Talent and creativity are the keys to Uruguay’s success at the most significant global videogame event

In a show of innovation and talent, a delegation of about 20 people representing Uruguayan studios, platforms, and institutions linked to the video game sector will participate in the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024, the industry’s most significant event globally.

Held annually in California, the GDC is the largest gathering of industry professionals and offers an unparalleled space to learn, inspire, and forge connections within this vibrant community.

Supported by Uruguay XXI, the Uruguayan Chamber of Video Game Developers (CAVI), and the Uruguayan Film and Audiovisual Agency (ACAU), participants will have the opportunity to promote their projects at a country booth that will also showcase the Uruguay Video Games page and provide information about the thriving local video game ecosystem.

Among the prominent participants will be Ironhide Game Studio, which has already established itself in the industry with its Kingdom Rush game saga, is a leader in the app store rankings, and has numerous international awards to its credit. This will allow Ironhide to present its new game, Kingdom Rush 5 Alliance.

Other key industry figures will be in attendance, including Laia Barboza, co-founder of Pincer Games and president of CAVI, known in the industry as Laia Bee, who will lead one of the most prominent panels at GDC focusing on diversity. Also on the panel will be composer and sound designer Gonzalo Varela, who teaches at the University of the Republic and the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC) and whose work is part of video games from Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft, among others.

This representation at the event underscores Uruguay’s commitment to the international promotion of its video game industry. It reflects the country’s growing reputation as a creative and technological talent hub.

Fireborne Games and Magical Beast Games studios will participate thanks to the award granted by Uruguay XXI and CAVI in the last edition of the Uruguayan meeting Level Uy. In that instance, the two studios were recognized in the Best Indie Game category of the National Videogame Contest: Magical Beast for its game Cleanup Crew and Fireborne Games for Airborne Arena. (Learn more about these awards).

“We are very grateful for the constant support of Uruguay XXI when it comes to exposing our projects to the world,” said Fireborne Games co-founder Enzo Gaiero. His studio has already participated virtually twice at GDC and will now do so in person while launching its first game, Airborne Arena (demo available at firebornegames.com).

“We hope to use this great opportunity to generate publishing, marketing, investment, and general distribution leads. If there’s one place to find these contacts, it’s at GDC,” he said.

Magical Beast Games co-founder Ruben Garat clarified that receiving this award and the opportunity to attend GDC represents “a pivotal moment” for his studio. “Our goal is to find a publisher that can align with our vision for Cleanup Crew, offering us the financial support and services to bring our game to market in the most successful way possible,” he explained. The studio aims to establish valuable relationships with platforms, developers, and service providers for future collaborations and projects.

The presence at international caliber events such as GDC validates Uruguay’s potential for video game development in Latin America, following the legacy of successes such as Kingdom Rush, Outlanders by Pomelo Games studio, and Charrúa Soccer by Batoví Games.

In 2023, the videogame Evil Wizard, developed by Rubber Duck studio, was recognized among the eight best at GDC. Its innovative approach to storytelling and humor demonstrated the ability of Uruguayan studios to create unique gaming experiences that capture global attention. Learn more about this game here.

Uruguay’s participation in GDC 2024 seeks to showcase its current achievements and aims to open doors for future collaborations and growth opportunities.

Uruguay stands out in the video game industry for its favorable ecosystem that integrates young and creative talent, first-class technological infrastructure, and a governmental support framework that encourages innovation. This ecosystem has created a collaborative community accentuated by events such as Level UY. Its success in the industry is also reflected in the arrival of international companies such as Etermax, Globant, Jam City, and Endava, which have established their operations, taking advantage of the advantages offered by the country to do business in Latin America and the world.

The Uruguayan delegation attending GDC will be formed by the video game studios PiOh1, Ironhide Game Studio, Pincer Games, Ethereal Studio, ARF Game Studio, SebDevsGames, Magical Beast Games, Fireborne Games, Anubis project, the gaming platform Blast and the video game platform ABYA, a representative of the international company Endava, Laia Bee, Gonzalo Varela, the delegate of the board of CAVI and producer of Rubber Duck Games, Gonzalo Banki and the specialist in Creative Industries of Uruguay XXI, Omaira Rodriguez.

Get to know the delegation