The topic of 2025’s edition of CreaTech Summit South-East Europe was the importance of the creative industry to Balkans. People from all over the peninsula with a variety of backgrounds gathered for the event. From policymakers to cluster organisations, everyone was on the same page - the cultural significance of growth and visibility for the region.
Specialists from the Observatory of Cultural Economics presented the sector as growing in importance for Bulgaria’s economy. The numbers confirmed it, and an emphasis was made on the region as an emerging creative hub.
Innovation in funding and regulatory changes were discussed in the panel led by Jari-Pekka Kaleva from the European Game Developers Federation (EGDF). Sharing the stage with Mike Geig from Unity Technologies and Cvetan Rusimov from Imperia Online, they offered an analysis of all recent developments of the European market. Cvetan expanded on the panel with practical approaches to large-scale gaming operations.
Last but not least, analytics and live service design were discussed as instruments for building and maintaining free-to-play projects.
Just as any immersive experience requires its signature sound, the conference had its own. Composer George Strezov showcased his crafty approach in influencing the player’s journey through the game with sound and music. XR and VR technology representatives spoke about interactive storytelling, as well as learning. The rapid developments in AI technology shaping indie game development had their own session dedicated to them.
Yasen Bagalev, co-founder and manager of The Sixth Hammer was also among the participants. The Sixth Hammer is a member of CreaTech Bulgaria - the main pillar behind the event and Bulgaria’s cultural and creative industries.
Supporting both local and international markets, CreaTech Bulgaria aims to solidify a network for game development in the country. To achieve just that, they navigate communication between ministries, state agencies, European initiatives and cooparticipation in forums abroad.
Together with the Executive Agency for the Promotion of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (BSMEPA), CreaTech Bulgaria will organize and finance a delegation to Digital Dragons 2025 in Poland. Teaming up with other game studios, The Sixth Hammer will join the effort presenting projects on the European stage.
