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I had the privilege to attend the Montréal International Game Summit, or MIGS25, for the first time in many years, and it was great to see what the conference has become. The longest-running game summit in Canada is an industry-focused event and caters mostly to a business-to-business audience.
What MIGS Is Like
MIGS25 is held in Montréal’s historic old port in the gorgeous Grand Guay complex. It features multiple levels segmenting the Business Dev sections, an Audio Summit and a small expo hall with a variety of Indie games.
While the conference itself has a smaller footprint than some other events, it has a major focus on business tools, industry training sessions, and meeting systems designed to connect all levels of gaming systems.
There are many different aspects of MIGS to check out, but the biggest centers on the meeting spaces and the industry contacts from all avenues of the gaming industry. As I wandered around I stopped to chat with people from outsourcing groups, indie game incubators, legal assistance groups and more.
The expo hall was in the top level of the facility. It included a collection of smaller indie titles and some adjacent production companies and outsourcing partners. What I enjoyed about the space was the intimacy. The small selection of games was heavily curated and gathered some very interested crowds.
Who Is MIGS for?
MIGS25 was definitely not a PAX or Gamescom. It’s a more focused conference devoted to connecting businesses and people in the gaming industry. They have said they want to expand the consumer side of the show (which was a bigger focus pre-pandemic), but the core B2B values will always be there.
The great thing about MIGS is that it’s very accessible to all levels of attendees. There are student passes, business passes, and VIP badges that give different levels of access, but all afford great opportunities across the board.
I saw a ton of game design students eagerly attending the talks and the audio summit and checking out the resources available and teams to talk to. The business and VIP attendees have full access to the conference and are attending meetings, talks and collaborative events.
Since MIGS is not a “fan” conference, there are not many games to check out, and if you don’t have meetings to attend or key talks that you must see, the event can be experienced in a short while. But if you are in the games industry or looking to enter the field this is a must-attend.
The contacts you can make are priceless. For example, I met a woman who runs an indie-focused trademark office, helping small orgs protect their IP and sharing crucial advice. This is something vastly overlooked but just one of the many key benefits to attending something like the Montréal International Games Summit.
Why MIGS25 Is an Important Event
The access to contacts, studios, publishers, legal advice, and outsourcing partners is a key reason to attend the summit. The networking potential is huge; just stopping to chat with students, publishers, and strategic tools providers, I see the hunger for collaboration and for the gaming industry to thrive.
In addition, this key event for those in the industry is held in one of the best cities in North America, Montréal. The city is a hotbed of creativity, culture, and great food, and is a natural complement to this melting pot of talent. MIGS will return to Montréal next November and is well worth attending.
