Gmoffi Corner - Industry Highlight: W Love Games

W Love Games on a Mission to Build a More Inclusive Future for Game Development

W Love Games is a Finland-based non-profit organization dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the global games industry. Founded by game developers for game developers, the organization creates opportunities for learning, networking, mentorship, and professional growth for people from all backgrounds. The "W" in W Love Games stands not only for women, but also for "we"—a community united by a shared passion for creating and playing games.

What began as a one-day seminar in 2018 has grown into a fully international, hybrid two-day conference that brings together game developers, industry leaders, students, and community members from around the world. Today, W Love Games is recognized for creating accessible spaces for learning, collaboration, and meaningful industry connections while championing a more inclusive future for games. Beyond its flagship conference, W Love Games has expanded its impact through several community-focused initiatives. The organization supports the Indie Game Alliance program, helping independent developers connect with industry networks, resources, and opportunities for growth. W Love Games also celebrates outstanding achievements in the Finnish game industry through the WLG Excellence Game Award at Finnish Game Awards, recognizing games and creators who demonstrate excellence, innovation, and positive impact from diverse indie teams. In addition, W Love Games continues to lead the organization of Finnish Games Week, five days of game development excellence in Helsinki, featuring Leadership Day by IGDA Finland, Pocket Gamer Nordics, and the WLG conference.

One of the organization's key recent initiatives is the WLG LATAM program, which has expanded support for the Indie Game Alliance and strengthened connections between Latin American game developers and the global industry. Through partnerships with industry organizations and event organizers, the program has helped developers access major international events such as the GDC, gamescom, and other leading game development conferences. These opportunities enable emerging studios and creators to build international networks, showcase their work, and gain valuable industry exposure.

Looking ahead, W Love Games is developing new programs focused on supporting African game developers and strengthening connections across the continent's rapidly growing games ecosystem. More information about these initiatives will be shared after the summer.

Upcoming Events

W Love Games Conference 2026 will take place on October 22–23, 2026, in Helsinki and online. The conference will feature talks, panels, workshops, mentoring sessions, and networking opportunities focused on game development, leadership, accessibility, diversity, and industry best practices. As part of its commitment to reducing barriers to participation, attendance remains free for all participants. In addition to the annual conference, W Love Games continues to contribute to the broader games community through its partnerships, international programs, and support for initiatives that connect developers across regions and backgrounds.

From its humble beginnings in 2018 to its growing international presence today, W Love Games continues to empower the next generation of game developers, create pathways into the industry, and strengthen connections between game development communities around the world.

Written by  

Natasha Skult 

W Love Games