Scottish Games Week (SGW) is set to return to Scotland from October 30th to November 3rd, 2023. The week-long event will take place in multiple venues across the country and will showcase the entire games ecosystem, from design and development to education and esports. The event will kick off with a two-day conference in Edinburgh on October 30th and 31st, followed by various events throughout the week.

According to the press release, the organizers of SGW are looking for partners and collaborators to join the programme and create fringe and satellite events as part of the whole festival. The key themes for this year’s events are design, build, grow, play, and learn, with proposals for talks, presentations, panels, performances, and other creative ideas opening soon.

Key Events

The key events in SGW23 include:

  • The SGW Conference: A two-day industry conference for game creators, publishers, investors, and more
  • More Than Games: An exploration of the transformative potential of games in our increasingly digital world for a non-games-creating audience
  • Education Symposium: An invitation-only event focused on educators in games-related courses
  • Scottish Games Awards: A celebration of the talent, creativity, and expertise in the Scottish games ecosystem

Collaboration and Inclusivity

Brian Baglow, Founder and Director of Scottish Games Week, expressed his enthusiasm for this year’s event, saying: “In 2023, we plan to build upon the success of last year’s event and produce an even bigger and more inclusive programme, built upon collaboration and reflecting the reality of the global games ecosystem and bringing together every part of the incredible community we have here in Scotland, across the wider UK and beyond.”

Support and Recognition

The event is being delivered by the Scottish Games Network and supported by the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund, delivered as part of its Scottish Technology Ecosystem Review (STER) programme. Scottish Games Week 2022 was a finalist in the 2023 MCV/Develop Awards in the event category, competing against the UK’s biggest and most-established games events including London Games Week, Develop: Brighton, and EGX.

Minister for Small Business, Innovation & Trade Richard Lochhead highlighted the importance of the gaming and creative industries to Scotland’s digital future and announced the Scottish Government’s support for the 2nd Scottish Games Week through the Scottish Tech Ecosystem Review programme.

Participation and Sponsorship

For those interested in participating or sponsoring the event, they can contact the organizers directly at hello@gamesweek.scot. To stay up to date on Scottish Games Week 2023, sign up for the mailing list on the event’s official website.