QA feedback beyond traditional functionality testing is a real priority for those leading QA teams. Not only does it build value for the QA function but, by  prioritising player experience, it speaks to a passion project shared by many QA professionals.. This presentation will explore the evolution of QA feedback, highlighting the importance of qualitative testing to improve game feel and experience. Join the presentation to hear Kieron and Laura's experience with:

-            Ensuring a game works vs ensuring the experience is enjoyable

-            Examples of qualitative feedback improving gameplay

-            The feedback pipeline; how QA input is reviewed, triaged and acted upon

-            Convincing Developers to adopt this approach

Laura Massey

Head of QA
Frontier

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Kieron Baker

QA Manager
Frontier

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Managing a QC team in the gaming industry requires balancing efficient test coverage, adapting to evolving development cycles, and integrating new tools—while maintaining high-quality standards and team effectiveness. In this session, Ritu will explore key leadership strategies for scaling QC operations, optimizing test execution workflows, and ensuring seamless collaboration between QC and QA teams. Attendees will gain insights into how structured workflows, test automation, and analytics-driven decision-making can enhance efficiency without disrupting established processes. The session will also highlight lessons from other industries, showcasing what works (and what doesn’t) when integrating new methodologies and technologies into a fast-paced QA/QC environment.

Ritu Chowdhary

Director - QC, Test Automation, AI ML, R&D
Ubisoft

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Maintaining high-quality standards in games with legacy systems is a challenge many studios face, especially when balancing ongoing LiveOps with core game updates. Ageing codebases, outdated tools and evolving player expectations can complicate efforts to deliver seamless experiences. Join this panel for discussions on:

-        Proven QA strategies for managing and modernising legacy systems

-        Balancing the need for innovation with the stability of existing features

-        Tools and practices that help maintain quality across ageing codebases

-        Approaches to integrating new technologies

Luka Vuksic

Software QA Engineer
Nordeus

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David Popov

Software QA Engineer
Nordeus

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QA is a critical discipline in game development, with many professionals starting off in QA.  In spite of the important talent pipeline QA provides, career progression within the field isn’t always clearly defined. Many QA professionals are passionate about their craft, but what does long-term growth look like? What paths exist beyond traditional roles, and how can studios better support those looking to advance?

This panel will explore:

-            The career pathways within QA, from specialisation to leadership

-            How do we identify and push for growth opportunities within our studios?

-            Identifying the role of studios in fostering career development and retention

-           Providing practical insights on building a long-term career in QA, for those at the beginning of their journey (or how to help those that are, as an experienced professional)

Charlotte Sibley

Lead Live QA
Creative Assembly

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In an era of growing workloads and increasing demands, how can localization teams ensure that their craft—and ultimately, the player experience—remains the top priority? This session explores how streamlining workflows and reducing administrative overhead can empower localization professionals to focus on authenticity, cultural nuance and delivering truly player-first experiences.

This presentation will discuss:

-            What do we mean by ‘the craft’ and how can we protect this?

-            Practical insights from a localization team that has successfully shifted focus back to the craft and how this has impacted player experience

-            How restructuring workflows can remove inefficiencies without compromising authenticity

-            Balancing operational efficiency with the creative and cultural depth that players expect

Priscilla Bermea

Senior Manager, Localization Operations EMEA + Americas
Riot Games

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Selecting an LQA vendor is a strategic investment that should foster a strong, mutually beneficial partnership and contribute to delivering a high-quality product. A poor match can lead to increased costs, higher workloads, and a negative player experience.

This presentation will highlight the tools, methodologies, and KPIs we used to select a new vendor for an upcoming AAA project, ensuring a data-driven decision-making process. Attendees will gain practical insights and actionable takeaways to enhance their own vendor selection strategies

Monika Zaleska

Localization QA Analyst
CD Projekt Red

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Successful localization depends on strong vendor relationships and well-integrated workflows—but how do you find the right vendor to do so and ensure seamless collaboration? Lisa will be sharing her experiences of building effective partnerships, from the initial selection process to long-term workflow optimisation. Join this session to hear about:

-        Finding a suitable agency to work with

-        Establishing relations with stakeholders that are long-lasting

-        Building workflows and pipelines that integrate well with your vendors

Lisa Sidorova

Localization Lead
TinyBuild

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With all arrows leading to AI in higher management, how do we keep the focus on quality and not go bankrupt in the storm of hyper-automation. Overly streamlined game design was one of the reasons why several major games failed in 2024. Can we also lose the player's attention due to the game translation being "too mechanical"?

Join this panel to hear our panellists tackle the following questions:

-        Where do you place game localization today on the "industry - craft - art" scale?

-        How do you measure translation quality, and to what level does the industry react to translation quality?

-        How have MT projects impacted cost savings given post-editing QA? Is this scalable?

-        How do you deal with faster burnout of linguists who mostly do MTPE?

Ievgen Makarevych

Localization Manager
AB Games

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Nathanaël Hélin

Manager, Global Localization Strategy & Optimization
Ubisoft

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From navigating the fallout of an exclusive leaked content release to addressing a fanbase crisis that reached external audiences, as well as recovering from an IP investment gone awry, Toya Play Studio shares its journey. Learn how they quickly established the root of each crisis, prioritised effective mitigation strategies and implemented solutions that not only resolved the issues, but strengthened their reputation, as well as employee and fan trust.

-            Establishing swift identification and assessment of crises to minimise reputational damage

-            Prioritising transparent and impactful communication to maintain fanbase trust

-           Implementing innovative recovery strategies to emerge stronger and more resilient

Jupiter Hadley

Head of Community
Toya Play Studio

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This presentation will elaborate on how to empower and encourage players to become passionate advocates for your games. An industry expert will share strategies for identifying potential ambassadors, fostering organic enthusiasm and recognising player contributions through rewards and engagement, as well as by:

-        Encouraging organic advocacy by nurturing trust and excitement in your player base

-        Creating reward systems that acknowledge and celebrate player ambassadors

-        Building long-term relationships with player advocates to sustain community growth

To really reap the benefits of the community and maximise the reach, working with localization and understanding different cultures and their nuances can be imperative. This presentation will look at the following topics:

-        Challenges and opportunities in delivering international support services

-        How to integrate localization to improve support systems

- Harnessing the power of community engagement to aid the support process

In this discussion, panellists will share how their companies engage with players, offer top-tier customer support and foster loyal gaming communities. The session will delve into shared challenges, and the strategies used to maintain long-term player relationships across platforms through:

-        Developing customer engagement strategies that foster loyalty

-        Implementing effective community support models for ongoing success

-        Navigating challenges in community management and finding collaborative solutions

Wouter van Vugt

EMEA Communications & Community Engagement Senior Director
Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe

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Rafn Herlufsen

Director of Player Experience & Community
CCP

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