SESSIONS

From Execution to Elevation: What Global Buyers Need Next—and How SEA Studios Can Lead in 2026

Grand Ballroom 3
10:45 am - 11:30 am

As global game development races toward deeper co-dev, sharper specialization, and more culturally fluent collaboration, Southeast Asia stands at a pivotal moment. In this fast-paced 60-minute session, four international leaders will break down the trends redefining external development in 2026—from the shift toward true partnership maturity and ownership, to the nuances of cross-cultural communication, asynchronous workflows, psychological safety, and conflict resolution across regions. Designed for SEA sellers, global buyers, and ambitious indies, the panel explores how small and specialised studios can seize new opportunities, navigate AAA expectations, leverage geographic diversity, prepare for GenAI disruption, and build the leadership and production discipline needed to compete globally. This is a candid look at where SEA shines, where it must evolve, and how the region can transform from execution partner to indispensable global co-developer.

As global game development races toward deeper co-dev, sharper specialization, and more culturally fluent collaboration, Southeast Asia stands at a pivotal moment. In this fast-paced 60-minute session, four international leaders will break down the trends redefining external development in 2026—from the shift toward true partnership maturity and ownership, to the nuances of cross-cultural communication, asynchronous workflows, psychological safety, and conflict resolution across regions. Designed for SEA sellers, global buyers, and ambitious indies, the panel explores how small and specialised studios can seize new opportunities, navigate AAA expectations, leverage geographic diversity, prepare for GenAI disruption, and build the leadership and production discipline needed to compete globally. This is a candid look at where SEA shines, where it must evolve, and how the region can transform from execution partner to indispensable global co-developer.