iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Come join us for an evening of learning, connecting with fellow game devs, and celebrating the people and ideas shaping our industry. We’d love to see you there! 💜🎉🕹️

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Your ticket includes entry to the event where we'll be screening a curated selection of talks, plus two in-person talks from Shavonne Yu (She/Her) and Professor Kawika Guillermo (They/He). You'll also get access to all recorded sessions from the 2026 expo!

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📅 When: Tuesday, October 6, 6–9pm 📍 Where: LaSalle College, 2808 Bradfield Court, Vancouver, BC V5M 0E3 👉 Get your tickets and secure your spot: ti.to/aapi-in-gami...

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Join us on Tuesday, Oct. 6 for the GDoC Watch Party Vancouver, featuring two in-person speakers! We’re thrilled to be partnering with AAPI in Gaming on this event & creating an opportunity to learn from talented game devs and their innovative work, while supporting a more equitable games industry👏

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📆 October 17th, 2026 🕐️ 1:00 - 4:00 PM 📍 Requiem Cafe, Anaheim CA 👗 Dressing up is OPTIONAL but encouraged! 🏆 Cute prizes available for raffle! 📷 Adorable photo opportunities! Come meet game developers of all backgrounds because, there's a seat for everyone at the tea* table or bev of choice!

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Salutations, our dearest community. Diversity in Games is proud to announce it's first ever Southern California tea party - a whimsical experience like no other!! Welcome to 🍵 Patch Notes and Petticoats 🍵, a lolita-inspired tea party for the finest of game developers! RSVP Here: buff.ly/oI90RkF

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

We also have some exciting things to announce soon about the future of DIG, so stay tuned!

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This is just the beginning for FORGE. Our next step is gathering insights from those who participated in the Game Founders report, and beginning to assemble valuable data to identify gaps in funding.

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

🔥 On September 12th, over 75 of you showed up for FORGE 2026 at Funk Coffee Bar! Thank you to everyone who came out! We are so grateful for the positive reception the event received, from the quality and insight of our curated presenters, to the warm, relaxed environment Funk Coffee Bar gave us.

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Today's the day!! 🔥 FORGE is finally here, and we can't wait to see you! We've got a fully curated menu of snacks, amazing talks, and wonderful people waiting for you at FUNK. See you there at 12pm; together, let's forge a path to a more sustainable games industry! 🛠️

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

LAST CALL! FORGE is tomorrow!! 🎉 Heading to XDS or just in the Vancouver area? Swing by and spend the day with DIG at FUNK! Expect panels covering accessibility, legal advice for startups, founders' stories, working with IP, and more. Get your ticket here: buff.ly/DFagq0q

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Ray Maltby, co-founder of bigTEAM. A nonbinary artist, animator & game dev. They motivate their community with a focus on sustainability over raw productivity. When it comes to lessons learned as founder, Ray keeps it simple: “Nothing is too hard when you make the rubric & grade your own homework.”

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Dot Phillips, co-founder of bigTEAM. Games founder & life-long schemer. Since 2023, bigTEAM has evolved into much more than a game studio-it’s been a support community, an open-invite workspace, a queer support org siphoning proceeds back into local events & a cottage-scale physical games publisher.

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

📣 FORGE Track Reveal: Resilience Builds Culture Closing out FORGE 2026 is a combined talk from two co-founders breaking the mold and leaning into the unconventional. This track spotlights what can happen when you make your own rules, build resilience, and have fun doing it!

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Danika Kotylak, Corporate & Commercial Tech Lawyer. She advises startups & emerging companies across Canada’s tech sector. Her practice goes beyond licensing & IP protection to bring technology-driven products to market. She helps founders manage legal risks before they become expensive roadblocks.

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Wren Handman, founder of Ludic Lemur. She is a queer narrative director, novelist, screenwriter, and studio co-founder. Wren has published 8 novels and was also the lead writer for the award-winning sitcom The Switch. Today, she is Co-Founder & Creative Director of Ludic Lemur Entertainment.

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📣 FORGE Track Reveal: The Fine Print: IP, Law, and Making Games We are thrilled to introduce the speakers for our penultimate track: Wren Handman and Danika Kotylak! Together, they bring a wealth of experience and unique perspectives on what it really takes to build & run a successful game studio.

Jean Leggett, founder of One More Story Games & Jean Leggett Consulting Inc. Founder of 3 successful ventures. Career joy strategist to 800+ clients in video games, tech, & entertainment. She’s also a recovering stand-up comedian.

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Alex Carey, founder of PlayAbility Consultancy. Games accessibility advocate. Founded PlayAbility 5 years ago, where they help developers identify & eliminate unintentional barriers in their games. Because gaming is for everyone!

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

📣 FORGE Track Reveal: Fires, Failures, & Fixes We've previously had the pleasure of hosting these 2 incredible speakers, so of course we had to bring them back for FORGE! This track focuses on fighting 🔥with 🔥& how to prioritize what really matters through instability, barriers and industry pivots.

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We have 1 week left until FORGE! If you've been considering coming, or will be at XDS, come hang out with DIG at FUNK for our day long event! We will have panels on accessibility, legal advice for startups, founders' stories, working with IP, and more! 🎟️ Join us Sept 12th buff.ly/DFagq0q

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

James Smith, founder of BlackCap Creative is a Sioux and Cree Métis entrepreneur based in Kelowna BC. He is a game triage specialist, helping studios recover projects that have lost direction. His philosophy: help indie studios build sustainable businesses, not just successful games.

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Akilah Martinez, founder of Glittering World Girl. She is a DIG x GDC 2026 Scholarship winner, award-winning artist, and creative technologist. She founded Glittering World Girl, an Indigenous-based circular economic ecosystem cycling language and culture revitalization through video art and XR tech

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

📣 FORGE Track Reveal: Indigenous Futures, Indigenous Foundations This track highlights two Indigenous leaders pushing the games industry forward through cultural revitalization and studio sustainability.

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Grab your ticket here 👇 ti.to/aapi-in-gami... We hope to see you there! 💖

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

🎟️ Ticket includes: ✅ Local watch party entry ✅ Full online GDoCExpo ticket (Sep 22-25) ✅ VOD access, job board, game demos, & live chat

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

We’re partnering with AAPI in Gaming to bring you the Game Devs of Color Expo Watch Party Vancouver!✨ Join us Sep 25 at LaSalle College for screened talks + 2 live speaker sessions. So grateful to collaborate with partners who share our mission to elevate underrepresented voices! 🫶 #GDoCExpo2026

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FORGE (Founders of Rising Games Enterprises) · Luma

Plus countless founders who have filled out the Game Founders Report, our incredible panel of speakers, our volunteers, and those who bought tickets. Thank you for believing in FORGE! If you haven't picked up your ticket yet, we hope you come join us and support investing in the future of games!

luma.com

FORGE is the reimagined Creative Campfire, a one-day event hosted by Diversity in Games (DIG) with the goal of raising the profile of underrepresented groups…

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Our deepest appreciation to our amazing community of friends, event supporters and allies: DigiBC, CIAIC, Nordicity, IDGA, Fullindie, ODGA, Interactive Alberta Arts, Interactive Ontario, Seattle Indies, Brace Yourself Games, Women in Games International, Nightmarket Games, and ASGC.

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Now that event is being sponsored by Creative BC, A Thinking Ape, Hyper Hippo, and Funk! Reflecting on that for a moment has been quite humbling to say the least, thank you all for helping make this a reality!

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

We truly could not be more grateful for the support FORGE has received. FORGE started as an idea, a conversation that was had with a handful of founders discussing what gaps there were in the industry between developers, founders, and funding programs. From there DIG shaped it into an event.

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✨ Sponsor Spotlight ✨ A huge thank you to FUNK Coffee Bar for supporting FORGE 2026 as our event venue! 💖⭐ More than just a specialty coffee bar, FUNK is a community space in the heart of downtown with a passion for great coffee and bringing people together. ☕💛 FORGE 📅 Sep. 12 📍1025 Dunsmuir St

✨ Sponsor Spotlight ✨ We’re thrilled to have Creative BC supporting FORGE 2026! 💖⭐ Creative BC does so much to support BC’s creative industries and the people building them. Their backing helps us create more opportunities to connect, share knowledge, and elevate underrepresented voices in games.🎮

Sponsor highlight graphic for FORGE thanking Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia for supporting underrepresented voices in the games industry.

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Selected participants will also receive tickets to our upcoming FORGE event for Founders of Rising Game Enterprises. Thank you for helping shape the future of our industry! 👩‍💻

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📃 Share your insights! Please start by completing our initial survey here and check “YES” to the follow-up assignment: lnkd.in/gHSv-Ar4 ☕ Join the community: Bring your laptop and meet us for coffee, snacks, networking, and panel conversations: luma.com/i6xtq510

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The research will examine areas including access to funding and investment, studio sustainability, business growth, founder workload, and the barriers and opportunities facing emerging studios.

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

Calling B.C. and Canadian game studio founders! 🍁 Diversity in Games is currently developing the Game Founders Report, a community-led research initiative exploring the realities of building and growing a game studio in Canada, and we are looking for founders to add their voices.

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A huge congratulations to our DIG x gamescom dev 2026 scholarship recipients! 🎉✨ We’re so honored to help send these amazing creators to Cologne! Wishing our scholars safe travels and an incredible week of connecting and building community. ✈️🌍 Thank you to everyone who applied! 💖⭐ #gamescomdev

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Less than ONE MONTH to FORGE! On Sept. 12th, indie founders, aspiring founders & game devs come together in Vancouver to connect, share knowledge & build a stronger indie games industry. 12–6 PM at FUNK Coffee Bar. 🎟️ Get your ticket: luma.com/i6xtq510 #FORGE2026 #IndieDev

Event poster for FORGE 2026: Founders of Rising Game Enterprises. Headline reads, "Less Than a Month Until FORGE! Get Your Ticket Now!" Ticket graphic displays details: September 12th, 12pm–6pm at FUNK. Coffee Bar for CA $20. Ticket link: luma.com/i6xtq510.

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Huge thank you to Hyper Hippo Entertainment for sponsoring FORGE 2026! 🦛💜 We're grateful to partner with a studio that's committed to building inclusive teams and supporting the BC game dev community. Thank you for helping us create more opportunities for underrepresented voices in games! ✨

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

🏳️‍🌈 Reminder: Our DIG Pride Meetup is happening this Sunday, Aug. 2! 🌈✨ Join us from 12–3:30PM as we celebrate the Vancouver Pride Parade together! We'll be meeting at Artigiano Roundhouse (126 Davie St.) at 12PM before heading over to catch the parade from 1–3:30PM. ➡️ RSVP here:

luma.com

Diversity in Games Pride Parade Meetup 🌈 · Luma

🏳️‍🌈DIG Meetup - Pride Edition!🏳️‍🌈 We’re excited to celebrate the Vancouver Pride Parade with all of you once again! This year, we’ll be meeting at…

DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

🎟 Get your tickets today: luma.com/i6xtq510

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DIG @diversityingames.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

✨ Sponsor Spotlight ✨ FORGE wouldn't be possible without the support of our incredible sponsors! We're excited to highlight A Thinking Ape, a long time supporter of DIG and an official sponsor of FORGE 2026💛🦧 Thank you for your commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive games industry! 🥰💖