Game Fest 2025: International Festival of the Gaming and Animation Industries Commences in Tashkent

On May 16, IT Park Tashkent hosted the opening of Game Fest 2025, an international festival of considerable scale that brought together game developers, investors, animators, and industry enthusiasts from around the world. The event was organized with the support of the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Uzbekistan Creative Association, and GameDev HQ.

 

 

Game and Animation Expo served as a global platform for leading game publishers from around the globe. The exhibition brought together prominent industry players, facilitating direct engagement with international companies and publishers. Attendees had the opportunity to explore immersive VR and AR experiences, interact with state-of-the-art animation studios, and visit the Digital Garden, which showcased cutting-edge gaming technologies. The exposition featured dedicated zones for game studios, publishers, VR/AR solutions, animation, Digital Garden and the latest games, creating an ideal platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaborative industry development.

 

 

The two-day program comprises a series of conferences, exhibitions, pitch sessions for startups, and thematic forums dedicated to gaming and animation. Distinguished speakers and participants include senior representatives from leading international companies, investors, and industry experts, such as Kirill and Roman Gurskiy (Gem Capital), Jonathan Weinberger (GameDevHQ), as well as executives from Krafton, ProxyPlanet, HP Inc., and other global firms.

 

Key components of the festival program include:

• Game & Animation Expo — an exhibition of the latest video games, VR/AR solutions, and animation studios, offering participants direct access to pioneering projects and developers.
• Game Forum and Animation Forum — expert-led discussions on global market trends, the development of Uzbekistan’s local game development sector, women’s leadership in the industry, and the export potential of domestic IT products.
• ScaleUp & Fund: Pitch Session — an investment platform enabling emerging studios to present their projects to venture capital funds and publishers, thereby gaining access to financing and international collaboration opportunities.
• B2B Growth Exchange and Artist Alley — professional networking spaces and exhibitions showcasing the work of independent artists.

 

Particular emphasis was placed on nurturing local talent, supporting startups, and fostering knowledge-sharing between international and Uzbek companies. 

 

 

During the festival, Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda, a representative of IT Park Uzbekistan, delivered a presentation on Uzbekistan’s potential for game industry development. In his remarks, he stated:

 

“Uzbekistan today represents a rapidly evolving startup ecosystem, with all the necessary conditions in place to support the growth and international scaling of game development companies. We offer attractive tax incentives, access to a skilled talent pool, modern infrastructure, and comprehensive business support mechanisms. Game development companies are increasingly choosing Uzbekistan due to its strategic geographic location, vibrant community, and accessibility to global markets. We firmly believe that IT Park will become the birthplace of projects that shape the future of the global gaming industry.”

 

Game Fest 2025 not only became the premier platform for presenting innovations in the gaming and animation sectors, but also marked a significant step forward in advancing Uzbekistan’s digital economy. The event underscored the strong potential of local professionals and further solidified Uzbekistan’s position on the global map of creative industries — unlocking new avenues for collaboration, investment, and sustainable growth.