Dusk Wave Arts team members from North America and Philippines attended the The GameDev Summit 2025 at the lovely island of Boracay, Philippines. Held from February 5 to 7, 2025 at The Lind Boracay and Sea Wind Boracay. The summit brought together game developers, industry experts, and creative minds from around the world! Over three exciting days, we met fellow professionals, showcased our games through exhibits and demos, and learned valuable insights from industry leaders.
Day 1: An exciting start
As soon as we arrived in Boracay, we were welcomed by breathtaking views and warm hospitality. Day 1 was a time for us to build connections with other game developers through networking. We participated in many games and the welcome reception GDS 2025 had for participants too.
The day ended with a relaxed dinner and group discussion by the beach. Day 1 was an ideal way to build new friendships and potential collaborations, while also strengthening the bond between our team members.
Day 2: Learning and Growing
One of the biggest highlights of the day was our game demo sessions. We had the chance to let attendees try out demos of our games BARHEIM and our upcoming game Stuck in the Present. Seeing their reactions, receiving feedback, and engaging in discussions about their experience helped validated our advocacy and choices in the games.
The second day was packed with insightful talks and hands-on workshops. Industry experts shared their knowledge on topics like unlocking cross-cultural collaboration in the video game industry, crafting open world games that celebrate Southeast Asian Origins, and building longevity in our industry. As an indie studio with Filipino team members, there was a ton of learning that we happily took home from Day 2 workshops.
The discussions were inspiring, and the exchange of ideas made us even more excited about our work!
Final Day: Hammering down the need people-focused approach to studio development.
On the last day, we attended more panels such as the event Keynote with Marla Rausch, From Local to Global: Co-Development Strategies for Small Studios, and more. We met more new friends and potential partners, even neighbors at our exhibit. The farewell party was the perfect way to wrap up the summit, celebrating the friendships and connections we made.
As we watched the final sunset of the event, we felt grateful to be part of such an inspiring community. GameDev Summit 2025 wasn’t just a conference—it was a place for learning, growth, and creativity.
Coming from a multicultural, remote work, indie game development studio, we also learned a lot about Filipino culture (especially the food!) and gained appreciation for the moments of connection we experienced working side by side.
To everyone who joined us, thank you for making this event special. See you next year! ✨