PLAYCON 2023 was a successful 4-day video game exhibition in Malta that drew over 25,000 attendees. It featured exhibits from over 50 game developers and companies, as well as esports tournaments, a summit with over 40 speakers, and other events. Key highlights included a large Tekken tournament, networking events, educational programs, and the first PLAYCON cosplay competition. The exhibition helped foster connections within the gaming industry and inspire the next generation of game developers.

1. AFTER EVENT
REPORT
2023

2. INTRODUCTION
PLAYCON, Malta’s premier exhibition of video game development, esports, and emerging technologies,
brought together industry leaders to showcase their innovations and engage with attendees on the future
of this dynamic field.
Thisyear’seventpresentedanotheropportunityforbothseasonedgamersandnewcomerstowitnessfirsthand
the transformative power of video gaming, paving the way for economic growth, youth empowerment, and
community development.

3. PLAYCON 2023
PLAYCON 2023 was a resounding success, drawing together thousands of attendees to celebrate the vibrant
world of video games, esports, and emerging technologies.
This year’s edition, held at MFCC, brought together a stellar lineup of exhibitors, including game developers,
retail outlets, international franchises and esports companies. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the
latest advancements in gaming technology, immerse themselves in interactive experiences, and engage
with industry experts from around the globe.
PLAYCON 2023 also featured a packed schedule of engaging events, including the PLAYCON Summit, which
brought together industry leaders, and the Cosplay Competition, which showcased the talents of local and
international cosplayers. The expo also hosted a variety of competitions and tournaments, providing a
platform for aspiring esports athletes to showcase their skills.
Throughout its four-day run, PLAYCON 2023 served as a vibrant hub for the gaming community, fostering
connections and inspiring the next generation of game developers and players.

4. 25,000+
ATTENDEES
40+
SPEAKERS
12,000,000+
ONLINE
IMPRESSIONS
50+
LOCAL & FOREIGN
EXHIBITORS
OFFICIAL STATISTICS

5. EXHIBITORS
UBISOFT SHOWCASING ASSASSIN’S
CREED MIRAGE, JUST DANCE 2024
AND THE CREW MOTORFEST
PEPSI BOOTH OFFERING A VR
EXPERIENCE ON BEAT SABER
KITKAT BOOTH WITH
A FULL-BODY VR EXPERIENCE
RETRO GAMING AT THE
MICROCOMPUTING SOCIETY BOOTH STUDENTS INERACTING WITH
A LEMMING ON EXIENT’S BOOTH

6. FLOOR MAP
01
02
03 08
09
10
11
04
05
06
07
49
13
14
15
12
20
18
19
31 32
17
30
28
29
35
41
36
37
27
26
24
25
38
39
44
45
40
42
43
47
46
23
22
16
21
33
34 48
EDUCATION
EMERGING TECH
STAGES
ESPORTS
TABLETOP GAMES
RETAIL
GAME STUDIOS
OTHERS
ENTRANCE
FOOD / DRINKS
FIRST AID
EMERGENCY EXITS
P.01 VR Events Coaster
P.02 Microcomputing Society
P.03 Malta Statue Collectors
P.04 Xpert
P.05 Missio
P.06 Team Pulze
P.07 Project Eversio / MESA
P.08 Nobel Courses
P.09 Rupture
P.10 Blood Bowl
P.11 Valid Unit
P.12.1 GMR
P.12.2 GMR Stage
P.12.3 GMR Competition Area
P.13 ESL
P.14 Vibe FM
P.15 Red Bull
P.16 McDonald’s
P.17 GamingMalta
P.18 Exient
P.19.1 Keywords Studios
P.19.2 Sperasoft
P.19.3 Electric Square
P.20 Pringles
P.21 Intercomp
P.22 EIET
P.23 Velocity Gaming
P.24 University of Malta
P.25 MDIA
P.26 MCAST
P.27 MCAST Game Jam
P.28 BAR
P.29 Sugar Geeks
P.30 Artistic Mural
P.31 Dorado Games
P.32 HASOO
P.33 Eden Esports
P.34 Level Academy
P.35 Saint Martin's Institute
of Higher Education
P.36 Sound Machine
P.37 Jobsplus
P.38 Invent 3D
P.39 GameBreaker
P.40 Ubisoft
P.41 KitKat
P.42 Pepsi
P.43 Minecraft Education
P.44 NGM
P.45 World Pro Racing
P.46 Forbidden Power
P.47 Draw & Code
P.48 Edu@PLAYCON
P.49 Main Stage

7. €5,000
Cash Prize
160+
Participants
150,000+
Online Impressions
PLAYCON also featured the
largest Tekken Tournament
to ever take place in Malta,
with a €5,000 Prize Pool and
the participation of a large
number of foreign athletes,
including the legendary Bae
“Knee” Jae-Min, Kang “Chanel”
Seong-ho and Daniel “Danielmado”
Madonia. The MCS VII featured
none less than 3 Online Qualifiers, a
Regional Qualifier and a Last Chance
Qualifier, all leading to Main Event that
took place on Sunday 3rd December.
MALTA CYBER
SERIES

8. COUNTER-STRIKE 2
ORGANISED BY
40
PARTICIPANTS
€1,500
PRIZE POOL
OTHER ESPORTS COMPETITIONS
ROCKET LEAGUE
ORGANISED BY
24
PARTICIPANTS
€1,000
PRIZE POOL
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS
ORGANISED BY
60
PARTICIPANTS
€1,500
PRIZE POOL
EA SPORTS FC 24
ORGANISED BY
72
PARTICIPANTS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS

9. SUPER SMASH BROS
ORGANISED BY
16
PARTICIPANTS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS
16+
PARTICIPANTS
16+
PARTICIPANTS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS
ASSETTO CORSA
ORGANISED BY
EA SPORTS WRC
ORGANISED BY
80
PARTICIPANTS
142
PARTICIPANTS
€1,000
PRIZE POOL
€500
PRIZE POOL
POKÉMON VGC
ORGANISED BY
16
PARTICIPANTS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS
MARIO KART 8 DELUXE
ORGANISED BY
16
PARTICIPANTS
TROPHIES
TO THE TOP
3 PLAYERS

10. €500
Cash Prize
40+
Participants
800+
Live Audience
PLAYCON 2023 wasn’t just about the latest games and hottest industry talks; it was also a celebration of
creativity and fandom with the inaugural PLAYCON Cosplay Competition! This electrifying event, brimming
with passion and artistry, marked a milestone for the summit, drawing a phenomenal turnout from cosplayers
and captivating the general audience.
PLAYCON 2023’s first-ever Cosplay Competition was a resounding success, exceeding all expectations and
proving the power of cosplay to unite and inspire.

11. PLAYCON SUMMIT
PLAYCON Summit took place on Thursday 30th November and Friday 1st December, where over 40 local and
international speakers came together to share their knowledge and work experiences in these sectors.
With a number of high-profile speakers such as Michael Quintana, Melissa Brown, Sinead Hosey, Martyn Hughes,
Stefan Ideler, Pontus Mähler and Gary Boyle, amongst others, the summit also offered a networking opportunity for
summit participants, build relationships within the industry on both a local and international scale.
The PLAYCON Summit was targeted to anyone who is either already in the GameDev & Esports sectors or is relatively
new and wants to explore and learn more about one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

12. MEET TO MATCH PLATFORM
PLAYCON Summit 2023 took networking to the next level with MeetToMatch, an innovative platform that streamlined
connections. Gone were the days of scrambling to catch an impromptu conversation in the hallway.
Instead, attendees seamlessly scheduled one-on-one meetings in a dedicated, conveniently located space right next
to the summit hub. This facilitated focused discussions, partnerships forged, and ideas sparked - all thanks to the
power of pre-planned encounters fueled by MeetToMatch.
60+
MEETINGS 100+
REGISTERED
PARTICIPANTS

13. SPECIAL GUESTS
BAE “KNEE” JAE-MIN
PROFESSIONAL TEKKEN 7 PLAYER
HON. SILVIO SCHEMBRI
MINISTER FOR THE ECONOMY,
EU FUNDS & LANDS
FRANK ZAMMIT
LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER
& RADIO HOST
KANG “CHANEL” SEONG-HO
PROFESSIONAL TEKKEN 7 PLAYER
SHINORISU
INTERNATIONAL COSPLAYER
SANDMAX24
LOCAL SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER
HON. CLIFTON GRIMA
MINISTER FOR EDUCATION, SPORT,
YOUTH, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
DANIEL “DANIELMADO”
MADONIA
PROFESSIONAL TEKKEN 7 PLAYER
RYAN HART
MULTI-GAME WORLD CHAMPION

14. The expo area included a dedicated educational area of more than 1000m2
branded ‘EDU AT
PLAYCON‘, which showcased various educational programmes and initiatives promoting the use of
technology in learning.
Additionally, over 3000 primary and secondary students visited PLAYCON between Thursday 30th
November and Friday 1st December to participate in a number of interactive workshops whilst also
interacting with the activities that were taking place in the expo area.
EDU AT PLAYCON
1,000+
EXPO AREA
3,000+
STUDENTS

16. PLAYCON 2023 kicked off in grand style with the PLAYCON
International Networking Night, a collaborative Launch Event hosted
by PLAYCON and Global Top Round. Held at the Malta Business Registry
in Zejtun, the evening was a dazzling affair that brought together industry
leaders and professionals from all corners of the globe.
As the official Launch Event for PLAYCON 2023, the Networking Night set the
tone for a week of groundbreaking discussions, innovative developments, and
invaluable partnerships. This was truly a night where global ambitions met local
charm, as the spirit of collaboration took center stage.
PLAYCON INTERNATIONAL
NETWORKING NIGHT

17. PLAYCON OFFICIAL B2B PARTY
As the curtains closed on PLAYCON’s first day, the energy shifted
from the conference floor to the vibrant Ivy House in Pembroke,
where the PLAYCON Official B2B Party awaited.
B2B delegates, exhibitors, and VIPs mingled amidst the elegant
ambiance, swapping conference insights over clinking glasses.
Laughter filled the air as connections were forged, ideas sparked, and
partnerships blossomed in the relaxed atmosphere. This wasn’t just a
networking event; it was a celebration of the industry’s collaborative
spirit.

18. SUNGLASSES AT NIGHT
To cap off the PLAYCON events, the Sunglasses at Night club night invited delegates to
let loose and celebrate. This nighttime extravaganza embraced the vibrant nightlife
culture, featuring music, dancing, and an electric atmosphere. Attendees
danced the night away, creating lasting memories and strengthening the
bonds formed throughout the event. With its energetic ambiance and
festive spirit, Sunglasses at Night was an unforgettable experience
for all who attended.

19. PLAYCON X GLOBAL TOP ROUND
(GTR) STARTUP PITCH
PLAYCON 2023 wasn’t just about celebrating the latest advancements in gaming and esports. This
year, PLAYCON partnered with Global Top Round (GTR) to ignite the future with the Startup Pitch.
This electrifying competition empowered promising game developers to showcase their creations
to industry luminaries, battle for a $15,000 worth of prizes, and forge connections with potential
publishers and investors from across the globe.
The pitch wasn’t just a stage, it was a launchpad, propelling bold ideas into the hands of those who
could make them a reality. In an atmosphere buzzing with innovation and ambition, the GTR Startup
Pitch proved that the future of gaming rests not just with established giants, but with the vision and
passion of those brave enough to step up and pitch their dreams.

20. PLAYCON MASTERCLASSES
Before PLAYCON 2023 officially kicked off, Stargate Studios Malta hosted
a buzzworthy Masterclass on Virtual Cinematography and Animated
Content with Unreal Engine, led by industry luminary Francis Ghersci.
On November 27th, eager attendees immersed themselves in the world
of this powerful software, learning the secrets behind crafting realistic and
captivatingexperiences.Fromcinematiccameramovementstobreathtaking
animation techniques, Ghersci’s expert guidance ignited a spark in the minds
of aspiring and seasoned creators alike, setting the stage for an electrifying
PLAYCON filled with cutting-edge innovations and boundless creativity.
This Masterclass proved to be the perfect prelude, priming participants to push
the boundaries of storytelling and dive headfirst into the exciting future of virtual
content creation.

21. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT
We’d like to thank each and every one of our sponsors, exhibitors, organisations and game development
studios for their support which was fundamental in the organisations of this great event. The Playcon
team is proud to have worked besides each and everyone of you, embracing your investment in to the
growing esports and video games industry here in Malta.
We hope you’ve all found the partnership rewarding as we have - we’d look forward to having the
chance to work together once more.

22. CONTACT INFO
playcon.mt
info@playcon.mt
GMR is a Maltese video games and esports events company. A team
of passionate gamers, we love gaming and work hard to give gamers
the opportunity to take their passion to the next level. We believe in
the potential of local talent and do our best to promote it.
At GMR we are well educated regarding international esports and
events, giving us the knowledge to help launch the local industry on
a global scale. Over the past 10 years, we have built reputable brands
such as PLAYCON, The Malta BOV ePremier League and gmr.gg which
have become well known both locally and internationally.
ABOUT GMR