Brazil’s official game industry groups announced robust expectations for Gamescom Latam, the big game expo and conference taking place from April 29 to May 3.
The Brazilian Game Developers Association (Abragames), with Brazil Games and in partnership with The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency – ApexBrasil, today announced Gamescom Latam 2026 will underscore Brazil’s growing role as a fast-growing global hub for game development and international collaboration.
With a comprehensive lineup of high-impact activations, curated content, and international-facing initiatives, Abragames is reinforcing its long-term commitment to fostering, supporting, and exporting Brazilian game development talent. Backed by government funding and institutional support, this presence reflects a coordinated national effort to position Brazil as a leading player in the global games industry.
A Strategic Platform for Global Engagement
At the heart of Abragames’ presence is a series of structured business, educational, and showcase initiatives designed to connect Brazilian studios with international publishers, investors, and partners.
Key activations include:
- XDev Executive Bootcamp — A new high-level program focused on the professionalization of external development companies, featuring mentorship sessions, hands-on workshops, and one-on-one meetings with international experts such as Dalma Bolech (LevelUp XDev), Donald Harris (FarBridge), Jason RM Smith (Game Caviar), and Shiew Yeu Loh (Forge Bridges).
- Brazil Games Business Speed Meeting — A fast-paced networking initiative enabling Brazilian studios to present their portfolios directly to international buyers in structured, high-efficiency meetings designed to generate immediate feedback and business opportunities.
- Abragames Industry Track Talks — A centerpiece of Abragames’ presence at Gamescom Latam, the Industry Track delivers a focused program of panels and lectures led by Abragames executives and top member studios. Opening with leadership insights on the association’s evolution and international strategy, the track quickly shifts to practical, studio-driven sessions covering publishing, co-development, market performance on Steam, production pipelines, and scaling globally. Talks feature real-world postmortems, data-backed insights, and actionable learnings from Brazilian developers actively shipping games. Dedicated segments such as “DNA Brasil” further highlight how studios are transforming local culture and identity into globally competitive IP, reinforcing Abragames’ role in elevating Brazilian talent on the world stage.
- My talks — I’ll be moderating a couple of sessions at the event, including a session with Riot Games game devs on how they absorb feedback at 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on April 30 (Brazil time). I’ll also moderate a panel on modern game publishing at 2 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. on April 30 at the convention center. The panelists will include leaders from Riot Games, Sony and Raw Fury.
- Abragames Pitch Arena 2026 — A competitive pitching session connecting Brazilian studios with global publishers and investors, offering finalists international exposure and awarding the winner with access to a major international industry event in 2027.
Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive pipeline—from education and mentorship to business development and international visibility—demonstrating a structured national approach to industry growth.
Showcasing Brazil’s Creative Diversity
Complementing its business-focused programming, Abragames will also spotlight a diverse selection of 36 Brazilian games at dedicated mini-booths on the show floor, including 22 titles from the Accelerator program and 14 from Abragames member studios. These projects reflect the breadth of genres, artistic styles, and cultural narratives emerging from Brazil’s development scene.
Highlighted projects include:
- Starlit World (Rockhead Studios) — A vibrant action-adventure focused on exploration and world restoration
- Kakele Online (ViVa Games) — A globally connected 2D MMORPG
- Ghostless (Coffeenauts) — A hybrid metroidvania and colony sim exploring human vs AI conflict
- Tiny Little Bastards (Overlord Game Studio) — A humor-driven metroidvania inspired by Brazilian bar culture
- EDEN’S FRONTIER (Frontiers Group Entertainment) — A pixel-art action RPG with immersive storytelling
- Talaka (Potato Kid) — A culturally rich roguelike inspired by Brazilian folklore
- ARIDA 2: Rise of the Brave (Aoca Game Lab) — A narrative survival adventure set in Brazil’s backlands
These and other showcased titles emphasize Brazil’s unique ability to blend local cultural identity with globally appealing gameplay and production values.
A National Vision for Industry Growth
Abragames’ presence at Gamescom Latam is part of a broader, long-term strategy to internationalize Brazilian studios, attract foreign investment, and build sustainable growth across the sector.
“Brazil is entering a defining phase in its emergence as a global game development hub,” said Rodrigo Terra, president of Abragames, in a statement. “Our presence at Gamescom Latam 2026 goes beyond showcasing standout titles—it underscores the strength of a coordinated national ecosystem. Through our initiatives with Brazil Games, we are enabling Brazilian studios to forge meaningful connections, scale their ambitions, and compete more effectively on the international stage.”
Setting a Benchmark for Global Industry Development
Abragames’ integrated approach—combining government backing, industry expertise, and international outreach—offers a compelling example of how national institutions can effectively support their creative industries.
By aligning education, business development, and global promotion under a unified strategy, Brazil is positioning itself as a model for other countries seeking to elevate their game development ecosystems and expand their presence in the global market.
Disclosure: The Brazilian government is paying for my trip to Brazil, where I’m moderating two sessions.