Auckland is hosting the New Zealand Game Developers Conference (NZGDC) for the first time in nearly ten years, timed to coincide with a genuinely significant milestone for the local industry, New Zealand's game development sector has now hit $1 billion in revenue.
That figure represents a substantial jump from $759 million in 2025, underscoring just how quickly the local gaming sector has been expanding.
A Major Event on a Tight Timeline
NZGDC will run at the New Zealand International Convention Centre from 30 September to 3 October, under the theme "Shaping our World." The conference will bring together developers, industry leaders, investors and emerging talent from across the country and beyond.
Mayor Wayne Brown is set to officially open the conference on 1 October, with support from Auckland Council's cultural and events arm, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited.
Part of a Bigger City-Wide Celebration
NZGDC itself, hosted by the New Zealand Game Developers Association (NZGDA), features more than 100 individual industry events. It also forms a centrepiece of the wider Auckland Games Week 2026, running from 26 September to 3 October as a broader celebration of gaming culture and creative technology across the city.
Why Auckland Is Leaning Into This
Mayor Brown framed the conference as directly aligned with his broader push to grow high-value tech industries in the city.
"New Zealand's game development industry continues to level up in Auckland," Brown said. "We're backing industries like gaming because they attract overseas investment and turn great local ideas into global products, bringing talent and new opportunities to the city."
The Infrastructure Already in Place
This conference isn't happening in isolation, it's landing on top of existing Council-backed infrastructure designed to support the sector year-round.
|
Initiative |
What It Does |
|
Te Puna Creative Hub, Henderson |
Council-operated facility hosting a growing cluster of creative and digital businesses, including game developers |
|
GridAKL, Wynyard Quarter |
Innovation precinct supporting emerging talent through networking and real-world testing opportunities |
|
Indie Games Showcase |
Annual event connecting aspiring developers with players, customers and investors |
An Industry Growing Well Beyond Global Averages
NZGDA Executive Director Joy Keene, who is organising the conference, pointed to genuinely striking growth figures for the sector.
"Our local game development sector is growing at more than 20 times the global average year-on-year," Keene said.
She also highlighted a structural advantage unique to the industry: as a "weightless export," game development doesn't rely on shipping physical goods overseas, meaning it faces fewer of the supply chain and logistics disruptions that affect other export sectors.
"Growth means jobs and, as a weightless export industry, game development presents a real opportunity for New Zealand to insulate itself against disruptions in the broader world economy," Keene said.
A Free Event for the Public
While much of NZGDC is aimed at industry professionals, there's also a genuine opportunity for everyday Aucklanders to get involved. The Kiwi Games Zone, running on 3 October from 9am to 4pm, offers free admission and will showcase exclusively New Zealand-made games in an interactive setting.
Why Auckland Wants Events Like This
Ken Pereira, Head of Business Events at Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, explained why conferences like NZGDC matter beyond the week itself.
"Business events strengthen Auckland's position as a hub of expertise and innovation by bringing together thought leaders and local industries to exchange knowledge and build partnerships," Pereira said.
He added that Auckland Convention Bureau specifically targets growth sectors like game development to encourage further investment and collaboration within the city's wider innovation economy.
Why This Matters Beyond the Conference Itself
For a sector that's grown from $759 million to $1 billion in a single year, hosting a major national conference in Auckland isn't just symbolic timing, it's a chance for the city to position itself firmly as the country's central hub for an industry that's genuinely outperforming most other export sectors right now.
With over 100 events, a public showcase, and backing from both Council and industry leadership, NZGDC 2026 looks set to be a meaningful moment for an industry that, until recently, may not have had the same profile as more traditional New Zealand export sectors like agriculture or tourism.
This article is based on a media release issued by Auckland Council.
