Play Now Melbourne is officially returning on 8 October, as a flagship game developer-focused event for Melbourne International Games Week 2026.
Each year, Play Now Melbourne connects local video game developers with prominent publishers, investors and platform holders, with the overarching goal of gathering support and potential buyers to bring Australian-made games to the world.
Play Now Melbourne 2026 – quick links
An opportunity to pitch to publishers and investors
As shared by VicScreen, an array of globally-recognised publishers and investors have already been locked in for the 2026 event, including Devolver Digital, Massive Monster, PlaySide Studios, Pavlova Games, Evil Landfall, Fellow Traveller, Focus Entertainment, Dotemu, The Arcade Crew, Umbrella Entertainment, Ultra Players and WINGS.
More names are expected to join this list shortly, providing a wide panel for eligible developers to pitch their works to.
Update 22/6: So far, additional publishers on board include thatgamescompany, Creature, Jackbox Games, and Playstack, all of which tend to publish unique, clever, and creative games.
In 2025, Play Now Melbourne saw 78 developer teams presenting their projects to 21 publishers, investors and platform holders over 230 total meetings, with pairings determined by taste, genre, style and intended direction.
‘At an event like this, both parties are here to do business so it feels like a very even playing field,’ Nico King, co-founder and Executive Creative Director at Chaos Theory Games, told ScreenHub during the event.
‘The alternative of encountering a publisher at a networking event can feel a bit like you’re ambushing them and you don’t know what status they are – are they looking for projects?’
James Lockrey, co-founder and Managing Director of Chaos Theory Games described it as a positive, hopeful experience, pairing publishers on the hunt for cool, creative games with developers who believe they have the games to match.
How to register for Play Now Melbourne 2026
Expressions of interest for Play Now Melbourne 2026 will open on 25 May.
Game developers from across Australia – not just in Melbourne – who have projects in active development, and who are looking to secure funding, publishing services or marketplace support, are encouraged to submit their interest.
It will likely be a very competitive field, as opportunities for funding in general are quite scarce, so developers should consider spending ample time on their application to put their best foot forward.
Play Now Melbourne 2027 has already been locked in, per VicScreen, so there will be a chance to apply next year if this year’s submission is rejected.
As shared by the organisers, there is a push to continue supporting Australian-made games long-term, with plans for Play Now to continue for fruitful years to come.
‘Victoria is bursting with exceptional games talent,’ said VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher. ‘Our developers create unforgettable games that are clever and globally loved.’
‘Play Now Melbourne has become a powerful springboard for Australian creators, opening doors to global partners and accelerating the growth of our games industry. We’re proud to champion the talent driving this sector forward and to help turn great ideas into real commercial success.’
As shared by Graeme Struthers, Devolver Digital Co-Founder and participant in Play Now Melbourne, the now-annual event represents a ‘gold standard’ for games.
‘We look forward to Play Now Melbourne every year,’ Struthers says. ‘Frankly, this event is the gold standard. The depth and quality of games that have come through VicScreen and Play Now up until now speaks volumes to the investment and understanding VicScreen has brought to the indie games scene.’
Expressions of interest for Play Now Melbourne 2026 are open to 25 May.
Also on ScreenHub: Inside Play Now Melbourne 2025, the invaluable event for Aussie game devs and publishers
It’s no secret that getting a game published in this day and age is a black art. In the current economic climate, publishers are more reluctant to invest in new, bold video games, particularly those considered innovative and unproven in the market.
In recent times, developers have been forced to go it alone, charting their own path through bespoke marketing or rare government support opportunities, attempting to gather enough wishlists and interest to be considered by publishers at all. These modern trends are why Play Now Melbourne 2025 felt like such an important and necessary event.
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