Malta-linked studios take centre stage at Cologne video game convention

Games studios linked to Malta are set to feature prominently at the world’s largest video game convention, Gamescom, taking place in Cologne next week.

The event will feature PawBeans Studios, a collective of MCAST students whose collaboration grew out of school projects and game jams, and FEENIX Group, an international creative studio operating from base_camp in Malta and the UK.

PawBeans Studios will be pitching to an international industry audience for the first time, marking a step from student-led development into the wider games business.

FEENIX Group, meanwhile, develops games and interactive experiences for international brands including Paddington and Puffin Rock, alongside Roblox experiences and esports projects.

PawBeans Studios and FEENIX Group will be participating in European Game Night, an indie game showcase and networking event organised by SpielFabrique at the start of Gamescom week.

Their participation gives GamingMalta a platform to showcase both emerging local talent and Malta’s ability to attract international creative studios, placing the island’s games ecosystem in front of publishers, investors and industry partners gathered in Cologne.

Meanwhile, 4A Games, a Maltese-Ukrainian studio based in Sliema, will present its upcoming title METRO 2039 during the opening night of the event. The post-apocalyptic first-person shooter has been described as one of the most anticipated releases for 2027.

GamingMalta will also host a shared business hub at Gamescom, giving more than 20 Maltese game studios and educational institutions access to international publishers, investors and strategic partners.

Malta Enterprise will be present at the booth to promote support, incentives and investment opportunities for companies looking to establish or expand operations in Malta.

GamingMalta said the island’s presence across European Game Night and Gamescom reflects the objectives of Malta Vision 2050, including growing the country’s games ecosystem through international collaboration, business development, investment and talent development.

Gamescom is one of the world’s biggest video game trade fairs and conventions, held annually in Cologne, Germany, bringing together game developers, publishers, hardware companies, industry professionals and hundreds of thousands of fans.