The Victorian Government is backing Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) to reach a new level in 2023, with the first program announcement revealing 10-days of events that will give gamers the chance to see, play and celebrate the latest in games.
Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos has unveiled the first round of MIGW 2023 programming – featuring everything from Mario Kart tournaments to major industry events – which will take over Melbourne from 30 September – 8 October 2023.
“Victoria is the heart of Australia’s games industry and Melbourne International Games Week celebrates the latest products, developments and opportunities in this fast growing, and much loved, industry sector,” said Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos.
“Whether you’re looking to power up your games business, forge a career, or play the biggest, best and most exciting new games, MIGW is a celebration for everyone.”
Flagship events such as the Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) industry conference will see local studios and developers connect with games leaders from across the globe. The fan-favourite epic games expo PAX Aus will also take over the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 6 – 8 October 2023.
Melbourne’s live music community is invited to join the action at High Score, a conference focused on the art of composing music for games, while Freeplay: Parallels will showcase some of the most cutting-edge works emerging from Victoria’s indie developers.
Australia’s best and most innovative games will be celebrated at the Australian Game Developer Awards on Wednesday 4 October. The Mario King Of Kart Tournament will see 32 racers vie for the coveted title of 2023 ‘King of Kart Champion’ live at Fed Square on Friday 6 October.
Melbourne International Games Week was established by the Labor Government in 2015. Since then, it has grown into the largest games gathering in the Asia Pacific. In 2022, MIGW attracted a record-breaking crowd, with close to 86,000 attendees at in-person events and more than one million from across the globe at online events.
MIGW highlights the integral role Victoria plays in Australia’s games industry. The state is home to more games studios and workers than anywhere else in the country, while Victorian-made games – including Untitled Goose Game and Cult of the Lamb – have been played by millions across the globe.
The 2023 Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) runs from 30 September to 8 October. The full program will be announced in August. For more information, visit: www.
Image: Mario King Of Kart Tournament – courtesy of MIGW