As part of our ongoing work to strengthen the Macedonian game development ecosystem, MUGI - Macedonian Union of the Games Industry was happy to be part of another Informal Game Dev Meetup, organized together with Galactic Omnivore in collaboration with Base42.

The meetup brought together local developers, students, artists, designers, programmers, musicians, and game enthusiasts in a relaxed and open setting. The goal was to create space for people to meet, exchange ideas, present their work, play local games, and connect with others from the scene.

Local games presented at the meetup

This time, the community had the chance to play and showcase several games created by local developers:

Unwelcome Guests

Available on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4391580/Unwelcome_Guests/

Flick Party

Available on Steam:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4238820/Flick_Party/

The Velvet Cauldron

Available on itch.io, with an Android version now available:
https://gabs0904.itch.io/thevelvetcauldron/devlog/1083021/android-version-now-available

Why informal meetups matter

For MUGI, events like this are an important part of ecosystem development.

They help make game development more visible, more accessible, and more connected. For newcomers, seeing local developers present real games and talk openly about their process can be the moment when game development stops feeling like something distant and starts feeling possible.

For experienced developers, these meetups offer a space to test ideas, receive feedback, meet potential collaborators, and stay connected to the wider local community.

This kind of informal exchange is essential for building a stronger and more sustainable game development ecosystem in North Macedonia.

Community, collaboration, and growth

We are grateful to Galactic Omnivore for continuously creating open community spaces where developers and new creators can meet, learn, and grow together.

We are also grateful to Base42 for providing a collaborative environment where events like this can take place and where the local tech and creative community can continue to connect.

Congratulations to all developers who showcased their games, and a warm welcome to everyone who joined the community for the first time.

Looking ahead

MUGI will continue supporting initiatives that bring the local game development ecosystem together - from informal meetups and community events to accelerator programs, industry advocacy, mentorship, and opportunities for local developers to grow professionally.

Every showcased game, every new connection, and every person who decides to take their first step into game development helps move the ecosystem forward.

More activities are coming soon.

Supported by RECONOMY and Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe.

RECONOMY is an inclusive and green economic development program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), implemented by HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation in partnership with Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe and others in the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan countries.