The Devcom game developer conference 2025 announced its major program update with both speakers and its program.
The event is Europe’s biggest game developer event, held each year in Cologne, Germany, ahead of the massive Gamescom gamer expo that draws hundreds of thousands of people.
This year’s Devcom will be held from August 17 to August 19 at the Koelnmesse Confex Center in Cologne. I’m planning to attend again as I have for the past eight years or so (including during online events during the pandemic).
With more than 210 speakers already confirmed, the lineup features highly anticipated industry professionals, with more to come in the weeks ahead. A major change from last year is the sharp increase in interactive formats: the number of roundtables has tripled to meet growing demand.
Among the newly announced highlights are sessions from Michel Nohra (Landfall Interactive) on reinventing RPG combat, Kate Kellogg (COO, Electronic Arts) on intuitive leadership, Zeke Virant (MachineGames) on designing the GRIP system for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Minh Le (Creator of Counter-Strike) on surviving and thriving for 25 years in the games industry, and Stephen Flowers (Arrowhead Game Studios) on the narrative design behind the Helldivers 2 Galactic War.
A leadership panel with executives from Arrowhead, Avalanche, Gearbox Montreal, and the Helldivers 2 team further headlines one of the main stages.
The latest speaker wave also includes prominent figures such as Anna Oporska-Szybisz (Bloober Team), Celia Hodent (Game UX Strategist), Cody Matthew Johnson (Emperia Sounds), Jon Everist (Composer), Kia Abhari (Riot Games), Kim Belair (Sweet Baby Inc), Kiki Finley (Point Blank Management), Lionel Cornelius (Riot Games), Matthew Strasser (Insomniac Games), and Wilbert Roget (Roget Music), all joining the #ddc2025 program.
Alongside the conference lineup, Devcom has unveiled an expanded side event schedule, offering premium networking, pitch opportunities, and community meetups for attendees at every career level.
Program Highlights – New Key Sessions
The Combat of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Michel Nohra (Lead Game Designer, Landfall Interactive)
A deep dive into blending turn-based strategy with real-time mechanics in one of 2025’s most talked-about RPGs.
It All Made Sense at the Time: How Intuitive Thinking Guided an Unexpected Career
Kate Kellogg (COO, Electronic Arts)
From office manager to COO of EA, lessons in risk-taking, leadership, and navigating the unpredictable world of game development.
Picking Up Things: First-Person Interactivity in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Zeke Virant (Lead Game Designer, MachineGames)
Designing the GRIP system; an inside look at how MachineGames prioritized hands-on adventure and physicality over gunplay.
Letters from Malevelon Creek: Narrative Design of the Helldivers 2 Galactic War
Stephen Flowers (Senior Writer, Arrowhead Game Studios)
How do you design a live, reactive war for over 3 million players? This session reveals how Arrowhead balances player agency with production constraints while embracing viral community events like Malevelon Creek, and how to keep immersion alive when chaos strikes.
My 25-Year Journey Through the Game Industry
Minh Le (Game Designer, Creator of Counter-Strike)
From creating one of the most influential multiplayer games ever to adapting across evolving studios, Minh shares hard-earned lessons in design, business, and mental resilience.
Panel: War Stories from the Frontlines of Game Development
Maria Cornelius (CPO, Arrowhead Game Studios)
Heather Chandler (Principal Producer, Helldivers 2)
Stefanía Guðrún Halldórsdóttir (CEO, Avalanche Studios)
Fleur Marty (Executive Producer, Gearbox Montreal)
A candid conversation about the realities of leadership, the chaos of launches, and the decisions that shaped blockbuster titles like EVE Online, Helldivers 2, and Fortnite.
Side Events at devcom 2025 – Meet, Mingle, Celebrate
Speakers & VIP beer garden
Sunday, August 17 | 12 noon – 6 pm | Wolkenburg
Pick up your badge, enjoy drinks, and connect with fellow speakers and VIPs before the evening reception.
Speakers & VIP Reception
Sunday, August 17 | 6 pm – 11 pm | Wolkenburg
An exclusive gathering for C-level execs, renowned speakers, and VIPs to kick off devcom in style.
VIP & Business Mixer
Monday & Tuesday, August 18–19 | 5 pm – 7 pm | Confex
600 key industry decision-makers come together for private networking and business matchmaking.
Pitch It! Mixer
Tuesday, August 19 | 2:30 pm – 5 pm | Confex Foyer Süd | Access: By Invitation
A high-energy networking event where developers meet publishers, investors, and distributors. Pitch your project in a relaxed setting — no rush, no timers, just productive business conversations.
Sunset Mixer (Open to All)
Monday, August 18 | 7:30 pm – 12 am | Confex (Outdoor)
End the day with music and drinks under the stars with the devcom community.
Developer Night (Open to All)
Tuesday, August 19 | 8 pm – 2 am | Herbrand’s Ehrenfeld
The legendary devcom party with dance floor, beer garden, and surprises. The perfect hand-off to gamescom week.
Your Week Starts Here
With more than 5,000 attendees expected, 350+ sessions, and a busy expo floor, it’s the place to connect, learn, and start your week in Cologne. Whether you’re looking to exchange knowledge, grow your network, or get inspired by the industry’s leading voices, devcom is the conference you won’t want to miss.
Deadlines for devcom and direct links:
- Until July 31 – Regular Ticket Phase Ends
https://www.devcom.global/tickets/
- devcom developer conference 2025
https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2025/ - Program
https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2025/program/ - Side Events
https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2025/side-events-ddc2025/
All Devcom branded formats are developed & organized by Game events GmbH, a subsidiary of Game – Verband der deutschen Gamesbranche (the German Games Industry Association and owner of the gamescom & devcom brands).
