2026 Speakers Include:

Cooper Jackson

Sr. Vice President, Business Affairs & Development
Electronic Arts (EA)

Kara Bilkiss

VP, Business Development,
Skydance Interactive

Michael Metzger

Managing Partner,
Drake Star

Mike DaLaet

President
Ares Interactive, Inc.

Mike Vorhaus

CEO
Vorhaus Advisors

Ned Sherman

Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer
Skybound

Pamela Bingcang

Associate General Counsel
Fortis Games

Sam Lam

Sr. Legal Counsel, Games
Skybound

Scott Shane

Sr. Investment Director
Sony Ventures

Stephanie Adamson King

Chief Legal Officer
PlayCo

2026 Agenda

2026 Agenda

Keynote Panel: The Capital Markets Reset – Who is Funding Games in 2026?

• The state of venture capital in interactive • New financing structures (revenue-based financing, slate funds) • What makes a studio investable today • Private equity vs. strategic buyers •...
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Business & Finance Track: AI as a Business Multiplier for Games – Where is it Actually Driving Revenue?

AI-assisted development and cost efficiency AI-powered live ops and personalization Predictive player analytics Risks of over-automation Competitive advantage vs. commoditization

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: Licensing in the Age of AI: Legal Frameworks for Modern Game Development

As licensed IP continues to drive game development strategy, legal complexity is increasing. This session will examine how licensing agreements are being structured in 2026 — and where the legal...
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Business & Finance Track: The New Studio Model – Lean Teams, AI Pipelines & Global Talent

• Smaller core teams leveraging AI tools • Outsourcing vs. in-house production • Managing distributed global workforces • Talent retention in an AI-assisted world • Labor relations and creative culture

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: AI & Intellectual Property – Who Owns AI-Generated Game Content?

• Copyrightability of AI outputs • Training data exposure risks • Licensing datasets • Litigation trends • Protecting proprietary models

Business & Finance Track: M&A Strategy in an AI-Driven Market

Topics include: Current status and outlook for M&A Consolidation among mid-tier studios Strategic partnerships with tech companies Acqui-hiring AI talent Valuing proprietary tech stacks

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: Litigation Trends in Interactive Entertainment

Consumer class actions AI misrepresentation claims Securities litigation Content moderation disputes International arbitration

Business & Finance Track: Franchise Economics – Extending Game IP Across Film, TV & Streaming

• Cross-platform development strategy • Risk allocation in transmedia deals • Windowing and rights negotiations • Licensing trends • Long-tail franchise monetization

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: AI Governance & Compliance Frameworks

• Emerging U.S., EU and Asia AI regulations • Risk management strategies • Transparency and disclosure obligations • AI bias, fairness and accountability • Internal governance best practices

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: Labor, Guilds & AI in Creative Production

• Emerging U.S., EU and Asia AI regulations • Risk management strategies • Transparency and disclosure obligations • AI bias, fairness and accountability • Internal governance best practices

What Will the Games Business Look Like in 2030?

Senior games executives, investors and analysts discuss the future of the business and forecast structural shifts in capital, technology, and consumer behavior.
Business & Finance Track

Business & Finance Track: AI as a Business Multiplier for Games – Where is it Actually Driving Revenue?

AI-assisted development and cost efficiency AI-powered live ops and personalization Predictive player analytics Risks of over-automation Competitive advantage vs. commoditization

Business & Finance Track: The New Studio Model – Lean Teams, AI Pipelines & Global Talent

• Smaller core teams leveraging AI tools • Outsourcing vs. in-house production • Managing distributed global workforces • Talent retention in an AI-assisted world • Labor relations and creative culture

Business & Finance Track: M&A Strategy in an AI-Driven Market

Topics include: Current status and outlook for M&A Consolidation among mid-tier studios Strategic partnerships with tech companies Acqui-hiring AI talent Valuing proprietary tech stacks

Business & Finance Track: Franchise Economics – Extending Game IP Across Film, TV & Streaming

• Cross-platform development strategy • Risk allocation in transmedia deals • Windowing and rights negotiations • Licensing trends • Long-tail franchise monetization
Legal, Policy & Regulation Track

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: Licensing in the Age of AI: Legal Frameworks for Modern Game Development

As licensed IP continues to drive game development strategy, legal complexity is increasing. This session will examine how licensing agreements are being structured in 2026 — and where the legal...
Read More

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: AI & Intellectual Property – Who Owns AI-Generated Game Content?

• Copyrightability of AI outputs • Training data exposure risks • Licensing datasets • Litigation trends • Protecting proprietary models

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: Litigation Trends in Interactive Entertainment

Consumer class actions AI misrepresentation claims Securities litigation Content moderation disputes International arbitration

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: AI Governance & Compliance Frameworks

• Emerging U.S., EU and Asia AI regulations • Risk management strategies • Transparency and disclosure obligations • AI bias, fairness and accountability • Internal governance best practices

Legal, Policy & Regulation Track: Labor, Guilds & AI in Creative Production

• Emerging U.S., EU and Asia AI regulations • Risk management strategies • Transparency and disclosure obligations • AI bias, fairness and accountability • Internal governance best practices

2026 Sponsors & Media Partners Include:

International Game Developers Association (IGDA) | www.igda.org/la

The International Game Developers Association is an independent, non-profit association established by game developers to foster the creation of a worldwide game development community. Chartered in 2009, IGDA Los Angeles ranks as one of the largest chapters of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) worldwide, with a reach upwards of 1,500 members. IGDA Los Angeles strives to build a community of game developers which leverages the expertise of its members for the betterment of the games industry throughout Southern California. We welcome and encourage all game industry professionals, hobbyists, and students to attend our events and participate in our growing community.

Video Game Bar Association (VGBA) | www.vgba.org

The VGBA’s mission is to build a vibrant global community of legal professionals supporting the video game industry by providing resources, fostering professional relationships, and supporting the education of its members.

 

WIGI (Women in Games International) | www.getwigi.com

Women in Games International (WIGI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to cultivate resources to advance economic equality and diversity in the global games industry.

Fusicology | www.fusicology.com

Fusicology.com is a multifaceted website media entity, promoting progressive music culture through event listings and relevant content. Fusicology as a whole provides a national hub reaching trend setting multicultural urbanites. Our site and newsletter specialize in providing relevant information for early adopters that include the musically forward.

Westside Digital Mix (WDM)

Westside Digital Mix is an informal networking group for digital media & entertainment professionals who live or work on the Westside in Los Angeles — from the South Bay to Malibu, West LA to the Pacific Ocean. These monthly ‘curated’ social/business mixers are a great way to catch up with friends, colleagues, and meet new industry insiders.

 IAEL | www.iael.org

The IAEL was officially founded in 1977 at MIDEM, the main international trade fair of the music business held each January in Cannes. Over the past thirty years, the IAEL has come to fulfil a unique role for lawyers involved in the industry throughout the world. It has expanded enormously in terms of both the numbers of its members and the scope of its activities. Nonetheless, continuity of membership combined with the energy of its officers, past and present, mean that the Association’s style remains distinctly personal.

Women in Games | www.womeningames.org

Description coming soon.

 

Digital LA | www.digitalla.net

Digital LA is LA’s largest digital entertainment networking group, reaching more than 50,000 digital professionals weekly via our newsletter and social media. Attendees include Hollywood executives from movie studios, agencies, game companies, and labels, as well as Silicon Beach startup CEOs, VCs, investors, angels, and more.

Past Sponsors & Supporters Include: