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Kicking off a colourful May with exciting new opportunities, insights & expert talks, all featured in our latest FGH newsletter. ☀️
The Flemish Game ecosystem: organisation in the spotlight🔦
Flanders Investment & Trade
Did you know about FIT?
No, I'm not talking about fitness! I'm talking about Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT).
FIT is a powerful resource for (game) studios and entrepreneurs looking to grow, expand, or break into new international markets. Whether you're a small indie developer or an established studio, FIT offers support that can make a real difference.
Here’s what you can expect when you connect with FIT:
- Market information: Access detailed insights into international markets.
- Expert advice: Get tailored guidance from experienced advisors who understand both the global gaming industry and the Flemish business landscape.
- Subsidies and financial support: Take advantage of various funding opportunities designed to support innovation.
Let's talk about Gamescom...
Gamescom from August 20 - 24
As the world’s largest trade fair for computer and video games, gamescom is the ultimate meeting point for game professionals and enthusiasts alike.
This year, FIT and hub.brussels are working together to set up a Belgian Games Booth at the fair, along with FLEGA, which represents the Flemish game industry.
The Belgian Games Booth will be located in the Business Area (Hall 4.1, August 20–22) and is strictly B2B. Book your spot and schedule meetings with publishers, press, investors, and fellow developers via the MeetToMatch platform.
More info FIT: Gamescom Keulen 2025
Interested in purchasing a booth? Check pricing below.
Flemish Games @ Indigo
Get Ready for INDIGO!
Connect with Flemish studios at INDIGO, the leading Dutch game showcase where developers, publishers, investors, and game enthusiasts come together.
Discover fresh ideas, connect with industry professionals, and explore innovative games.
📅 When: May 28–29
Don’t miss these Flemish Games at INDIGO
- Please 👀The Artwork
- No players online
- Disastory (From the old cohort of Flanders Game Hub)
- Curiosmos
Expert Talk: Oscar Clark about Game Economy Principles
📅May 8, 3 P.M.
💻Online Webinar
Learn the basic principles of game economy design starting from understanding what players care about. We look at the role of difficulty and power levels, and how these can be managed design through rewards and progression.
We'll also look at what happens when commercial elements like ads, and subscriptions enter the mix, and how to include them thoughtfully and stay compliant with the new EU rules without falling into dark patterns.
Expert Talk: Jason Della Rocca about Inception Publishing -The Future of Indie Funding
📅May 12, 4 P.M.
💻Online Webinar
Studios are facing the new reality of evidence-based investing and need to start their market validation and community building from the very beginning to ensure commercial viability and funding attractiveness.
We’ll explore this new funding landscape, cover methods for competitive analysis and concept validation, and build traction, leading up to strong launch momentum.
Info Session: VAF about Budgeting and Financing Video Games
📅May 22, 10:00 - 12:30
💻Online Webinar
Struggling with the financial side of your game funding application?
Join VAF (Vlaams Audiovisueel Fonds) for an info session offering a clear explanation of the updated financial documents, plus practical tips to guide your budget from start to finish.
We’ll walk you through key elements of budgeting and financing, highlight common pitfalls, and answer your questions. Whether you’re new to the process or an experienced applicant, this session is for you.
Why is this important?
The new financial documents will be required for all applications submitted by the September 23, 2025, deadline.
Missed the How to Apply Info Session?
No worries, you can rewatch the webinar on YouTube!
Whether you're:
- A studio that's been around for a few years, released a few titles, and is now working on a new IP, or
A start-up developing your first IP that shows promise and is gaining traction.
This session offers valuable tips for your application and an overview of what Flanders Game Hub can do for you!
Game announcements
Play now: Best Served Cold
Think you can mix a cocktail while locking eyes with a killer?
Best Served Cold is a gripping murder mystery where you’ll serve drinks, forge alliances (or rivalries) and uncover dark secrets...
At The Nightcap bar, prohibition isn’t the only deadly thing… some of your customers are, too.
A new one to wishlist: Galactic Vault
Forge your ultimate weapon in Galactic Vault, a FPS roguelite.
Experiment with endless upgrade combos, craft powerful builds, and unleash game-changing abilities as you infiltrate high-security vaults to reclaim lost tech.
A new on to wishlist: Vampirates
Grab, throw, and smash anything or anyone against endless waves of zombies (yikes!) in chaotic but funny online co-op game.
Team up with friends, survive the onslaught, and feed the almighty Otter God.
Meet & Play
13th edition of Meet & Play
Due to popular demand, it's time for another Meet 'n Play! 🥳
Play upcoming games and enjoy a beer, you decide which order!
Are you a game enthusiast wanting to improve games? Welcome!
What to expect?
🎮 Playtest games
👋 Network with fellow game devs
🍻 Enjoy a beer
Want your game playtested? We still have some spots open!
Get in touch with the local game industry? Meet 'n Play is the place to be!
When:13th edition: May 07th, 2025 || Starts at 7 pm
Where: click here to view de location.
Industry Tea 🍵
International news
🌎 From an interview with Gareth Williams from PressEngine: The drop in written coverage has been dramatic since Google’s Helpful Content Update. The Top 135 video game websites published over 635,000 articles during Q1 2025, a drop of over 13% compared with the same period in 2024.
Result: games media is scaling back coverage of games outside of the bigger AAA productions, leading to worse discoverability for smaller titles.
🌎 The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remastered reached 182 K+ concurrent Steam players on its first day of launch. Impressive numbers considering it's also on Game Pass and had 24h of marketing.
🌎 The French-made RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive is a big hit, selling over 1M copies since its release in less than a week, despite also being on Xbox Game Pass. It's also currently the hhighest-ratedgame of the year on Metacritic (92)
🌎 Crips for eSims for Gaza is an international collective of disabled people who have come together in support of Palestinans, helping Gazans regain internet access via eSims (electric sim cards) connected to surrounding networks in Israel and Egypt. they are selling a charity bundle on Itch.io to raise money, it includes over 200 games & books for just €16:
Belgian news
👉 The number of Belgian Games on Steam surpassed 200. Check out the lists here and leave a reply if we're missing one! 👉 Upcoming Flanders Game Hub talks:
- 8 May - Game Economy Design with Oscar Clark.
- 12 May - The Future of Indie Publishing with Jason Della Rocca
👉 Wall Town Wonders by Cyborn is coming to Full VR on Steam VR & PS VR2.👉 Old Timer Transport by Abonneer released for Free on Steam.👉 Register for Gamescom B2B packages now. The Flemish games booth will be more compact. Meeting packages are also more limited (via Flemish Games Association & FIT - Flanders Investment & Trade).👉 INDIGO 2025 takes place 27-28 May in Rotterdam, a conference + Expo with some belgian games exhibiting too. Tickets here!👉 ForsVC, the only gaming venture capital firm in Benelux, will be at INDIGO too. If you're seeking funding, feel free to schedule a call with us via Meettomatch.
