Develop:Brighton has been bringing together the European game dev community - from global superstars to micro indies - since 2006. It's a great place to learn from your peers and share your experiences, hear from the industry’s leading lights, get up-to-date with the latest tools, techniques and industry trends, plus network with 3,000 game dev professionals.

Due to the COVID pandemic, 2020 was a very strange and difficult year for everyone so sadly the community couldn't get together face to face. However, Develop:Brighton Digital ran instead which was a great success.

But this year (with dates moved from summer to autumn just to be safe) the industry is planning to meet again in Brighton. However, the organisers recognise that some may not be quite ready to attend an event in October and therefore for the first time all Develop:Brighton 2021 sessions will be livestreamed as part of a digital conference pass too.

Who can you see there?

Award-winning developer and self-proclaimed “living room developer” Mike Bithell will host a keynote fireside discussion about creativity with some of the UK’s top indie studios at Develop:Brighton 2021.

Known for John Wick Hex, Subsurface Circular, Volume and Thomas Was Alone, Mike Bithell is no stranger to creativity in games. Joining him in the panel are leads from White Paper Games, Spiral Circus and Jumpship. Both studios announced highly anticipated new games earlier this year. The group will outline how they were successful in continuing to work through the pandemic while building fresh and exciting games, sharing their creative processes and influences while discussing the triumphs and challenges of building new IP remotely.

In addition, the conference’s opening keynote will be delivered by Team17 CEO Debbie Bestwick, with additional keynotes from Insomniac Games president Ted Price and Lorne Lanning and Bennie Terry III from Oddworld Inhabitants.

Three days of games industry insight are promised with over 60 sessions already announced, including speakers such as Rory Jobson (Dlala Studios), Whitney Burner (Darewise), Jon Ingold (inkle) and Ian Livingstone CBE (Hiro Capital).

Meeting Up

Develop:Brighton will also see the return of much-anticipated networking opportunities, from the formal meeting planner - Meet@Develop - to the many after-hours social events including the Develop:Star Awards on the Wednesday evening.

The Indie Showcase will also return to highlight some of the most innovative and imaginative indie games currently in development.

More information is available from the official website (link below) and by following @DevelopConf on Twitter.