Game Changers 2025

MEET THE

For more than 50 years, video games have profoundly shaped consumer behavior and acted as a catalyst for significant technological innovation. Game Changers is an annual list that celebrates and accelerates extraordinary startups in gaming and interactive media–those playing a pivotal role in how we play, work and connect.

This year’s theme celebrates innovation and resilience. Winners gain widespread media exposure, join an exclusive growing community and receive 1:1 mentoring with industry leaders.

2025 CATEGORIES

3D technology & infrastructure

Generative AI & Agents

Game studios & UGC

Interactive media platforms

Extended reality (AR & VR)

3D technology & infrastructure

k-ID provides a comprehensive suite of tools, designed to support both developers and young players with safer, more compliant, and tailored gaming experiences.

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Generative AI & Agents

Bitmagic is a no-code game creation platform that allows users to create stunning 3D games using simple text and speech prompts.

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Game studios & UGC

Giant Skull is a AAA independent studio, led by Stig Asmussen, and focused on crafting immersive, single-player, action-adventure experiences set in captivating worlds.

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Interactive media platforms

Pok Pok is a digital playroom filled with Montessori-inspired toys designed to spark creativity, imagination and learning for kids 2-7 and beyond.

Visit

Extended reality (AR & VR)

Eggscape is designed as a playful and social experience where players explore vibrant interactive environments integrated with the real world. The game also packs humor and exciting gameplay that appeals to gamers of all ages.

Visit

3D technology & infrastructure

k-ID provides a comprehensive suite of tools, designed to support both developers and young players with safer, more compliant, and tailored gaming experiences.

Visit

Generative AI & Agents

Bitmagic is a no-code game creation platform that allows users to create stunning 3D games using simple text and speech prompts.

Visit

Game studios & UGC

Giant Skull is a AAA independent studio, led by Stig Asmussen, and focused on crafting immersive, single-player, action-adventure experiences set in captivating worlds.

Visit

Interactive media platforms

Pok Pok is a digital playroom filled with Montessori-inspired toys designed to spark creativity, imagination and learning for kids 2-7 and beyond.

Visit

Extended reality (AR & VR)

Visit

Judges Spotlight

CEOs and C-Level executives from

Judges

Allen Adham Co-Founder & Fr. Chief Design Officer, Blizzard Entertainment

Anna Sweet CEO Bad Robot Games Fr. Head of Content Oculus Fr. Senior PM Valve

Ben Feder Fr. President Tencent Fr. CEO, Take-Two Board Member, Epic Games

Bonnie Rosen GM Accelerator, Disney Fr. Executive Director, Viacom

Chris Bell CEO & Game Director, Gardens Fr. Lead Game Designer, Sky 4x "Game of the Year" Honoree

Danny Lange VP of BI & Al, Google Fr. SVP of Al, Unity Fr. Head of ML, Uber Fr. GM of ML, Amazon

Dean Takahashi Lead Writer, GamesBeat

Jim Yang President, HoYoverse / miHoYo Fr. GM, Supercell Fr. Director, Tencent Fr. Head of China BD, Riot Games

Joe Tung CEO, Theorycraft Games Fr. EVP, League of Legends Fr. Executive Producer, Bungie

Johanna Faries President, Blizzard Entertainment Fr. GM, Call of Duty Fr. VP of Marketing, NFL

John Hanke CEO, Niantic Fr. VP, Google

John W. Thompson Fr. Chairman, Microsoft Fr. CEO, Symantec Fr. GM & Board Member, IBM

Ken Wee CSO, Mattel Fr. CSO, Activision Blizzard Fr. Partner, McKinsey & Co.

Kylan Gibbs CEO, Inworld Al Lecturer on Al, Stanford University Fr. Lead of Generative Models, DeepMind

Leo Olebe VP Global Partnership, Xbox Fr. Global Head, YouTube Gaming Fr. Senior Director, Meta Fr. Director of Marketing, EA

Maria Park VP Corp. Dev & Strategy, Krafton Fr. Head of Strategy, PUBG Fr. Strategy Lead, Riot Games

Michael Chow CEO, The Believer Company Fr. Executive Producer, Wild Rift Fr. Chief of Staff, Zynga

Mihir Vaidya CSO, Electronic Arts Fr. Partner, McKinsey & Co.

Moritz Baier-Lentz Partner, Lightspeed Fr. Head of Gaming, Goldman Sachs

Riccardo Zacconi Fr. CEO, King

Songyee Yoon Fr. President & CSO, NCsoft VP, SK Telecom

V Pappas Fr. COO, TikTok Fr. Global Head of Insights, YouTube

ALL WINNERS

An exclusive, growing community

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LEARN MORE

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