NZ CODE

There's something deeply unsettling about a spaceship that's still running when everyone on board is gone. The lights are on. The machinery is humming. And you have absolutely no idea what happened here. That's the sort of place we're trying to build. #indiedev #HorrorGames #screamfest #nzgames

During PAX AUS, @firkraags.bsky.social decided to head across the ditch to see what our Kiwi brethren had to offer. When we say across the ditch, we really mean the NZ/Aotearoa Booth on the show floor. www.player2.net.au/2026/10/play...

A huge congrats to Liquid Static Studio on the release of Night Plane! It's Kiwi jank horror at it's finest!

Travel Grant Round TG9 (BitSummit) is now open for Expressions Of Interest: This round is primarily targeting BitSummit in May 2027. Visit www.nz-code.nz/funding for guidelines and registration. This is open to NZ-resident game developers only.

Happy birthday to one of our favourite memes 🙂‍↕️

We build levels using asset kits, but scenes with hundreds of objects can mean hundreds of draw calls. On the right: the authoring level. On the left: what ships. Our tools merge objects, reducing this to one draw call per material. That means better performance ❤️ #gamedev #tips #scifi #unity3d

📣EXTRA, EXTRA: DEAD TEAPOT NEWSLETTER! 📰 We're dropping our first newsletter soon, which will have game updates, exclusive gossip, and cool pics, especially for those who came to our booth @ PAX AUS! Sign up on the website :) deadteapot.games

"Beyond the fun mechanics of building burgers, what is most compelling about this game is its cartoon art style, with lovely food-inspired artwork defining each character and giving you a sense of their personalities." 🫶🍔 Thank you so much for the kind words about Burger Bois! 🍔🫶

Nothing Lost | PAX Australia 2026 Preview

Another of our favourite games from NZGDC this year - we've kept an eye on this one for a while. Who doesn't love an #kaiju #deckbuilder? The team also recently won a highly competitive funding grant from @nz-code.nz - so they musty be doing something right! Play the demo and check it out!

It's time to Level Up! This month we're hosting @nz-code.nz 's Tim Ponting for an update on what CODE's been up to along with Q&A. Come through to ask your questions and learn more about CODE! 📆 Weds 28 October 6pm @ AUT RSVP here ➡️ www.meetup.com/aucklandmake...

Wake up, babes. New Space Whale just dropped. Massive congratulations to CODE-supported Balancing Monkey Games on this production.

21 studios awarded over $2M in CODE funding🎮🥝 A total of $885,654 was awarded to 15 studios within the KickStart category for the creation of prototypes. A further $1.5 million was allocated to six studios in the StartUp funding category to support production. www.nz-code.nz/post/21-stud...

IT'S HAPPENING: GO PHISH is going to be at PAX Australia! Come and find us at the @nz-code.nz booth! Stop by and hack an AI chatbot / get spooked out by your slumlord landlord! #indiegames #indiedev #PAXAus #deckbuilder #fishing #phishing

Fresh news, hot off the grill: Burger Bois will be at @paxaus.bsky.social! Come visit us at the @nz-code.nz booth to design delicious and/or horrifying burgers and nab a free #FoodPic polaroid #paxaus #indiegame #steamgame #cookinggame #cozygame

Here are your friendly reminders about where to find Frosty this Melbourne International Games Week 🎮 🔷 Oct 3&4: Free IRL Frosty Games Showcase at ACMI 🔷 Oct 9: PAX Aus panel with our @continuemag.bsky.social and @BackPocket.gg pals 🔷 Oct 10: Hey Chat Twitch After Party

The secret to creating a horrifying bird monstrosity is tons and tons of pasta #indiedev #gamedev #pastaday

moments in this game may or may not be inspired by putting our child to bed 🤷 #indiegame #gamedev

[The] Force is always one move ahead of us.

Everyone here is tuckered out from farming all day. Screenshot from Dolina on Steam.

The art in JKSilencee's base really makes this area feel really sophisticated. #ShareYourBaseSunday

We're going to be at NZGDC and PAX Aus! 🎉 If you're attending, be sure to stop by and say hello! 🔗: buff.ly/4euWeoD

Ever wondered why ANZ-made games are so weird (affectionate)??? Team Frosty are joined by @backpocket.gg and @continuemag.bsky.social to discuss and debate some of the wildest and weirdest games made in our region, and maybe help you find a new weird fave of your own!

Come play some of the coolest games from ANZ at ACMI in Melbourne on October 3 & 4 🎮 We're showcasing 20 games across the weekend as part of a free Game Showcase! Big thank you to our 2026 sponsors @nz-code.nz and strangescaffold.bsky.social, without their support, Frosty's showcases don't happen 💙

This new GATE scientist has such a friendly smile, don't they 7Guardian?

Thank you CODE New Zealand for joining NZGDC 2026 in sponsorship! 🌏 CODE, the Centre of Digital Excellence, is a Dunedin-based hub designed to progress and expand New Zealand's growing video game industry. Get your ticket to NZGDC 2026 in the bio!

In collaboration with our partners at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) and Representing Games, CODE assisted fifteen teams in attending Gamescom, the largest event in the gaming industry in the world. 🥝🎮 www.nz-code.nz/post/15-team...

happy 410 days since we introduced you to Josh 🫰 #oc #indiegame #indiegamedev #josh #salami

New Devlog! youtu.be/LzivS_KzffY

NZGDC next week! If you wanna see me, I'll be talking on Friday at 12pm AND that evening at Communion so pls come say hi!

u/dengle_ray has the ideal Musical Chairs setup. #ShareYourBaseSunday

Join us in welcoming Seymour to our Dunedin-based team: www.nz-code.nz/post/code-we... New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence is excited to announce the appointment of Seymour Reeves Boddy (Ōtepoti - Dunedin) as Digital Operations Specialist to the team.

Looks like u/0bjective_Release and their fellow scientist are wrapped up warm and ready for Voussoir.

I will not be joining the @nz-code.nz crew at #gamescom this year (I'd miss the birth of my 3rd child). But if you're a publisher and like the sound of Monkey Island meets Slay the Spire, Davy Jones' Deckhand is for you. Pitch deck: www.cassbaygames.com/presskit (Not crying 😭) #Gamescom2026

We’re thrilled to be part of The Mix Cologne Showcase, in Germany! Catch Jack at our booth on August 24 🤙 He loves a good chat, so come say hi! #CanvasCity #TheMixCologne #SteamShowcase

Turn Based Lovers wrote an article about our upcoming indie title! 💗 Check it out here✌️:

It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for… Beyond These Stars launches… October 15th, 2026. Check out our fancy release date trailer: buff.ly/5gs08Qs

Beyond These Stars officially has a release date: October 15, 2026! Build a sprawling city on the back of a Space Whale and learn to coexist with a sentient ecosystem as you journey through the stars. 🌌🐋 https://store.steampowered.com/app/2295060/Beyond_These_Stars/

Follow-up to the map work: picking a destination now actually leads somewhere. Select a route and it opens the Voyage Manifest, an overview of where you're headed, the boss waiting there, and a place to declare your weapon and cargo for the trip. #indiegames #gamedev🧵

LIVE 📹 Working on the Voyage Manifest. ➡️ twitch.tv/RespawnPressUp #GameDev #MadeWithUnity #IndieGames #IndieDev #GameDevelopment #TwitchAffiliate #Unity2d #SupportSmallStreamers @unity.com #roguelike #pirates #deckbuilder

Counting down the days until we can hit the DEMO release button 🫨 5 Days to go! #CanvasCity #SteamDemo #Tactics #IndieDev #DemoCountdown

That is one fortunate machine, being looted by itsameebee on Twitch. Unfortunate for the spacemen inside it.

You can now read and sign-up for the Cass Bay Games newsletter directly from our website 🫡🏴‍☠️ www.cassbaygames.com/newsletter #indiegames #devlog

Seems like Grayson is feeling shy. He's retreated to the corner away from Steam user Girlboss.

Thar she blows! Beyond These Stars, by Dunedin NZ's own @balancingmonkeygames.com launches on October 15th. This is a hugely anticipated title, published by @hoodedhorse.bsky.social store.steampowered.com/news/app/229...

Just a scientist taking some time to contemplate temporal distortion. Meditative moment from Viral❤ on Steam.