Nordic Game 2026 Unveils New Speakers and Inaugural AI Track

Nordic Game, scheduled for May 26-29 at Slagthuset in Malmö, has unveiled its latest roster of speakers and introduced its inaugural AI Track.

Among the new speakers are Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Eriksson from Wishfully, the studio behind "Planet of Lana." They will share their unique 30-year journey of game development, highlighting the perseverance required to bring their vision to life. Juliette Auverny-Bennetot from Raw Fury/Combined Effect will offer insights into contemporary game publishing strategies, while Trine Laier of Those Eyes studio will explore innovative gameplay mechanics designed to surprise players and foster deeper emotional connections.

John Dower, with experience from Rockstar Games and Saber Interactive, will lead a panel on motion capture in modern game development, providing practical knowledge and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Amanda Gardfors Granberg and Alexander Benitez from Windup Games will focus on player-first design principles and creating engaging gameplay loops.

These additions join an already impressive lineup, including Anna Norrevik (DICE), who will discuss the collaborative development of "Battlefield 6," and Gerardo Basurto (Embark Studios), who will delve into the success of "Arc Raiders." More speakers are set to be announced soon.

Beyond the talks, the conference will feature the return of the Nordic Pitch event, offering developers a three-minute platform to showcase their games. The Games Industry Network, a comprehensive B2B social platform and database, will also be available.

AI Track

A significant new addition this year is the AI Track, curated by ImmerSynth Inc.

Key speakers for the AI Track include Alastair Chamorro and Alexander Chamorro from Infinity Fiction, joined by Jeff Gardiner of Something Wicked Games, and John Clark, an advisor to Infinity Fiction and former EVP of publishing at Sega Europe.

Their presentation, titled "Human-Led AI: the Future of Role Playing Games," will explore how a human-centric approach to AI can scale storytelling, enhance game design, and unlock new gameplay features, all while safeguarding intellectual property, narrative integrity, and player trust.

Further sessions will include Tatu Petersen-Jessen, CEO of Odd Latent, discussing the challenges and insights of establishing an AI-native studio. Ewa Antczak, CEO of Felixa, will address the psychology and technology vital for fostering safer online environments. Finally, Jan Schnyder, CEO of Nunu AI, will present "AI Game QA: What actually works today?", offering a practical overview of current effective AI applications in game quality assurance.

Nordic Game 2026 anticipates welcoming over 3,000 attendees and showcasing more than 100 indie games. Early bird tickets are available with a €100 discount until April 30.

Jacob Riis, Nordic Game program director, has previously highlighted the growing influence of indie gaming within the industry.