VicScreen locks in top global games publishers for Play Now Melbourne 2026

Play Now Melbourne 2025. Photo by Daniel Mahon.

Australia’s largest games market Play Now Melbourne is gearing up for its biggest year yet with the world’s top game publishers confirmed to attend.

Devolver Digital, Massive Monster, PlaySide Studios, Pavlova Games, Evil Landfall, Fellow Traveller, Focus Entertainment, Dotemu, The Arcade Crew, Umbrella Entertainment, Ultra Players, and WINGS have already signed on to attend.

Joining them are thatgamecompany, Creature, Jackbox Games and PlayStack, who are attending the market for the first time. 

Presented by VicScreen, Victoria’s creative and economic screen development agency, with assistance from Screen Australia, Play Now Melbourne brings together local game developers, publishers, platform holders and investors, providing Australian creatives the unique opportunity to pitch their games to the international market and sell their games to the world. 

First held in 2023, Play Now Melbourne has rapidly become the leading marketplace for doing business with Australia’s digital games sector, drawing international publishers and platform holders to Melbourne in search of Australia’s most exciting new games projects and talent.

In 2025, across 230 meetings, 78 developer teams presented $44 million worth of projects to 21 publishers, investors, and platform holders.

Play Now Melbourne is also locked in for 2027, creating an ongoing opportunity for homegrown game makers to create meaningful business opportunities and propel their work onto the global stage. 

Game developers from across Australia who have projects in active development looking to secure funding, publishing services, or marketplace support are invited to submit an Expression of Interest. There is no fee to take part in Play Now Melbourne. 

Expressions of Interest close on Monday 29 June. For more information visit https://vicscreen.vic.gov.au/playnow/

VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher said, “Play Now Melbourne has quickly become a powerful launchpad for Australian creators, opening doors to global partners and accelerating the growth of our games industry. Now in its fourth year, the event has grown to support more connections and opportunities to put Australian games in the hands of players around the world.”

Screen Australia Head of Games Joey Egger said, “We’re proud to once again support Play Now Melbourne, an event that continues to highlight the depth, innovation and growing influence of Australia’s games industry. The strength of the local sector has never been more exciting. By bringing developers together with publishers, platform holders and investors, Play Now plays an important role in creating opportunities, building connections and celebrating the talent driving the industry forward.”

Learn more about VicScreen’s Digital Games programs here.