Spotlight Awards + Game Dev Talks 2025

Spotlight Awards + Game Dev Talks 2025

The Spotlight Awards + Game Dev Talks are a celebration of the hard work, creativity, and progress made in the Portuguese game development industry over the years.

On February 21st, the community will come together at the AI Hub for an evening of discussion and reflection, followed by a night dedicated to recognising the people, studios, and projects that shaped the past year.

The event will begin with the Game Dev Talks, featuring two talks and a roundtable focused on the realities of building and sustaining games in today’s industry:

🎤 Talks:

Pedro Zambon - "Transforming games in business: from team to international launch"

Tristan Michael - "On Being a Jack of All Trades"

🗣️ Roundtable: “Building Games, Not Just Valuations – Demystifying Sustainable Growth”

Moderator:

• Carolina Rocha - Staff Player Community Lead at Fortis Games and Ambassador for Women in Games

Participants:

• Max Nielsen - CEO at Greena Games
• Ricardo Cesteiro - Managing Partner & Producer at Camel101
• Halli Thor Bjornsson - CEO at Lockwood Publishing

As the night unfolds, the event will transition into the Spotlight Awards 2025, celebrating the creativity, passion, and innovation that define our community. After a year of rapid growth, this ceremony is a moment to reflect on and honour the accomplishments of the Portuguese game development industry.

The awards ceremony will once again be hosted by the fantastic João Antunes, aka “Commander Bonny.”

During the night, we’ll be announcing the winners in the following categories:

• Game of the Year
• Studio of the Year
• Person of the Year
• Reveal of the Year
• Community Impact
• Best Student Game

Ultimately, Spotlight Awards + Game Dev Talks is about fostering meaningful connections, encouraging open dialogue, and honouring the excellence that continues to drive the Portuguese game development community forward.

We look forward to celebrating with you!