Didimo at Devcom and Gamescom 2023: Industry Trends, Global Connections, and New Possibilities

This month Didimo had the pleasure of attending Devcom and Gamescom in Cologne, where the video game industry came together in full force. It was an inspiring and fast-paced week filled with meaningful connections, new ideas, and exciting trends for the future of gaming.

Our own Raphael Benros, Product Marketer at Didimo, shared some of the highlights from his experience:

"Sunny and beautiful time in Cologne for this year's Devcom and Gamescom 👾 Here are some highlights:
🚶 50 miles walked over 6 days (116,000 steps)
🎉 10 networking events attended
🌍 40+ nationalities represented in one-on-one conversations with people from creative, technical, and business backgrounds!"

The gaming industry’s global reach was clear, with over 40 nationalities represented. This diverse exchange of ideas reinforces the potential of video games to bridge cultures and drive meaningful connections, something Didimo is thrilled to be a part of. As a deep-tech company specializing in scalable 3D character solutions, we were inspired by emerging trends that align closely with our mission to push the limits of character production.

Key Trends in Game Development

Several industry trends stood out during our time in Cologne, reflecting an industry that is both innovating and evolving:

• Sustainable Game Development: Many conversations touched on the importance of sustainable practices in game development. Initiatives like Playing for the Planet and companies such as MetaGravity are leading the way. Didimo is excited to contribute to this movement by creating efficient, automated solutions for 3D character production that reduce resource demand.
• Character Diversity and Player Representation: As player bases become increasingly global, character diversity and representation continue to grow as priorities. Didimo’s Popul8 platform is designed to support diverse, scalable character creation, enabling studios to create unique and culturally resonant characters at scale.
• Advances in AI and Automation: AI and automation continue to reshape game development pipelines. Tools like Popul8 help automate asset fitting, animation retargeting, and character optimization, which can speed up production and lower costs—essential in today’s fast-paced game development environment.

Celebrating Connections

In addition to exploring trends, Didimo’s team attended numerous networking events and connected with industry professionals from across the globe. Events like Devcom and Gamescom are invaluable for sharing knowledge and experiences with other innovators in gaming, and we look forward to following up with many of our new contacts. Raphael’s shoutouts reflect the support and camaraderie that make these events so special:

"Games is global 🤝 Games is meaningful 🌱 Being in the games industry is always inspiring 🌟"

On to XDS Spark in Vancouver

As we look ahead to the XDS Spark in Vancouver, we’re excited to bring the insights gained in Cologne into new conversations. Gamescom and Devcom highlighted just how dynamic and impactful the gaming world is—and we’re ready to dive deeper, collaborate more, and continue shaping the future of character creation in gaming.

Cheers to the incredible community of creators, developers, and innovators who make it all possible. Here’s to more milestones and connections!