On September 25, 2025, Game Gap — the first international conference in Central Asia dedicated to the video game and interactive entertainment industry — was held at Caex Hall 2 in Tashkent. Organized by IT Park Uzbekistan, the event provided a uniqueplatform for the discussion of global trends, the establishment of new partnerships, and the integration of Uzbekistan into the international gaming ecosystem.
Makhliyo Muksinova, Services Export Development Director at IT Park Uzbekistan, delivered the opening address at Game Gap, underscoring the significance of the gaming industry as one of the most dynamically developing segments of the digital economy. She highlighted that Uzbekistan holds substantial potential for the growth of game development, driven by young talent, government initiatives, and the support of the IT Park ecosystem.
The conference featured keynote presentations by representatives of Tencent and IT Park Uzbekistan.
Hiсham Nouhou, Regional Manager for Central Asia at Level Infinite (Tencent Games Global), presented an analytical report on global gaming trends, paying particular attention to the increasing engagement of players in Uzbekistan and the rapid growth of the country’s gaming sector.
In turn, Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda outlined IT Park’s contribution to industry development and the strengthening of international cooperation. He emphasized that no fewer than three new gaming companies are launched in Uzbekistan each month, underscoring both the market’s potential and its attractiveness to investors.
Otabek Baratov, founder of Grimore Entertainment, shared his personal story in the presentation “From Developer to Studio Founder: Shaping Your Own Journey”. He recounted his journey from individual game development to establishing a fully-fledged studio, drawing attention to the challenges and opportunities facing young entrepreneurs.
The program also included panel discussions and an interactive quiz for participants.
Two substantive panel sessions — “The Future of Indie Game Development in Uzbekistan” and “AI+Vibe Coding in GameDev” — addressed the future of indie development in Uzbekistan and the role of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in shaping new approaches to game creation.
Panel participants included Yuri Kotikov, Publishing Development Director at Voodoo; Nicolas Vie, Business Development Director at Voodoo; Hiсham Nouhou, Regional Manager for Central Asia at Level Infinite (Tencent Games Global); and Azamat Rakhmon-Zoda, Head of the Office for Promising Projects at IT Park Uzbekistan. The sessions were moderated by Akmal Salikhov, founder of GameGoethe, who steered the discussion toward the practical aspects of developing local studios, integrating into global processes, and applying AI-driven solutions to accelerate and enhance game production.
The conference concluded with an interactive quiz encompassing all the topics addressed by the speakers. Participants tested how closely they had followed the discussions, and the winners received special prizes from the organizers.
Game Gap 2025 emerged as a landmark event that set a new course for the development of the gaming industry in Central Asia, further reinforcing Uzbekistan’s role as a rapidly growing IT hub.
