Games Croatia at the Reboot Develop Blue conference in Dubrovnik
Games Croatia, a project led by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), participated in the milestone 10th edition of the Reboot Develop Blue conference, held from April 14 to 16, 2025, in Dubrovnik. This conference, one of the most important events for the video game industry in Europe, brought together numerous experts, developers, and investors from around the world. The tenth edition was marked by a special focus on video game industry development and global collaboration.
A panel titled "Power through partnership, resilient co-production" was held during the conference, moderated by Benjamin Noah Maričak, the project lead for Games Croatia and the person in charge of video games and new technologies at HAVC. The panel brought together industry experts including:
Bruno Urbain, CEO of Belgian game developer Fishing Cactus and CEO of WALGA,
Youri Loedts, Head of the Game Fund at VAF,
Thierry Baujard, co-founder of Spielfabrique,
Hrvoje Mitić, General Secretary of the CGDA and former artistic advisor for video games at HAVC.
The panel discussed the importance of collaboration and co-production in the video game industry, with a particular emphasis on sustainability and building partnerships that support the development and success of new projects. Panelists shared their experiences on how the industry can leverage shared resources to better navigate market challenges, and how different countries can contribute their expertise to create joint projects that bring mutual benefits.
As the panel moderator, Benjamin Noah Maričak highlighted the importance of collaboration between Croatian studios and global partners, considering the strategic initiatives of the Games Croatia project aimed at strengthening Croatia's position on the global video game map.
In addition to participating in panels, the Games Croatia project also had a booth at the conference expo. This provided an opportunity to showcase Croatian video games and innovations in the industry, as well as to establish new business contacts and partnerships with global players.
Participation in the tenth Reboot Develop Blue conference confirms the continued commitment of the Games Croatia project to promoting the development of the Croatian gaming industry and creating new opportunities for international collaboration.
This event represents an important step in further strengthening Croatia’s global visibility as a key hub for video game development.