Rethinking Game Dev 2025: Ideas – Perspectives – Futures
Conference on video games as cultural, technological, and social phenomenonAbout the event
Organizers and partners: EHU Department of Humanities and Arts, Lithuanian Game Developers Association, BelGameDev, Magnus Ducatus Foundation
Dear colleagues, partners, developers, students and friends,
We are pleased to invite you to the 2025 edition of Rethinking Game Dev — an annual international conference dedicated to exploring the intersections of game development, game studies, education, digital arts, and cultural heritage, organized by the European Humanities University .
This year’s conference will take place live and fully offline, December 8-10 in Vilnius.
Participation is free, but registration is required.
About the 2025 Conference
The program unites academics, industry experts, creative technologists, and independent developers into a shared space for discussing how games are made, studied, and understood today.
This year's program features an exceptional lineup of international speakers and jury members, joining us live in Vilnius, including:
- The creator of The Witcher, Painkiller, Chernobylite - offering unparalleled industry perspective.
- The CEO of Global Game Jam, sharing insights on global collaboration and innovation.
- Renowned game scholars, accomplished artists, and award-winning game designers, providing both theoretical depth and practical expertise.
As part of the conference, we invite independent developers to participate in the Christmas Indie Fair, a festive exhibition of indie games.
Join Us in Vilnius!
Event Schedule
Deep dives into "Game Studies as Part of the Industry Ecosystem," exploring research's impact on production and innovation. Sessions also cover "Game Education & Pedagogy," focusing on building sustainable models, and "Historical Games & Heritage in Play," examining authenticity and interactive narrative strategies.
The Christmas Indie Fair and BelGameDev Indie Fair Award invite independent developers to showcase their games or ideas for free, receive invaluable feedback, and gain expert advice from our international jury. Numerous awards and memorabilia await the winners. Click to the button below for registration on the Indie Fair
Practical talks from active developers and industry leaders will cover game art, design pipelines, and production insights, connecting academic understanding with studio realities.
The final day features a dedicated, engaging workshop centered on the intricacies of pixel art creation. Specifics on participation and workshop details will be communicated separately, especially for students.