Gaming: Malta & Beyond brought together a diverse group of industry leaders, each offering unique perspectives on the future of Malta’s gaming sector. The panel included professionals from game development, publishing, education, and esports, providing a comprehensive look at the opportunities and challenges ahead. Here are the key takeaways from the event:

Nick Porsche – Dorado
Nick reflected on Malta’s evolution in game development over the past decade, highlighting significant progress and new opportunities for local developers. He compared recent industry successes like Helldivers 2 and challenges such as Concord, examining how these shape strategies for live-service games. Nick also pointed to international trends—like advancements in cloud gaming and increased support for indie developers—that bode well for Malta’s future.

Dan Ghitza – Zarzilla
Dan shared Zarzilla’s approach to standing out in the crowded mobile gaming market, focusing on innovative strategies for user acquisition and monetization. He discussed the growing importance of analytics and personalized advertising, and emphasized the need for investment in Malta’s tech infrastructure and talent to support emerging mobile studios.

Mark Cochrane
As an experienced publisher, Mark offered invaluable advice for smaller studios navigating the publishing world. He outlined common pitching mistakes and shared strategies for success. Mark also discussed recent mergers and acquisitions, including his company’s acquisition of Ground Shatter and Extra Mile Studios, providing insights for studios considering similar moves.

Christopher Mifsud
Christopher delivered a deep dive into effective game pitching, especially at international events like Gamescom. He also discussed expanding his IP, Shadow City Mysteries, into a cross-media platform, and shared thoughts on Malta’s ability to attract global talent—while highlighting areas for improvement in the local ecosystem.

Industry & Academia Leaders

Daniela Said – Creative Europe
Daniela explained how Creative Europe is funding creative and cultural projects in Malta, including game development. She emphasized the importance of leveraging these funds and fostering international collaborations to boost Malta’s gaming profile.

Ivan Filletti – Gaming Malta
Ivan highlighted Gaming Malta’s initiatives to position Malta as a global gaming hub. He discussed efforts to attract international studios, build partnerships with educational institutions, and support the country’s growing esports sector.

Maria Zammit Micallef – Malta Enterprise
Maria outlined Malta Enterprise’s support for game developers through grants, tax incentives, and investment programs. She stressed the need for more public-private partnerships to further grow Malta’s gaming ecosystem.

Simon Theuma – Startup Consultant
Simon provided practical advice on nurturing a startup culture in Malta’s game development scene. He addressed challenges such as funding and talent acquisition and proposed strategies to help startups thrive.

Game Development & Education

John Keefe – Draw & Code
John spoke about the importance of creativity and innovation, particularly for smaller studios. He discussed Malta’s potential in immersive technologies like AR and VR, praised the local talent pool, and called for more mentorship and collaboration between studios and academia.

Paul Pulis – MCAST
Representing the academic perspective, Paul talked about MCAST’s efforts to bridge the gap between education and industry. He highlighted the importance of hands-on training and ongoing curriculum updates to keep pace with the evolving gaming landscape.

Kersten Chircop – GMR
Kersten shared insights into Malta’s expanding role in global esports. He discussed recent successes in hosting international events and outlined the need for further investment, infrastructure, and talent development to build a sustainable esports ecosystem.

Networking Opportunities

Networking was a key aspect of the event, allowing attendees to connect with panelists and each other between sessions and during the post-event gathering. These interactions fostered collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strengthened the bonds within Malta’s gaming community.

Conclusion

The Gaming: Malta & Beyond event showcased Malta’s strengths as an emerging hub for gaming and esports, while addressing the challenges that remain. Panelists stressed the importance of continued collaboration between industry, government, and academia to ensure Malta’s gaming sector can thrive on the global stage. From game development and publishing to education and esports, the event offered a comprehensive roadmap for the future of gaming in Malta.

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