That’s a wrap on Play by Play 2025! Thanks to all who came and supported us, and many thanks to the team that made NZ Games Fest and Play by Play happen. See you all in 2026 for our 10th Birthday!!!
Thankyou to our Keynote Speakers!
Sam Cook
Taikawa Tamati-Elliffe
and a huge thanks to all our 2025 Speakers!
Vee Pendergast – Decoding CODE NZ – A brief view of Industry Development
INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT
Tana Tanoi – A love letter to photomodes
GAME DESIGN
Check out the Play by Play Schedule
Alongside the Play by Play Conference, we also have a selection of events as part of the wider NZ Game Festival.
Check out the events below for more game-time!
The Pavs
The Pavs Game Awards are a celebration of ANZ’s best and boldest game development achievements.
Treat ‘n’ Greet
Treat & Greet is to provides Play by Play attendees with a fun, safe, and delicious environment to make new friends and catch up with old ones.
JoyPad
Celebrating the overlap of the LGBTQIA+ community and gaming. JOYPAD is a casual social evening in The Library’s Games Room.
PB & Jam
This 48 hour game jam will see crews both big and small assembling quickfire games that show their unique take on a hidden theme.
Level Up Exhibition
Retromania
Retromania will be a tribute to the golden era of arcades and a celebration of New Zealand’s vibrant and talented gaming community, which has flourished thanks to its influence.
Super Quiz Night
Super Quiz bros is a casual pub quiz themed around video game trivia. Each year 20 teams compete in 7 rounds to be crowned as the most knowledgeable gamers in New Zealand.
Level Up Exhibition
Cream of the Crop
The Level Up Cream of the Crop exhibition celebrates the amazing Pav’s game award finalists for 2025. Bring the family to play these showcase games at this free event.
Level Up Workshop
Gameathon
Join us for the “Level Up Gameathon” at Massey, proudly hosted by Tūhura Tech and sponsored by Massey University. This exciting two-day event is designed for secondary and tertiary students eager to dive into the world of game development. This event is only available to school or tertiary students.