Devcom 2024, one of the leading game developer conferences, kicked off in Cologne, Germany with the Indie Awards and a VIP dinner. The event, which precedes the popular Gamescom event, will see a few thousand game makers gather at the new Confex venue within the larger Koelnmess expo complex. The highlight of the evening was the Devcom Indie Awards, which honored four standout indie games showcased at the conference.
The awards were presented in four categories: Mobile Marvels, Creative Overkill, Graphics Galore, and Blockbuster. Dungeons of Dreadlock, developed by Christoph Minnameier from Germany, won the Mobile Marvels award. SWAP/MEAT by One More Game from the U.S. won the Creative Overkill category. Bahamut and the Waqwaq Tree by Starvania from Saudi Arabia was the winner in the Graphics Galore category. Zombie Rollerz: The Last Ship by Zing Games Inc. from the U.S. won the Blockbuster award.
In addition to the Indie Awards, Devcom conducted a survey that provided valuable insights into the game development industry. One notable finding was that a significant number of speakers prefer minimal usage of AI in game development. However, there is considerable interest in leveraging AI for code and production, as well as for marketing and communication. It was also predicted that AI could replace human translations/localizations within the next 12 to 24 months.
The survey also revealed that the preferred business model for games is physical premium games, with 65% of respondents supporting it. Free-to-play with ads was the least popular option. Market saturation and increasing development costs were identified as the biggest challenges facing the game development industry. Participants also highlighted the issue of “chasing the myth of infinite growth” and its impact on a studio’s ability to consistently produce quality games with experienced talent.
Regarding the financial viability of triple-A games, 89% of participants believe that they can be successful through a Buy-to-Play model. Cross-platform play was considered essential for the future of multiplayer games. Despite the rise of subscription models, 62% of respondents do not foresee first party platforms becoming less relevant. Finally, when asked about industry layoffs, 57% of speakers anticipate that they will continue at the same pace or accelerate over the next 12 months, while 43% believe that layoffs will decrease or that more people will be employed again.
Overall, Devcom 2024 provided a platform for game developers to showcase their creativity and innovation through the Indie Awards. The survey conducted during the conference shed light on pressing topics in the game development industry, offering valuable insights into the role of AI, preferred business models, challenges faced by developers, and the future of the industry. Through events like Devcom, the gaming community continues to thrive and evolve, shaping the future of the gaming industry.
