The Nexus Games Summit 2025

The Nexus Games Summit returned to Dublin on October 2nd 2025. The annual games conference, which was presented this time from The Foundry @ Google, had the Irish Games Industry trek down to Dublin to share the latest and greatest in games and network with each other. The event included Golf and Pre-Event networking on the 1st, and a post-event networking event on the second. It was a fantastic moment for the Irish Games Sector and Imirt had the honour of being a part of it.

Firstly, our very own Elaine Dowman, Board Member of Imirt, MC’d the event. To say we’re proud of Elaine would be an understatement. The amount of work she put into every aspect of the event, whether run by Imirt or not, is an inspiration to us all.

For Imirt initiatives, we were delighted to put on the Imirt X Nexus Games Showcase, where we highlighted some of the best games coming out of the sector. We had the honour of showcasing;

  • Eyes of Hellfire from Gambrinous

  • Éalu from Beyond the Bark

  • Smash N’ Grab from SLAP-BANG! Digital

  • Mars Attracts from Outlier

  • TÖLT from ENIGMA Studio

  • The Seance of Blake Manor from Spooky Doorway

We are incredibly grateful to these developers for showcasing their games, and hope to find more opportunities in the future to showcase the incredible games coming from the Irish Games Sector.

Our big event of the day was the Nexus Best Pitch, Presented by Imirt. This event saw eight teams pitch their games to a panel of publishers as if they were pitching the game in a meeting. The panel would then give feedback on their pitches, which gave our audience some incredible insight into what they need to do with their own pitches going forward. The event drew an incredible audience, and we’d to thank all that attended.

The event had some incredible games pitched, such as SZeance from Dreamfeel and Lizard Wizard from Carroll Games. It was, however, a competition, and the winner was the amazing Not Here, Not There with Good Folk Café. We’d to thank all of the teams for their incredible pitches and for making the event really special.

We’d also like to thank our amazing panel of judges. Dave McEvoy from RAID Studios, K.A. Pedersen from Fireshine Games, Jairo Lopes from Xbox and Leela Collins from Imirt and Banshee Games. We really appreciate all of the time and effort they put into the event.

Nexus had many other amazing activities and initiatives, from Imirt-alum Maria O’Briens roundtable on tax, to the many amazing panels featuring the likes of John Romero, Tommy Thompson and George Osborne. We’d like to thank the incredible Stuart Dempsey and Colm Roche for the incredible event they put together and invited us to be a part of.

Irish Games and Budget 2026

In Budget 2026 the Irish government has announced a number of initiatives related to game development.

Imirt welcomes the addition of post-release development to the Digital Games Tax Credit, effectively recognising that game development continues beyond the first launch of a game, as well as the extension of the scheme to 2031. This is a meaningful and necessary improvement to the credit and we commend the government for taking this first step.

Imirt firmly believes that additional changes remain key before the tax credit can live up to its potential, particularly in terms of being attractive to international companies looking to open game studios in Ireland. Imirt has published a pre-budget submission that details these changes here.

Imirt looks forward to working with the government to deliver on the planned improvements to the credit.

Screen Ireland have also received an additional €2.1 Million in funding with a recommendation from Minister O’Donovan to develop a new strategy to grow the games sector in Ireland. We are delighted to see further investment in the games sector come through Screen Ireland, who we are already partnering with on a number of initiatives including the Digital Games Portfolio fund and the development of a Digital Games Competency Framework. We believe these direct supports are a long term foundation from which to build up Ireland’s games sector and we look forward to growing our partnership with Screen Ireland.

Imirt also welcomes the proposal to bring forward a permanent successor to the Basic Income for the Arts scheme, and strongly recommends that art delivered through the medium of games be included.

Alongside all these initiatives linked to Budget 2026, Imirt has also put forward games roles for the Critical Skills Occupations List, and we would urge the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to adopt them to both strengthen the domestic industry and make game development in Ireland even more attractive to foreign direct investment.

Imirt would like to thank the government for these commitments. We also recognise the incredible work from our partners at Screen Ireland and Ardán, and from within our membership to contribute to making all this possible.

Colm Larkin

CEO

Imirt, The Irish Game Makers Association

Six Teams Announced for Stage One of the Irish Games Fund

Just announced at the NEXUS Games Summit by Imirt Board Member, Elaine Dowman, six incredible teams have been awarded the first stage of the Irish Games Fund. We’re delighted to say that the six teams are:

  • Dreamfeel

  • ENIGMA Studio

  • Mystic Systems

  • Outlier

  • Pewter Games Studios

  • Psychic Games

The Irish Games Fund, developed in partnership with Screen Ireland, is a first-of-its-kind games fund for Ireland, giving developers the support they need to validate, develop and deliver their project. Stage one of the Irish Games Fund offers developers €8,000 for project validation, allowing them to execute on ideas that may have previously been out of reach. This staged accelerator fund will invest a total of €200,000 into successful teams as they progress through stages 2 and 3.

These amazing projects come from some of the best talent has to offer. Here’s a word from some teams that were awarded stage one.

“We’re delighted to have received stage 1 funding for a new game which we are prototyping. This funding has enabled us to explore art directions with an experienced artist from the TV/animation sector.”

- Sam Redfern

“We’re delighted to be among the recipients of the first stage of the Irish Games Fund, which will allow us to take a leap forward in the concept and prototype phase of an exciting new project!”

- Christoper Conlon

"We're delighted to be awarded the Irish Games Fund! It is a critical support for expanding our team in Dublin and leveraging Irish talent to create new, innovative games for a global audience. We can't wait to get started on an exciting new prototype and will be revealing the game to the world in 2026!"

- Paul Froggatt

"I was beyond thrilled simply when the Irish Games Fund was announced. For generations Irish talent has emigrated to create video games elsewhere: commercial megahits like No Man's Sky, PUBG or The Room, as well as cultural touchstones like VVVVVV, Slave of God or 10 Beautiful Postcards. I applaud everyone involved in recognizing the rewards we will have when we create them here!

On a personal note I'm honoured that Dreamfeel was selected in this first cohort with Project Carrownagh. It's an ambitious 3d game set that's particularly Irish, set in the bogs and hills of Connacht, but it's also a game that with a little help from the fund will bring our island to the world (nb: we made all the characters cats, because everyone likes cute cats right?).

- Llaura McGee

"The Irish Games Fund is allowing us to explore an idea that would have otherwise gone unexplored. Arts funding is vital for inspiring creative work!"

- Lotte May

The Irish Games Fund had an incredibly competitive pool of applicants, and we’d like to thank all of the teams for putting themselves and their projects forward. We would like to see all of these projects come to fruition in the future, and we hope to see these teams continue to apply to further initiatives.

We’d like to thank Ardán for their continued support of the Irish Games Fund as a part of the shared Digital Games Portfolio, and we’d like to thank Screen Ireland for continuing to support the Irish Games Sector.

24 New Irish Games Talent Incubator Participants Announced for 2025!

Ardán and Imirt are delighted to announce that we have selected the 12 Galway participants and the 12 Dublin participants who will take part in a 12-week Games Incubator coast-to-coast programme from September to December 2025.

Managed by Imirt and Ardán as a part of the Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio, these East and West coast games talent incubation programmes are supported by CREW (Creative Enterprise West) in Galway and the GEC (Guiness Enterprise Centre) in Dublin.

Dublin Incubator 2025 Participants

David Abaya

Working Title: ‘Spacedex’.

In Spacedex, players take the role of quirky space couriers delivering parcels across galaxies. Maintain ship health, manage oxygen and fuel, dodge space pirates, and compete in interstellar parcel races in a chaotic first-person co-op adventure.

Erik Azev

Working Title: ‘Binary Star Odyssey’.

Binary Star Odyssey is a turn-based tactical RPG. Lead a customisable roster of characters enrolled in the Galactic Peace Corp academy. Venture to the core of the solar system to solve the mystery of a recurring calamity ravaging the galaxy.

Hazel Blackwood

Working Title: ‘One Ear Up.’

One Ear Up is an action/adventure game where players take on the role of a dog they get to create in a magical, fantasy world. When Gramundu, the God of Nature, awakens to find his world defiled by humans, he wraps every village in a cage of thorns. As the nimble village dog, you’re the only one able to escape, but you find more than you bargained for. As the god of magic heads off to sleep, she gifts you with a magical collar that will help you bring Gramundu to peace. Now, it’s up to you to save the world, and hopefully make a few new friends along the way.

Jane Tan

Working Title: ‘Good Folk Cafe.’

Wild Narrative is currently developing Good Folk Cafe, a cosy, atmospheric management game, set in Ireland, where you forage for wild plants, craft bespoke dishes, and delight your mysterious otherworldly clientele.

Inspired by the tales that myth-keepers, storytellers, and Sean-nós singers have kindly shared with us, Good Folk Cafe will immerse you in the Irish landscape and its folklore.

James Smith

Working Title: ‘Veil of the Tuatha’.

Every god has secrets. One of them has blood on their hands. Veil of the Tuatha is a narrative murder mystery where Celtic deities gather after the shocking death of the healer Airmid. Every god is a suspect — from the Morrígan to Brigid to the Dagda — and each puzzle uncovers secrets, lies, and shifting loyalties. As the mortal investigator, it’s your task to unravel contradictions and expose the true killer hidden among the gods.

Jacob McConnell

Working Title: ‘Build a Bot’.

Build a Bot is a bullet hell mecha rogue-like where you fight back against the evil mega-corporation. You play as a robot built by a humble farmer who is sick and tired of the evil corporation’s oppression. Fight through the hoards of unique enemies and choose your loot to fight your way.

Joakim Svensson

Working Title: ‘Knights of Blobbert’.

Knights of Blobbert is a physics-heavy Action RPG and RTS hybrid. Take direct control of the commander while defending your base with vast armies. Crustaceans, cephalopods, and slime knights war for survival in a doomed world.

Matthias Greferath

Working Title: ‘They Stare’.

They Stare is a horror game where the player is tasked with investigating a series of unsettling reports coming out of Clear County. The player must gather evidence and escape the horrors in the game’s story or the procedurally generated nightmare mode

Sonny O’Mahony

Working Title: ‘Arcalumis.’

Arcalumis combines frantic real-time dice management with strategic turn-based combat in a roguelite engine-builder. Command your chosen faction in battle against enemy engines. Be rewarded for constructing synergistic builds in your quest for survival.

Stefano Gatto

Working Title: ‘Looming Light’.

Looming Light is a story-driven puzzle-platformer about a masked child who wakes on a shore with no memory. You’ll explore five unique islands separated by a sea of darkness, each reflecting a different facet of depression and isolation. By helping others and understanding their struggles, you’ll slowly remember your past, rekindle lost light, and uncover the origin behind the ancient lighthouses scattered across the world.

Tiziano Coppoli

Working Title: ‘Tiny Clockworks.’

Tiny Clockworks is a tiny puzzle(ish) game for Playdate (a Game Boy with a crank! https://play.date/), about aligning gears and repairing clocks. The game is all about making the player feel like they are repairing a sophisticated clock by aligning the gears and turning them with the Playdate’s unique crank!

Wojtek Borowicz

Working Title: ‘Dziady’.

Dziady is a narrative puzzle game where you play as a huslar, a village elder capable of communicating with spirits. On the day of the dead, wandering souls come to your table. Learn their stories and choose the right food and drink to grant them salvation but beware of evil spirits trying to trick you. In Dziady, Polish culture, history, and myth meet gameplay inspired by Papers, Please! and Phoenix Wright. The game is inspired by a 19th century poetic drama that became the foundational work of Polish romanticism.

Galway Incubator 2025 Participants

Alejandra Vargas

Working Title: ‘Lease & Desist’.

This game is set in an apartment building trapped in a time loop, repeating the same day over and over. As a player you control a cat that can disrupt the lives of the residents and alter the course of events, uncovering different hidden stories within the loop.

Brent Mitchell

Working Title: ‘Hoverderg’.

This is a cozy adventure game of a dog getting their first hovership. Fly a bouncy hovership and blast around an alien planet looking for your mother and uncovering the secrets behind the strange world. Meet the locals, repair alien technology, search for treasure, race the canyons and wear lots of great hats.

Chris Madden

Working Title: ‘Starlight’.

Hollow Moon Studios is developing a 2D cyberpunk-noir roguelite where memory itself can’t be trusted. Players step into detective Blitz Mathers’ fractured mind, reliving broken memories to uncover the truth in a city consumed by corruption.

Dave Ryley

Working Title: ‘The Pig-Keepers Dice’.

Top-down local multiplayer brawler where two wizards (Bristle & Grunt, the pig-keepers from the prologue of the Irish Saga _The Táin_) battle each other using magic dice thrown into the arena that determine the rules of the brawl.

Jamie Clarke

Working Title: ‘Next Day’.

Clarke Games is a development studio focused on co-operative play! We are making a cooperative party game called Next Day! Which will be delivered to your door step with non next day delivery!

Josef Olsson

Working Title: ‘Alltarach’.

An adventure game set in a fantastical version of Ireland, a generation after the death of Saint Patrick. In a time of myth and magic, a young woman leaves her small island behind in search of her missing brother. She finds a disunited Ireland, where the old customs have new rivals and the barrier between the worlds is thin.

Katie Canning

Working Title: ‘Alltarach’.

An adventure game set in a fantastical version of Ireland, a generation after the death of Saint Patrick. In a time of myth and magic, a young woman leaves her small island behind in search of her missing brother. She finds a disunited Ireland, where the old customs have new rivals and the barrier between the worlds is thin.

Lydia C. Fleischer

Working Title: ‘Parish Hopping’.

Plug in your paper shredder! In this narrative-driven puzzle game, you play the church’s marketing manager on a mission to cover up all of your clerics’ little and not so little misdemeanours before an investigative journalist can ruin your reputation. A satirical 2D game for sociocritical people with humour as dark as the devil’s soul.

Max Prediger

Working Title: ‘King’s Palette’.

Deduce who you can trust in a kingdom ruled by a corrupt king and work with them to restore order. Be careful, each character’s personality may not align with their real goals and lead to them betraying you. Avoid the king’s guard and traitors to prevent your network of rebels being discovered.

Sonny O’Kennedy

Working Title: ‘Apocalypse Dogs’.

In this game you play as a dog in a post-apocalyptic city after the humans have fled. spend your days finding supplies, meeting other intelligent dogs to join your pack, and fighting the different effects of the apocalypse… (zombies, robots, aliens, any apocalyptic event you can think of).

Thomas Jacob

Working Title: ‘Chronicler’.

Chronicler is an Isometric Action-Adventure game about exploring and preserving the history and culture of a civilisation as it collapses.

Tuathlaith de Búrca

Working Title: ‘Cluiche Ríomhaire:

Via.’ It is an an Irish-language video game in which you have to explore the world, talk to NPCs, and interact with various puzzles to proceed.

About Irish Games Talent Incubator 2025

The programme will provide game devs with support in both Development and Business Modelling. Participants will have access to dedicated working space at Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin and CREW in Galway for the duration of the programme, to work alongside like-minded, early-stage businesses. The programme will develop participants’ entrepreneurial skills, game development skills and portfolios, which will help them on their journey towards sustainable careers in the Irish video game industry.

Participants will leave the programme with the experience necessary to turn their creative skills into a revenue-generating business endeavour. Each of the 24 participants will be paired with an industry mentor, who will meet with them throughout the programme and guide them through the experience, using their professional insights to advise them.

The Irish Games Talent Incubator 2025 is managed by Imirt and Ardán with the support of Screen Ireland’s Digital Games Portfolio, in collaboration with CREW and GEC.

Please email eoin@ardan.ie in Galway or eoghan@imirt.ie in Dublin if you have programme questions. Please email kathryn@ardan.ie if you have press or media queries.

Imirt and Screen Ireland collaborate to develop a Digital Games Competency Framework

Imirt - the Irish Game Makers Association and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland are delighted to announce that we’re opening Expression of Interests for the Digital Games Competency Framework.

The purpose of this work is to research and develop a Competency Framework for the Irish Digital Games Industry, including job role task analysis and career mapping.

This study will involve a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, building on previous work in related areas. The research should employ various methodologies to engage with the industry and its audiences. The successful Consultant(s) will need to collaborate with:

  • IMIRT and its members

  • Screen Ireland

  • Industry stakeholders, including individual talent and relevant companies within the sector; studios, developers, publishers and service providers

  • Education providers and training bodies, including but not limited to colleges, universities, and Skillnets

The rapid growth of the Irish Digital Games Industry requires a clear strategy for recruiting, retaining, and developing skilled professionals. A well-structured and clearly defined Competency Framework is essential to achieve this shared objective among all industry stakeholders

Project Goals:
The Competency Framework for the Irish Digital Games Industry will be designed as a learning resource and guide, offering direction for personal and career development while providing access to relevant learning and development opportunities within the sector. This framework should align with other existing frameworks in the creative industries, ensuring consistency and coherence with the broader industry approach, except where specific needs unique to the digital games sector dictate otherwise.

Intended Audience:
While this Competency Framework will be developed by Imirt in collaboration with Screen Ireland, it is intended for use by all individuals, companies and agencies currently working in or aspiring to work in the sector. It is not limited to any specific group or organisation and will also support the industry's skills development process, including through initiatives like Section 481. We hope that this framework will inform the structure of current and future companies within the sector in Ireland, offer a roadmap for those outside of the industry, such as government agencies, to understand it and its structures to a greater extent and offer insight to educators within the sector to inform changes required in courses at all levels.

To learn more about the Digital Games Competency Framework, including the key objectives, assessment criteria, and how to send an expression of interest to Imirt, please read the PDF linked below

Digital Games Competency Framework - Expression of Interest

Nexus Best Pitch - Presented by Imirt

The Nexus Best Pitch, presented by Imirt, will take place at the Nexus Games Summit in Dublin on October 2nd. Imirt is delighted to offer this unique opportunity for its members to showcase their games to a panel of industry experts and a live audience, competing for the title of The Nexus Best Pitch 2025!!

How it works:

Developers can submit their pitch decks to Imirt Here.
An Imirt panel will review all submissions and select up to eight studios.

The selected studios will then:

  1. Take part in a pitch deck talk/ Q&A with Raw Fury ahead of Nexus.

  2. Refine their pitch decks and practice their pitches.

  3. Present their final pitches to a panel of industry experts on October 2nd at Nexus Games Summit in the Imirt Room.

The timeline is as follows;

  • Deadline for Pitch Deck Submissions: Friday, September 12th

  • Pitch Deck Talk/ Q&A with Raw Fury: September 17th

  • Selected teams will refine their decks and submit final versions: September 29th

Live Nexus Best Pitch 

  • When: October 2nd, during the Nexus Games Summit.

  • Format:

    • Each team will have 10 minutes to pitch their game

    • Followed by 5 minutes of feedback from panel of industry experts

    • Decks will be scored, and the Nexus Best Pitch 2025 Award will be presented

How to Apply:

Submit your pitch deck HERE!

This is a fantastic opportunity to:

  • Gain real-world pitching experience

  • Get direct feedback from industry experts

  • Level up your pitch with help from Raw Fury

  • Showcase your work to a wider audience

Let’s show off the best of Irish game development.
We can’t wait to see what you’re working on!

When applying please note:

  • Open to Imirt member studios only, with a game currently in development.

  • Up to eight studios will be selected to take part by an Imirt panel.

  • Pitches must be submitted by midnight on Friday 12th September. Finalists will be contacted shortly afterwards.

  • Studios must be available to attend Nexus in Dublin on 2nd October.

  • Travel and accommodation expenses must be covered by the studio

Imirt Corporate Membership Now Available!!

We are delighted to say that Corporate Membership is now available. If you go to Imirt.ie/join, you can now become one of the first to support Imirt as a corporate member. To sign up as a new account, click sign up at the bottom of that page. To migrate an existing individual membership you can click “Join New” in the Plans section seen at the bottom of that page when logged in. Imirt.ie/join outlines all of the benefits available to corporate members and our new pricing structure, as outlined at the last AGM.

Individuals can continue to be individual members for €20 per year, and will continue to receive the benefits that come with being a member.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll hear more from us about what this all means, and the changes that are coming to Imirt as a result. We will be overhauling our website and directory, running more events and initiatives, and we will be listening to your feedback.

Imirt turned 10 years old in April. We thank every single one of you reading this, whether you’ve been a member for 10 years or 10 minutes. To everyone who has put their faith in us, given us their support, and helped us grow, we could not have gotten this far without you. These changes exist to make sure that Imirt is here 10 years from now, and is supporting you long into the future.

Go raibh míle maith agat!

Irish Games Fund - Expression of Interest Now Open

Imirt is launching Ireland’s first Game Development Fund! The fund is managed by Imirt with support from Ardán as a part of the Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio. 

The Irish Games Fund is a new staged accelerator designed to empower emerging Irish studios through funding, mentorship, and structured development support. This is your chance to validate your project, build a playable prototype, and prepare for commercial release. The fund offers;

  • Up to €73,000 in non-repayable funding

  • 3 development stages: Validation → Prototype → Commercial

  • Expert mentorship, milestone reviews, and visibility opportunities

  • Designed to support original and culturally rich games

Who should apply?

  • You should be a registered Irish game studio, meeting one of the following criteria;

    • Your business should be operating for a minimum of one year

    • Your business should have filed accounts previously

    • The studio or core team have previously released a commercial project

  • Studios developing Original IP

  • Studios who have a defined concept or prototype with a clear understanding of their intended audience and development needs

This is a competitive process with limited places available.

Apply now to start the application process

Submit your Expression of Interest here

Apply Here

The deadline for the Expression of Interest is 21st of August at 5pm. Application forms will be delivered to those who have submitted an EOI within the next week.

Please Note: You must complete an Expression of Interest in order to receive the Application Form.

The closing date for Application Forms is the 1st of September at 1pm.

Imirt Website Renovation - Call for Quotation

IMIRT is seeking a creative and experienced agency or individual to lead a full redesign of our website (www.imirt.ie) and develop a comprehensive brand guideline document. The aim is to enhance our online presence, improve usability, better communicate our mission and offerings, and establish a consistent visual identity.

We encourage anyone with experience in web development, a strong design portfolio, and who can work in a collaborative environment to click the link below and view our call for quotation.

Imirt Website Renovation - Call for Quotation

Irish Games Talent Incubators Applications Open

Imirt and Ardán are delighted to confirm that our incubation programmes are returning in September! Managed by Imirt and Ardán as a part of the Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio, these incubation programmes are the next step in our support of the Irish games sector.

The Irish Game Talent Incubator (formerly Imirt Dublin Games Springboard and Wild Galway Games Initiative) aims to develop the creative and entrepreneurial skills that video game developers will require to navigate the professional games industry.

The programme will provide game developers with support in both Development and Business Modelling, participants will have access to dedicated working space at Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin and CREW in Galway for the duration of the programme, to work alongside like-minded, early-stage businesses. The programme will develop participants' entrepreneurial skills, game development skills and portfolios, which will  help them on their journey towards sustainable careers in the Irish video game industry.

Participants will leave the programme with the experience necessary to turn their creative skills into a revenue generating business endeavour. Each of the 24 participants (12 in Dublin, 12 in Galway) will be paired with an industry mentor, who will meet with them throughout the programme and guide them through the experience, using their professional insights to advise them. Participants are expected to attend all in-person workshops.

The Guinness Enterprise Centre and CREW will provide dedicated working space for each participant for the duration of the programme. Start-up workspaces are essential for driving innovation and cooperation among entrepreneurs, and are hugely beneficial for incubation programme participants. Topics covered during this programme range from business models in the games sector, understanding markets, advertising and social media, to game development disciplines such as fast prototyping, choosing the tools that are right for you,  and how to pitch your game. These modules will sit alongside mentoring and presentations

You can apply for the Irish Games Talent Incubators at this link. Applications are currently open and will close on August 11th. Assessment will conclude and applicants will get a response by August 20th. The programme will commence on the week starting September 1st, 2025 and run for 12 weeks. 

Ardán and Imirt will be hosting an Information Session online on Wednesday 30th July, 2025, at 3.00pm. Register to attend here.

Apply here

If you have any questions about the Irish Games Talent Incubators, please contact Eoghan Watters from Imirt (eoghan@imirt.ie) or Eoin Butler Thornton from Ardán (eoin@ardan.ie).

8 Teams Confirmed For IndieDev 2025 - Games Prototype Fund Enters It's Second Year

Supported by Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio and Northern Ireland Screen, IndieDev is a games prototype fund in which teams are provided with €15,000/£15,000, alongside mentoring and workshops, in order to build their prototype.

The scheme, which is managed by Ardán, with the support of Imirt, was a huge success and is expanding again, with eight teams this time around. With teams based out of Dublin, Galway, Antrim, Armagh, Tyrone, Laois, Clare, Tipperary, Kilkenny, and Down, this is truly a one-of-a-kind all island initiative that we’re delighted to be supporting.

A variety of game prototypes will be explored, including a hot air balloon simulator, a stealth-puzzle game, a meditative, cozy game, a roguelike strategy game, 3D action-adventure platformer, a minimalist pinball-inspired perseverance platformer, a soft post-apocalyptic romance adventure visual novel, and a first-person, stealth exploration game.

You can read more about the amazing teams and their prototype projects below;

Universe or Nothing: ‘Persevere’ 

‘Persevere’ is a roguelike strategy game that fuses survival management with tower defense. Stranded on a hostile alien tomb world and hunted by drones, you must salvage a locomotive, recruit a crew, and chart a path across a strange planet dotted with enigmatic alien complexes and failing human colonies. The core Universe or Nothing team members are Mark Aherne – Creative Director / Programmer, Adam Kaufman – Content Designer, Naomi Kaufman – Content Designer, Dave Churchill – Texture Artist / Marketing Manager, and Mario Sena – Art Director, and the team are based out of Galway, Dublin and Clare.

Rúcach: ‘Valley of the Lost Abbey’ 

In ‘Valley of the Lost Abbey’, discover lost abbey ruins and rebuild with a new-found community of fellow woodland creatures in this meditative, cozy game woven through with immersive narrative. The core Rúcach team is Denman Rooke, Caitlyn Rooke, George Mercer, and Claire Brankin, and the team are based out of Galway and Laois. 

Table Topple: ‘Above Quarry Crater’

‘Above Quarry Crater’ is a 3D Action-Adventure Platformer with the central twist in the adventure part! In the full experience, you’ll explore the spires of a long neglected city – venturing as far as you can before returning home to recover; getting a little further each day. The core members of Team Table Topple are Richard Naughton, Adam Englishby, Cillian O’Brien, Alexander Navarro Mantari, and Luke Jason Farrell, and the team are based out of Galway, Clare, Tipperary and Dublin. 

Reliable Plumbing Services: ‘Pinfall’ 

‘Pinfall’ is a minimalist pinball-inspired perseverance platformer that explores the history of philosophical ideas through gameplay focused on falling, reflecting, and climbing. With each level embodying a different philosophical tradition, players must navigate a crumbling world using simple controls to find meaning amidst failure. The game emphasizes introspection and mastery, encouraging reflective play through challenging physics puzzles. The core Reliable Plumbing Services team are Matt Murtagh and Thomas Hitchcock, and the team are based out of Kilkenny and Dublin. 

Round Robin Interactive: ‘Isle of Éan’

‘Isle of Éan’ is a peaceful experience that aims to educate about Irish bird conservation. It is a first-person, stealth exploration game in which players catalogue a variety of Irish birds whilst exploring a lovingly crafted island. When left idle, the game seamlessly transforms into a study aid in the form of an ambience generator by providing tranquil sights & sounds. The core Round Robin Interactive team members are Brendan Hewson, Laura Ryder, Eve Golden-Woods, and Brianna Chew, and the team are based out of Mayo and Dublin. 

Sharp Glass Games: ‘Deathwish Bloom’ 

‘Deathwish Bloom’ is a soft post-apocalyptic romance adventure visual novel, in which you play as a Junior Scientist. Your obsession with recreating a lost medicine in a secret-filled Science City grants you a chance to redeem the broken life story of yours and of your loved ones. Unless said loved ones destroy themselves and the City first – by their own deadly invention. The core Sharp Glass Games team members are Irina Kuksova and Anaïs Chareyre-Méjan and they are based out of County Down. 

Silly Goose Games: ‘Selkie’ 

In ‘Selkie’, you can sneak your way through a mystical cave of Irish folklore in this stealth-puzzle game, carrying a mysterious gem to stop the Grey Man from escaping and destroying your home. You play as the daughter of a selkie, an unlikely hero wrapped in her mother’s sealskin, who must rely on stealth and a unique colour changing skill to bypass enemies. With the help of the Merrow, Tarbh Uisge, and Oillipheist you must find your courage as you journey through the cave between worlds. The core Silly Goose Games team includes Jessica Williams, Joseph McKinney, and Dylan Knipe, and the team are based out of Antrim, Armagh, and Tyrone. 

Space Lion Studios: ‘Balloons of Paradise’ 

‘Balloons of Paradise’ is a hot air balloon simulator where you steer your craft via wind. The game will provide a variety of challenges through its objectives and environments, but also have modes for players who want to relax in the vibes of floating through the sky. The core Space Lion Studios team will be Lead Designer Mark Robinson and Lead Programmer Jonathan Aykroyd, and the team are based out of Dublin and Galway. 

Imirt Digital Workshops - Games CV and Portfolio Workshop

In an ever evolving and competitive games market, getting a job can be tough. That’s why it’s more important that your CV and Portfolio represent you as best they can, and present you in the best manner possible.

Many of the talented people in Ireland and beyond have been affected by the instability of the industry in recent months. Imirt views it as our duty to do what we can to help those affected. 

Join Robert Emerson, Imirt Board Member and Senior Talent Acquisition & CSR Specialist, as he guides you through maximising the potential of your CV and Portfolio.

This event, which is being delivered via Zoom, will run from 6pm - 8:30pm on Thursday the 17th of July, and will include a break for participants to engage with each other and a Q&A section at the end. This event is available to everyone, regardless of your status as a member of Imirt or your geographical location. 

You can join at the following link - https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rNza4OdsRWupNb8fFPVN-g

Creating Authentic Worlds – An Imirt Members-Only Panel

We have a new edition of Imirt Inspire ready to deliver to you! This time, join host Eoghan Watters alongside Llaura McGee (Dreamfeel), Len Cunningham (Gambrinous) and Alyx Jones (Silver Script Games) for a deep dive into Narrative Design. The panel will take place on June 25th at 6.30pm, and be available for Imirt members on demand shortly after!

Imirt Members will receive an email with the link to the Webinar. They can also find the link in the Members Area of the website.

If you want to attend and are not an Imirt member as of now, you can become a member and attend the session. Please access the link via the Members Area or email eoghan@imirt.ie.

Narrative design is a vital part of the gaming experience, helping players connect emotionally to the world, characters, and stories within the game.

In this virtual panel, we will explore the craft of writing and designing narratives in games from multiple angles: how to get started in narrative design, how to bring other people's stories to life, or folklore and mythology and how to infuse personal experiences into games.

Whether you're an aspiring writer, a seasoned narrative designer, or simply interested in how stories are woven into the interactive medium of video games, this event will offer insights, strategies, and inspiration to help you enhance your own storytelling practice.

Speakers

Llaura McGee is a Donegal woman who founded and runs the Irish indie studio Dreamfeel. She's been making games professionally for over a decade including 2020's If Found... released with Annapurna Interactive about a trans woman growing up in 90s Ireland while the world ends, 2014's first person walking sim Curtain about the destructive relationship between two women in a punk band and 2022's Contact for the second Milan Triennale Interactive Collection. Currently she's working on a bunch of secret things and she thinks you're cool.

Len Cunningham is a game designer, narrative designer and writer with over 8 years of professional games industry experience.

They are passionate about involvement in supporting and growing the local game development community.

They have lectured in narrative design and writing for games at Trinity College Dublin, were a board member of Imirt for 2 years and are an active committee member of Game Workers Unite Ireland.

The Game Awards Future Class, MCV 30 Under 30 and BAFTA Breakthrough star Alyx Jones has worked in dialogue and audio across titles from Elden Ring and Arcane, to more recent releases of Still Wakes the Deep and Atomfall.

In 2022 Alyx founded indie studio Silver Script Games, currently working on their debut game "The Quiet Things”, an autobiographical narrative game, created with the goal of opening conversations around taboo aspects of mental health, and experiences of abuse.

Imirt Expands With New Hires

This time last year, Imirt took a huge step forward with the hiring of Colm Larkin as CEO. Colm joining Imirt has let us pursue our strategic goals for the Irish games sector, and Imirt has achieved a lot in the last year.

Now, Imirt continues to grow. We are delighted to welcome Eoghan Watters and Leela Collins to the team! Leela has joined Imirt as Project Manager, while Eoghan, who has been with Imirt in a part-time role since September, has joined as Research and Administrative Assistant.

Eoghan and Leela joining the team alongside the continued efforts of the volunteer board, means Imirt’s capabilities as an organisation are better than ever. We will work to deliver the Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio fund, continue to advocate for the industry with government and expand how Imirt represents the Irish Games Sector nationally and internationally.

Leela Collins (they/them) - Imirt Project Manager

Leela Collins (they/them) is a producer, organiser, and long-time advocate for the Irish games industry.

As Imirt’s Project Manager, they oversee initiatives including the new development fund, supporting creators and studios across the country.

With a hands-on approach and a deep rooted belief in collaboration, Leela is passionate about building a resilient, inclusive and culturally rich games community on the island.

Eoghan Watters (he/him) - Imirt Research & Administration

Eoghan Watters (he/him) is an academic with an expertise in the Irish games sector and a deep love of the artform.

At Imirt, he strives to improve the sector by engaging directly with developers and using his research to expand our understanding of the Irish games sector and promote the potential that exists within it.

Through community engagement, Eoghan strives to understand the needs of Irish game developers and is willing to chat to anyone who has insight on the future of the sector.

Imirt and Ardán partner to administer Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio

We are honoured to confirm that, in partnership with Ardán, Imirt will be the Lead Organisation for the Screen Ireland Digital Games Portfolio.

The portfolio, worth €500K, will be administered to support the Digital Games Sector as it grows, and to ensure the continuation of the progress achieved in 2023 and 2024 from New Entrants into Emerging, and to address the needs of established developers in the sector. The fund will be overseen by a Steering Group, which will include Screen Ireland, to ensure that activities are as impactful as possible.

Imirt and Ardán are responsible for the design, implementation and reporting of the initiatives undertaken with the fund, in cooperation with Screen Ireland. Establishing pathways for ongoing progression of the sector is at the core of the work being undergone, and Imirt aims to give confidence to industry and creative talents on the growth of the sector.

Keep an eye on Ardán and Imirt social platforms & newsletters for more info on the initiatives that Imirt and Ardán will be developing. You can look forward to a more robust set of Incubator programmes building off of the work of The Wild Galway Games Initiative and The Imirt Dublin Games Springboard, alongside IndieDev 2025, which will focus on supporting even more teams and building a stronger pipeline for emerging game developers. We will also be offering a Development Fund programme, which you’ll hear more about in the future!

Getting Publisher Ready – An Imirt Members-Only Panel

Imirt Inspire returns with panels and workshops from some of the best voices in the video games sector! Our first panel in this revival series is ‘Getting Publisher Ready’. Join us on the 23rd of April at 6pm for this amazing panel.

Imirt Members will receive an email with the link to the Webinar, which will be delivered via Zoom, so they can register ahead of time. They can also find the link in the Members Area of the website.

If you want to attend and are not an Imirt member as of now, you can become a member and attend the session. Please access the link via the Members Area or email eoghan@imirt.ie.

What do publishers really want? In a highly competitive market, how can you ensure your game—and your studio—stands out? Publishers don’t just invest in games; they invest in the teams behind them. So, how do you position yourself for success?

Join host Elaine Dowman alongside Ross Griffith (Silver Lining Interactive), Gina Jackson (Pitchify) and K.A Pederson (Fireshine Games) for a deep dive into the publishing process. This panel will cover essential topics, including:

✅ What publishers look for in a game and a studio

✅ Key elements of a strong pitch deck

✅ When and how to approach publishers

✅ Finding the right publisher for your game

✅ Cutting through the noise and getting noticed

✅ The best ways to connect with publishers

This session will give you the insights and strategies you need to navigate the publishing landscape and take your studio to the next level.

Who is this for?

Indie studios and developers who want to understand what it takes to secure a publishing deal—whether you’re preparing your first pitch or refining your approach.

Speakers

Gina Jackson, a multi-award-winning industry leader, has over 30 years of experience in the games industry, working on around 300 titles across platforms from the SNES to the PS5. She founded the consultancy Skillfull in 2011 and co-founded Pitchify, a marketplace connecting developers with investors to fast-track game funding. Throughout her career, she has secured development deals with major partners like Nintendo and Konami and acquired games for publishers such as Eidos, Ocean, Sold Out, and Nokia. A passionate advocate for diversity, mental health, and skills development, Gina is committed to driving positive change and sustainable growth in the industry.

Ross Griffith is progressively building a career in the video game industry, starting with PlayStation and expanding through marketing and business development roles at Merge Games. This journey led to Head of Publishing at Playtonic Games and currently as Head of Marketing at Silver Lining Interactive. Ross has experience and understanding of the game lifecycle from market strategy, lifecycle management, scouting and sales.

K.A Pedersen is the Head Game Scout at Fireshine Games, bringing more than fifteen years of games industry experience. He’s worked across both AAA and Indie at companies like PlayStation, Team17, and more, and now runs the team of game scouts at Fireshine – always looking for the next big indie hit!

Imirt Irish Game Awards Winners

The Imirt Irish Game Awards 2025 took place at the Fís Games Summit on the 11th of April. It was a fantastic show where Imirt CEO, Colm Larkin, took to the stage to announce the winners in our twelve categories. We had a total of twelve winners across twelve categories and 21 awards across the evening! The categories were as follows.

  • Rising Star

  • Community Hero

  • Best Upcoming Game

  • Best Debut Game

  • Game of the Year 24

  • Game of the Year 25

  • Best Game Design

  • Best Game Art

  • Best Narrative

  • Best Game Audio

  • Best Technical Achievement

  • Best Analogue Game

Below we detail of our amazing winners/ runner-ups and their incredible projects.

Jamie Gavin

  • Rising Star

Jamie Gavin onstage accepting his Imirt Award

Jamie Gavin is an independent developer who has released a trilogy of science-fiction horror games, The Enigma Trilogy, over the last seven years. This started with 2018’s The Enigma Machine, which was followed up by 2021’s Mothered and 2024’s Echostasis. While Jamie was surrounded by support from the Irish game community, he did this as a solo developer. Jamie is the definition of a Rising Star, a developer who has made his mark with beautiful and impressive art, and we have no doubt he’ll rise further.

Darren Kearney

  • Community Hero

Darren Kearney onstage accepting his Imirt Award

Darren Kearney is a staple of the Irish Games Community. The work he has done with organisations like Imirt is impressive in its own right, but its his work with Galway Game Jam and the Galway Game Makers Meet Ups that has defined him as a crucial staple of the Irish Games Community and the community within Galway, which is a thriving hub of community activities and supports.

Axyz by Space Lion Studios

  • Best Upcoming Game

Mark Robinson and Jon Aykroyd holding their award for Best Upcoming Game

Key Art for Axyz

Axyz, by Space Lion Studios, is a “retro gravity switching puzzle game that asks the player to use their environmental and spatial awareness to beat every level”. The game, which released between the end of the judging process and the awards ceremony, is a stylish and calming puzzler that will wrack your brain.

Scrambled Eggs by Jake Horner

  • Best Game Design - Runner-Up

Scrambled Eggs is an action-packed chicken tower defense game, where we answer the age-old question "Why did the chicken cross the road".

Take on the chicken hordes by sending wacky vehicles with interesting powers, to stop the clucking menace from attacking your corn crops.

Designed as a student project and released for free on Steam, Scrambled Eggs is a chaotic, addictive and fresh take on an established genre.

CROWDED. FOLLOWED. by Night Dial

  • Best Game Audio - Runner-Up

Shane Ferry holding his award after the show.

Crowded. Followed. Key Art

Night Dial’s Crowded. Followed. is a short and atmospheric horror game. The immersive sounds of this brilliant and terrifying game earned it a spot in the Best Game Audio category for this incredibly talented developer and their debut project.

Battle of Tarot by Rúcach

  • Best Analogue Game - Runner-Up

Denman Rooke holding his Imirt Award after the show.

Kay Art for Battle of Tarot

Battle of Tarot is an ingenius take on a tabletop card game, taking the strategic action of a game like Hearthstone or Queen’s Blood and applying it to your own existing tarot deck. This two-player card battling game is a joy to play, and all you need is your own tarot deck.

Baldur’s Gate 3 by Larian Studios

  • Best Narrative - Runner-Up

The team at Larian Studios in Dublin

Baldur’s Gate 3 Key Art

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a triumph in the art of video games, and it’s narrative, which was largely crafted in Larian’s Dublin office, is an essential part of that. This critically acclaimmed RPG needs no introduction but is certainly deserving of eternal praise.

Just Dodge, LOL by Gretham

  • Best Technical Achievement - Winner

Artem Vasiatkin holding his award after the ceremony

Just Dodge, LOL Key Art

Just Dodge, LOL is a top-down action game that brings a set of trials to the player, while requiring mastering of just one skill: dodging. Earn money, purchase upgrades, and beat challenges to prove that you deserve to be called a Dodge Grandmaster. The game is designed to be hard: no pain - no gain.

Just Dodge, LOL is as unique in its approach to action as it is a technical marvel. Just Dodge, LOL is beautiful, runs like a dream and has an incredibly detailed level editor and uploader to boot.

MOTHERED: A ROLE-PLAYING HORROR GAME by Enigma Studio

  • Best Narrative - Winner

  • Game of the Year 24 - Runner-Up

Jamie Gavin holding his award after the ceremony

Mothered: A Role-Playing Horror Game Key Art

MOTHERED is a first-person horror adventure game with point-and-click mechanics, set in a familiar yet eerily unnatural depiction of home. Set over the course of seven days, you play the role of LIANA - a young girl who's arrived home to stay with her mother after having undergone major surgery.
Upon arriving at your new home, all you find is a strange mannequin who claims to be your mother. Through speaking with this mannequin, you will discover more about the role you play in this world. Can Liana help mother go back to the things they were, or will you find yourself repeating past mistakes?

This critically acclaimed horror game promises to tell a deep and engaging narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Mothered is available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

Filthy Animals: Heist Simulator by Pewter Games Studio and LoPoly Games

  • Best Game Art - Runner-Up

  • Best Technical Achievement - Runner-Up

  • Game of the Year 24 - Winner

Brendan Sutton and Lee Cullen with their awards after the show.

Filthy Animals: Heist Simulator Key Art

Filthy Animals : Heist Simulator is a chaotic multiplayer heist game for 1-4 players, spanning across 8 different chapters featuring a total of 21 unique heist levels! Take on the role of mutant animals following the orders of Tony, the Filthy Animal Bossman Criminal Mastermind. Wreak havoc through a series of heists starting with a convenience store, a bank robbery, then break into a super secret military base, with missions ranging all the way into outer space!

This chaotic and destructive multiplayer game is available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.

Dungeons and Naggins by Steve Bennett

  • Best Analogue Game - Winner

  • Best Debut - Runner-Up

  • Game of the Year 25 - Runner-Up

Steve Bennett holding his awards after the show

Dungeons and Naggins Key Art

Dungeons and Naggins, the brainchild of Irish comedian and game designer Steve Bennett, is an tabletop game that takes the base mechanics of dungeons and dragons and applies them to an easy to pickup game filled with classic Irish humour.

Dungeons and Naggins can be purchased at https://www.dungeonsandnaggins.com/ or you can support the NEWLY LAUNCHED Kickstarter for the ‘Spansion Pack at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dungeonsandnaggins/spansion-packet-dungeons-and-naggins

Amber Isle by Ambertail

  • Best Game Design - Winner

  • Best Game Art - Winner

  • Best Game Audio - Winner

  • Best Debut Game - Winner

  • Game of the Year 2025 - Winner

The team at Ambertail

Caloan McKendry holding all 5 of Amber Isles Awards

Amber Isle Key Art

Welcome... to Amber Isle! A shop management/social sim set in a quaint, friendly world of prehistoric animal islanders called Paleofolk!

You’re tasked with running Amber Isle’s only shop. Gather, craft and sell items to meet the needs of your diverse Paleofolk customers. Does your brachiosaur buddy need a canvas as long as his neck? Maybe your microraptor amigo needs a mini-sized chair? Perhaps even some water-proof paper for a plesiosaur in peril? Different customers also have different needs, behaviours and preferences to learn. Haggle, pawn, and counter-offer your way to the top of the Shop Rankings! It’s up to you to run a successful shop to bring Amber Isle back from the brink of fossilisation!

This adorable and cozy shopping/social sim is available on PC and Nintendo Switch. The team at Ambertail excelled themselves with this debut game, and we look forward to seeing what they do next. We’d like to recognise Jordan Bradley for her work on game design and Neil Hughes on their work on audio, as a part of the incredible collective that is Ambertail.

An image of the Imirt Steam Curator List

You can find all of these games on the incredible Steam Curators List, created and run by Imirt volunteers.

Check out the list here: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41458618-Games-From-Ireland/

Imirt Irish Game Awards Public Voting Opens!

The Imirt Irish Game Awards are taking place on April 11th at the Fís Games Summit and we cannot wait to honour the best games coming out of Ireland. Each category is being judged by a specialised panel of experts, and that includes the three awards that voting is opening for today. Voting is now open for three categories that we felt had to be voted on by the community.

Below you’ll see the nominees for three awards; Best Upcoming Game, Rising Star and Community Hero. It’s important to recognise the people that make the Irish games community such a warm and welcoming place, and that are succeeding against all odds to make their mark on the industry.

Voting is now open to Imirt members, with members having received voting cards in their email. We encourage you all to get out and vote. It’s a short voting window, with voting ending at 23:59pm on Tuesday the 25th of March.

It should be noted that Imirt had no part in deciding the nominees for these categories. Nominated in both Rising Star and Community Hero, Robert Emerson is an Imirt Board Member, but was nominated by members of the community.

Best Upcoming Game

The Best Upcoming Game award is designed to recognise the amazing games currently in development from developers in the Irish Games Industry.

Axyz - Space lion studios

Axyz is a retro gravity switching puzzle game that asks the player to use their environmental and spatial awareness to beat each level within the time limit. Soak in the vaporwave, switch gravity, collect tapes, and more in this tribute to 90s puzzle games.

Crystal Edge : Retribution - Broken Brains

Crystal Edge: Retribution is an exciting Hack'n'Slash that follows the story of Alex, who turns an oppressive & classist government on its head while showing off her ingenuity in this Victorian/Steampunk setting.

Mars Attracts - Outlier

Mars Attracts is a park management sim set in the iconic universe of Mars Attacks™. Build rides, hire staff, manage guest needs, and abduct humans to serve as the star attractions. You'll face demanding visitors, environmental hazards, and the ever looming threat of human escapes!

The Necromancer's Tale - psychic software

A story-rich gothic CRPG. Master the rituals of an ancient spellbook. Raise an undead army to march against your enemies. Commune with the realm of the dead & struggle with your descent into madness. Progress through secrecy, diplomacy, blackmail, coercion & seduction until ready to reveal yourself.

Ventilate - InkFox Studios

A bullet hell top-down/isometric steampunk game where you must fight rogue constructs to get home and flee the city.

Rising Star

The Rising Star award recognises an individual who is an emerging talent in the Irish games industry, in any development discipline. The nominees in this category were submitted for the award because of the incredible things they have achieved, and the potential they have to rise in the future.

Catherine Koshkina

My path into games started trivially- with loving them. Playing games and discussing them with my older brother and my friends was always my favourite. 

In college, I studied Linguistics as my Undergraduate as that was something I was always good at. Moved to Dublin to do my Masters in Interactive Digital Media at TCD. It was during that year when I realised that a career in games is something feasible and something I want to pursue.  

I was torn between 3D art and Game Design at first, but after doing a short online course on Game Design, I realised that it is a love match. I knew I had to become a designer. The range of opportunities fascinated me, it also really seemed to suit the way my mind functions. 

Having started in the games industry as LQA with Activision, I have then moved on to become a game designer with the Black Shamrock team. In these 3 years I have worked on six different project that has allowed me to grow and learn from my incredible seniors. Now I hope to help aspiring designers and people who are undecided what to pursue in the industry to find their focus and join the new generation of industry specialists. 

It has been an amazing journey for me so far and sometimes I still can't believe that I get to work at the precious heart of such incredible games that we as a studio are involved in. 

Jamie Gavin

A one-man game development studio based out of Galway City, Ireland, ENIGMA | STUDIO is the brainchild of Jamie Gavin, an artist from county Mayo and Lifetime Achievement award nominee at the 2024 Horror Game Awards. Since 2018, Jamie has been crafting a psychedelic trilogy of enigmatic horror games with a single interconnected meta-narrative that have garnered a devoted following of players.

Starting with THE ENIGMA MACHINE in 2018 followed by MOTHERED - ROLE-PLAYING HORROR GAME in 2021, ENIGMA | STUDIO completed this trilogy with the long-awaited release of [ECHOSTASIS] in 2024, winning the Long Feature award at A MAZE Berlin 2024.

Robert Emerson

Rob's career in games began as early as when he stole his brother's copy of Pokémon Yellow when he was 3 years old. He deleted his brother's save file while he was at school and for some reason his parents took his side in that argument. He still doesn't understand why. 

Many of you will know Rob for his role as a Recruiter, where you can find him in calls after-hours with students and people struggling to find their place in the industry, offering as much advice as he can for how to turn their skills into a job. Rob has been happy to represent the industry on both a domestic and international level in this regard, fostering closer relationships with people, studios and universities across Europe. 

Rob was lucky to join Black Shamrock as a HR Intern 3 years ago. He was very lucky to be surrounded by a world-class HR and Recruitment team where he quickly learned the ropes and was encouraged to take on something he was passionate about, being the people that make this industry what it is. Rob is a huge believer that support roles like HR and Recruitment should act as multipliers for the rest of the industry, adding value and not taking it away.

3 months into his internship Rob took over managing Corporate Social Responsibility for Black Shamrock. With the support of his studio and the amazing people that work there he has tirelessly advocated for the industry and the people working in it. 

The team at Black Shamrock have now completed over 50 educational outreach events over the course of the last 3 years, ranging from speaking to autistic units in secondary schools, all the way up to the largest annual student-focused educational event in games in the country, Crack the Code. They've long given up tracking how many people they've spoken to! 

Rob is a firm believer that the industry can't just sit there dictating terms to educational institutions. The burden of any change (and change is hard) needs to be shared between industry and colleges/universities. Rob's advocacy in this regard has allowed colleges and universities to change their courses to be more closely aligned with the needs of the industry, massively increasing student employability. 

In a similar vein, Rob also lectures students at Pulse College in portfolio-related subjects, offering practical advice on how to turn what students are learning into a job. He's a firm believer that while we're all passionate about the industry, it shouldn't be forgotten that people need to put food on the table.

Rob leads the charge in the industry on diversity as well. He understands far too well what it is to be marginalised and fights tirelessly against this within the industry through practical volunteering with the likes of ASIAM, BelongTo and the Irish Network Against Racism. Rob is never alone at these events, always flanked by others in the industry who feel similarly. He is very thankful to have led Black Shamrock to be the first games studio in Ireland to have been accredited any form of award in DE&I and will continue to work with the Irish Centre for Diversity in this regard to build bigger and stronger protections for all protected groups. During Pride you can always find Rob accosting people on the street for money for BelongTo to help protect our hard-won rights and protections and support the next generation of LGBT+ youth. 

Rob was recently elected to the board of Imirt where he has wasted no time in sticking his finger into all of the pies he can find. Rob hopes over the course of his tenure to use this new position to help the industry through educational reform, greater supports availability for the industry at-large, workshops focusing on employable skills and to be a tireless voice for diversity within the industry. 

Talk is cheap. Be the change you want to see in the world. Do hard things not because they are hard, but because of the people you can help.

Sofiia Pyrohova

I’m Sofiia, a mid-level Unity developer currently based in Donegal, Ireland. My journey in game development began during my university years when I created a gamified educational app as part of a student project. This sparked my interest in blending gameplay with learning to make education more engaging. By 2020, I joined my first commercial project and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Software Engineering the following year.

For over a year now, I've been working as a software developer at StoryToys, contributing to Sesame Mecha Builders and LEGO Bluey projects. I apply my knowledge in Unity and C# to create engaging interactions and dynamic gameplay. What excites me most is the opportunity to bring to life characters and environments that I grew up with, which feels incredibly rewarding. I joined Tatem Games, where I’ve been gaining experience in mobile game development. This role allowed me to refine my skills in game mechanics and work with a variety of platforms and tools.

Originally from Ukraine, I moved to Ireland almost three years ago, and I’m really excited to be a part of the growing Irish gaming community. I see huge potential here and am eager to share my experiences while continuing to learn and grow alongside the talented individuals in this industry.

Community Hero

The Community Hero award recognises an individual who has continuously given to the Irish games communnity and who has been a beacon of support for those of us who work in it. These individuals have put an exceptional amount of time and effort into helping people, going above and beyond for those who work in the Irish games community.

Darren Kearney

For over ten years, Darren has served the game development community of Galway and Ireland as a volunteer, event organiser and more, with a characteristic enthusiasm, positive attitude and drive. Darren has operated under the guiding principle that everyone interested in making games can and should feel welcome, accepted and supported, both in their community and in the ever changing industry. He has dedicated himself to making this a reality on a local level and the impact is clear - just talk to an indie dev and see for yourself! 

Darren has served as an Imirt CLG Board Member, Galway Game Jam organiser and volunteer, Global GameCraft CLG board member, and Global Game Jam Site Organiser, often in roles to advocate and support the needs of indie developers, and connecting Ireland's community to the global game making community.

Leela Collins

Leela Collins is the founder of Irish indie publisher Banshee Games and has previously worked as a Producer and as Skills Coordinator for Northern Ireland Screen and Screen Ireland. They have supported studios, advocated for the Irish games industry, and represented it at global events.

As a Skills Coordinator, Leela has supported and developed programs for game devs, connected studios with funding and training, and worked to strengthen industry recognition at home and abroad. Their efforts have helped shape national support for Irish game development. 

Leela has organised 150+ community events, working with NIGD, Imirt, the Game Workers Union, and Limit Break Mentorship. They have supported 20+ Irish studios, run portfolio reviews, game jam sites, and mentorship programs, and taught on multiple Higher Education games courses. 

They founded Game Changers Belfast, an unconference for underrepresented voices, was recognised by The Game Awards Future Class 2022, and served on the Limit Break events committee for three years, promoting diversity and inclusion. Leela believes that "rising tides raise all boats" and continues to push for community growth, knowledge-sharing, and industry support.

Len Cunningham

Len Cunningham is a game designer, narrative designer and writer with over 8 years of professional games industry experience.

They are passionate about involvement in supporting and growing the local game development community. They have lectured in narrative design and writing for games at Trinity College Dublin, were a board member of Imirt for 2 years and are an active committee member of Game Workers Unite Ireland.

Robert Emerson

(See Above)

Tara Burke

Tara Jaye Burke is a Galway-based creative who is immersed in the local and national game development community through hobbyist, educational, and professional pursuits.

With 7 years of experience as a 3D Artist and Game Designer, Tara currently works as a 3D Generalist Artist for StoryToys and an Assistant Lecturer in Game Design for ATU.

Tara has worked on games for brands like LEGO, Marvel, Hasbro, and Disney. She has facilitated workshops, given talks, and served as an administrator for industry support through collaborations with organizations such as Imirt, Eirmersive, Ardán and Wexford County Council. 

In addition to her professional work, she actively volunteers with Galway Game Jam to promote community and creativity within the Galway game development scene.

Akumakon 2025

Imirt was delighted to be invited by Akumakon to take one of their games rooms and use it to allow independent Irish developers to show off their games. Akumakon is one of Ireland’s longest running Anime & Manga conventions. Run by the University of Galway Anime and Manga Society, it’s a student-led non-profit convention with, with all profits going to charity. This year, Akumakon raised €13,000 for the Galway Hospice Foundation, which was their charity of choice this year!

The Akumakon 2025 Games Room.

Passionate teams from all over Ireland came to show off their games at the event. We had a wide range of games being shown off, from Irish classics to unreleased projects.

Swing Boy - Yellowbyte Games

Swing Boy is a platformer that takes swinging to a new level. Use your grappling hook to navigate your way out of the sewers and back to the surface. What has changed since you were gone? What is left?

Wishlist Swing Boy here - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2744520/Swing_Boy/

Two attendees playing Swing Boy.

The Darkside Detective - Spooky Doorway

The Darkside Detective is a series of classic point and click adventures with a distinct sense of humour. The games are available now for Playstation, Switch, XBox, PC, Mac and Linux. Join Detective McQueen and Officer Dooley as they investigate a total of 18 bizarre cases across 2 games. From the occult to the supernatural, anything is possible in this micro adventure game series.

Find out more about The Darkside Detective here - http://darksidedetective.com/

 

AXYZ - Space Lion Studios

AXYZ is a retro gravity switching puzzle game that asks the player to use their environmental and spatial awareness to beat each level within the time limit. Soak in the vaporwave, switch gravity, collect tapes, and more in this tribute to 90s puzzle games.

Wishlist Axyz here - https://store.steampowered.com/app/2850490/Axyz/

Space Lion Studios showing off their new game, AXYZ.

Ravel The Frays - Margarita Games

A sci fi mystery where you solve conversations. AILISH needs your help to save her generation ship from a seeming unavoidable fate. She predicts every possible future but cannot find a safe one, and needs you to comb through them with her to find a timeline that can avert disaster. What's the disaster? She won't tell you...

Find out more about Margarita Games here - http://margarita.games/

 

Chaos Riders - Silvermine Studios

Set on a dystopian desert world, Chaos Riders is a Couch Co-op Racer Shooter where pairs of Drivers and Gunners must compete in perilous, adrenaline-fuelled races, in order to win.

Find out more about Chaos Riders here - https://silverminestudios.ie/game/chaos-riders/

Attendees playing Chaos Riders.

Echostasis - ENIGMA Studio

An exploration of reality, technology, and our place between them – [ECHOSTASIS] is an award-winning science-fiction horror first-person puzzle shooter which acts as the climactic conclusion to the THE ENIGMA TRILOGY, offering an ever-evolving [STORY] possible through the medium of games.

Find out more about ENIGMA Studio here - https://www.enigmastud.io/

Imirt member and volunteer, Craig Breathnach, speaking to Akumakon attendees.

We’d like to thank Akumakon for collaborating with us, all of the amazing developers who showed up, and our volunteers, Imirt Board Member Alanna Kelly, and Imirt Member Craig Breathnach, who both volunteered their weekend running and facilitating this wonderful event!

The Imirt Dublin Games Springboard Launches

On the 18th of February, The Imirt Dublin Games Springboard launched with its opening mixer event. The Imirt Dublin Games Springboard, ran by Imirt and the Guinness Enterprise Centre, and supported by Screen Ireland, is an incubator programme which aims to develop the creative and entrepreneurial skills that video game developers will require to navigate the professional games industry.

Imirt CEO Colm Larkin welcoming the group

Imirt Board Member, Carlo Azzari, delivering a programme overview

The Guinness Enterprise Centre’s Niamh Collins giving participants a tour of the GEC

The opening mixer was kicked off by a few words from Imirt CEO Colm Larkin, a programme overview by Imirt Board Member Carlo Azzari and a tour of the Guinness Enterprise Centre from Niamh Collins. We also had an opportunity for the participants to get to know each other over tea and coffee. The event was supported by other members of Imirt’s staff and other stakeholders.

Our programme has eight participants, each of which comes with a unique background and mindset. We’re honoured to have such an excellent and talented group. Our eight participants are;

  • Mark Robinson - Space Lion Studios

  • Eoghan Kidney - Antics VR

  • Jake Horner - Freelance

  • Serena Manassero - Snack Sized Games

  • Bunny Hanlon - Freelance

  • Lauren Morgan - GameDev

  • Ryan O’Connor - Freelance

  • Heather Kearns - Pulse College

Our eight participants alongside Imirt CEO Colm Larkin, Imirt’s Research and Administrative Assistant Eoghan Watters and the Guinness Enterprise Centre’s Niamh Collins.

(Pictured Left to Right: Serena Manassero, Heather Kearns, Niamh Collins, Eoghan Watters, Bunny Hanlon, Colm Larkin, Eoghan Kidney, Jake Horner, Mark Robinson, Ryan O’Connor and Lauren Morgan)

The group then had their first workshop, delivered by the wonderful Dervilla O’Brien. The group worked together to solve problem statements, find their value proposition and learn about business model canvases.

We’re absolutely delighted with the showing on the first day and can’t wait to see what this group does over the next 11 weeks.