[Industry news] GTA creators reunite for landmark Scottish games industry event

This is a press release posted alongside our usual editorial content.

The Scottish Game Developers Association (SGDA) is proud to announce the return of Games Day 2026, a landmark one‑day event coming to Dundee on Friday 25 September. Building on the success of last year’s event alongside DICE Europe, the 2026 edition will unite the creators behind Grand Theft Auto, senior leaders from global studios and platforms, and Scotland’s thriving community of independent developers for a day of talks, panels, showcases, and networking.

With limited tickets now remaining for Games Day, the event comes just weeks from the 19 November launch of Grand Theft Auto 6, estimated to have cost over $1 billion to develop and expected to generate up to $5 billion in first‑year revenue, reshaping the global games market.

GTA origins and Scottish games heritage take centre stage

A highlight of the programme is a special GTA Origins panel, reuniting original DMA Design pioneers Dave Jones, Colin Anderson, Mike Dailly, Keith Hamilton, Patrick Kerr and Gary Penn. The session will explore the birth of Grand Theft Auto in Dundee and reflect on nearly 30 years of global impact from a franchise that began in the city.

Opening remarks will be delivered by Dave Jones, co‑creator of Grand Theft Auto and founder of DMA Design, whose career spans Lemmings, GTA, Crackdown, Fortnite and more. Jones will set the tone for a day focused on creativity, resilience, and opportunity for studios of all sizes.

Global leaders, local talent, and critical industry debates

The conference programme features senior voices from across the games ecosystem, including:

• Linda Tiger, Games Industry Executive of Arrowhead Game Studios and Paradox Interactive, on Share Your Cheat Codes: How knowledge-sharing turns an industry into a community
• Jeff Gardiner, Founder of Something Wicked Games, on Making single player RPGs in a multiplayer world
• Charles Cecil, CEO of Revolution Software, on From whale oil to game code: The birth of UK video games
• Fawzi Mesmar, Creative Director at Ubisoft, on Creativity in the age of AI
• Juney Dijkstra (Electronic Arts), Corrie Green (Unity), Reese Wright (Devolver Digital), Kristian Roberts (Nordicity), and Kathrin Radtke (Spell Garden Games) on the Opportunities for Developers in 2026 panel
• Shirzad Bahrami, Technical Artist at Electronic Arts, on Navigating the Risks and Rewards of Vibe Coding
• Rob Hewson, CEO of Huey Games, on Survive Long Enough to Get Lucky
• Bennie Terry III, Partner – Head of Production of Oddworld Inhabitants on The Unfunded Dilemma: How to Build Your Dream When the Money Isn’t There
• Andrew Dobbie, CEO/Founder of Made Brave on How to Make a Traffic Cone (or Anything) Go Viral
• James Muirhead, indie developer at Deep Crypt Games, on How working in a Chip Shop got my horror game featured by the BBC

The Opportunities for Developers in 2026 panel will bring together perspectives from major publishers (EA, Devolver Digital), a leading engine provider (Unity), an economic policy advisor (Nordicity) and a Scottish based indie (Spell Garden Games), offering practical insights for small and medium‑sized studios on funding, partnerships, and market strategy.

Networking, showcases, and a Scottish games ceilidh

Games Day 2026 is designed as an interactive, community‑focused event. The day will include:

• Games showcases from Scottish developers
• Structured networking sessions with global delegates
• Lunch and refreshments served to encourage informal conversations and deal‑making
• An evening programme from 7pm featuring games music cover band The GGs, followed by a traditional ceilidh with celebrated ceilidh band The Jacobites.

The venue, Water’s Edge, overlooking the river Tay in Dundee, provides a vibrant, waterfront setting intended to foster collaboration between local developers, investors, policymakers, and visiting industry leaders.

Colin Macdonald, SGDA Chair, said: “Games Day 2026 is about celebrating where we’ve come from and shaping where we’re going. Bringing the original GTA team back to Dundee, alongside leaders from the rest of Scotland’s industry alongside the likes of EA, Ubisoft, and Unity gives us a unique chance to learn from the past while tackling the big questions around AI, studio sustainability, and growth.”

 

Tickets and registration

Games Day 2026 takes place on Friday 25 September 2026 at Water’s Edge, Dundee. Tickets are available now via the SGDA website: https://www.sgda.co.uk/gamesday.

Organised by the Scottish Game Developers Association (SGDA) with support from the Scottish Government’s Ecosystem Fund, Games Day is a key event in Scotland’s games ecosystem.