NAGIS FRONT PAGE

Nolan Bushnell

Inventor & Entrepreneur; Co-Founder, Atari:

In 1972 Nolan Bushnell created an industry when he founded Atari and gave the world Pong, the first blockbuster video game. Today his design credo—that games should be “easy to learn and difficult to master”—is inspiring a new generation of developers. A prolific entrepreneur, Bushnell has started more than 20 companies, including Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theater, Catalyst Technologies, the first Silicon Valley incubator, and Etak, the first in-car navigation system. In the process, he pioneered many of the workplace innovations that have made Silicon Valley a long-standing magnet for creative talent. Bushnell was the first and only person ever to hire Steve Jobs, which he details in his 2013 book, Finding the Next Steve Jobs.

His latest startups are ModalVR, which offers wireless, multiplayer VR entertainment systems for turn-key commercial use, and X2 Games, an independent game publisher focused on Blockchain Technology.

A true icon of the digital revolution, Bushnell was named one of “50 People Who Changed America” by Newsweek. Currently a biopic about Bushnell, tentatively titled “Atari”, was acquired by Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company and is in pre-production.

Don’t miss Noland’s keynote on the Mega Stage, June 18. Full details and speaker schedule coming soon!

The North American Games Industry Summit

NAGIS Powered By Xsolla successfully launched its inaugural B2B game industry summit in Edmonton, Alberta. In 2026, the two-day event utilized over 77,000 square feet, featuring the NAGIS Powered By Xsolla Mega Stage, three dedicated conference stages, the MeetToMatch Lounge, 55 turnkey independent developer showcase booths representing studios from across North America, and the VIP Executive Lounge. The summit brought together game developers, publishers, investors, technology partners, and industry leaders for keynote presentations, networking, business development, game showcases, and strategic partnerships, establishing NAGIS as one of Canada’s fastest-growing video game industry conferences.

Together, NAGIS and Game Con Canada create a unique environment where B2B deal-making meets a massive consumer audience, connecting capital with creativity and building what’s next for the global games industry.

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INFO ABOUT GCC

The Very Big Indie Pitch is coming to Canada!

Taking place within The North American Games Industry Summit (NAGIS), our unique speed dating format gives each developer 5 minutes (including Q&A) with each room of expert judges, meaning entrants will get feedback in real-time and post-event via email too. Think speed-dating for developers and experts, and you get the idea.

That’s not all though, as the top three will get editorial coverage across Steel Media’s, making this a great chance to get you, your studio and your game played by the world. There’s also free tickets and event space at a future Pocket Gamer Connects up for grabs to the winner too.

The deadline to submit your game is midnight on June 1st, 2026.

Industry Panel Sessions

Industry Panel Sessions bring together leading voices from across the gaming and technology sectors for insightful discussions on the trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the industry. Hosted across one of NAGIS’s three dedicated panel stages, these expert-led conversations offer attendees practical insights, diverse perspectives, and forward-looking ideas designed to inform decision-making and spark collaboration.

Speaker Application

MeetToMatch Lounge

The MeetToMatch Lounge is a dedicated, business-only space designed to facilitate meaningful one-on-one meetings, collaboration, and deal flow throughout NAGIS. Powered by the MeetToMatch B2B matchmaking platform, the lounge enables developers, publishers, investors, and technology partners to schedule targeted meetings, connect with the right stakeholders, and move conversations forward in a focused, professional environment built for real business outcomes.

Game Dev Showcase Zone

The Game Dev Showcase Zone provides studios with turnkey demo booths to present new or unreleased titles in a professional, business-focused setting. Designed for visibility and discovery, this zone gives developers the opportunity to showcase gameplay directly to media, publishers, and investors, creating meaningful exposure, feedback opportunities, and pathways to publishing, funding, and partnership discussions.

Celebrity Chef: Shane M Chartrand

Business Breakfast & Lunch delivers gourmet breakfasts, hosted lunches, and thoughtfully curated culinary experiences. Led by Celebrity Top Chef Shane Chartrand and executive chef Jiju Paul of the Edmonton EXPO Centre. Each menu highlights the best of Canadian cuisine while creating a premium setting for conversation, connection, and professional networking.

Dedicated Pitch Sessions

Dedicated Pitch Sessions give selected developers the opportunity to present upcoming games directly to publishers and venture capital partners in a high-impact, professional setting. Submissions are curated through MeetToMatch, with chosen studios taking the main panel stage supported by full AV production and large-format LED displays, creating direct pathways to funding, publishing, and strategic partnerships.

Pitch Session Application

Industry Night Mixer

Industry Night Mixer builds on the success of the Industry Nights hosted at Game Con Canada, bringing together developers, publishers, tech leaders, and industry stakeholders in an elevated networking environment. Designed to encourage meaningful conversations, this exclusive evening creates space for new connections, shared insights, and partnerships that extend well beyond the summit.