[Industry news] GameSkills Confirms First Expert Line-Up for 2026 European Studio Training Programme

This is a press release posted in addition to our usual editorial content.

GameSkills, the Creative Europe MEDIA-backed advanced training initiative for European game studios, has announced the first confirmed experts for its 2026 programme, bringing together leading voices in AI, accessibility, design, sustainability and market strategy.

Designed for studios navigating rapid technological and market shifts, GameSkills offers remote training modules led by internationally recognised industry specialists. Running from April to November 2026, the programme will include an in-person summit at gamescom dev in Cologne. Positioned not simply as training but as a structured resilience tool, GameSkills enables companies to enrol up to five cross-disciplinary senior team members.

This collective participation model helps studios align internally around AI integration, production efficiency, accessibility standards and market strategies. Unlike individual learning initiatives, GameSkills operates at studio level, reinforcing core leadership teams while fostering peer exchange across a cohort of 50 European companies.

Confirmed Experts and Topics
Additional experts and modules will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tara Voelker (Senior Accessibility Producer, Netflix Games)
Managing Accessibility Across the Production Pipeline

Will Shen (Creative Director, Unknown Worlds)
Designing Systems That Scale and Evolve Without Breaking

Karla Reyes (Founder & Creative Director, Anima Interactive)
Balancing Representation, Narrative Coherence, and Creative Intent

Tommy Thompson (Director, AI and Games)
Automating Repetitive Production Tasks Without Losing Oversight
Using AI to Inform Business Decisions — Not to Make Them

Tülay McNally (Senior Director Play4All Strategy, Scopely)
Expanding Audiences Without Alienating Existing Ones

Jennifer Estaris (Sustainability & Games Expert)
Designing Game Mechanics with Long-Term Impact in Mind

Celia Hodent (Game UX Strategy Expert)
Designing for Engagement in Saturated Markets

Kate Edwards (CEO, Geogrify LLC)
Expanding Your Game’s Reach Through Culturalization

“GameSkills was designed to help European studios respond strategically to the accelerating changes reshaping the games industry,” said Sophie Romano, Project Lead at GameSkills. “By bringing together internationally recognised experts and enabling leadership teams to train collectively, the programme supports studios in strengthening decision-making, resilience, and long-term competitiveness.”

A Programme Built for Studio-Level Impact

GameSkills aims to strengthen leadership capabilities across Game Design, Technology, Production, Business, and Art. By bringing multiple decision-makers from each studio into a shared curriculum, the programme supports coordinated adaptation rather than fragmented experimentation.

Participants will engage in expert-led sessions, collaborative peer learning, and long-term community exchange designed to accelerate decision-making, reduce risk, and reinforce studio resilience.

GameSkills is led by a European consortium that brings together complementary expertise in professional training, industry events and skills recognition. GameSkills is made up of Gamaste, Gamebadges/Metropolia University UAS, gamescom dev, and SpielFabrique, all working together to strengthen skills development and professional mobility within the European video game sector.

Applications Now Open

Participation is limited to 50 European companies.

Application first deadline: February 20, 2026

Learn more and apply: www.gameskills.eu

Selection is based on motivation, relevance, and alignment with the programme’s objectives, with particular attention given to studios committed to long-term skills development and cross-disciplinary collaboration.