GameFest-2026 Results: Uzbekistan Strengthens Its Position in the GameDev Industry

The international gaming and animation industry festival “GameFest-2026” has concluded in Tashkent. Over the course of two days, the event brought together more than 10,000 participants, over 100 companies, and industry representatives from more than 40 countries. The festival became one of the region’s largest platforms for discussing the development of GameDev, animation, and creative tech.

The festival was organized by the Uzbekistan Creative Association with the support of the Ministry of Digital Technologies of Uzbekistan. The program featured international studios, investors, game publishers, animators, digital artists, and venture capital representatives. Among the guests were representatives of Behold Ventures, Ludus VC, Firstpoint VC, Google, Xsolla, and other companies.

As part of “GameFest-2026,” attendees participated in panel discussions, pitch sessions, educational workshops, cosplay shows, and an international Game Jam with a prize pool of 125 million UZS. Participants presented game projects for PC and mobile platforms, as well as animation works created using Blender, Unreal Engine, and Cinema 4D.

The festival also hosted a closed-door meeting titled “Investors Roundtable & Central Asian Game Alliance MoU Signing,” dedicated to the development of the regional gaming ecosystem, investment opportunities, and international cooperation in the GameDev sector. Representatives of international and local venture funds and companies took part in the meeting, including Behold VC, Kameha VC, Firstpoint VC, Xsolla, Google, IT Park Ventures, Aloqa Ventures, Yoshlar Ventures, United Ventures, and UzVC.

One of the festival’s key highlights was the signing of an agreement to establish the “World GameDev and Animation Association,” which aims to unite the international gaming and animation community.

During the festival, Uzbekistan’s GameDev and animation industry development strategy through 2030 was also presented. According to the plan, the number of IT Park residents operating in the GameDev sector is expected to grow to 400 companies, while industry exports are projected to reach $1 billion. In addition, more than 10,000 specialists are expected to be trained across the regions of the country.

Special attention was given to infrastructure development. By the end of 2026, a specialized GameDev Hub covering more than 4,500 square meters is planned to open in central Tashkent, featuring Motion Capture and Lidar studios. In addition, $100 million in venture capital funding is expected to be allocated to support startups and local projects.

Today, the gaming and animation industry is considered one of the most promising areas for the development of Uzbekistan’s digital economy. According to the organizers, over the past three years the country’s video game exports have increased 21-fold, reaching $200 million, while the number of GameDev companies resident in IT Park has tripled to 75.

The hosting of “GameFest-2026” became another important step in promoting Uzbekistan as a regional hub for the gaming and creative industries. The festival not only opened new opportunities for local studios and young professionals, but also strengthened the interest of international investors and partners in the country’s IT ecosystem.