State of Play NSW End of Year Hootenanny
Description
State of Play NSW and Xsolla invite you to the inaugural State of Play End-of-year Hootenanny!
Let’s all celebrate surviving a tumultuous year of uncertainty for NSW game developers with a relaxed evening of networking and socialising with colleagues and friends in the heart of the Sydney CBD!
Raise a glass to the creative, diverse indie studios that make NSW’s games scene so unique and inspiring.
All registered attendees recieve a drink token on arrival. Come, hang out and be celebrated!
The State of Play Awards
This year State of Play NSW presents three awards to acknowledge outstanding talent in NSW and the impactful leaders of our community.
Developer's Choice Award
Awarded by event attendees to recognise a singular contribution made the to the local industry.Community Leader Award
An award to recognise an individual who has been instrumental in raising the profile and opportunities of the NSW development scene in 2026Nailing the Stats Award
Awarded to the game that has achieved the most reach, cut-through and sucess this year.
These awards are designed to bring recognition to the people, games and groups in our network that are supporting our industry through times of uncertainty.
Steam Key Party
To encourage connection and discovery, please donate a Steam Key in the registration process of a NSW game either made by your studio or a friend's studio (with their permission).
When you arrive, grab a key at the door and add it to your library to play later!
We welcome developers to play each others games, leave reviews and share their experiences on Steam, Let's promote each others' games!
FAQs
- How do I vote for Developers Choice?
Complete your registration for the event and either select a game from the list or provide a write-in answer.
Games that were released in the 2026 calendar year are eligible for this award.
- Do I have to register?
Yes! Please register to attend the event.
Registered attendees will receive a drink token on arrival.
- What is Xsolla?
Xsolla is the global video game commerce company that helps developers and publishers grow their businesses. Xsolla gives developers the infrastructure to launch, monetise, and grow their games
- What is State of Play NSW?
We promote advocacy, diversity and representation for game development in NSW.
State of Play NSW represents professional game developers and indie studios in the state of New South Wales.
Our Vision
Our vision is to:
Recognition of indie games as a valued cultural artform in Australia.
Growing and retaining exceptional local talent.
Achieving funding parity with similar creative industries.
Aligning with state agencies, funding bodies, and industry stakeholders.
Our Mission
We exist to raise the profile of NSW Indie Game Developers by addressing critical funding gaps, unlocking international opportunities, and building pathways for career development.
Currently, digital games receive just 1% of available Screen resources in NSW. Our goal is to increase funding parity and ensure fair support for this thriving sector.
We will provide strategic guidance for government bodies that reflect the challenges, opportunities and trends impacting developers from NSW. Through data and feedback collected from the NSW industry
What We Do
We’re here to deliver meaningful outcomes for NSW Indie Game Developers through:
Improved Funding: Advocating for production funding, mid-career development support, and international opportunities.
Visibility: Promoting NSW indie games on state, national, and global stages.
Community Building: Strengthening the local indie ecosystem through events, surveys, and collaboration.
Data-Driven Advocacy: Using research, surveys, and annual reporting to inform funding bodies and government policies.
- Do I have to provide a Steam Key?
We strongly encourage all attendees to provide a Steam Key for the giveaway. This can be something from your catalogue (released or in beta) or a different NSW game.
That way all attendees can grab a Steam Key, add it to your library, play the game and leave a review!
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
