GamesBeat 2025 was an unforgettable deep dive into the evolving world of gaming — and a powerful affirmation that Shero Games is exactly where we belong.
The conference kicked off with one of the most unexpectedly brilliant sessions of the week: Twin Galaxies’ panel on adding competitive layers to games without a single line of code. As a founder building a competitive game myself, I immediately saw the potential. People seriously underestimate the power of bragging rights, and this platform leans all the way into that psychology. It set the tone for the entire event.
From there, I joined Open Ocean Games for a roundtable on monetization and player retention —essential knowledge for any studio scaling a community-driven title. The biggest takeaway? If you build a great game, players will gladly spend money when you offer the right items at the right time. Hearing other developers candidly share their challenges made the conversation even richer.
Later, I headed to the Assassin’s Creed influencer panel, where Ubisoft and comedian Adam W. broke down how to create ads that don’t feel like ads. The blending of storytelling, comedy, and gameplay was genius—and a perfect reminder of how culture is shaping modern marketing.
I attempted to hop into a panel on AI in gaming, but the hallway turned into a mini-reunion. Friends I didn’t even know were attending kept stopping me. I eventually slipped away to catch up with my Shero Squad, iAsia and Keisha, before a dinner packed with new faces and new possibilities.
Day Two kicked off with the Women in Gaming breakfast—one of my favorite parts of GamesBeat each year. The room was filled with brilliance, encouragement, and genuine allyship. It had a little bit of that SheroCon energy I love so much.
After breakfast came the Visionary Awards and an unforgettable talk from Gordon Bellamy, who somehow made a conversation on ageism both hilarious and heartfelt. His packed roundtable afterward hit even deeper, focusing on how underestimated voices (like mine) can still break through to the highest levels of the industry. As someone who knows what it’s like to be overlooked, I left feeling fueled up and ready.
Lunch brought a long overdue conversation with Zachary Srot from Xsolla. I’ve always been curious about how their ecosystem supports developers, and Zach walked me through exactly how Shero Games could plug in as we grow.
The afternoon delivered a rapid-fire set of insights: a strong investor panel, an indie development discussion with Justin Woodward, a mobile gaming deep dive from Playtika, and an excellent talk from Jeonghee at NC America on bringing Asian games to Western audiences—a space where Shero Games has a unique cultural advantage.
Finally, I wrapped the conference in my sweet spot: the Hollywood & Games panel. Hearing industry leaders echo sentiments I’ve been expressing for years was both surreal and validating. And honestly? It confirmed why I stopped waiting for approval and started building my own IP factory.
GamesBeat 2025 wasn’t just a conference — it was a reminder that Shero Games is operating at the intersection of culture, innovation, and opportunity. I walked away with new partners, new insights, and a renewed belief in what we’re building.
Now, it’s time to turn those gems into games.
