Digital Dragons 2023 sets attendance record
Source | Digital Dragons |
Date | 5/19/2023 |
| Summary | Digital Dragons 2023 hosted 2,500 attendees from 51 countries, setting an attendance record for what already is one of the largest game industry events in Europe. |
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 The event organized by the Krakow Technology Park has for years been one of the largest business conferences for the games industry in the whole of Europe, but this year’s edition managed to break Digital Dragons’ attendance record. "We want the Polish industry to take an increasingly important spot on Europe’s and the world’s gamedev map. This is why we try to ensure that the conference brings together communities from all over the world, the makers of the biggest games and independent titles, people specializing in business and creative – all so this exchange of knowledge, information and experience is as comprehensive as possible. We are happy with the increasing popularity of the Digital Dragons brand because it proves that all the activities undertaken by the Krakow Technology Park for the gaming sector are hitting their mark and receiving acclaim from our audiences. But we do not forget to listen to the industry, scan for its needs and develop the most important elements." Anna Krampus-Sepielak, head of Digital Dragons Krakow was visited not only by makers of the biggest hits. The ICE Congress Centre where the conference took place was filled to the brim with independent studios which came over in search of investors and publishers, feedback, inspiration and new contacts. The Indie Showcase, a review of the most interesting independent games, received a 160 submissions. The conference itself featured 42 companies from which the jury chose Three winners, while the audience chose its own favorite via the Community Vote. Indie Showcase 2023 winners1st place: SacriFire (Pixelated Milk)
This year, indie creators receive an additional, unplanned award given by Techland. A day earlier during the Digital Dragons Awards gala, the makers of Dying Light 2: Stay Human received a material prize. The technical partner of the Digital Dragons Conference, AMD, funded a desktop worth over 60 000 PLN. This very desktop was ultimately given by Techland to a indie studio of their choosing – the lucky winners ended up being SandmanTeam, the makers of Through the Nightmares. Additionally, the Indie Showcase jury decided to give special recognition to the game Hank: Drowning On Dry Land (My Next Games). It remains as proof of the amazing quality featured at this year’s competition. In the Indie Zone one could meet representatives of four national game developers associations and five graduate companies from Krakow Technology Park’s support programmes – the Digital Dragons Accelerator and Incubator. Separately, 29 companies from six countries (the Czech Republic, Georgia, Lithuania, Serbia, Slovakia, Ukraine) formed together the CEE Showcase, a special exhibition space for creators from Central Eastern Europe. Among them of particular note were guests from Ukraine whose participation in the conference was free of charge thanks to the Krakow Technology Park. There was also the second edition of Digital Dragons Arena – a platform joining indie creators with potential publishers and investors. This year, 30 studios had the chance to present their projects to audiences both on site and remotely. In the conference’s expo zone, more than 30 of the conference’s partners prepared their booths – including the main sponsor of Digital Dragons 2023, Techland, among other Polish and foreign studios. Simultaneously, both conference days were filled with lectures and discussion panels. The conference programme consisted of a 114 lectures conducted within 9 thematical tracks by 136 lecturers. Among them such celebrities like Inon Zur, composer responsible for the soundtracks to such games as Dragon Age, Prince of Persia and Fallout 4. | |
