Pocket Gamer (PG) Connects officially kickstarted what will be a year full of events around the globe. Since its inception 10-years ago, PG Connects has focused on bringing together industry professionals from across the entire ecosystem with all the key formats covered, from mobile, PC and console to XR, AI and blockchain technology.
Technicolor Games’ Business Development Manager, Kasim Rehman, weighs in on the conference held in London and what it means for the rest of the year with particular focus on the UK Gaming industry.
What makes PG Connects different from other industry events?
What separates PG apart from other conferences and trade shows is that rather than solely being focused on games alone, it has a broad focus on emerging technologies and various tech trends.
What do you personally enjoy about the conference?
Above all else, I very much enjoy catching up with familiar faces within the UK Games industry, it’s always a bit more difficult at other overseas events. It’s also a great way to start gaging everyone’s plans for the year ahead as well as getting some good introductions in too.
Why is PG such an important event in the gaming calendar?
With it being the first major event in the year, it provides an important time to connect and gain some valuable insights on the latest trends.
Can you give any indication on what to expect within the industry for the rest of the year?
From what we’ve seen, we are sadly in for a tough couple of years and I think we are going to see that particularly come to fruition over the next year. However, I do still expect to see wonderful people creating wonderful things and wonderful creativity continuing to shine through. Hopefully though, we will see some solidarity to support everyone in what has been a tough period for the Gaming industry.
Can you provide some comment on the UK Gaming industry at the moment?
I think the UK industry like many others across the globe is struggling. But, it is also exceptionally resilient. I have no doubt that in the coming few years we will see more great output from many of the incredible studios that we have over here.
For instance, I’m personally looking forward to seeing what Playground does with Fable. Ninja Theory also does phenomenal work, so I’m excited to see where the Hellblade franchise will go with the sequel, and of course, we can’t forget that up in Edinburgh they are plotting the release of a small game called GTA 6.
What events are you looking forward to this year?
I have a busy year and I can’t wait to get stuck in; there’s plenty of opportunities to meet up with old friends as well as make new ones. I am particularly excited for the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, despite being in the industry for 15-plus years, 2024 will mark my first time.
Aside from this, I’m looking forward to going back to Gamescom for the first time since 2019. I can’t wait to see what the first-party line ups look like as we go into the holiday period of 2024 and beyond. I think Gamescom will be an important time for this.
If you would like to get in touch with Kas and the Business Development team, please contact them here.
