“The Middle East remains a big focus for us – it’s the fastest- growing games market, and in the last couple of years, we’ve hosted networking and knowledge-sharing activities in Dubai and Saudi Arabia”
reflecting the industry’s technological advances and innovations. The topics discussed by speakers have evolved accordingly, with recent events covering digital trends and emerging technologies like AI and XR. Although mobile remains at the heart of what we do, we welcome other sectors, and we were one of the first games industry events to embrace the conversation around web3 and blockchain at our events. On stage, we’ve kept to our
format of short, sharp talks so that we can fit in something for everyone – we often get up to 200 expert speakers at one
of our events, sharing their insight in 20-minute bursts. Over the years, we’ve introduced more curated networking opportunities, like our Investor Connector and Publisher SpeedMatch afternoons. From a business perspective, we want
to make it easy for people to meet and do deals, so we’ve kept that original vibe
of a collaborative, supportive atmosphere that welcomes all attendees. This enduring spirit, coupled with the way we adapt to the hottest tech and games topics, has enabled Pocket Gamer Connects to grow while maintaining its foundational values.
Where would you like to take PGC next; geographically, but also in terms of its development? Looking ahead, after a big event in San Francisco in March, we’re excited to return to Dubai in May and then back to Jordan and Saudi Arabia by the end of 2024. We’re always keeping our eyes on the global market,
and I can see a future where we try a conference or two in Asia one day.
42 | MCV/DEVELOP February/March 2024
Our ambition is to continuously innovate, as evidenced
by the introduction of new elements like the Careers Zone recruitment partnership and Launchpad. In terms of topics, we’re watching AI, webstores and privacy issues very closely for future topics on stage. We’re also exploring potential new venues for London
2025 to accommodate our growing audience! These initiatives reflect our commitment to keeping the Pocket Gamer Connects experience fresh, engaging, and relevant for our community.
How do you ensure PGC stays relevant? Staying relevant in the fast-paced games industry requires a multifaceted approach. We place great importance on attendee feedback,
which informs our efforts to enhance the experience every time. We listen to all the comments we’re sent – right now, we’re collating and sharing attendee feedback from Pocket Gamer Connects London, and that is feeding into our discussions around future event venues, for instance. We are active participants in other games industry
events, and so we keep our finger on the pulse by watching speakers and networking with experts across the globe, at non-PGC events. You would have found CEO Chris James at Games Forum Barcelona and White Nights Abu Dhabi in February, for instance, and our COO and editors will also be at GDC. We like to network and hear what people in the industry care about. Also, an advantage we have is that we publish a range
of b2c and b2b websites (including Pocket Gamer but also PC Games Insider and similar sites) so we watch the industry news every day – our team are always aware of the latest games industry trends. By staying on top of emerging trends and technologies, we ensure our events reflect the industry’s current interests and challenges. Since 2019, we’ve been part of the Enthusiast
Gaming family, which is a large network of sites, advertising partnerships, esports franchises, and activities based out of North America. This means that we have the support of a wider company with insight across a range of games sectors. As we continue to
grow, one plan for the year ahead is to expand our panel of advisors, so watch this space – we will be convening a group of event advisors to give us planning tips and help us stay relevant and useful.
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