Still Here, Still Building: The Mood at Develop:Brighton 2026

There was one phrase that seemed to sum up Develop Conference this year: “Well…we’re still here.” It was usually delivered with a smile, but there was a lot behind it.

The games industry is still facing a difficult period. Layoffs have continued, investment remains cautious and talented people are still finding themselves navigating an uncertain market. Those realities followed everyone to Brighton.

But this year, uncertainty did not dominate the mood in quite the same way.

Compared with last year, Develop:Brighton 2026 felt more positive. Not because the challenges have gone away, and not because anyone believes the industry has suddenly returned to business as usual. The change was in how people were responding to those challenges.

There was less waiting for someone to declare the difficult period over, and less speculation about when everything might return to the way it was. In its place was something more practical and quietly defiant: an industry accepting the conditions in front of it and getting on with the work.

We are still here. So, what do we build next?

From worrying about uncertainty to working within it

Studios have faced difficult decisions about hiring, investment, project scope and longer term planning. Individuals have had to reconsider careers, expectations and what stability looks like in games.

At this year’s Develop, there was a sense that people were tired of giving that uncertainty all the oxygen in the room.

The discussions we heard were grounded in what teams can control: using existing tools more effectively, focusing resources where they have the greatest impact and being much more deliberate about scope. Studios are examining how they work, what they genuinely need and where specialist partners can add value. Teams may be leaner, but the ambition to create brilliant work has not disappeared.

Showing up still matters

People showed up. They came for talks and meetings, but they also came for one another. They reconnected with former colleagues, introduced friends, shared advice, discussed new ideas and made time for people searching for their next opportunity.

That may sound like the ordinary rhythm of a conference. Right now, it means more.

When teams have become distributed, studios have closed and colleagues have been scattered by redundancy, opportunities to bring the industry together are not just good for business. They help preserve the relationships, knowledge and sense of community that make games such a distinctive industry in the first place.

Develop has always been about more than the official programme. The conversations around it, including the introductions, side events and unexpected meetings, are often where the most useful exchanges happen. Brighton was busy with them this year. People were honest about the difficulties while remaining open to what might come next.

Play@Develop: putting that spirit into practice

That same spirit carried into Play@Develop, our annual charity event, hosted this year by Skillsearch x abstraction x VIVERSE at Loading Bar on Brighton’s seafront.

On a very warm Wednesday afternoon, conference attendees stepped away from their meetings to join us for games, drinks, friendly faces and some welcome time to unwind. As always, the weather was great and the turnout was strong. More importantly, the afternoon gave the community another chance to support SpecialEffect.

Through adaptive technology, SpecialEffect helps people with physical disabilities experience the fun, freedom and connection of video games. Their work is a powerful reminder that games are not only products or projects. They are shared experiences, and access to those experiences matters.

Our charity raffle raised funds to support that work, thanks to the generosity of everyone who donated and bought tickets. Together, we raised £1,310, our highest amount to date.

To our partners at abstraction and VIVERSE, the local businesses that supplied raffle prizes, the team at Loading Bar and everybody who gave their time to help the event run: thank you. To every person who braved the heat and joined us by the sea, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

 

“We’re still here” is only the beginning

Exciting projects, plans and conversations are still happening.

People are adapting in practical ways. Teams are choosing their tools more carefully, concentrating resources where they will make the greatest difference and forming partnerships that bring in the right expertise at the right moment.

Resilience can sound like simply hanging on, but the mood at Develop was about more than survival. Projects are moving forward, new ideas are finding momentum and talented people are still creating work worth getting excited about. The industry may be changing, but it is certainly not standing still.

Last year, the industry seemed to be asking when the uncertainty would end. This year, the response felt more like this: we cannot control all of that, but we can decide what we do next.

So yes, we are still here.

Still creating. Still adapting. Still supporting one another. Still building what comes next.

For those attending Gamescom in August...we'll see you there!