At a time when so many people are moving online, we wanted to turn to the Games industry for inspiration – to ask how games are adapting and responding to the pandemic, and to explore what role they could play looking ahead.

What are the most interesting ways of playing and interacting both online and offline at the moment? Are there possibilities for new connections, learning & collaborations between gaming worlds and other sectors? And how can we build a more playful and creative way forward for us all in the future?

Over 2 weeks, from 22nd Feb to 5th March, we showcased and celebrated the creativity, diversity, innovation, and imagination in games and interactive media through PlayAway, an online two-week festival. Over 30 game designers, artists, musicians, researchers and others involved in games got together through a series of panel discussions, workshops, demos, live music performances, virtual play sessions and game jams joined by close to 1000 attendees and participants.

As well as a festival for people involved in games, we wanted to invite and involve people from other sectors and different artforms too. A range of speakers and events looked at some of the cross-sections between gaming and education, music, health, wellbeing, theatre and other areas, and during the festival we filmed a series of Conversations opening up discussion and space for new ideas and collaborations.

The festival was run on a donations-based model – to keep it free & accessible for anyone to attend, while paying our speakers and performers fairly. 

Take a look at our Videos, Conversations and Programme where you can see what was on and watch the events back!