Game Republic New Horizons, the UK games industry conference taking place at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough this October, has announced an exclusive special session featuring the forthcoming STAR WARS: Galactic Racer game will now feature at the conference.

Matt Webster, CEO of Fuse Games will be interviewed by Andy Robinson, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Video Games Chronicle, in a session that will delve into the development of this exciting new racing game set in the STAR WARS universe and due for launch on 6th October, published by Secret Mode.

STAR WARS: Galactic Racer is a ​ high-stakes reinvention of racing born in the lawless Outer Rim. With the Empire gone and the galaxy rebuilding, The Galactic League is created: an underground, unsanctioned circuit where syndicates bankroll chaos, fortunes are won and lost in seconds and champions are forged.

“We’re so excited to share our development journey with the attendees of Game Republic New Horizons,” said Matt Webster, Fuse Games. “STAR WARS: Galactic Racer is very much a passion project for Fuse Games and we can’t wait for players to experience the high-speed racing on 6th October.”

“STAR WARS: Galactic Racer is such an incredible project to be involved with,” added James Schall, Chief Publishing Officer & Co Founder of Secret Mode. “We’re just very proud of what Fuse Games has achieved in the STAR WARS universe with this thrilling racer and look forward to the game being discussed on-stage at GR New Horizons.”

Other sessions at Game Republic New Horizons include a keynote featuring “The Father of PlayStation” Ken Kutaragi in conversation with The Game Business’ Chris Dring, a fireside chat with Rebecca Lautner, Chief Business Officer at Landfall, by GamesIndustry.biz Features Editor Lewis Packwood, and a BAFTA-supported session featuring Hakan Abrak, CEO and Co-owner of IO Interactive discussing the making of the smash hit James Bond game 007 First Light with Jane Douglas (Outside Xbox).

The conference will also feature an Investment Zone in partnership with Games London with Teddy Keefe, Business Development Director for Tencent Games, a panel, “Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment” with Nick Button-Brown (The Games Angels), Tracey McGarrigan (Ansible) and Ian Masters (Flick Games) and other sessions including public funders the BFI, the Arts Council and Innovate UK, platform-holder XBOX on bringing games to the platform, plus publishers and VC investors.

In addition, Game Republic New Horizons, taking place 14 – 16 October will be bringing a panel together on international markets, masterclasses on narrative design and building a Steam page, and tech deep dives from experts to help your games business – as well as a Meet-to-Match meeting system throughout the day.

Game Republic New Horizons, again supported by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, also promises a pre-party, VIP reception and on the final day curated attendee experiences to be announced soon. Tickets are £299 via the conference website, as well as discounted accommodation: grnewhorizons.gamerepublic.net

Supporters include Keywords Studios, Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, Escape Technology, Silver Lining Interactive, Xsolla, Wired2Fire, Innovate UK Business Connect and Behaviour Interactive. Game Republic New Horizons is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council and Game Republic’s Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla and Double Eleven.

Game Republic New Horizons, the UK games industry conference taking place at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough this October, has announced two more unmissable sessions, one featuring SAROS, the latest title from PlayStation Studios’ Housemarque, and the other on Bithell Games’ brand new upcoming Dracula empire-building sim Vampirium: 1997.

Robbert Groenendijk, VFX Lead at Housemarque, will deliver a Tech Deep Dive on the design and technical implementation behind SAROS’ visual effects, while Mike Bithell, Director of Video Games at Bithell Games, will enjoy a fireside chat about the new blood-sucking sim game Vampirium: 1997 with Patrick Garratt, editor of Knowledge, Edge’s weekly B2B newsletter – with exclusive new game info.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing a closer look at the visual effects behind SAROS,” said Robbert Groenendijk from Housemarque. “I also can’t wait to meet more of the games community in the UK and beyond and talk about the craft of making games!”

“I’m very excited about chatting on-stage with Patrick Garratt from Knowledge at Game Republic New Horizons about our new game Vampirium: 1997,” said Mike Bithell from Bithell Games. “I’m sure we’ll also touch upon topics such as what it’s like to make games in 2026 – and we’ll have an exciting reveal about the game on the day too!”

Other sessions at Game Republic New Horizons include a keynote featuring “The Father of PlayStation” Ken Kutaragi in conversation with The Game Business’ Chris Dring, a fireside chat with Rebecca Lautner, Chief Business Officer at Landfall, by GamesIndustry.biz Features Editor Lewis Packwood, and a BAFTA-supported session featuring Hakan Abrak, CEO and Co-owner of IO Interactive discussing the making of the smash hit James Bond game 007 First Light with Jane Douglas (Outside Xbox). There’ll also be an informative and no-holds-barred “Hype-free Assessment of AI in Games” panel featuring Dr Tommy Thompson (AI and Games), Duygu Cakmak (Second River Games) and Matthias Siemonsmeier (Splash Damage).

The conference will also feature an Investment Zone in partnership with Games London with Teddy Keefe, Business Development Director for Tencent Games, a panel, “Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment” with Nick Button-Brown (The Games Angels), Tracey McGarrigan (Ansible) and Ian Masters (Flick Games) and other sessions including public funders the BFI, the Arts Council and Innovate UK, platform-holder Xbox on bringing games to the platform, plus publishers and VC investors.

In addition, Game Republic New Horizons, taking place 14 – 16 October will be bringing a panel together on international markets, masterclasses on narrative design and building a Steam page, and other Tech Deep Dives including five things you need to know about PC game development from developer Weaseltron – as well as a Meet-to-Match meeting system throughout the day.

Game Republic New Horizons, again supported by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, also promises a special Dead By Daylight 10th Anniversary pre-party courtesy of Behaviour Interactive, and a VIP reception at Double Eleven featuring a fireside chat with 4J Studios on the 14th October and an after-event party featuring food, drinks, go-karting, video games, pool, mini-golf and more on the 15th October.

On the 16th October there will be curated attendee experiences or “Summats”: A Sea Summat, will take attendees to the seaside on the North East coast for beach huts and “fizz and chips”; a Create Summat will allow attendees to visit the Turner Prize in Middlesbrough as well as take lessons in DJ-ing, graffiti art and more; while a Play Summat later in the day gives attendees food, drinks and opportunities to play games and enjoy music bingo with two rounds of video game soundtracks and prizes!

Tickets are £299 via the conference website, as well as discounted accommodation: grnewhorizons.gamerepublic.net

Supporters include Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, Escape Technology, Wired2Fire, Innovate UK Business Connect, Silver Lining Interactive, Keywords Studios and Behaviour Interactive. Game Republic New Horizons is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council and Game Republic’s Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla and Double Eleven.

Game Republic New Horizons forms part of the Game Republic events programme supported by Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla, Double Eleven and Strategic Partner Steel City Interactive.

Attendees of Game Republic New Horizons will be able to play the following games (in alphabetical order) on PCs and monitors supplied by Wired2Fire with Escape Technology at Indie Stars:

EMITIME by Otterweave Games

EMITIME is a RHYTHM-based DECKBUILDER – where MUSIC is your STRATEGY! Combing multiple genres together, EMITIME creates a stylish and unique gameplay that makes you bop to the beat! You will need to match your attack and movement to the RHYTHM on the Grid, and activate your SKILL CARDS to defeat the enemies! EMITIME is also a roguelike game where you can build your deck and customize your characters with frequencies (power ups!) during each run with various possibilities!

Gobble Inn by Spilt Milk Studio

Gobble Inn is a wholesome fantasy roguelike where you play as the goblin Aunty Val, digging for ingredients in a shifting chasm, helping feed customers scrumptious fare at the Inn you co-founded with a lizard.

Discover curséd trinkets. Level up as you explore the unknown depths. Donate leftovers to the community, building a haven for those in need. Chow down to power up with mysterious goblin powers derived from delicious dishes. Change your digging style with potent tools and arcane powerups, even expand the inn to serve more hungry folk, and customise it with all kinds of nicknacks.

Harbourlight by TaoAndChalk

Harbourlight is a cozy diner sim set in a harbour town most people have already left. Every night one guest sits down at your counter, and cooking for them well means learning them properly. Not just following a recipe, but working out how they like a dish balanced, what they’ll never eat, and what they’re really here for.

Outer Rangers by Back in the Coop

Outer Rangers is a local-first, ragdoll-physics, chaotic party brawler set in the new wild west: the outer range of space. Use your laser lasso to wrangle opponents, throw them off the stage, and be the last ranger standing. Don’t be afraid to use your boot, bombs, jetpacks, and other active items you can find to win. Play across a range of maps over the universe

Robot Crucible by Cactus Brain Studios

Robot Crucible is a robot combat game where you go from blank grid to arena in 5 minutes – or 5 hours if you want to perfect your design. Sketch your chassis layer by layer, then slap on some batteries, motors, and wheels. The game auto-wires everything, so you can jump straight into battle without configuring anything. Throw your creation into a chaotic arena and tear your opponents apart, with armour that dents, buckles and punctures as the fight goes on.

SOE 64 by Hatchett Studio

SOE 64 is a retro WWII FPS built around fast, reactive combat and objective-driven missions. Use classic free-aim shooting with a varied arsenal, blow apart explosive props and fight human soldiers and attack dogs that patrol, investigate disturbances, raise alarms and call reinforcements. Stealth can quickly spiral into chaotic firefights, while levels encourage exploration with multiple routes, optional secrets and tight encounters. Missions range from infiltrating chateaus and sabotaging secret bunkers to fighting across moving trains, operating heavy weapons and escaping collapsing enemy operations, mixing systemic retro FPS gameplay with bespoke mechanics and set pieces unique to each level.

Tabula by This Way Up

Tabula is a mind-bending, level-based puzzler about overlapping computer windows to create traversable, top-down landscapes. Delve into the heart of a mysterious operating system, one folder at a time!

A peculiar virus has taken root at the heart of the Tabula CS-1, a computer system that was lost to time. Alongside Little Bit, a newly-installed anti-virus, you are tasked with freeing the computer from the malware’s clutches.

Thingy Paint by Sigtrap

In Thingy Paint, experience a relaxing and satisfying experience centered around discovering, collecting and painting a cast of charming characters we call Thingies! Embark on your own painters journey by levelling up, hitting milestones, tearing open booster packs and proudly displaying your finished figures in your own cozy, customisable hobby room!

Video Nasty by Observer Interactive

The inspiration for Video Nasty comes from growing up in the 1980s and spending hours exploring the horror section of local video rental shops. As a studio we love the anthology format seen in horror cinema/tv. At the same time, we’re huge admirers of indie horror games like Mouthwashing, Fears to Fathom, and Killer Frequency, which constantly push the genre in new directions. Our goal is to combine that indie spirit with a movie inspirations to create a polished horror anthology packed with unique and memorable experiences.

Warband by Strafe Games

Warband is a party-building mass-murder-mystery in a tiny pixel package. Find out what really happened to The Sixth Legion, a legendary warband of old, and help restore the town of Thornhallow back to its former glory in a roguelite adventure chock full of bosses to slay, secrets to find, and grumpy villagers to appease. The gameplay is a mix of bullet heaven wave combat, challenging bullet hell boss encounters, and tactical equipment and unit choices to make each run, and each warband, your own.

Game Republic New Horizons is the flagship conference in the North, taking place in Middlesbrough from the 14-16 October, with other guests including Ken Kutaragi, the Father of PlayStation, and Rebecca Lautner, CBO of Landfall, with other activities including a Nintendo breakfast event, an Investor Zone, Masterclasses, Tech Deep Dives and a MeetToMatch meeting system, as well as a Dead by Daylight party, VIP Reception and after-party featuring go-karts and video games.

Tickets are selling fast for the event.

The chef Tarek Thoma has received a British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of his dedicated work and brings experience working at Michelin Star kitchens – such as L’Escargot in London – and famously cooked for Tony Blair and US President George Bush at Duncow. He is planning some delights to enjoy at Game Republic New Horizon’s After Party.

Tarek has described the restaurant as a ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for grown ups’ inspired by Cirque du Soleil where

“I was absolutely mesmerised. I thought why can’t we do a restaurant that encompasses this experience. Here you’ll be able to see the chefs, the pizza oven, the mixologist, the pasty chef, the fire and flames and you’ll be sat in the heart of all of it. It’s a 360 experience.”

Bazaar boasts an indoor Italian copper pizza oven, which ‘holds the record for being the largest in Europe’ and features flavours from around the world and “exquisite” food, cocktails and desserts.

Attendees of Game Republic New Horizons will be invited to vote for their favourite game during the conference, with the winning title getting a cash prize plus free membership of Game Republic for 12 months. Up to ten indie games will be selected and will also be in line to have exhibitor and other opportunities in 2026/2027 as well as free tickets to the event.

Entries are now open

MD of Game Republic Jamie Sefton said: “Indie Stars will provide fantastic exposure for developers with unpublished games which we hope will lead to future investment and support. The games must be playable and can be in any format or for any platform – PC, console, mobile, internet, VR and more. I am really excited to see the line-up and play some exciting new games!”

The showcase will be attended by global publishers and investors, and all winning indies will be given 2 FREE spots at the event, a table and tech kit to showcase their game. The game developers will be able to attend the whole conference including the pre- and after parties at the event.

The competition launches today 3^rd September and closes in 10 days at midnight on 13^th September, with selected game developers being notified on 21^st September.

Game Republic New Horizons will take place 14 – 16 October and will be setting the stage for a legendary selection of speakers including Ken Kutaragi – “The Father of PlayStation”, Hakan Abrak – CEO and Co-Owner of IO Interactive and Game Director of smash hit spy game 007 First Light, Rebecca Lautner – Chief Business Office for Landfall, Teddy Keefe – Tencent Games, plus funding bodies, investors, publishers and platform-holders with over 300 senior leaders from games and the creative industries attending. There’ll also be parties, masterclasses, business workshops, tech deep-dives, an expo and an Investor Zone in collaboration with Games London. More information is available via the conference website as well as discounted accommodation: grnewhorizons.gamerepublic.net

Game Republic New Horizons, the UK games industry conference taking place at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough this October, has announced an exclusive special James Bond session featuring Hakan Abrak, CEO and Co-Owner of IO Interactive, and Game Director of 007 First Light.

Hakan Abrak will be interviewed on-stage for a chat that will dive into the development of the number one action title 007 First Light, IO Interactive’s fastest-selling and highest-rated game to date. 007 First Light is a thrilling narrative action-adventure game where you follow James Bond as a young, resourceful, and sometimes reckless recruit in MI6’s training programme and discover an origin story of the world’s most famous spy.

“I’m really excited to be attending Game Republic New Horizons and to speak about 007 First Light, which was a dream project for IO Interactive,” said Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive.

“Being a massive James Bond fan, it’s just a huge honour to welcome Hakan and IO Interactive to our conference,” added Jamie Sefton, MD of Game Republic. “I can’t wait to learn more about the brilliant 007 First Light’s creation and how the talented team worked on bringing such an iconic character to life.”

Hakan Abrak is the CEO and Co-Owner of IO Interactive, the Danish studio behind the Hitman franchise and 007 First Light. With over two decades in the gaming industry, Hakan has played key roles as a Producer on Glacier (IOI’s proprietary engine), Senior Multiplayer Producer on Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Executive Producer on Hitman Absolution, Studio Production Director on Hitman (2016), before becoming CEO and Co-owner of IO Interactive for the launches of HITMAN 2, and HITMAN 3, helping guide the series’ evolution. Hakan is also the Game Director for 007 First Light, which is both IO Interactive’s fastest-selling game, as well as its highest-rated game to date. Under Hakan’s leadership, IO Interactive became independent, and expanded globally with studios in Copenhagen, Malmö, Barcelona, and Brighton.

Other sessions at Game Republic New Horizons include a keynote featuring “The Father of PlayStation” Ken Kutaragi in conversation with The Game Business’ Chris Dring, a fireside chat with Rebecca Lautner, Chief Business Officer at Landfall, by GamesIndustry.biz Features Editor Lewis Packwood, and a “Hype-free Assessment of AI in Games” panel featuring Dr Tommy Thompson (AI and Games), Duygu Cakmak (Creative Assembly) and Matthias Siemonsmeier (Splash Damage).

The conference will also feature an Investment Zone in partnership with Games London with Teddy Keefe, Business Development Director for Tencent Games, a panel, “Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment” with Nick Button-Brown (The Games Angels), Tracey McGarrigan (Ansible) and Ian Masters (Flick Games) and other sessions including public funders the BFI, the Arts Council and Innovate UK, platform-holder Xbox on bringing games to the platform, plus publishers and VC investors.

In addition, Game Republic New Horizons, taking place 14 – 16 October will be bringing a panel together on international markets, masterclasses on narrative design and building a Steam page, and tech deep dives including 5 things you need to know about PC game development from developer Weaseltron – as well as a Meet-to-Match meeting system throughout the day.

Game Republic New Horizons, again supported by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, also promises a special Dead By Daylight 10th Anniversary pre-party courtesy of Behaviour Interactive, and a VIP reception at Double Eleven featuring a fireside chat with 4J Studios on the 14th October and an after-event party featuring Michelin Star quality food, go-karting, video games, pool, mini-golf and more on the 15th October.

On the 16th October there will be curated attendee experiences or “Summats”: A Sea Summat, will take attendees to the seaside on the North East coast for beach huts and “fizz and chips”; a Create Summat will enable attendees to visit the Turner Prize in Middlesbrough as well as take lessons in DJ-ing, graffiti art and screen printing; while a Play Summat later in the day gives attendees opportunities to play games and enjoy music bingo with two rounds of video game soundtracks and prizes!

Tickets are available now as well as discounted accommodation, the latest programme and travel information on this site.

First supporters to come on board include Game Republic’s Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla and Double Eleven, Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council and Kudos Games, Steel City Interactive, Silver Lining Interactive, Plus Accounting, Escape Technology, Innovate UK Business Connect and Behaviour Interactive. 

Images courtesy of IO Interactive and Amazon

Game Republic New Horizons, the UK games industry conference taking place in Middlesbrough 14 – 16 October, has just announced the final day “Summat” activities for attendees on Friday 16th October, which are included in the price of the ticket.

A Sea Summat, will take attendees to the seaside on the North East coast for beach huts and “fizz and chips”; a Create Summat will allow attendees to visit the Turner Prize in Middlesbrough as well as take lessons in DJ-ing, graffiti art and more; while a Play Summat later in the day gives attendees food, drinks and opportunities to play games and enjoy music bingo with two rounds of video game soundtracks and prizes!

“Rather then the usual industry “Summits” we wanted to give a Northern flavour to GR New Horizons with our unique “Summats”, said Managing Director of Game Republic, Jamie Sefton. “Included in your standard conference ticket, you can “do summat (something)” and go to the seaside, learn to DJ and play video game music bingo. It’s an opportunity to relax, be creative, have fun and network in a different environment away from the usual games conference settings.”

Game Republic New Horizons already includes the main conference day on the 15th October with keynote Ken Kutaragi “The Father of PlayStation” in conversation with Chris Dring from The Game Business, a fireside chat with Rebecca Lautner from Landfall, developers of PEAK, with Lewis Packwood from GamesIndustry.biz, and a session featuring 4J Studios’ Chris van der Kuyl and Joe “Stampy” Garrett discussing their new game Reforj at the VIP Reception at Double Eleven studios on the 14th October evening.

Also on the 14th October evening is a spectacular party celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the brilliant multiplayer survival horror game Dead by Daylight, kindly sponsored by Behaviour Interactive. The exclusive industry get-together will also feature an interview on-stage with the developers about the game’s creation and anniversary, also hosted by Chris Dring from The Game Business.

On the 15th October, for the new Investor Zone in partnership with Games London, attendees can see Funding Forum sessions including a fireside chat with Teddy Keefe, Business Development Director for Tencent Games, a presentation from Asher McClennahan, Head of Games at Kickstarter, a panel, “Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment” with Nick Button-Brown (The Games Angels), Tracey McGarrigan (Ansible) and Ian Masters (Flick Games), and other sessions including public funders the BFI, the Arts Council and Innovate UK, plus publishers and VC investors.

In addition there’ll be Masterclasses on topics including narrative design from Inkle Studios, a guide to improving your Steam page from Fireblade Software, a Tech Deep Dive from Weaseltron (recently worked on Death Stranding 2) on bringing your game to PC, and platform-holder Xbox with opportunities on the platform.

Panels include one focusing on transmedia with DDA (creative comms company behind movie Flow and TV show Fallout), Observer Interactive (created games for the band Gorillaz), Screen Yorkshire, Barclays and Wizards of the Coast, and a Hype-Free Assessment of AI in Games with Tommy Thompson (AI and Games) and Duygu Cakmak (Creative Assembly).

Afterwards, guests will be taken by coach to restaurant Bazaar for Michelin Star food followed by a legendary industry party at Level X with two floors of arcade games, a pool tournament with prize from Kudos Games, go-karting, bowling, roller-skating and golf!

Game Republic New Horizons Advance tickets at £199 are available now until the end of July here

Supporters include Kudos Games, Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, Escape Technology, Innovate UK Business Connect and Behaviour Interactive.

Game Republic New Horizons is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council and Game Republic’s Strategic Partner Steel City Interactive and Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla and Double Eleven.

The celebration, which is being sponsored by Behaviour Interactive, will also include opportunities to play the game and network and will be free to attend for all GR New Horizons ticketholders. Party tickets will be released at 12 noon on 3^rd September.

“Behaviour Interactive is proud to once again support Game Republic New Horizons,” said Jean-Francois Mercure-Burroughs (pictured above), Vice President, Operations, Behaviour Interactive. “Tees Valley has become a genuine hub for game development talent, and events like this play a key role in connecting studios, investors, and the next generation of creators across the North and beyond. We are proud to call the Tees Valley our UK home, and we’re excited to be a part of this year’s event.”

Founded in 1992, Behaviour Interactive is the largest Canadian video game studio. Behaviour’s flagship original franchise, Dead by Daylight, has terrified nearly 70 million players since its launch in 2016. Over more than thirty years, the company has also established a reputation as one of the world’s most highly regarded external development partners, working alongside gaming industry leaders such as Microsoft, Sony, EA, Behaviour’s approximately 1,200 employees are located across its headquarters in Montreal and offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Rotterdam, and the United Kingdom. The company’s award-winning culture has been recognized by GamesIndustry.biz (Best Places to Work in Canada) and Deloitte (Canada’s Best Managed Companies), among others.

Commenting on the event Jamie Sefton MD of Game Republic said: “We are really delighted to be running this party for everyone alongside our VIP Reception, which will mean everyone can meet each other before getting stuck into the programme the next day at the spectacular Riverside Stadium. Dead by Daylight is a fantastic iconic game and we are proud that the event will be a celebration of its decade of success in the Northern home of developer Behaviour Interactive!”

Game Republic New Horizons runs from 14^th-16^th October in Middlesbrough. The international conference and expo will include a keynote from Ken Kutaragi, Father of PlayStation, Rebecca Lautner, Landfall Games, Masterclasses, an Investor Zone, tech deep dives, an expo and social events over the three days.

Jamie adds “This is an international event that is happening in The North with a carefully curated programme that is attracting attendees from across the UK and overseas. The parties will provide a great welcome and celebration of our games industry – its past, its present and future.”

Game Republic New Horizons Advance tickets at £199 are available now until the end of July via the conference website here, as well as discounted accommodation:

grnewhorizons.gamerepublic.net

Supporters include Kudos Games, Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, Escape Technology, Innovate UK Business Connect and Behaviour Interactive.

Game Republic New Horizons is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council. The event is supported by Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla, Double Eleven and Strategic Partner Steel City Interactive.

Game Republic New Horizons, the UK games industry conference taking place at the Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough this October, has announced the first confirmed funding guests for its new Investor Zone; an area at the event delivering meetings, panels, interviews and hyper-focused on games investment. The announcement is also front page on GamesIndustry.biz.

Sessions already confirmed include a fireside chat with Teddy Keefe, Business Development Director for Tencent Games, a panel, “Beyond the Pitch: Securing (and Surviving) Angel Investment” with Nick Button-Brown (The Games Angels), Tracey McGarrigan (Ansible) and Ian Masters (Flick Games) and other sessions including public funders the BFI and Innovate UK, platform-holder Xbox on bringing games to the platform, plus publishers and VC investors.

Games London will be hosting various sessions and also bringing a cohort of international games investors to the conference on the 15th October – and all attendees will be able to organise formal meetings with the trusted MeetToMatch system, as well as enjoy informal networking throughout the day with more than 300 delegates.

“We’re assembling the best collection of investors and funders at the Investor Zone at GR New Horizons, along with our partner Games London”, said Managing Director of Game Republic, Jamie Sefton. “This is a crucial time for the games industry where finance is front and centre for studios and so ensuring we have world-class investors and funders of games in one place is vital to help secure games companies’ future projects.”

In addition, Game Republic New Horizons, taking place 14 – 16 October will be bringing a panel together on international markets, masterclasses and tech deep dives enabling attendees to get their hands on the latest tech. Earlier in the year Game Republic announced some of the legendary line-up of speakers, including the “Father of PlayStation” Ken Kutaragi and Chief Business Officer at Landfall, Rebecca Lautner (who will also talk more about their new publisher Evil Landfall?) – as well as the best after-party in the games industry, Indie Stars – a curated indie showcase – and an expo.

Game Republic New Horizons, again supported by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, also promises a pre-party, VIP reception and on the final day curated attendee experiences to be announced soon. Advance tickets at £199 are available now until the end of July via the conference website, as well as discounted accommodation: grnewhorizons.gamerepublic.net

First supporters to come on board include Kudos Games, Steel City Interactive, Plus Accounting, Escape Technology, Innovate UK Business Connect and Behaviour Interactive. Game Republic New Horizons is supported by Tees Valley Combined Authority and Middlesbrough Council and Game Republic’s Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla and Double Eleven.