GDC Festival of Gaming is part of the Informa Festivals Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

March 9-13, 2026
Moscone CenterSan Francisco, CA

Agenda

From Local Talent to Global Stage: Building High-Value Game Development Ecosystems (Presented by Essential Costa Rica)

Maykool López  (Director and Trade Commisioner, Essential Costa Rica)
Claudio Pinto  (Founder & President, Fair Play Labs)
Location: International Stage, South Hall
Date: Thursday, March 12
Time: 11:50 am - 12:10 pm
Pass Type: Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass - Get your pass now!
Track: Business Strategy
Format: Power Talk
Vault Recording: Not Recorded
Essential Costa Rica

Using Costa Rica as a case study, this session examines how strategic international exposure, commercial positioning, and coordinated public–private collaboration helped transform a small local game development scene into a globally trusted production partner. Drawing from the experience of Fair Play Labs and the international market development efforts supported by Essential Costa Rica, the speakers share practical insights on connecting regional talent to high-value projects and long-term global partnerships. The talk reflects on lessons learned from expanding beyond geographic limitations and competing in international markets without the advantages of traditional industry hubs. Attendees gain a real-world perspective on how emerging ecosystems can strengthen production capacity, increase global visibility, and sustainably support high-value game development.

Takeaway

Attendees gain insight into how international exposure, commercial strategy, and public–private collaboration can elevate emerging game development ecosystems. Through a practical case study, they learn how regional talent connects to global partners and how sustainable capacity for high-value projects is built and maintained.

Intended Audience

This session is designed for studio leaders, producers, publishers, investors, business development professionals, and policymakers interested in global collaboration and emerging markets. It is relevant to organizations seeking new production partners as well as regions working to strengthen international market access.