Playcon, Malta’s first Games Development and ESports Expo, launched

Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation Silvio Schembri this week launched Playcon; Malta’s first Games Development and eSports Expo.

“Playcon is yet another new initiative that the secretariat is supporting to continue to innovate and propel our digital economy. This event will be an add-on to the DELTA Summit and part of the Malta Tech Week. Playcon will not only be a showcase of games and eSports, but it will also include education-related initiatives aimed to inform and educate children, young people and adults about these new emerging industries, and the exciting opportunities they hold” said Silvio Schembri.

The parliamentary secretary added that, since the launch of Malta’s vision for the Games Development and eSports sectors, a lot of work has been done to help this industry’s ecosystem move forward, Playcon being a clear example of such.

“As a government, together with the entities involved, we are helping Maltese stakeholders to tap into these lucrative sectors which provide a myriad of opportunities for those in digital arts, media, marketing and sports industries”, said the parliamentary secretary. “This is why Playcon goes hand in hand with the DELTA Summit and the Malta Tech Week, in serving as an ideal platform in our efforts to reach out to the public to better understand the benefits of new technology and the opportunities it holds to our future generations, be it in their daily use, jobs and careers’.

Parliamentary Secretary Schembri expressed his satisfaction over the success achieved in this industry by two Maltese professional eSports players, Kurt Fenech and Christian Spiteri, who made a name for themselves internationally. This also goes for Daniel Vella Gobey, aka ‘Jokerd’, a Maltese gamer and streamer, who managed to reach new levels globally in a game called World of Warcraft.

“We want their experiences replicated among other Maltese youths who aspire to become pros in digital sports”, said Silvio Schembri.

Ivan Filletti, Head of Operations and Business Development for GamingMalta, explained that Playcon is one of the several initiatives that are being taken to implement Malta’s strategy for this sector. “We believe that Malta has all the key ingredients for these industries to develop successfully, and we are doing our utmost to boost the sectors. GamingMalta is working hard to roll out sectoral initiatives with the aim of implementing this strategy and help reach the country’s objectives”, said Ivan Filletti.

Kersten Chircop from GMR Entertainment explained that Playcon Delta Summit Edition will be held between the 3rd and 6th October at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali; consisting of 3,000+ square meters of expo space under one roof complimenting the DELTA Summit.

“This space will be dedicated for several eSports competitions of games; such as FIFA 20, Clash Royale, CS: GO, Brawl Stars, Tekken 7, Rocket League and SIM Racing, amongst others. It will offer interactive game experiences with the use of virtual reality for all the family, promotion of games developed in Malta, the promotion of careers within the Games Development and eSports sectors, educational sessions on the industry of eSports, and a 48hr Game Jam, involving the students of Malta’s leading educational institutions offering game development courses and the chance for the public to meet local eSports superstars”, said Kersten Chircop.

“We are also looking at having several bootcamps over the weekend where aspiring eSport players can enrol for an immersive experience into the eSports industry”, Kersten Chircop said.

It was explained that the expo will be open on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October for businesses and school students only. After that, the Playcon Expo will be open for the general public, free of charge, during the weekend Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October.

Playcon’s Games Development and eSports Summit will be held on Friday 4th October, a thought leadership summit for all those working in these thriving industries as part of Malta Tech Week. The summit will have the participation of 40+ international and local speakers who will share their knowledge through keynote speeches and discussion panels.