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GameDev Summit and DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy Explore Collaboration for GDS2027

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The GameDev Summit (GDS) Team met with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Office of Cultural Diplomacy on July 9, 2026, at the DFA office to explore potential areas of collaboration for GameDev Summit 2027, with discussions centered on strengthening international engagement, enhancing the attendee experience, and developing meaningful programming for the Summit.

The GDS Team met with Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano, Executive Director Arlene Magno, Assistant Director Marthy Angue, and Desk Assistants Shania Soriano and Chiara Tabarina, who joined the discussion on opportunities to connect GDS more closely with the Philippines’ cultural diplomacy and international engagement efforts.

The meeting forms part of GDS’ continuing efforts to work closely with Philippine government agencies as the Summit expands its international reach and welcomes a growing community of game developers, publishers, investors, external development partners, technology companies, and industry leaders from around the world.

Discussions centered on how GDS and the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy could work together to create a more seamless and meaningful experience for international delegates—from supporting greater international participation and engagement to exploring programming and initiatives that highlight the Philippines’ culture, creative talent, and growing role in the global video games industry.

Building a More Global GDS Experience

Since its launch, GameDev Summit has been built around one core idea: bringing the right people together to create meaningful relationships and opportunities that extend beyond the event itself.

As GDS continues to grow, creating a world-class attendee experience means looking beyond conference sessions and business meetings. The GDS Team is working to ensure that international guests experience the Philippines not only as the host of the Summit, but also as an emerging destination for game development, external development, original IP, creativity, and international collaboration.

The discussion with the Office of Cultural Diplomacy explored opportunities to strengthen this experience through greater international and cultural engagement, potential participation from the Philippines’ diplomatic network, and programming that can connect the global games community with the country’s creative and cultural identity.

Potential areas of collaboration also include initiatives that could help GDS engage international speakers, industry organizations, and delegations while creating more opportunities to showcase the Philippines and its game development ecosystem to a wider global audience.

Government and Industry Working Together

The meeting is part of a broader effort by the GDS Team to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and Philippine government agencies in building a more globally competitive and connected local video games industry.

Through these partnerships, GDS aims to create stronger pathways for Philippine studios and developers to connect with international partners while encouraging more global companies, investors, publishers, and industry leaders to discover opportunities within the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian games ecosystem.

For GDS, government collaboration is also an important part of delivering the experience the Summit has become known for—one that combines curated business connections, industry knowledge, meaningful conversations, and Filipino hospitality.

Working with agencies such as the DFA also opens opportunities to bring a stronger cultural dimension to the Summit, allowing international delegates to better understand and experience the Philippines while building professional relationships with the country’s game development community.

Looking Ahead to GameDev Summit 2027

GameDev Summit 2027 will take place from February 15–17, 2027, at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Clark, Philippines.

The upcoming edition will carry the theme “Building Games Together: Indie Innovation, External Development, and the Future of Sustainable Game Production,” reflecting GDS’ continued focus on collaboration across the global games ecosystem.

The Summit is expected to welcome 400–450 attendees from more than 40 countries, bringing together decision-makers and professionals across game development, publishing, external development, investment, technology, original IP, and the broader creative industries.

GDS2027 will feature keynotes, fireside conversations, workshops, curated table discussions, investor and publisher sessions, pitch reviews, the Philippine Indie Showcase, structured B2B meetings, and networking experiences designed to turn introductions into long-term partnerships.

As preparations continue, the GDS Team is working with partners across government and industry to make the 2027 edition an even more connected, international, and distinctly Filipino experience.

The July 9 meeting with the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy represents another step toward that goal—strengthening bridges between the Philippines and the global games community and ensuring that when international delegates come to GDS, they experience not only a world-class business event, but also the creativity, hospitality, and culture that the Philippines has to offer.

Further announcements on GDS2027 programming, speakers, international partnerships, and government collaborations will be shared in the coming months.

About GameDev Summit

GameDev Summit (GDS) is the flagship international B2B conference created, produced, and presented by GameOps, Inc., a Philippine-based game services company dedicated to advancing collaboration and sustainable growth across the global video games industry. Held annually in the Philippines, GDS brings together game developers, publishers, external development studios, investors, technology companies, educators, government agencies, and industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and build the future of game development.

As the company behind GameDev Summit, GameOps created GDS to serve as more than just an annual conference—it is a platform for fostering strategic partnerships, sharing knowledge, showcasing innovation, and strengthening connections between Asia and the global games ecosystem. Since its launch, GDS has grown into one of Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing video game industry events, helping position the Philippines as an emerging hub for game development, external development, and original IP while creating opportunities that extend far beyond the summit itself.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The GameDev Summit (GDS) Team met with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – Office of Cultural Diplomacy on July 9, 2026, at the DFA office to explore potential areas of collaboration for GameDev Summit 2027, with discussions centered on strengthening international engagement, enhancing the attendee experience, and developing meaningful programming for the Summit.

The GDS Team met with Assistant Secretary Raquel Solano, Executive Director Arlene Magno, Assistant Director Marthy Angue, and Desk Assistants Shania Soriano and Chiara Tabarina, who joined the discussion on opportunities to connect GDS more closely with the Philippines’ cultural diplomacy and international engagement efforts.

The meeting forms part of GDS’ continuing efforts to work closely with Philippine government agencies as the Summit expands its international reach and welcomes a growing community of game developers, publishers, investors, external development partners, technology companies, and industry leaders from around the world.

Discussions centered on how GDS and the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy could work together to create a more seamless and meaningful experience for international delegates—from supporting greater international participation and engagement to exploring programming and initiatives that highlight the Philippines’ culture, creative talent, and growing role in the global video games industry.

Building a More Global GDS Experience

Since its launch, GameDev Summit has been built around one core idea: bringing the right people together to create meaningful relationships and opportunities that extend beyond the event itself.

As GDS continues to grow, creating a world-class attendee experience means looking beyond conference sessions and business meetings. The GDS Team is working to ensure that international guests experience the Philippines not only as the host of the Summit, but also as an emerging destination for game development, external development, original IP, creativity, and international collaboration.

The discussion with the Office of Cultural Diplomacy explored opportunities to strengthen this experience through greater international and cultural engagement, potential participation from the Philippines’ diplomatic network, and programming that can connect the global games community with the country’s creative and cultural identity.

Potential areas of collaboration also include initiatives that could help GDS engage international speakers, industry organizations, and delegations while creating more opportunities to showcase the Philippines and its game development ecosystem to a wider global audience.

Government and Industry Working Together

The meeting is part of a broader effort by the GDS Team to strengthen collaboration between the private sector and Philippine government agencies in building a more globally competitive and connected local video games industry.

Through these partnerships, GDS aims to create stronger pathways for Philippine studios and developers to connect with international partners while encouraging more global companies, investors, publishers, and industry leaders to discover opportunities within the Philippines and the wider Southeast Asian games ecosystem.

For GDS, government collaboration is also an important part of delivering the experience the Summit has become known for—one that combines curated business connections, industry knowledge, meaningful conversations, and Filipino hospitality.

Working with agencies such as the DFA also opens opportunities to bring a stronger cultural dimension to the Summit, allowing international delegates to better understand and experience the Philippines while building professional relationships with the country’s game development community.

Looking Ahead to GameDev Summit 2027

GameDev Summit 2027 will take place from February 15–17, 2027, at Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort in Clark, Philippines.

The upcoming edition will carry the theme “Building Games Together: Indie Innovation, External Development, and the Future of Sustainable Game Production,” reflecting GDS’ continued focus on collaboration across the global games ecosystem.

The Summit is expected to welcome 400–450 attendees from more than 40 countries, bringing together decision-makers and professionals across game development, publishing, external development, investment, technology, original IP, and the broader creative industries.

GDS2027 will feature keynotes, fireside conversations, workshops, curated table discussions, investor and publisher sessions, pitch reviews, the Philippine Indie Showcase, structured B2B meetings, and networking experiences designed to turn introductions into long-term partnerships.

As preparations continue, the GDS Team is working with partners across government and industry to make the 2027 edition an even more connected, international, and distinctly Filipino experience.

The July 9 meeting with the DFA Office of Cultural Diplomacy represents another step toward that goal—strengthening bridges between the Philippines and the global games community and ensuring that when international delegates come to GDS, they experience not only a world-class business event, but also the creativity, hospitality, and culture that the Philippines has to offer.

Further announcements on GDS2027 programming, speakers, international partnerships, and government collaborations will be shared in the coming months.

About GameDev Summit

GameDev Summit (GDS) is the flagship international B2B conference created, produced, and presented by GameOps, Inc., a Philippine-based game services company dedicated to advancing collaboration and sustainable growth across the global video games industry. Held annually in the Philippines, GDS brings together game developers, publishers, external development studios, investors, technology companies, educators, government agencies, and industry leaders to connect, collaborate, and build the future of game development.

As the company behind GameDev Summit, GameOps created GDS to serve as more than just an annual conference—it is a platform for fostering strategic partnerships, sharing knowledge, showcasing innovation, and strengthening connections between Asia and the global games ecosystem. Since its launch, GDS has grown into one of Asia-Pacific’s fastest-growing video game industry events, helping position the Philippines as an emerging hub for game development, external development, and original IP while creating opportunities that extend far beyond the summit itself.