Playtopia aims to honour the nation's multifaceted game development and immersive arts community, fostering inspiration for the upcoming generation of innovators, players, and enthusiasts.
By curating a selection of excellent local artworks and games, alongside contributions from international counterparts, Playtopia guarantees an unparalleled African celebration of gaming and technological artistry. This festival encapsulates the very essence of the future of entertainment, showcasing a convergence of creativity and technology that is truly unparalleled.
This year, Playtopia will offer an exhilarating two-day experience, offering attendees the opportunity to immerse themselves in both local and international indie games whilst captivating interactive and digital art. Attendees of Playtopia will have the chance to participate in talks and panels conducted by renowned international and local experts in the realm of Indie Game development.
Enthusiasts of gaming, developers, and event attendees alike will be spoiled for choice with an abundance of games, music, culinary delights, and immersive art experiences. The event will feature exhibitions by prominent South African interactive artists, alternative, artistic, and party games, a dedicated Super Friendship Arcade room showcasing games played with custom controllers, VR rooms, and much more!
Playtopia is proudly sponsored by Devolver Digital, Free Lives, Landfall, Super Hot, Raw Fury, Institute Francais and 24BitGames.
Playtopia 2023's programme includes a two-day conference featuring talks from a hand-picked selection of trail-blazing game developers, interactive artists and playful creators. Focused on short and engaging talks, the conference aims to be highly accessible for all attendees. From fuelling the passion of Africa's current game-changers, to being a catalyst for the next wave, the Playtopia Conference aims to celebrate and grow South Africa's blossoming indie games scene, and continue pushing it towards being one of the most vibrant and innovative hotspots in the future for indie games and the playful arts.
Super Friendship Arcade (SFA) represents an ever-expanding coalition of friends who employ games as a means to creatively influence The Planet. By establishing impromptu arcades in unconventional spaces, SFA dismantles the conventional notion of a 'gamer', celebrating games that are approachable, easy to engage with, and, above all, conduits for shared moments that unite people.
The central tenet of SFA's mission is to underscore that games are inclusive for everyone. This inclusivity extends beyond mere gameplay—SFA contends that game creation is also accessible to all. Through game jams and workshops, the SFA collective shares their fervour and expertise with newcomers, with the ultimate aim of cultivating an even more varied and dynamic community of DIY game developers.
Indie Planet is a curated exhibition space at Playtopia, showcasing highlights from other gaming festivals around the world. It's difficult for South Africans to travel abroad so we thought, why not bring the world to us!
A selection of interactive and immersive art installations by local artists will be on exhibit. Creatives who embrace technology to express themselves, will exhibit their artworks for festival goers to experience.
At the heart of Playtopia lies the main exhibition arcade - a meticulously curated assemblage of games, immersive encounters, and interactive narratives. This showcase embodies a gathering of the most ingenious, dynamic, and emotionally resonant games from the recent past.
Encompassing a mix of titles hailing from South Africa and around the globe, this exhibition encompasses lauded indie releases as well as hidden treasures that deserve more recognition. Its purpose is to honour the evolution of digital storytelling and the realm of playful art, presenting a testament to the future of these creative domains.
Playtopia takes place from 8-9 December 2023 at the Homecoming Centre, Cape Town and tickets are now available.
For more, go to https://Playtopiafestival.co.za
