Nordic Game 2025 Spring Update: Blizzard on stage, NG Awards Nominees Revealed, Overwatch Stardom, and a Trio of Indiana Jones Talks!
Malmö, Sweden, March 26th, 2025 - The organizers of Nordic Game 2025 are cranking up the hype machine for NG25 Spring, hitting Malmö, Sweden, from 20-23 May. This isn't just another gaming conference; it's shaping up to be a developer's dream, and quite possibly the most epic Nordic gathering since vikings last raided a mead hall. With a lineup that's already bursting at the seams—and more surprises still to come—here's the latest scoop on why NG25 Spring is the event you'll regret missing.
Blizzard's Creative Director Ion Hazzikostas Steals the Spotlight
The speaker roster at NG25 Spring reads like a who's-who of gaming royalty, and it just got a massive power-up. Blizzard Entertainment's Creative Director Ion Hazzikostas—the mastermind steering the ship for one of the industry's biggest titles ever —has officially signed on with the session dubbed "20 Years of World of Warcraft: Meeting Players Where They Are". Additionally, Swedish MachineGames is bringing their expertise to Malmö this May, offering fans and industry professionals alike a rare glimpse into the development process behind their blockbuster hit Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The spotlight will first shine on a fireside chat featuring the studio's Creative Director Axel Torvenius and Design Director Jens Andersson, and later in the NG25 Spring program, MachineGames' cinematics and level design leads will take the stage, offering deep dives into their respective crafts. These talks are expected to shed light on the artistry and technical prowess that brought the game's visuals and immersive environments to life.
The new speakers are joining an already stellar roster, including industry icon Peter Molyneux, community guru Junae Benne, Atomfall FPS maestro Ben Fisher, Danish GotY SpellRogue genius Thorbjørn Nielsen, and Split Fiction visionary Josef Fares, who will be interviewed live onstage by Kim Nordström, industry veteran from Paradox Interactive and King, and author of the book "Up Down Up". And that's just the current state—more names are dropping soon, so keep your eyes peeled at nordicgame.com.
Germany Takes Over the Expo Floor - again
If you thought last year's German presence at Nordic Game was big, buckle up for 2025. The expo floor is getting a full-on takeover with a German pavilion hosted by Gamecity Hamburg and medianet berlinbrandenburg, showcasing jaw-dropping titles from their regions. In addition, expect a special reception courtesy of medianet berlinbrandenburg and Baden-Württemberg International, plus a roll-call of German heavyweights like Fishlabs, Innogames, and Remote Control locking in their spots. It's less an expo and more a Wunderland of gaming innovation.
Overwatch's Matilda Smedius Swaps Weapons for Hosting Duties
Cue the fanfare: Matilda Smedius, the voice behind Overwatch's hammer-swinging heroine Brigitte, is stepping out of the game and onto the NG25 Spring main stage as host! With Overwatch 2 boasting over 50 million players since launch, Smedius is basically gaming royalty—and now she's trading her barrier shield for a mic to guide us through the event. If you don't know her name yet, you've clearly been living under a digital rock. Get ready for her to bring that Brigitte-level charisma to Malmö!
Awards Nominees Revealed
As part of Matilda's hosting tasks she will conduct the annual Nordic Game Awards, this year taking place as the very last session in the main conference program on Thursday 22 May. The nominees for the awards have just been revealed, and the amount of great Nordic produced titles suggests a great battle for honor is waiting. Will Indiana Jones, Satisfactory, Helldivers 2, SpellRougue, Star Wars Outlaws, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley, or maybe even Finnish Cottage Simulator run away with one or more of the eight available awards?
Day 1 Goes Full Volume with Audio Awesomeness
Kicking off on Tuesday, May 20, NG25 Spring is turning the dial up to 11 with a Day 1 focus on audio in game development. Sponsored by Audiokinetic and Dolby, this sonic spectacular—curated by audio experts Sèbastien Croteau and Thor Mýrdal—will dive deep into the soundscapes that make games unforgettable. Early highlights include Oskar Hansson, Voice Designer at Massive Entertainment, spilling secrets on crafting the mischievous pet companion Nix for Star Wars Outlaws, Martin Halldin from Swedish horror game studio Wrong Organ, talking about composing music and SFX for their game Mouthwashing, plus the fan-favorite Nordic Game composer panel "Same Game, Different Music." Your ears will thank you.
More to Come—Stay Tuned!
The NG25 Spring team is cooking up more announcements to drop in the coming weeks, so bookmark nordicgame.com and brace yourself for the full feast. Wherever you work in the games industry, NG25 Spring is where you'll want to be 20-23 May in Malmö.
About the Nordic Game conference
Nordic Game is the leading games conference in Europe. Gathering thousands of industry professionals in the spring each year, Nordic Game is the one and only "home turf" meeting place for the highly successful game developers of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
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