Interactive Arts Alberta

Like the rest of the games industry, we have also been shaken by the news of BioWare's closure. We are saddened by the loss of BioWare as a pillar of our game development ecosystem, and grieve for the impact this closure has on the wonderfully talented team working on the next Mass Effect.

Alberta can be one of the best places in the world to make games; let's make it happen together.

Like the rest of the games industry, we have also been shaken by the news of BioWare's closure. We are saddened by the loss of BioWare as a pillar of our game development ecosystem, and grieve for the impact this closure has on the wonderfully talented team working on the next Mass Effect.

The unfortunate thing is that the big, multinational corporations will continue to exist; those who suffer are the talented creatives who are laid off in droves.

Like the rest of the games industry, we have also been shaken by the news of BioWare's closure. We are saddened by the loss of BioWare as a pillar of our game development ecosystem, and grieve for the impact this closure has on the wonderfully talented team working on the next Mass Effect.

We need an industry that puts human-beings and Canadian/Albertan-owned IP first.

Like the rest of the games industry, we have also been shaken by the news of BioWare's closure. We are saddened by the loss of BioWare as a pillar of our game development ecosystem, and grieve for the impact this closure has on the wonderfully talented team working on the next Mass Effect.

Edmonton and Alberta have incredible talent, and as job losses from layoffs and studio closures continue to mount, we risk losing a generation of veterans whose knowledge and capabilities could be the foundation for incredible ideas, products, and intellectual property that come from our region.

Like the rest of the games industry, we have also been shaken by the news of BioWare's closure. We are saddened by the loss of BioWare as a pillar of our game development ecosystem, and grieve for the impact this closure has on the wonderfully talented team working on the next Mass Effect.

Up next is Meric Moir! Meric is the RPG director for Plotweaver and lead writer for the Cosmere RPG at Brotherwise Games. TTRPG development was the perfect trap for Meric, combining his various loves of writing, storytelling, community building, and production editing.

He’s been a game store owner, completed a professional writing degree at MacEwan University, and worked as a marketing manager for over a decade.

Christopher Wulf, the senior business development manager at narrative games publisher Fellow Traveller, is headed to Edmonton this week! Come grab your insights in the city known for expansive narrative-based games from the publishers behind so many hit games.

Speaker Announcement! Chris Cooke is coming to GDX! Chris Cooke is a game designer with a decade of experience in the video games industry. He self-published his first board game, UNSCREWED, via Kickstarter in 2024, and has just launched his second one, Headway.

This means that he designs games during the day, then designs more games at night. In his words, some people would say he has a problem. Info about Mean Hyena Games' newest project meanhyenagames.com/headway Check out their kickstarter here www.kickstarter.com/.../meanhy.....

More publishing insights coming in hot! Bringing you the bold & bizarre is Jamin Smith of Pantaloon, a publisher focused on the misfits. Jamin is a veteran of game publishing, with two decades spent in brand and marketing roles, as well as two solo-developed indie games brought to market.

We are ecstatic to be welcoming our opening keynote speaker to kick off our new Tabletop & Analogue Games Summit, Avery Alder! Avery is the revolutionary designer behind The Quiet Year, Dream Askew, Monsterhearts 2 and so many more.

YEG Games Week event tonight is the Pecha Kucha Demo Night complete with exciting presentations and game demos at Walkthrough! You'll hear from: - ThirtyThree Games - Daisy Chain Games - Dr. Gregory Blomquist, UAlberta - Nathan Alex Sequeira, MacEwan University luma.com/8n892vaq

Next up for GDX 2026 Claire Barilla! Claire is an experienced publishing, production and game development leader, spanning the indie, AA and AAA space. Claire has over a decade of commercial, studio, event and strategic management, successfully launching multiple games.

Claire is a co-founder of Lumo Cooperative, a new type of publisher centered around helping game developers build a sustainable business; balancing commercial success with artistic vision. More about Lumo: lumopublishing.com Their first project: store.steampowered.com/app/4656000/...

Wow! This upcoming week, October 18-25, is jam packed full of games week activities! Make sure to check out all of the events available and how you can participate in the first ever Edmonton Games Week.

We've got a keynote announcement for you! Everyone get hyped because not only is this speaker known for their work with indies helping indies at the @indieasylum.bsky.social BUT they also cofounded one of Canada's major publishers in 2025, @gambitdigital.bsky.social. Welcome Kevin Chancey!

Kevin will be bringing insights from the modern publishing world as well as some more of his publisher friends for a publishing roundtable where you can meet them, ask them all the questions, and see if having a publisher makes sense for you!

IAA supports Truth and Reconciliation Day and we highly recommend that if you have the day off, that you check out some games crafted by Indigenous devs. You can start with Mikiwam: Solarpunk Herbalism by Studio Ekosi and Kitch Witch by @mistikstudios.bsky.social!

store.steampowered.com/app/2145640/...

Huge win for Alberta! @thirtythreegames.bsky.social is working with Aggro Crab to publish Rebounder! Rebounder began as an internal game jam at our space, the Walkthrough Collaborative Centre, where ThirtyThree was our first Studio-in-Residence. Support local games and check out Rebounder!

Did you know that there are several Alberta developer at this year's gamescom? What a thrill to see so many Albertans showing off their games and sharing their art with the world! Visit @basementbunkerlabs.bsky.social @cogstudios.bsky.social @daisychaingames.ca @olivenaut.bsky.social and more!