BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//XP Game Summit - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://xpgamesummit.com
X-WR-CALDESC:Events for XP Game Summit
REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H
X-Robots-Tag:noindex
X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Halifax
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0300
TZNAME:ADT
DTSTART:20240310T060000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0300
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:AST
DTSTART:20241103T050000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0300
TZNAME:ADT
DTSTART:20250309T060000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0300
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:AST
DTSTART:20251102T050000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0300
TZNAME:ADT
DTSTART:20260308T060000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0300
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:AST
DTSTART:20261101T050000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:America/Toronto
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20240310T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20241103T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20250309T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20251102T060000
END:STANDARD
BEGIN:DAYLIGHT
TZOFFSETFROM:-0500
TZOFFSETTO:-0400
TZNAME:EDT
DTSTART:20260308T070000
END:DAYLIGHT
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:-0400
TZOFFSETTO:-0500
TZNAME:EST
DTSTART:20261101T060000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VTIMEZONE
TZID:UTC
BEGIN:STANDARD
TZOFFSETFROM:+0000
TZOFFSETTO:+0000
TZNAME:UTC
DTSTART:20240101T000000
END:STANDARD
END:VTIMEZONE
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T112000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T120000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104750Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165233Z
UID:4783-1749813600-1749816000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Creating a Community with Your Influencer Program
DESCRIPTION:One of the biggest questions when building your community is how to get those first groups of people — who are not friends and family — starting to pay attention and join in the excitement for your upcoming game. Here’s where fostering an influencer program can benefit you! Join Jenny and Krysta as they discuss how to blend community and influencer management strategies to grow your community spaces and encourage advocacy from creators.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/creating-a-community-with-your-influencer-program-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T112000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T120000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104740Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165228Z
UID:4764-1749813600-1749816000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:The Audience Imperative: Building Live Time Value of Indie Game Companies
DESCRIPTION:There are only endings to the story of any company: sale (the good ending) and death (the bad ending). In this session\, Kristian Roberts (CEO\, Nordicity) will take you through a mostly voluntary economic lesson to explore how indie studios can use the inherent value of audiences to build enterprise value in their companies – leading to the “good ending”. To do so\, Kristian will discuss how community management\, self-publishing\, and long-term audience cultivation can help to build the kind of LTV buyer are looking for.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/the-audience-imperative-building-live-time-value-of-indie-game-companies-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T112000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T120000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161429Z
UID:4763-1749813600-1749816000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:ACTRA Toronto - Elevating Projects with Union Performers
DESCRIPTION:This session will explore the integral role ACTRA performers play in bringing video game characters to life. ACTRA Toronto members include voice actors\, motion capture specialists\, performance capture artists\, and stunt performers. Their talent has elevated games from both Triple A and indie devs alike. Discover how to collaborate with the union representing these skilled artists on video games of all sizes and budgets. Take your game to the next level by working with ACTRA Toronto performers!
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/actra-toronto-elevating-projects-with-union-performers-2/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T120000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104739Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250613T125656Z
UID:4762-1749812400-1749816000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Ask Games Lawyers Anything Roundtable
DESCRIPTION:Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case\, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/ask-games-lawyers-anything-roundtable-4/
LOCATION:King Ballroom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250613T102500
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250613T110500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250610T165322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165322Z
UID:5065-1749810300-1749812700@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Level Up Your IP Strategy
DESCRIPTION:Intellectual property is a term that is used to describe many things in the video game industry\, but rarely to describe what it actually is. This conference is tailored to the industry and designed to help everyone understand the main three types of IP : patents\, industrial designs and trademarks. Once you understand what IP is\, we will provide you with various nice-to-know tips and tricks to easily avoid common pitfalls when creating a new video game or content and what are the best practices to put in place right now.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/level-up-your-ip-strategy-4/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T102500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T110500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104738Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165223Z
UID:4761-1749810300-1749812700@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Inside Indie (Self) Publishing
DESCRIPTION:What do indie publishers think about\, what do the big platforms they work with think about\, and what does that mean for people who make games? Well\, it looks a lot like self-publishing…
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/inside-indie-self-publishing-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250613T102500
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250613T110500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104736Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250529T105021Z
UID:4760-1749810300-1749812700@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:It Takes a Village: Bringing Narrative to Disney Dreamlight Valley
DESCRIPTION:How do you create a world where Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story can live in harmony with Scar from The Lion King? How do you bring all these characters together while keeping them true to themselves? In “It Takes A Village”\, Josh Labelle\, Creative Director of Disney Dreamlight Valley\, will highlight the challenges and opportunities of creating the shared universe of Disney characters in DDV. Along the way\, you’ll learn some best practices for maintaining fast-paced narrative live ops\, hearing the nuts-and-bolts of our quest creation pipeline.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/it-takes-a-village-bringing-narrative-to-disney-dreamlight-valley-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T101000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165132Z
UID:4758-1749807000-1749809400@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:We Created a Global Gaming IP And So Can You
DESCRIPTION:How did a small team with no prior gaming experience and a modest budget of just $2 million create Goose Goose Duck\, a global sensation that rocketed to the top of the all-time peak concurrent player charts on Steam? Join the head of Gaggle Studios as he shares the unlikely journey behind their breakout hit. \nIn this candid session\, you’ll uncover essential tips\, surprising tricks\, and crucial lessons learned (often the hard way) on the path from idea to international acclaim. We’ll dive into the highs and lows\, exploring why success in today’s lightning-fast gaming landscape is both thrilling and brutally challenging. \nYou’ll also get an inside look at the realities of the globalized game economy\, including how Gaggle Studios captured and created tens of millions of new PC gamers in China\, turning a local success into a global phenomenon which potentially shifted the gaming landscape forever. Get ready for a no-holds-barred exploration of indie ingenuity\, global gaming trends\, and actionable insights you can apply to your own gaming ambitions.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/we-created-a-global-gaming-ip-and-so-can-you-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250613T101000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104734Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165113Z
UID:4757-1749807000-1749809400@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Can Games Help Revive an Indigenous Language?
DESCRIPTION:Métis developer Josh Nilson shares how his team used Roblox to create a culturally meaningful game that teaches Northern Michif\, a language with fewer than 200 speakers. Learn how games can be a powerful tool for language revitalization\, cultural connection\, and community engagement. This talk explores co-creation with Metis communities\, ethical game design\, and why inclusive\, accessible games can help preserve identity and bring players—Indigenous and non-Indigenous—into shared spaces of learning and play. Plus the game is very fun.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/can-games-help-revive-an-indigenous-language-2/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T160000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104733Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161528Z
UID:4756-1749744000-1749744000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Happy Hour Hosted by Sentry
DESCRIPTION:Join us for a relaxed and lively Happy Hour hosted by Sentry—an ideal way to unwind\, make new connections\, and catch up with industry peers over drinks. Whether you’re celebrating a successful day at the summit or just getting started\, this social mixer is the perfect place to network in a casual setting.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/happy-hour-hosted-by-sentry-2/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T152000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T160000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250610T164824Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T164824Z
UID:5049-1749741600-1749744000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Fireside Chat with Digital Extremes' President Sheldon Carter
DESCRIPTION:Join Sheldon Carter\, COO of Digital Extremes\, for an in-depth fireside chat on the operational realities of leading a growing game studio. He’ll share insights into the complexities of managing a successful live service IP while simultaneously building a new one from the ground up. From scaling teams to balancing creative risk\, this conversation will explore the unique challenges\, and exciting opportunities\, that come with evolving a studio in today’s game industry.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/fireside-chat-with-digital-extremes-president-sheldon-carter/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T152000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T160000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T174117Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T152245Z
UID:4868-1749741600-1749744000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:The Evolution of Inclusion and Diversity Issues in Esports Games: The Gap Between Player Experience and In-Game Tools
DESCRIPTION:Our experience as esport players can drastically change depending on who we are\, especially online. How can this be improved\, particularly through in-game community management tools? Join Christine KEV – Board of Women in Games France (Host)\, Sophia AMARA (Akaane) and José-Maria Rodriguez (Bila) both esport players on Tekken 8\, for a panel you won’t want to miss.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/the-evolution-of-inclusion-and-diversity-issues-in-esports-games-the-gap-between-player-experience-and-in-game-tools/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T152000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T160000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104726Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161541Z
UID:4754-1749741600-1749744000@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:30 Puzzle Design Lessons From The World's Greatest Puzzle Communities
DESCRIPTION:Puzzles are a crucial gameplay element across many genres\, whether players are solving a riddle\, reflecting a laser\, or just trying to find the boss’s weak point. But most of the world’s greatest puzzle creators don’t work in the video game industry. Their brilliant construction techniques are not widely known beyond a handful of insular puzzlemaking communities (many of whom developed their own best practices long before the digital age.) Elyot has spent years participating in these puzzle communities\, learning their aesthetic sensibilities\, and documenting their vocabulary. He discovered a mountain of innovative design methods\, useful practices\, and names of things he always wanted a name for—all with profound applicability to the creation of video game puzzles. This talk aims to spread this arcane knowledge to the broader gaming industry. Examples will be taken from video games in multiple genres\, but also escape rooms\, puzzlehunts\, crosswords\, logic puzzles\, chess compositions\, physical puzzles\, etc..
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/30-puzzle-design-lessons-from-the-worlds-greatest-puzzle-communities-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T150500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250610T164926Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250611T234954Z
UID:5052-1749739500-1749740700@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Mastering AI for Game Development - From "FGF" to Final Release
DESCRIPTION:Unlock the full potential of AI in your game development pipeline. This talk introduces VibeLogic\, a novel descriptive methodology that puts you in control of your data – from rapidly prototyping with “fake footage” and building early community\, to streamlined team approvals and final release. Master AI\, don’t let it master you.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/mastering-ai-for-game-development-from-fgf-to-final-release/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T150500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T173742Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161548Z
UID:4866-1749739500-1749740700@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Fuelling the Flywheel: How Creator Programs Drive Live Service Growth
DESCRIPTION:In live service games\, consistent growth depends on a virtuous cycle of content\, engagement\, and monetization. This panel explores how revenue-sharing creator programs accelerate that cycle—turning creators into both marketers and community builders. Panelists will share real-world examples of how the right incentives lead to more content\, higher player spend\, and stronger retention.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/fuelling-the-flywheel-how-creator-programs-drive-live-service-growth/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T144500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T150500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165034Z
UID:4753-1749739500-1749740700@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Get Rich at a Reasonable Pace
DESCRIPTION:An insightful collection of proven methods and actionable insights designed to help developers navigate the complex game development landscape\, reduce risk\, and significantly improve their chances of creating a commercially successful game.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/get-rich-at-a-reasonable-pace-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T141000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T143000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104725Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161559Z
UID:4752-1749737400-1749738600@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Improving your in-Editor workflows with Unity Muse
DESCRIPTION:Unity’s AI solutions provide a breadth of generative AI capabilities to build\, animate\, and troubleshoot errors with ease\, all directly within the Unity Editor. In this presentation\, we’ll demonstrate some of these tools and features that can be used in synergy to quickly customize and enhance your scene and accelerate your workflows.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/improving-your-in-editor-workflows-with-unity-muse-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T141000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T143000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104724Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161605Z
UID:4751-1749737400-1749738600@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:John Wick: Immersive Experience using Unreal Engine 5
DESCRIPTION:The John Wick Experience at Area15 features an interactive room equipped with four large screens where players can wield laser guns to shoot at virtual enemies in an industrial complex setting. Behaviour Interactive was tasked with creating this immersive experience using Unreal Engine 5. The setup includes projectors connected to client instances\, each equipped with a camera to track the screens. These clients run threads to analyze the video feed and detect laser projections. The information is then relayed to a server through replication\, which counts scores and manages the entities moving across the screens. The project utilizes Lumen and Nanite for advanced graphics\, OpenCV for blob detection and image manipulation\, and operates in multiplayer mode where a master instance orchestrates events for the four clients and receives OBS signals from the show control.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/john-wick-immersive-experience-using-unreal-engine-5-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T141000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T143000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104712Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161610Z
UID:4750-1749737400-1749738600@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Play to Speak: How Serious Games Can Help Children Find Their Voice
DESCRIPTION:Serious games have been successfully used to treat a variety of conditions and support behaviour change. This presentation explores how these games may help (and have helped!) children with selective mutism and social anxiety develop speech. By integrating behavioural techniques such as shaping\, fading\, systematic desensitization\, and positive reinforcement\, serious games can support children to build their communication skills independently while having fun. Learn how gamifying behaviour therapy creates a safe and engaging space for children to find their voice\, and at their own pace.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/play-to-speak-how-serious-games-can-help-children-find-their-voice-2/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T150000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104711Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250612T174519Z
UID:4749-1749736800-1749740400@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Ask Games Lawyers Anything Roundtable
DESCRIPTION:Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case\, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/ask-games-lawyers-anything-roundtable-3/
LOCATION:King Ballroom
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T133500
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T135500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250610T164455Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T164555Z
UID:5045-1749735300-1749736500@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Toys\, Merchandise and Collectibles: Expand your Game's Reach!
DESCRIPTION:Toys\, merchandise and collectibles are valuable assets to any publisher and developer looking to enhance and further their fan engagement experience past their video game titles.\nThese items help studios and more collectively strengthen their brand identity and further engage players and fans beyond the confines of their screens and playtime. In this session\, we’ll be discussing our detailed thoughts from inside the industry — what makes for good merchandise\, how do we approach the collaborative efforts\, and how to do we define ‘good’ engagement.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/toys-merchandise-and-collectibles-expand-your-games-reach/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T133500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T135500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161644Z
UID:4748-1749735300-1749736500@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Bots Don’t Sleep: AI QA for Games That Launch Smoother
DESCRIPTION:What if your best playtester never missed a bug—and never needed sleep? From indie teams to AAA studios\, developers are using AI bots to rethink playtesting—automating the grind\, catching issues earlier\, and freeing teams to focus on what matters most: building great games.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/bots-dont-sleep-ai-qa-for-games-that-launch-smoother-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T133500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T135500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104710Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161649Z
UID:4747-1749735300-1749736500@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Moderate to Modify: Using AI and Psychology to Build Safer\, Healthier Gaming Communities
DESCRIPTION:Toxicity is one of the leading reasons players leave online games. It’s more than just a community management issue—it affects player retention\, brand perception\, and ultimately\, the success of your game. \nIn this session\, Dr. Ewa J. Antczak—an expert in human behavior with over 20 years of experience—offers a thoughtful approach to addressing toxicity by combining insights from psychology with the capabilities of emerging technologies like AI. Her talk explores how developers can begin to design systems that help reduce harmful behavior and create more positive\, lasting player experiences. \nRather than relying solely on moderation tools that react after the damage is done\, Dr. Ewa will outline how to identify early signs of toxicity\, implement AI that supports healthier interactions in real time\, and apply behavior-informed design strategies that help keep communities engaged and respectful. She will also introduce concepts for scalable support systems and a plugin aimed at involving parents and educators in age-appropriate gaming environments. \nAdditionally\, the session will touch on how developers can align their community strategies with growing expectations around compliance\, digital safety regulations\, and platform policies. As industry standards evolve and pressure increases from platforms\, governments\, and advocacy groups\, building trust and safety into your game isn’t just good practice—it’s becoming a requirement. \nAttendees will leave with practical ideas for supporting community health\, reducing moderator burnout\, meeting compliance expectations\, and building trusted\, sustainable gaming experiences.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/moderate-to-modify-using-ai-and-psychology-to-build-safer-healthier-gaming-communities-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T124000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T132000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104657Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T165028Z
UID:4745-1749732000-1749734400@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Creative First\, Business Always
DESCRIPTION:Interactive Ontario’s Indie Superboost panel will explore the ongoing balancing act between creative ambition and business realities that every indie developer faces.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/creative-first-business-always-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T124000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T132000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104656Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T165018Z
UID:4744-1749732000-1749734400@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Advancing UX Strategy & Ethics in the Game Industry
DESCRIPTION:Game user experience (UX) is mostly approached very narrowly in the game industry\, around a game’s UI. However\, UX is better seen as a mindset impacting all aspects of game development. Dr. Celia Hodent\, former director of UX at Epic Games will provide insights on how to approach UX as a strategy\, so that it can benefit a project and a studio efficiently every step of the way. Having a UX mindset means improving players’ experience\, which in turn benefits business goals. But it also means putting players first. This entails considering ethical challenges ranging from design (e.g. dark patterns) to business models (e.g. lootboxes) to avoid exploiting players’ time and money. The talk will conclude with guidelines for developing ethical games.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/advancing-ux-strategy-ethics-in-the-game-industry-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T124000
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T132000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104653Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161706Z
UID:4741-1749732000-1749734400@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:R&D in Gaming - What's Next?
DESCRIPTION:This panel highlights the latest scientific advancements driving innovation in gaming. Researchers and technologists will showcase cutting-edge papers\, prototypes\, and experimental tools pushing the boundaries of AI\, graphics\, interactivity\, and immersive technologies. Join us for a deep dive into the research shaping tomorrow’s games—from lab to live environments.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/rd-in-gaming-whats-next-2/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T122500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104709Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T153318Z
UID:4746-1749728700-1749731100@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Introduction to Vtubers and Value Proposition for Companies
DESCRIPTION:The VTuber industry has experienced significant growth in recent years. In 2023\, the global VTuber market was valued at approximately $1.35 billion and is projected to reach $5.03 billion by 2030. In this presentation\, Lidia Nekozawa (the #2 VTuber in Canada as listed on Playboard) will guide you through Partnering with VTubers. This opportunity offers companies a unique advantage to engage with a highly interactive and dedicated audience. VTubers have cultivated loyal fanbases through consistent content creation and authentic engagement\, making them effective ambassadors for brand messaging.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/introduction-to-vtubers-and-value-proposition-for-companies-2/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T122500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104655Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250606T161714Z
UID:4743-1749728700-1749731100@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:How to Design and Build Killer Game UI
DESCRIPTION:In most game studios\, designers create the UI and then hand it off to developers to make it functional. That handoff is often messy\, time-consuming\, and riddled with redundant work. Developers might struggle to execute the designer’s vision due to their tool or language\, or build functional UI with developer tools like HTML or XAML — not design tools. \nThere is a new\, better way to build game UI. With Rive\, you design and animate game UI in the Rive Editor\, export it to the Rive format\, and run your files with the Rive Runtimes in Unity\, Unreal\, Defold\, or your custom game engine.\nRive’s Tod Bouris and Dave Doherty will break down how to build a game menu that’s both functional and powerful\, without sacrificing creativity. They’ll also show examples from games using Rive today.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/how-to-design-and-build-killer-game-ui-2/
LOCATION:Stage 3 (Regency C)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T114500
DTEND;TZID=America/Halifax:20250612T122500
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250529T104654Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250611T144939Z
UID:4742-1749728700-1749731100@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Building an OP Cashflow Strategy for your Studio to Thrive
DESCRIPTION:Do you want to add more cash to your studio with no strings attached?\n\nDo you want to put more cash in your pocket with little to no tax?\n\nDo you want to convert sweat equity into cold\, hard cash?\n\nLet’s discuss strategies that enable studios of any size to supercharge established financial tools to achieve this. Early-stage indies can convert sweat equity into real cash value with minimal investment. Established studios can use robust strategies that far outpace any conventional tax planning mechanisms.\n\nProviding you with knowledge that goes far beyond the basic advice you’re used to\, we’ll share how a thorough understanding of tax legislation combined with expert insight can help you build an OP strategy for your studio to thrive.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/gaining-the-edge-building-an-op-financial-strategy-for-your-studio-to-thrive-2/
LOCATION:Main Stage (Regency B)
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T105000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20250612T113000
DTSTAMP:20260421T103811
CREATED:20250610T165938Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250610T170019Z
UID:5072-1749725400-1749727800@xpgamesummit.com
SUMMARY:Producing World-Class Events in the Esports Space
DESCRIPTION:This panel brings together seasoned professionals from Riot Games and OverActive Media to share their experiences behind some of the industry’s biggest tournaments and activations. The panel will dive into what it takes to deliver high-impact esports events — from logistics and production to fan engagement and brand partnerships. Learn how top organizations navigate the fast-paced\, ever-evolving world of competitive gaming.
URL:https://xpgamesummit.com/program/producing-world-class-events-in-the-esports-space/
LOCATION:Stage 2 (Regency A)
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR