June 18-19 at the Edmonton EXPO Centre
The Mega Stage delivers exclusive roundtable discussions and headline conversations featuring top executive leaders and celebrity speakers from gaming, technology, publishing, and design. Set against a massive 130-foot-long, 24-foot-tall 9K LED wall, this flagship stage offers an unforgettable afternoon of premium content, bold ideas, and rare insight, making it an essential experience for anyone looking to connect with the voices shaping the future of the industry.
Nolan Bushnell
Inventor & Entrepreneur; Co-Founder, Atari:
In 1972 Nolan Bushnell created an industry when he founded Atari and gave the world Pong, the first blockbuster video game. Today his design credo—that games should be “easy to learn and difficult to master”—is inspiring a new generation of developers. A prolific entrepreneur, Bushnell has started more than 20 companies, including Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater, Catalyst Technologies, the first Silicon Valley incubator, and Etak, the first in-car navigation system. In the process, he pioneered many of the workplace innovations that have made Silicon Valley a long-standing magnet for creative talent. Bushnell was the first and only person ever to hire Steve Jobs, which he details in his 2013 book, Finding the Next Steve Jobs.
His latest startups are ModalVR, which offers wireless, multiplayer VR entertainment systems for turn-key commercial use, and X2 Games, an independent game publisher focused on Blockchain Technology.
A true icon of the digital revolution, Bushnell was named one of “50 People Who Changed America” by Newsweek. Currently a biopic about Bushnell, tentatively titled “Atari”, was acquired by Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company and is in pre-production.
Don’t miss Noland’s keynote on the Mega Stage, June 18. Full details and speaker schedule coming soon!
The North American Games Industry Summit
The North American Games Industry Summit (NAGIS) Powered By Xsolla is a purpose-built B2B experience designed to strengthen and accelerate the North American games and technology ecosystem. Produced by Meibel Consulting and co-produced with MeetToMatch, a global leader in B2B matchmaking, NAGIS brings together studios, publishers, investors, and technology partners through curated programming, executive-led sessions, structured pitch meetings, and high-impact deal-making opportunities.
Hosted in Edmonton as part of Meibel Consulting’s five-year commitment to the city, NAGIS delivers focused industry networking, hosted hospitality, and exclusive access to decision-makers who can fund, publish, and scale creative work. All NAGIS tickets also include full access to Game Con Canada, now Canada’s largest gaming expo and winner of Business Event of the Year 2024, taking place June 19–21.
Together, NAGIS and Game Con Canada create a unique environment where B2B deal-making meets a massive consumer audience, connecting capital with creativity and building what’s next for the global games industry.
Industry Panel Sessions
Industry Panel Sessions bring together leading voices from across the gaming and technology sectors for insightful discussions on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry. Hosted across one of NAGIS’s three dedicated panel stages, these expert-led conversations offer attendees practical insights, diverse perspectives, and forward-looking ideas designed to inform decision-making and spark collaboration.
MeetToMatch Lounge
The MeetToMatch Lounge is a dedicated, business-only space designed to facilitate meaningful one-on-one meetings, collaboration, and deal flow throughout NAGIS. Powered by the MeetToMatch B2B matchmaking platform, the lounge enables developers, publishers, investors, and technology partners to schedule targeted meetings, connect with the right stakeholders, and move conversations forward in a focused, professional environment built for real business outcomes.
Game Dev Showcase Zone
The Game Dev Showcase Zone provides studios with turnkey demo booths to present new or unreleased titles in a professional, business-focused setting. Designed for visibility and discovery, this zone gives developers the opportunity to showcase gameplay directly to media, publishers, and investors, creating meaningful exposure, feedback opportunities, and pathways to publishing, funding, and partnership discussions.
Celebrity Chef: Shane M Chartrand
Business Breakfast & Lunch delivers gourmet breakfasts, hosted lunches, and thoughtfully curated culinary experiences. Led by Celebrity Top Chef Shane Chartrand and executive chef Jiju Paul of the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Each menu highlights the best of Canadian cuisine while creating a premium setting for conversation, connection, and professional networking.
Dedicated Pitch Sessions
Dedicated Pitch Sessions give selected developers the opportunity to present upcoming games directly to publishers and venture capital partners in a high-impact, professional setting. Submissions are curated through MeetToMatch, with chosen studios taking the main panel stage supported by full AV production and large-format LED displays, creating direct pathways to funding, publishing, and strategic partnerships.
Industry Night Mixer
Industry Night Mixer builds on the success of the Industry Nights hosted at Game Con Canada, bringing together developers, publishers, tech leaders, and industry stakeholders in an elevated networking environment. Designed to encourage meaningful conversations, this exclusive evening creates space for new connections, shared insights, and partnerships that extend well beyond the summit.
The people who build games, fund them, publish them, power them, and amplify them, Building What’s Next.
Game Makers
- Studio founders and leads (design, art, engineering, production)
- Indie to AA/AAA teams
- XR/spatial and emerging-tech builders
- Co-dev/outsourcing-ready teams
Publishing & Investment:
- Publishers scouting new titles and teams
- Investors (seed to growth) and strategic capital
- Co-publishing and funding partners
- Pitch-meeting ready dealmakers
Business:
- Executives and operators (COO, Biz Dev, Partnerships, Commercial)
- Brand/licensing and experiential partners
- Merch/retail/distribution decision-makers
Tools & Services
- Engines/middleware and dev tools
- QA, localization, porting, co-dev services
- Marketing/UA, community, analytics vendors
- Legal/finance/ops specialists for games
Community & Ecosystem:
- Economic development and education partners
- Accelerators/incubators and mentors
- Regional ecosystem leaders and connectors
Media:
- Press and industry outlets
- Creators/influencers and content teams
- Interviewers looking for stories/exclusives
Sponsors
