Gamesforum Hamburg Agenda 2026
- Gamesforum Hamburg Day One AgendaTuesday 9 June
- Gamesforum Hamburg Day Two AgendaWednesday 10 June
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Select a Theme
- Room One
- Room Two
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08.00 - Badge Pickup & Welcome Breakfast
Josh Vowles, Head of Product, GamesforumJosh VowlesHead of ProductGamesforum08.55
Welcome to Gamesforum Hamburg 2026
Christoph Sachsenhausen, Co-Founder & Co-Managing Director, SundayChristoph SachsenhausenCo-Founder & Co-Managing DirectorSunday
Alexey Gusev, Head of Growth, SoftgamesAlexey GusevHead of GrowthSoftgames
Jochen Gary, CMO, Stillfront GroupJochen GaryCMOStillfront Group
Tatiana Kondratyeva, CEO & Co-Founder , PlayPackTatiana KondratyevaCEO & Co-FounderPlayPack09.00
Gamesforum Unfiltered: Hamburg Edition 2026
Rising costs, increased competition, smaller margins have dominated the last few years. These challenges haven't changed but 2026 feels different. More optimistic. Join our experts for an uncensored look at mobile game growth, offering their off-the-record takes, challenges and hopes for Q4 & 5.
Sponsored by
Xsolla is a global commerce company that builds and provides all the things developers need to launch, grow, and monetize video games. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the company supports studios of every size, from indie to AAA, with solutions across direct-to-consumer commerce, intelligent payments, entertainment-based IP, and player engagement products. Xsolla helps developers fund, distribute, market, and monetize their games at scale. Trusted by more than 60% of the top 100 highest-grossing games, Xsolla operates as the merchant of record across 200+ geographies with access to over 1,000+ local payment methods worldwide. Grounded in a deep belief in the future of gaming, Xsolla is resolute in bringing opportunities together and unlocking growth for creators everywhere.
For more information, visit Launch, monetize, and scale with Xsolla tools and services
10.00
Keynote Presentation by Xsolla
10.30
Sven Jürgens, App Growth Consultant & AdvisorSven JürgensApp Growth Consultant & Advisor10.30
The 30-Hour Workweek for Mobile Publishers: AI Automations Saving Mid-sized Teams 10+ Hours Weekly
Discover how n8n workflows, Claude API integrations, and no-code AI tools automate competitor tracking, creative briefing, and campaign reporting. Real implementations from publishers managing $1M-$10M ARR without hiring engineers.
Josh Vowles, Head of Product, GamesforumJosh VowlesHead of ProductGamesforum
Minwoo Lee, Game Lead, SupercellMinwoo LeeGame LeadSupercell
Jeannie Odreman, VP of Marketing & Publishing, Gamigo GroupJeannie OdremanVP of Marketing & PublishingGamigo Group
Dennis Brigelius, Creative Game LeaderDennis BrigeliusCreative Game Leader11.00
Growth by Design: Marketability Across Launch, Legacy & Alternate Distribution
Designing games for growth from day one. This panel explores building marketable titles across new and legacy games, and adapting to emerging distribution channels including Netflix Games, H5, and web platforms.
💸Treasure Hunt Code: HAM
12.00 - Networking Lunch
Tobias Edl, Marketing & Business Development ConsultantTobias EdlMarketing & Business Development Consultant
Rebecca Schäfer, CRM Consultant & FreelancerRebecca SchäferCRM Consultant & Freelancer13.00
Balancing your Player Touch Points: CRM & Engagement in UA Campaigns
Onuralp Çakır, UA Manager, Unico StudioOnuralp ÇakırUA ManagerUnico Studio13.45
Retention is a Team Sport: How Unico Studio Aligned UA and Product
Retention doesn't live in one team. At Unico Studio, we built a cross-functional operating model that united UA and product around shared goals. Here's how we did it.
Hajar Noreddine, VP of BD, ZBDHajar NoreddineVP of BDZBD
Álvaro Zorrilla, Head oF Growth, GAMEEÁlvaro ZorrillaHead oF GrowthGAMEE
Peggy Anne Salz, Founder, Mobile GroovePeggy Anne SalzFounderMobile GrooveAs the chief analyst and founder of MobileGroove — a top 50 ranked destination providing strategic content marketing to the global mobile industry and mentoring and consulting to tech startups — Peggy is recognized as one of the leading experts shaping the mobile world.
As a writer, analyst, consultant, and in-demand online talent, she produces webinars, podcasts and video shows to educate marketers on the latest mobile and app marketing trends, customer engagement and omnichannel experience.
Peggy is also a nine-time author, a Forbes Senior Writer and a guest contributor for a variety of leading media outlets, where she shares her insights on CX innovation, business transformation and how brands and marketers can grow through retention. Her upcoming book provides marketers with a playbook and best practices they can follow to apply values-driven marketing to deliver magnetic experiences that attract and retain customers.
Oxana Fomina, Founder & LiveOps Monetization Expert, Gradient UniverseOxana FominaFounder & LiveOps Monetization ExpertGradient UniverseOxana Fomina is an expert in monetization and Live Ops. In 2017, she founded Gradient Universe, an analytics company that helps game developers improve game profitability through live ops strategy optimization. Oxana is a creator of a unique strategic game analytics focused on improving engagement, retention, and monetization. The system considers psycho-social behavior patterns and game economics for ROI and LTV optimization. More than 16 years in the industry allow her to support top developers and anticipate trends and new strategies to achieve strong results.
Sponsored by
ZBD is a leader in payments innovation, pushing the boundaries of how we move money across the internet. Within gaming, ZBD has made a name for itself by powering instant real-money player rewards for partners ranging from indies like Fumb Games to giants like Square Enix. Game studios use ZBD’s rewards tech and payments APIs to reap massive retention boosts, while gamers use the ZBD app to get a simple and fun way to earn, spend, play and interact.
14.15
Cheat Code for LTV Growth: Reward All Users, Not Just New Ones
Rewarded play is evolving in 2026. Studios can now engage their entire user base with real-money rewards, not just a fraction of new installs. The result is a fully native in-game experience, customizable for any user segment, that drives retention and ultimately boosts LTV. In this session, learn how embedded rewards unlock growth, backed by real performance data and lessons learned from a panel of experts.
15.00 - Afternoon Networking Break
Oliver Lindahl, Strategist & Behavioural Scientist, SagelyOliver LindahlStrategist & Behavioural ScientistSagely15.30
Leveraging User Behaviour to Increase D2C Share
How to leverage behavioural science and psychology to increase DTC share, improve monetization via offer, bundling and product presentation on the webshop.
💸Treasure Hunt Code: BUR
Ted Verani, VP of Global Business Development, WappierTed VeraniVP of Global Business DevelopmentWappierTed Verani is responsible for business development for wappier, a leader in monetization solutions for games.
Prior to joining wappier, Ted was VP of Business Development for Scientific Revenue, a pioneer of dynamic pricing for mobile games. For nearly 20 years, Ted has held leadership roles with innovative technology companies like modl.ai, Trilibis, Enpocket (Nokia) and Vodafone.
Ted holds a M.B.A. from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from University of California, Davis.
16.00
Pricing in an Inflationary World
We live in an inflationary world with uncertainty growing via tariffs and geo-political events. How does inflation impact game revenues? What can you do about it? Explore how localized IAP pricing can maximize revenue and hear analysis from Wappier on how pricing changes impacted revenue during inflationary times.on and economic uncertainty.
Oliver Lindahl, Strategist & Behavioural Scientist, SagelyOliver LindahlStrategist & Behavioural ScientistSagely
Pedro Alvim, Marketing Lead, SupercellPedro AlvimMarketing LeadSupercell16.30
D2C Strategy in Midcore Games
Understand concrete strategies in elevating your webstore. From player messaging and store optimisation to unlocking new monetisation opportunities, and building trust in seamless out-of-game purchase experiences.
17.30 - Networking Drinks -
12.00 - Networking Lunch13.00
Solomon Ruiz-Lichter, Founder, Dual Pulse AdvisorySolomon Ruiz-LichterFounderDual Pulse Advisory13.00
What's Next in LiveOps?
Explore the shift toward agentic systems, where AI-driven automation powers real-time personalisation, optimisation, and scalable player engagement strategies.
13.30
Rethinking Retention in Midcore Mobile Games
Explore strategies to improve long-term engagement through LiveOps, progression design, and systems that keep players invested beyond early gameplay loops.
Chris Goße, Game Lead, DECA GamesChris GoßeGame LeadDECA GamesSolomon Ruiz-Lichter, Founder, Dual Pulse AdvisorySolomon Ruiz-LichterFounderDual Pulse Advisory
Anna Sieprawska, Product Manager, InnoGamesAnna SieprawskaProduct ManagerInnoGames14.00
The LiveOps Playbook for Midcore Titles
Hear real case studies in driving midcore LiveOps value with real strategies to improve engagement, retention, and player LTV through smarter LiveOps design.
15.00 - Afternoon Networking Break
Luisa Berlinicke, Creative Strategist, Twin Harbour InteractiveLuisa BerlinickeCreative StrategistTwin Harbour Interactive15.30
Restructuring Creative Strategy for Volume & Testing
UA teams hitting creative plateaus usually look at output first. This session shows how routing structure and ambiguity absorption can define your real ceiling, and how to fix it.
16.00
AI-Powered Creative Strategies: The Future of Mobile Game Marketing
AI is reshaping creative marketing for mobile games. This session breaks down how teams use AI to scale production, iterate faster, and optimise performance through smarter testing and personalised creatives.
Johannes Lang, Creative Marketing Consultant, TacticTenJohannes LangCreative Marketing ConsultantTacticTen
Jukka Hilvonen, Director of Growth, MetamokiJukka HilvonenDirector of GrowthMetamoki
Terra Clarke Olsen, Head of Growth, Tactile GamesTerra Clarke OlsenHead of GrowthTactile Games
Livia Antal, Creative & Marketing ExpertLivia AntalCreative & Marketing Expert16.30
Marrying the Art & Analytical: Data Driven Creative Startegies
Examines data-driven creative strategies, aligning art and analytics to improve engagement, optimise campaigns, and drive stronger results in mobile games.
17.30 - Networking Drinks
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Select a Theme
- Room One
- Room Two
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08.30 - Morning Networking Break
Katerina Maliaran, Head of Ad Monetization, Burny GamesKaterina MaliaranHead of Ad MonetizationBurny GamesSince 2021, after several years in digital marketing, Katerina has focused on mobile app ad monetization. Her expertise in mediation platform management with MAX, AdMob, Levelplay, drives revenue growth for hyper-casual and casual games.
She leads Ads Monetization strategy and execution at Burny Games, focusing on data analysis and strategic partnerships for success.
Uzeyir Baser, UA & Ad Monetization Lead, Unico StudioUzeyir BaserUA & Ad Monetization LeadUnico Studio
Jeremy Widdowson, Head of Growth, RovioJeremy WiddowsonHead of GrowthRovio09.30
Gamesforum Monetisation Panel: Retention vs Revenue
Evaluate the balance between retention and revenue, comparing ad monetisation and IAP trends to maximise long-term player value.
Will Melzer, VP New Business, EMEA, MolocoWill MelzerVP New Business, EMEAMolocoSponsored by
Moloco’s goal is to make the digital economy more equitable and profitable by delivering advanced machine learning to companies of all sizes. With Moloco’s machine learning platform for growth and performance, every app publisher and online retailer can now unlock the value of their unique, first-party data. Moloco Cloud DSP enables performance marketers to quickly scale user acquisition and achieve greater lifetime value through battle-tested prediction models. Moloco was founded in 2013 by a team of former Google machine learning engineers. Its headquarters in Redwood City, Moloco has nine offices across the US, UK, Korea, China, Japan, and Singapore.
10.30
The Compounding Advantage: Why UA and Monetization Work Better Together
Growth leaders are rethinking UA performance. Learn how integrating monetization signals into acquisition drives better users, higher ROAS, and a compounding advantage over competing networks.
11.00
Jacki Vause, CEO, DimosoJacki VauseCEODimosoJacki Vause is the Founder and CEO of Dimoso PR and Co-Founder of Global One Communications. She is one of the UK’s female tech PR pioneers and has worked in publishing and public relations for over 25 years. Named as one of PCR’s top 30 women in mobile, Jacki created Dimoso, an integrated digital marketing and PR agency specialising in mobile games and technology. Jacki has vast experience as a proven tech entrepreneur, with more than 9 companies under her belt, and wears the crown of business leader, mentor, Grit Daily author, and PR communications savant. Jacki’s experience encompasses leading entertainment companies such as BBC, Channel 4, Disney, and Angry Birds; expertly managing major consumer brands including Mazuma, Apple, GE, AT&T, and Panasonic; and successfully growing gaming giants like Rovio and Gismart. Managing traditional and digital, mobile, and social communications strategies for these brands, Jacki’s experience with startups and scaleups is extensive and invaluable.
Jatin Mittal, FounderJatin MittalFounder
Jussi Oja, Senior UA Manager, Futureplay GamesJussi OjaSenior UA ManagerFutureplay Games
Giulia La Franca, Account Manager, Besitos | KashKickGiulia La FrancaAccount ManagerBesitos | KashKick11.00
Rewarded UA Panel
Rewarded UA is evolving fast. This panel explores how to make incentivised acquisition work for your game, from campaign setup and creative strategy to product optimisation that improves retention and monetisation.
12.00 - Networking Lunch13.00
Creating a Holistic Player Experience Campaign
Understand how to align marketing, product, and LiveOps to create cohesive journeys that drive engagement, retention, and long-term value.
13.30
Alain Xalabarde, Studio Lead, GimicaAlain XalabardeStudio LeadGimica13.30
From West to East
Localisation goes beyond translation; it demands deep insight into player behaviour, culture, and live events. Alain shares lessons from marketing and monetising Western games, reframed for successfully entering APAC markets.
Solomon Ruiz-Lichter, Founder, Dual Pulse AdvisorySolomon Ruiz-LichterFounderDual Pulse Advisory
Alina Kamanina, Product Analyst, KingAlina KamaninaProduct AnalystKing
Pedro Medeiros, Senior Product Manager, WoogaPedro MedeirosSenior Product ManagerWooga14.00
Casual Approaches to Retention: Events, Content & Progression
How do casual games keep long-term players engaged? This panel explores LiveOps strategies for refreshing content, evolving progression systems, and delivering events that resonate with loyal, returning audiences.
15.00 - Afternoon Networking Break15.30
Ad Monetization Across Genres: A Cross-Genre Case Study
Ad monetization varies widely by genre. This case study breaks down approaches across game types, highlighting formats, placements, and strategies that maximise revenue without compromising player experience.
Amol Khugshal, Sr. Product Manager, MiniclipAmol KhugshalSr. Product ManagerMiniclip
Valeryia Beresneva, Ad Monetization Manager, Zephyr Mobile | Tripledot StudiosValeryia BeresnevaAd Monetization ManagerZephyr Mobile | Tripledot Studios16.00
Audience Segmentation in Casual Monetisation
Discuss tailoring offers, ads, and experiences to player behaviours to maximise engagement, conversion, and lifetime value.
17.00 - End of Gamesforum Hamburg 2026 -
Dale Kerr, Senior Game Growth Manager, Tilting PointDale KerrSenior Game Growth ManagerTilting Point13.00
Choosing Animation over AI: Launching a 4X Game in 2025
Real data and insights into the growth strategy behind the successful launch of Avatar: Realms Collide - scaling alongside Live Ops, the real impact of IP and winning creative strategy without AI.
💸Treasure Hunt Code: G26
Josh Vowles, Head of Product, GamesforumJosh VowlesHead of ProductGamesforum
Davide Sinigaglia, Director of UA, Stillfront GroupDavide SinigagliaDirector of UAStillfront GroupWith nearly a decade in digital advertising, 6.5 years of which in the gaming industry, Davide is a team lead with experience working with many Stillfront studios on 20+ games across multiple genres and including many game launches; some were successes, others failures, all were precious lessons learned!
13.30
Iterating on Game Concepts
Iterating on proven concepts can reduce risk and drive scale. This fireside explores evolving a successful farming game, refining features, and leveraging past learnings to launch higher-performing titles.
Nadir Garouche, Senior UA Manager, SandsoftNadir GaroucheSenior UA ManagerSandsoft14.00
Channel Selection for Midcore Marketing
Explore how marketers evaluate performance, diversify acquisition strategies, and identify high-value users across an evolving gaming landscape.
15.00 - Afternoon Networking Break15.30
Winning Discoverability: ASO Strategies for Mobile Game Growth
ASO remains critical for mobile growth. This session breaks down strategies to improve discoverability, optimise store presence, and convert high-intent users in an increasingly competitive market.
16.00
Beyond Keywords: The Future of ASO & Discoverability in Mobile Gaming
App store discoverability is evolving fast. This panel discusses how teams are adapting ASO strategies, leveraging creative, testing, and platform insights to stand out and drive sustainable organic growth.
17.00 - End of Gamesforum Hamburg 2026
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