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Made In Canada, News

MIGS 2025 Expands in Montréal: Canada’s Largest Game Industry Event Goes Global

Marcel Dee

• 4 min read
MIGS 2025 Expands in Montréal: Canada’s Largest Game Industry Event Goes Global

This November, the Canadian gaming industry will take center stage as the Montréal International Game Summit (MIGS) returns bigger than ever. Set to unfold on November 11–12, 2025 at the stunning Grand Quay in Old Port of Montréal, MIGS 2025 will mark a historic leap for the country’s longest-running and largest professional video game summit — more than doubling its footprint from the previous year.

With thousands of attendees expected from across 25+ countries, MIGS 2025 is poised to become one of the most important global events for the video game business. Developers, publishers, investors, and service providers from around the world will gather to build partnerships, share insights, and chart the future of gaming in North America and beyond.

A Monumental Expansion in Venue, Programming, and Global Reach

The move to Grand Quay offers 54,000 square feet of open, naturally lit space across two levels — a dramatic scale-up from MIGS 2024. That extra space enables MIGS to grow not just in size, but in scope.

Here’s what’s new for MIGS 2025:

  • Four major stages instead of one, each focused on specific industry verticals: game development, business, technology, and production.
  • An expanded Innovation Expo, giving studios and service providers more visibility and connection points.
  • A larger Indie Zone, where emerging talent can network, demo games, and learn from industry leaders.
  • A massive increase in international representation, with over 40% of speakers coming from outside Canada.

For a city already considered a global video game hub, Montréal is now fully embracing its role as the gateway to the North American gaming market.

Question for readers: Do you think Montréal has what it takes to become the global capital of game development?

Introducing the ExDev Hub: The External Development Powerhouse

One of the most anticipated additions to MIGS 2025 is the expanded ExDev Hub, powered by Game Caviar. With more than 1,400 service providers in its network and 200+ buyers expected to attend, this hub cements MIGS as a critical stop for studios seeking external development partnerships — from outsourcing art and audio to co-development and publishing deals.

Why is this important? Because external development is the lifeblood of modern game production. Whether you're an indie studio outsourcing UI design or a AAA publisher in search of motion capture specialists, MIGS 2025 is offering a one-stop destination to find the right partners.

“External development drives so many of the partnerships that move our industry forward,” says Jason Smith, Founder of Game Caviar. “The ExDev Hub at MIGS 2025 further expands and builds on Montréal’s role as a central hub for external development in North America.”

Audio in the Spotlight: MIGS Audio Summit Celebrates Wwise's 25th Anniversary

Sound design takes center stage this year with the launch of the MIGS Audio Summit, presented by Audiokinetic — creators of the globally adopted Wwise audio engine. The summit celebrates 25 years of innovation and includes stops on the renowned Wwise Tour.

From immersive soundtracks to interactive audio pipelines, this summit is tailored for audio professionals, composers, sound designers, and technical audio experts who want to level up their game.

Whether you're building a moody horror atmosphere or designing adaptive audio systems for VR, this track will offer cutting-edge insights and practical tools.

MIGS as a Global Connector: Speakers From Around the World

Expect a truly international lineup this year, with featured speakers and delegates from Sweden, Denmark, the U.S., Poland, Switzerland, China, and beyond.

Notable speakers include:

  • Arrowhead Studios (Helldivers II)
  • Savvy Games (Monopoly GO)
  • Sandfall Interactive (Clair Obscur: Expedition 33)
  • 11 bit studios (Frostpunk)
  • Playstack (publisher of Balatro)

These studios represent a wide range of perspectives — from indie darlings to mobile powerhouses and AAA giants. Their participation underscores MIGS’s evolution into a truly global event, not just a regional summit.

Access for All: New Content Pass for Aspiring Devs and Creatives

MIGS 2025 is also opening its doors to emerging professionals and curious creatives through the new Content Pass, priced at just $349 CAD (early bird until October 17, regular $399).

This pass includes:

  • Full access to 40+ expert talks
  • Entry to the Innovation Expo
  • All-day admission to the Indie Zone

Whether you’re a student, a solo dev, or a mid-career creative thinking about transitioning into games, this pass gives you hands-on exposure to the people and ideas driving the industry.

And for studios or schools bringing larger groups, discounts for 10+ passes are available.

A Powerful Coalition of Partners

MIGS 2025 is made possible through the support of an impressive roster of partners — reflecting both local commitment and global reach:

  • AMD
  • Xsolla
  • Epic Games Store
  • Ubisoft
  • Behaviour Interactive
  • EA Motive
  • Gameloft Montréal
  • Investissement Québec
  • City of Montréal
  • AWS, Shutterstock, Red Barrels, and many more

Together, these partners are helping position MIGS as a global business platform and cultural force in gaming.

Final Thoughts: Why MIGS 2025 Is the Must-Attend Industry Event This Fall

With its expanded format, powerful lineup, and strategic focus on external development and global collaboration, MIGS 2025 is more than a conference — it's a catalyst for what comes next in the world of games.

If you’re looking to build partnerships, secure publishing deals, find service providers, learn from industry leaders, or just meet fellow creatives, Montréal is the place to be this November.

About La Guilde du jeu vidéo du Québec

La Guilde is the largest association of its kind in the world, representing over 330 members across Québec's vibrant game development scene — including indies, international studios, academic institutions, and entrepreneurs.

About XP Gaming

XP Gaming powers B2B game industry events across North America, including MIGS, XP Game Summit, and XP Indie Biz Connect — bringing together developers, publishers, and investors to shape the future of gaming.