The studio behind the critically acclaimed PlayStation 5 action-shooter SAROS and developer of new upcoming Dracula empire-building sim Vampirium: 1997 are to to host sessions at the flagship UK games conference in October
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.
