First Playable 2025: The premier business event for game developers returns to Florence from 11-13 June

Milan, 24 February 2025 – IIDEA, the association representing the video games industry in Italy, is pleased to announce the first details of the seventh edition of First Playable, the leading business event that has become a key meeting point for Italian and international industry professionals. The event will take place in Florence from Wednesday 11th to Friday 13th June 2025. Organised by IIDEA and Toscana Film Commission – Fondazione Sistema Toscana, in collaboration with the Italian Trade Agency (and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation), the initiative aims to accelerate the growth and consolidation of the Italian video games industry.

Next June, the city of Florence will welcome Italian game developers, international guests, publishers and investors from around the world for this three-day event. Cinema La Compagnia, the Casa del Cinema of the Region of Tuscany, will host the conferences and the Italian Video Game Awards ceremony, scheduled for the afternoon of 11 June and the evening of 12 June respectively. Meanwhile, the Palazzo degli Affari, a modern congress centre just a short walk from Santa Maria Novella train station, has been chosen as the venue for business meetings, technical workshops and networking activities on 12 and 13 June. The venue has been recently renovated with a focus on technology, innovation and functionality.

From today until 24 March 2025, entries for the Italian Video Game Awards 2025 can be submitted via the dedicated form on the event’s website. Organised by IIDEA, the Awards celebrate excellence in the Italian video game industry, recognising the most outstanding games, professionals and companies that have made an impact in 2024. This year’s competition includes seven categories, some of which will be judged by an international panel of experts:

  • Best Italian Game – The best Italian video game
  • Best Italian Debut Game – The best first release by an Italian studio
  • Outstanding Art – The game with the most impressive artistic direction
  • Outstanding Experience – The most engaging and original gaming experience

In addition, three categories will be voted for by the industry, represented by IIDEA member development studios:

  • Outstanding Individual Contribution – Recognising an outstanding Italian professional in the game industry
  • Outstanding Italian Company – Recognising the most outstanding Italian development studio
  • Community Spotlight Award (new for this edition) – The best Italian video game as voted by the game development community

The new edition of First Playable will also feature the finalists of the Italian Game 2025 national competition, promoted by the Ministry of Industry and Made in Italy in collaboration with Invitalia and IIDEA. The winning team will be announced on 12 June during the Italian Video Game Awards 2025 ceremony.

Participants will also have the opportunity to engage with Fondazione Sistema Toscana – Toscana Film Commission to explore a series of free courses and workshops funded by the European Social Fund Regional Programme Plus 2021-2027. These courses – held at the Manifatture Digitali Cinema sites in Prato and Pistoia – offer specialisation in audiovisual professions such as costume design, editing, animation, video games and content creation. For more details, visit the official Manifatture website.

Tickets for First Playable 2025 are now available on the event’s Eventbrite page, with two options: Developer Full Access and Developer Social Access. These are reserved for companies, teams and professionals in the video game development sector based in Italy. Other industry professionals such as international operators, service providers, sponsors and partners can contact IIDEA through the event website for a customised ticket offer.

Tickets include access to all days of the event, including the Italian Video Game Awards ceremony and after-party on 12 June at Cinema La Compagnia, as well as access to the networking area at Palazzo degli Affari. A Developer Full Access ticket is required to access the meeting area and schedule business meetings with international companies through the Meet to Match matchmaking platform.

For further information, please visit the official event website: www.firstplayable.it.

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