Auckland to host game developers conference after boom

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Auckland to host game developers conference after boom

SOFIAH NICHOLE SALIVIONews Editor

Auckland will host the New Zealand Game Developers Conference for the first time in nearly a decade, as New Zealand’s game development sector reaches NZD $1 billion in revenue.

The conference will take place at the New Zealand International Convention Centre as part of Auckland Games Week, a wider programme focused on gaming culture, technology and creative work. Organisers say it will bring together developers, investors, industry figures and newcomers from around New Zealand and overseas.

The sector’s NZD $1 billion milestone marks a sharp rise from NZD $759 million in 2025, highlighting the pace of growth in an industry that has become a bigger part of the country’s digital exports. Auckland Council and its destination agency, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, are backing the conference as the city looks to strengthen its position in technology and creative industries.

Mayor Wayne Brown is due to open the conference, linking the event to Auckland’s broader ambition to attract more technology-led activity and investment.

“This aligns with my goals for the Tech Alliance in Auckland. New Zealand’s game development industry continues to level up in Auckland. We’re backing industries like gaming because they attract overseas investment and turn great local ideas into global products, bringing talent and new opportunities to the city. The conference is another win for us as it reinforces our position as the country’s leading centre for tech, innovation and creative industries,” Brown said.

Auckland has become a hub for game development through a mix of public support, business networks and creative workspaces. Council-backed initiatives include the Te Puna Creative Hub in Henderson and GridAKL in Wynyard Quarter, both of which support digital and creative companies.

Te Puna sits within the Te Puna Creative Innovation Quarter and houses a cluster of creative and digital businesses, including game developers. GridAKL runs an annual Indie Games Showcase that gives aspiring developers a chance to present projects to players, customers and investors while gathering market feedback.

The New Zealand Game Developers Association, which hosts the conference, says local studios have built a track record of producing games that have found audiences around the world. That international reach has helped lift revenue and made game development one of the country’s more significant digital export sectors.

Joy Keene, Executive Director of the New Zealand Game Developers Association and organiser of the conference, said recent growth had far outpaced the wider global market.

“We’re seeing a truly inspiring industry success story here in Aotearoa. Our local game development sector is growing at more than 20 times the global average year-on-year,” Keene said.

Keene also pointed to the industry’s economic characteristics, particularly its ability to generate export income without the supply chain and freight constraints faced by many physical goods sectors.

“Growth means jobs and, as a weightless export industry, game development presents a real opportunity for New Zealand to insulate itself against disruptions in the broader world economy,” Keene said.

The programme is expected to include more than 100 industry sessions and related activities. Organisers have positioned the event as a meeting point for established studios, service providers, investors and people seeking a route into the sector.

For Auckland, the conference also serves a broader economic purpose. Business events are often used by local authorities and tourism agencies to bring specialist industries into the city, with the aim of building relationships, attracting investment and encouraging knowledge exchange between local firms and visitors.

Ken Pereira, Head of Business Events at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, said such gatherings can help deepen sector networks and raise a city’s profile in targeted areas of economic activity.

“Business events strengthen Auckland’s position as a hub of expertise and innovation by bringing together thought leaders and local industries to exchange knowledge and build partnerships. Auckland Convention Bureau works to attract and support events in key growth sectors, such as game development, to foster investment, collaboration and new opportunities for Auckland’s innovation economy,” Pereira said.

He said support for the conference was intended to help local developers connect with peers and potential backers.

“We’re proud to support NZGDC and the opportunities it creates for Auckland’s game development community to share expertise, exchange ideas and build valuable industry relationships,” Pereira said.

Alongside the industry programme, the conference will include a public-facing element through the Kiwi Games Zone, an interactive showcase of New Zealand-made titles. The format is designed to give the public direct access to locally produced games and offer developers another venue to test audience reaction.

The inclusion of a consumer event reflects the way the games industry spans several parts of the economy at once, combining software production, creative design, intellectual property development and international sales. In Auckland, civic agencies have increasingly grouped gaming with broader innovation and screen-related sectors as part of their economic development efforts.

That framing is likely to matter as the city competes with other centres for skilled workers, investment and digital businesses. A sector now worth NZD $1 billion gives Auckland a stronger case to present itself as the country’s main base for game development, especially as studios look for access to talent, networks and industry support.

The conference will feature more than 100 industry events and forms a central part of Auckland Games Week 2026.

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