic craft.
Our story so far is one of purpose, persistence, partnership - and a genuine love for the interactive entertainment sector. PLAYCON embodies that journey. By continuing to invest in initiatives like PLAYCON, Malta will not only sustain growth but also cement its place as a global hub for creativity, technology, and talent.
As we look ahead, our message to creators, innovators, and visionaries worldwide is clear:
Let us be the stage for your global ambitions.
Ivan Filletti is CEO, GamingMalta