The 2026 Nordic Game conference in Malmö has announced a significant expansion to its speaker lineup, headlined by developers from the award-winning Planet of Lana studio. Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Eriksson from Wishfully will take the stage alongside new voices from the publishing and development spheres, and the event will introduce a dedicated, curator-led AI Track, signaling the conference’s evolving focus on the industry’s most pressing creative and technological frontiers.
Wishfully Developers to Discuss Three-Decade Creative Journey
Among the newly announced speakers for the 26–29 May event at Slagthuset are Adam Stjärnljus and Klas Eriksson from Wishfully. The studio, celebrated for 2023’s critically acclaimed Planet of Lana and its recently released sequel, will deliver a talk centered on extraordinary creative persistence. Their session will delve into how the concepts and vision behind their poignant narrative puzzle-adventure game were gradually formed and nurtured over an astonishing 30-year period. The core of their discussion will focus on what it takes for a creative team to keep believing in a project across three decades, offering a rare and profound look at long-term game development from concept to celebrated release.
Insights on Publishing, Design, and Motion Capture
The new speaker additions bring a wealth of diverse expertise to the Nordic Game program. Juliette Auverny-Bennetot from Raw Fury and Combined Effect will provide a pragmatic look at the “New Rules of Game Publishing.” This talk promises to demystify the publisher-developer relationship by offering concrete insights into what publishers actually look for in projects and how modern development deals are structured and negotiated.
In the realm of design, Trine Laier from Those Eyes, the studio behind Real Vampires, will present a session on subverting player expectations. Her talk will explore the methodology of flipping traditional game mechanics to create surprising and addictive gameplay that fosters deeper emotional connections with players.
Further expanding the technical track, John Dower, whose career includes work with Rockstar Games and Saber Interactive, will lead a comprehensive panel on motion capture in modern game development. This session is designed to provide practical takeaways and behind-the-scenes stories from high-level production, offering guidance on integrating mocap technology effectively.
Focus on Player-First Design
Amanda Gardfors Granberg and Alexander Benitez from Windup Games will contribute a session firmly centered on player experience. Their talk will focus on player-first design principles and the critical process of building meaningful core gameplay loops that engage and retain audiences. This practical design philosophy complements the more conceptual talks, rounding out a holistic view of contemporary game creation.
Inaugural AI Track Curated by ImmerSynth Inc.
A major new feature for Nordic Game 2026 is the introduction of a dedicated AI Track, curated by ImmerSynth Inc. This dedicated series of talks reflects the industry’s rapid engagement with artificial intelligence tools and their implications for development, storytelling, and studio structure.
Human-Led AI in Role-Playing Games
The AI Track will feature a significant talk titled “Human-Led AI: the Future of Role Playing Games,” presented by Alastair Chamorro and Alexander Chamorro from Infinity Fiction, alongside Jeff Gardiner from Something Wicked Games and advisor John Clark, former EVP of Publishing at Sega Europe. The session will address a central tension in AI adoption, arguing that human-led design is essential to scale storytelling, ensure robust game design, and unlock new gameplay features. Crucially, the talk will also cover how this approach protects intellectual property, maintains narrative integrity, and preserves player trust in an evolving landscape.
Building an AI-Native Studio and Practical QA
Other AI-focused sessions include a talk by Tatu Petersen-Jessen, CEO and co-founder of Odd Latent. Entitled “How Odd Latent & AI is Redefining What it Means to be a Developer,” it will offer an insider’s perspective on the experience of building a studio from the ground up with AI-native principles. For developers seeking immediately applicable knowledge, Jan Schnyder, CEO of Nunu AI, will present “AI Game QA: What actually works today?” This talk aims to cut through the hype to provide a clear overview of effective and ineffective applications of AI in game testing and quality assurance.
Psychology of Safer Online Spaces
Broadening the discussion beyond pure development, Ewa Antczak, CEO of Felixa, will explore the intersection of AI, community, and safety. Her talk, “Psychology and Technology Behind Safer Online Spaces,” will examine the technological and behavioral foundations required to foster healthier player communities.
Existing Speaker Lineup and Event Features
These newly announced speakers join a roster that already includes industry leaders such as Anna Norrevik, Development Director at DICE, who will discuss the multi-studio collaboration behind Battlefield 6, and Gerardo Basurto, Design Director at Embark Studios, who will provide insights into the development of the mega-hit Arc Raiders. The full and growing speaker list underscores Nordic Game’s position as a key meeting point for high-level industry discourse.
Beyond the conference sessions, Nordic Game 2026 will host the return of the popular Nordic Pitch event, challenging developers to present their game concept in just three minutes. The event will also feature the Games Industry Network, a comprehensive B2B platform combining a social network, an industry database, an event matchmaking system, and private community spaces to facilitate connections. The showcase hall will present over 100 indie games for attendees to experience, with the event expecting more than 3,000 attendees. Tickets remain discounted by €100 until 30 April 2026.
The expansion of the Nordic Game 2026 program, from the deep, personal history of a project like Planet of Lana to the forward-looking debates within its inaugural AI Track, captures a moment of significant transition for the games industry. It reflects a dual focus on honoring the enduring human creativity at the heart of development while rigorously interrogating the new tools and business models reshaping its future, offering a comprehensive platform for the Nordic region’s developers to explore both legacy and innovation.
