Nexus Games Conference 2026 is set to take place from September 23 to 25 in Dublin, Ireland, and this year’s event will shine a spotlight on the country’s rapidly expanding game industry. With over 2,000 people now working in the sector and a dedicated Steam event featuring 150 indie titles, Ireland is positioning itself as a serious player in the global games market.
The conference, led by CEO Stuart Dempsey, comes at a pivotal moment for Irish game development. The country has seen a surge in studio activity, government-backed tax incentives, and major international companies setting up shop. According to Gamesbeat, the event will feature interviews with key industry figures, including Colm Larkin, head of the trade group Imirt and director of indie studio Gambrinous, and Paul Conway, founder of Galway-based Spooky Doorway.
One of the most striking statistics highlighted in the lead-up to the conference is the sheer number of indie games coming out of Ireland. The Games From Ireland Steam Event currently lists 150 indie titles, a figure that underscores the creative output of the country’s small but vibrant development community. This number is particularly notable when compared to other regions, such as Ukraine, which has 680 games on the same Steam page, according to the event’s promotional materials.
Ireland’s Game Industry: A Snapshot of Growth
Ireland’s game industry has been growing steadily, with around 44 core game studios operating in the country as of 2026, according to Guarav Mathur, creator of Gamedevmap. This figure is supported by a 2024 survey from Imirt, the Irish Game Makers Association, which found 92 games businesses in Ireland, 75 of which are game studios. The largest hubs are in Dublin and Galway, with the biggest studio, Black Shamrock—a division of external development firm Virtuos—employing around 150 people.
The sector’s growth is also reflected in its workforce. Over 2,000 people are now employed in the Irish games industry, a number that is set to rise as major employers expand their presence. The biggest employers in the country include Black Shamrock, 2K Games, Microsoft (which operates Xbox, Activision-Blizzard-King, and Havok), Riot Games, Larian, Scopely, and StoryToys. Sony Interactive Entertainment has also announced it will enter the Irish market in 2027, a move that is expected to further boost the sector.
Ireland has also produced some notable success stories. Brendan Greene, who moved abroad and later created PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), which sold nearly 100 million copies for Krafton, and Sean Murray, an Irish native who went to the U.K. and made No Man’s Sky at Hello Games, both have roots in the country. Brenda Romero, a transplant from the U.S., started Romero Games with her spouse John Romero, the Doom creator, in Galway.
Government Support and Tax Incentives
A key driver of Ireland’s game industry growth has been government support. The Irish Government introduced the Digital Games Corporation Tax Credit (Digital Games Relief) in late 2022, offering eligible companies a tax credit equal to 32% of expenditure on designing, production, and testing a game, up to a limit of €25 million per project. In 2025, the credit was extended for a further six years, and in 2026, crucial changes were introduced and approved by the European Commission to expand the scheme.
The tax credit covers eligible expenditure for up to three years post-release and is granted at a rate of 32% of the lowest of: eligible expenditure, 80% of qualifying expenditure, or €25 million (for the game as a whole, including both pre- and post-release expenditure). The minimum amount that must be spent on the development of a game remains €100,000.
Screen Ireland, the national agency for the Irish screen industries, has also expanded its remit to support game development. The agency convened a national Games Forum in 2025, bringing together representatives from domestic and international studios to provide input into a strategic approach for the sector. Screen Ireland is currently recruiting for its first head of games, a new role that will partner with industry to develop a national games strategy, drive creative development, support local studios, and attract international companies to develop games and original IP in Ireland.
Voices from the Irish Development Scene
Colm Larkin, who has been running indie studio Gambrinous for the last 12 years, is a prominent figure in the Irish game development community. He has made games like Guild of Dungeoneering, Cardpocalypse, Super Happy Pet, and Eyes of Hellfire. The studio has fluctuated between one and nine people and currently stands at three. Larkin has also been doing the Imirt part-time for the last two years, balancing his role as head of the trade group with his work as a developer.
Paul Conway, founder of Spooky Doorway in Galway, is another key voice in the industry. The studio is part of the growing Galway game development scene, which, along with Dublin, is one of the largest hubs in the country.
As Nexus Games Conference 2026 approaches, the event is set to provide a platform for these voices and more, showcasing the depth and diversity of Ireland’s game industry. With strong government backing, a growing talent pool, and increasing international interest, Ireland is clearly a country to watch in the global games landscape.
