Level up your games industry knowledge with these top tracks at PG Connects Aqaba 2025
Pocket Gamer Connects, the leading international games industry conference, returns to Jordan in a new location for 2025!
More than 1,000 attendees will gather in the stunning Red Sea city of Aqaba, for two days of the most up-to-date knowledge-sharing and valuable networking.
Delegates from all over the world will hear from industry experts, sharing their insights and case studies on the latest innovations in the games industry.
Our bespoke fringe events will also return including Very Big Indie Pitch and Connector SpeedMatch, and the event is tailor-made to get you to catch up with existing contacts and also make new connections.
We’ll be covering all these topics along with the fundamentals of raising investment, launching and growing successful games and showcasing the tools and services that support them. Indeed, with content from the industry’s top speakers across multiple tracks, there will be something to inspire and inform all comers to the conference.
Our format is deliberately quick-fire to squeeze as much content as we can. Typically a single session will be around 20 minutes long, with 40-50 minutes allotted for the expert panels.
DAY 1 | Tuesday, October 7
Developer Toolkit
PRACTICAL TIPS AND TOOLS: Everything a growing developer needs: essential, practical advice about all aspects of making games
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
Gain valuable expertise from game development professionals as they divulge insights into pivotal tools, software, and methodologies vital for crafting top-tier games.
Unlock optimization techniques, efficient workflows, and adept teamwork advice for ensuring excellence in game creation.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Martin Jurasek
martinjurasek.com
Olha Semykina
Super Banana
Katerina Burbela
Homa Games
Miikka Lindgren
Sandsoft
Vitor de Magalhaes
Companion Group
Global Trends
INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: From East to West: facts, figures and insight into the latest industry trends from all over the globe
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
Embark on a journey that spans across continents, as we present you with an expansive view of the games industry’s latest trends, facts, figures, and insights from around the world.
Delve into the dynamic landscapes of both the East and the West, gaining a comprehensive understanding of regional nuances, market dynamics, and emerging opportunities.
Stay informed and inspired by the diverse and ever-evolving global games industry, ensuring you remain at the forefront of this thrilling and vibrant ecosystem.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Martin Jurasek
martinjurasek.com
Olha Semykina
Super Banana
Katerina Burbela
Homa Games
Miikka Lindgren
Sandsoft
Vitor de Magalhaes
Companion Group
Ad Insights
MUST-HAVE MONETISATION SKILLS: In-game ads remain central to many studios’ monetisation strategy – join us to discover the latest trends and advice
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
In-game ads continue to play a pivotal role in studios’ monetisation strategies, making them essential for success. Join us and gain valuable insights into the cutting-edge trends and expert advice in this field.
Stay ahead of the game by exploring the latest developments and optimising your approach to maximise revenue and player engagement. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Thorbjorn Warin
MyGamez
David Fernandez
Sandsoft
Oriol Canudas
King
Enric Cabestany
FunPlus
Luis de la Camara
Rovio
Practical AI
AI DEVELOPMENT KNOW-HOW: Explore AI’s role in game development, to enhance player experiences, optimise performance, and efficiently create dynamic, immersive virtual worlds
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
Dive into AI’s pivotal role in game development, crafting immersive virtual worlds, optimising performance, and elevating player experiences.
Learn to harness AI tools to push boundaries ethically, while addressing concerns. Explore its evolution in enhancing gameplay, procedural generation, and adaptive systems, unlocking new heights in game design.
Embrace AI’s transformative power while navigating ethical considerations to shape the future of gaming.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Thorbjorn Warin
MyGamez
David Fernandez
Sandsoft
Oriol Canudas
King
Enric Cabestany
FunPlus
Luis de la Camara
Rovio
Marvellous MENA
MIDDLE EAST MARVELS: Insight into how the Middle East and North Africa region’s game industry is performing
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
The Middle East is still the fastest-growing market for games in the world. In this track, we look at the industry in the region, and meet the teams who are building the Arabic-language ecosystem.
We look at the MENA/SWANA region in terms of its place on the global stage, and consider the trends, statistics, contexts and perspectives which are helping to shape the Jordan game scene and beyond.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Thorbjorn Warin
MyGamez
David Fernandez
Sandsoft
Oriol Canudas
King
Enric Cabestany
FunPlus
Luis de la Camara
Rovio
The Growth Track
ESSENTIAL FORWARD PLANNING: Essential insight into user acquisition, retention techniques, and how to grow your game
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
In addition to mastering gameplay mechanics, understanding user acquisition and retention techniques is crucial for growing your game.
Gain essential insights into effective strategies on how to grow your business in adverse and new environments, optimize your game’s user interface, and continuously analyze player feedback.
With these strategies for expanding into new territories and adapting to changing market conditions, you can attract and retain a dedicated player base, ensuring steady growth and success for your game.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Thorbjorn Warin
MyGamez
David Fernandez
Sandsoft
Oriol Canudas
King
Enric Cabestany
FunPlus
Luis de la Camara
Rovio
Game Dev Stories
LEARN FROM DEVELOPERS: Hear from games developers and find out what they are working on, how they have innovated and what lessons they have learned along the way
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
Get inspired by the firsthand experiences of games developers as they share their latest projects, groundbreaking innovations, and invaluable lessons learned throughout their journey.
Gain exclusive insights into their creative process, discover the innovative solutions they’ve implemented, and uncover the wisdom they’ve gained along the way.
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from the best in the industry and fuel your own path to success in game development.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Thorbjorn Warin
MyGamez
David Fernandez
Sandsoft
Oriol Canudas
King
Enric Cabestany
FunPlus
Luis de la Camara
Rovio
Game Maker Insights
HANDS-ON ADVICE: Case studies from the front line, covering the likes of game design, audio, character design, UX, and narrative
00:00–00:00 | Track Room X
Immerse yourself in real-world case studies from the forefront of the industry, delving into diverse areas such as game design, audio production, character design, user experience (UX), and narrative development.
Gain valuable insights from these practical examples that showcase successful approaches, innovative techniques, and effective strategies employed by industry professionals.
Expand your knowledge and stay inspired by the experiences shared by experts in these key domains of game development and design.
SPONSORED BY
Includes sessions from:
Thorbjorn Warin
MyGamez
David Fernandez
Sandsoft
Oriol Canudas
King
Enric Cabestany
FunPlus
Luis de la Camara
Rovio
The Very Big Indie Pitch:
Mobile, PC, and Console Edition
PITCHING COMPETITION!: Celebrating new indie games! The ever-popular pitching competition returns, with a chance for media coverage, instant feedback and maybe a prize
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Unique indie developer competition based on a speed-dating format that gives each game maker a frantic five minutes (including Q&A) with each panel of experts to make the case for why their title should be judged the winner.
[Please note: for pre-registered and confirmed participants only.]
SPONSORED BY
Pocket Gamer Party Barcelona
NIGHT-TIME NETWORKING: Business doesn’t stop when the conference doors have closed for the day… (though do bring your conference badge to get in!)
19:00–Late | Laietana Cultural
When the lights go down, the business continues. Make connections that matter within the easygoing setting of the official post-Day 1 party. Relaxed after-hours networking, open to all members of the games industry. (But PGC conference pass holders get early access from 19:00.)
SPONSORED BY
DAY 2 | Wednesday, October 8
Connector SpeedMatch
FOCUSED NETWORKING: Pairing mobile, PC, or mobile game developers, speed-dating style, with publishers and investors looking for their next project.
00:00–00:00 | Fringe event space
Perfect for first contact meetings with new prospects – long enough to establish whether there is a viable connection worth pursuing; short enough to enable multiple meetings within the session.
These one-on-one short meets aren’t obviously designed for closing a deal, but enable an initial contact that can be followed up with a longer meeting during or after the conference.
[Please note: for pre-registered and confirmed participants only.]
SPONSORED BY