The European gaming industry’s premier developer conference, devcom 2025, is set to take place at the Koelnmesse Confex Centre in Germany from August 17 to 19.

With over 210 speakers already locked in and more industry veterans expected to join the roster in the coming weeks, the event is shaping up to be quite a crowd-puller. Notably, the number of roundtable sessions has tripled this year, a clear nod to the high demand for more interactive, hands-on dialogue among attendees.

The keynote schedule is looking rather robust. Minh Le, the designer behind Counter-Strike, will take the stage to discuss a '25-Year Journey in the Games Industry,' sharing insights into the development of one of the most influential multiplayer titles in history and the art of adapting to an ever-shifting studio landscape.

Following this, Michel Nohra, Lead Game Designer at Sandfall Interactive—the team behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33—will host a session titled 'The Combat of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.' The designer plans to dive into the technicalities of blending turn-based strategy with real-time mechanics.

EA’s COO, Kate Kellogg, is also on the docket. Kate Kellogg will be sharing hard-won lessons on navigating the notoriously unpredictable world of game development, all through the lens of intuitive leadership.

Meanwhile, Zeke Virant, Lead Game Designer at MachineGames, will break down the 'GRIP' system from Indiana Jones: The Great Circle. Zeke Virant intends to focus on why the team prioritised immersive, experiential adventure over standard-issue gunplay.

Rounding out the highlights, Stephen Flowers, Senior Writer at Arrowhead, will explain the daunting task of crafting a living, breathing narrative for a player base exceeding 3 million people.

The event also features a panel discussion titled 'War Stories from the Frontlines of Game Development.' The panel includes Maria Cornelius, CPO at Arrowhead; Heather Chandler, Senior Producer for Helldivers 2; Stefanía Guðrún Halldórsdóttir, CEO at Avalanche Studios; and Fleur Marty, Executive Producer at Gearbox Montreal. These industry figures will engage in a candid conversation about the realities of leadership, the chaos of launch windows, and the high-stakes decisions required to build blockbuster titles.

Alongside the talk lineup, the organisers have also revealed the schedule for side events, which includes networking opportunities, pitching sessions, and various community meetups.