The Macedonian gaming scene has experienced its “Beginning.” The first Game Dev Rev 2025 (GDR 2025) conference was ambitiously announced as a “creative revolution,” and judging by the reactions, that revolution not only happened but roared louder than expected. After the dust settled, we spoke with one of the main organizers, Gorast, about what it’s like to lay the cornerstone for an event that has the potential to put North Macedonia on the global game-dev map.
When an event ends, the first measure of success is always the feeling of those who attended. Game Dev Rev 2025 was announced with the theme “The Beginning,” suggesting a new wave in the domestic creative industry. We asked Gorast if he felt they succeeded in sparking that new beginning and what his first, strongest impressions were.
“I expected it to be good. That a moderate number of people would come, that it would be a nice event,” Gorast admits. “Luckily, the expectations were exceeded. Twice as many people came as I expected—350 registered and a large number who showed up on-site.“
He adds that, while he’s biased in praising his own event, the feedback from all sides speaks for itself. “I can comment on the feedback and praise from participants, speakers, visitors, and people from official government and non-governmental institutions that GDR25 is one of the best events dedicated to the creative industry, especially the game development industry, and that it absolutely must happen again next year… Speakers are still posting on social media about their impressions, which are always in superlatives. In the closed groups of other conferences, all the foreigners who attended are recommending GDR as a mandatory destination for next year.“
Finances as the “Toughest Boss” and Support That Surprised
Of course, organizing the first conference of this caliber brings unique challenges. Gorast doesn’t hide what they faced.
“In our case, finances were the toughest boss,” he says. “The irony is that over the years, we’ve made contacts with people who are masterminds and legends in the gaming industry, people who are very close to us and who would agree to come with just one email, but most of them are from America and Japan, and bringing them from there costs a lot. As a freshly organized event, we fell into a hole in some places, while in others it turned out we had over-allocated, but in the end, everything came out as it should.”
Besides finances, the second fear was the technical aspect and the venue. “In the end, it turned out to be the most epic thing. Flawless and precise. I love the folks from MNT (Macedonian National Theater) because it’s my home base, but when I saw how they gave their all and felt this event as their own, they grew 100 times in my eyes at that moment. The volunteers were top-notch. Prepared and fast.”
Luckily, the team wasn’t alone. The event had support from the MGI Association, as well as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. We asked how difficult it was to convince these institutions to stand behind an event for an industry still considered relatively new here.
“The initiators of the conference were MGI, Indum Play, and Sindex. Then Base42 joined the organization. The core team that worked on the organization was 3-4 people,” Gorast explains. “Initially, we first received support from the Western Balkans Fund… The Ministry of Culture and Tourism gave almost the maximum of what was possible to grant to an organization like MGI. And the process (to my surprise) was very easy and smooth. The call was announced, we applied, and after some time, we received a positive answer. That’s it. After that, they guided us step-by-step for all the documents. I hope the other projects that received support will have just as easy a path.”
A Mix of Experience and Youth: The Audience and Initiatives
The organizers’ initial expectations were between 250 and 300 participants. As Gorast already mentioned, that number was surpassed with over 350 visitors. But what was the audience’s makeup?
“The balance was 50-50,” he says. “There were many people from Macedonian studios, unfortunately not all, but there was a good response from university and high school students. I am especially happy that several professors from other cities in North Macedonia took the initiative to organize themselves and came with their students to listen to lectures, see the games, and meet other workers in the sector. That is priceless!”
To encourage the presence of young people, the organizers introduced an innovative model where companies could buy and donate student tickets. We asked Gorast how successful this model was.
“Unfortunately, this initiative failed, or as they say in gaming language, it was DoA – Dead on Arrival,” he is candid. “But that didn’t stop us from offering free tickets to all educational institutions, regardless of whether they are public or private, with the sole aim of getting them to come. Even though their initial ticket was 50% off, to ease that burden as well so it wouldn’t be an obstacle, we did everything to let them see and hear something new and to feel what it’s like to be a citizen of a sophisticated country… at least for one day!”
The Heart of the Event: The Indie Zone and Top-Tier Lectures
One of the cornerstones of GDR 2025 was the “Indie Zone Showcase,” where over 30 studios exhibited their games. The reactions, according to Gorast, were spectacular.
“An incredible success. 10/10. The atmosphere among the indie studios cannot be described with text, photos, a song, or a video… you simply had to be there. The moments when you see colleagues from neighboring countries testing the games of their colleagues from North Macedonia, and then discussing and giving feedback… it’s a blessing for the soul! I’ll say it again – 10/10!”
Besides the indie zone, the program was filled with top-tier speakers and panels. We asked which moment left the strongest impression and best conveyed the conference’s message.
“From the questionnaire we sent to visitors the very next day, it turns out that all the lectures they attended were top-tier. Everyone found what they wanted to hear. Some prefer business, production, and publishing. Others found the technical lectures to be the peak. For example, I devoured the motivational speeches by Kate, Ilari, and Kei as easily as a tulumba (a sweet pastry). There was a bit of everything, for everyone, all packed under the motto ‘The Beginning’!”
A Look to the Future: What After “The Beginning”?
The final goal is clear: to put North Macedonia on the global gaming map. The first edition was a huge success, but what did the team learn from this experience that they will apply next year to increase international presence?
“First, to start preparations for the next one immediately,” Gorast concludes, revealing the next steps. “To make a list of 50 speakers that will then be narrowed down to 20. The small technical problems will, of course, be solved.”
He also highlighted a key lesson on the business side: “Not to be so modest when it comes to seeking sponsors. This time, I personally was not confident enough and didn’t want to ‘over-sell’ the event, only for it to not deliver results and leave the sponsors dissatisfied. That didn’t happen… and honestly, I’m relieved.”
With such a foundation laid, expectations exceeded, and a clear vision for the future, Game Dev Rev 2025 definitively lived up to its motto. This wasn’t just an event, but truly “The Beginning”—the beginning of a louder, braver, and more present Macedonian game-dev scene.
